Dirt

We're in a construction zone. Well, we were. Now we have grass seed covered with a biodegradable blanket. But for a solid two weeks we had a giant hole and an large dirt pile at the edge of our yard. A gas line needed to be replaced.


Here's where I feel really lucky I don't own this place. If we owned this property, I'd probably be pretty frustrated by them killing all that grass and making a ruckus. I'd be trying to put things back in place every time the construction workers turned their backs, like my next door neighbor did daily.


But as renters, all I think is "free entertainment!" My kids were drawn to that mound all day, every day.


Not to mention the construction itself. I was worried there might be some nap-disruption happenings. But nay!


All the digging and pushing and general construction truck activity was a show unto itself.


Now, I DO wish the dirt pile wasn't so close to the road. Because you KNOW they'd run out there when I was cooking or using the washroom or changing Grey's diaper.


Nor did I enjoy the plethora of unearthed rocks.


I tried to limit them to throwing into the pile rather than all over the grass or in the street or, you know, at each other.


But jumping... jumping I can get behind.


And so can Grey, even if his "jumping" means going on tip-toes then scooting down the hill on his rear.

So long, dirt pile, we salute you.

So many phone pictures.

Oh man there are so many photos here. Lucky you!

Ha ha! All in the frame.


Went to the Classic Car Show ("plastic" cars, according to Dash)


We've got a little beat boxer on our hands.


Tamarack!


Conceit: measuring your child's awesomeness by how much they love your childhood toys.


In Florida I found a French, very tan Jeff Goldblum!


Went to our ward's picnic and launched some rubber chickens. Cool?


Got to visit the cockpit on our plane trip back from Florida!


Got to sit in the PILOT SEAT on our plane trip back from Florida.


We flew back on the forth of July. Everyone's sleep was messed up. We were going back and forth for HOURS deciding if we should take the kids to fireworks but finally ended up doing it. It was the right decision.


Because... fireworks!


It was Grey's first experience.


I think he liked it.


While my parents were here, we played a little Rummikub. In order to put out you're initial hand (in other words, start playing) you have to accumulate enough points in groups you can lay down. In one round, we drew all the tiles, mom never got enough points, and the game was stalled. Crazy!


Grandpa's wagonload.


Dash could be a scat singer.


I forgot all about these canoing photos! We rented a couple canoes and took them for a spin.


Liam and Dash went with Grandma and Grandpa.


Grey sat with Sean and I (and liked to take part in rowing. He was... ahem... helpful... ahem)


I like my daddy's beard.


I was there too! And apparently was forty years old.


"I'm Belle!" (remember her gold frock in Beauty and the Beast)


Strolling with friends.


Lakeside reflecting


So much art.


A chilly splash pad visit.


Huh. They all fit.


He might have been epically behind his brothers but you gotta stop to admire the bugs.


Showing off their dentist loot.


The family who swings together stays together.


Follow the yellow chalk road.


Dandelion shine.


Park exploring.


The one place I don't enjoy Grey getting bigger- the playground. Stop trying all the things! It's so stressful!


Sean had a stretch of at-home evenings, so he did some daddy dates. First was Dash who went to a music store and got some ice cream.


Then was Liam, who went to a different music store and got some ice cream.


Then was Grey, who went to a bookstore and got some ice cream. Ice cream for all!


A long while later, I got mommy dates! We sure had fun together!


I finally got together with college roomie, Jaime, at the Children's Museum. We've only lived an hour apart for over a year...


Balloons are just the bestest, aren't they. (we were watching some other kids who were experimenting with the baby monitor).


Our block was getting new gas pipes so we got a fat pile of dirt and an accompanying hole in our yard for a couple weeks. It was a child's heaven.


Even when the dirt pile went away, they still got to see all the construction machines and workers doing their thing.


Face painting is just the berries.


When I'm in charge of other kids, I just put everybody into the hammock. Easy peasy. (kidding)


This was Grey's I'm-getting-sick-and-I-want-to-be-grumpy look.


Playing in the cotton pit at the Chipotle Cultivate festival. Everything there was very hipstery.


'hawks


Liam, Dash, and a friend was playing in a tree but I didn't know they were climbing. When I checked on them, Dash was ten feet up and the other two were over twenty! It took Liam a long time and much encouragement to get all the way down. Oy.


Sean had a day off and we did a little science!


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