Summer fun...

Since Mike is a teacher, he has the summer off and gets to spend his days playing with our kiddos. I think he's worn out by the time I get home from work (only three days a week), but it's clear that these little people love the time they spend with Dad. One day this week I came home to a "family fun fort" in the basement, as Benny called it, and they were so excited to show me.

Hanging out in the fort...

This morning, Ben was making a lot of noise in the kitchen and next thing we know he's running into the family room in his "spaceship." He converted a cardboard box that held some diapers we recently purchased into this lovely work of art. He covered it in stickers, stamps, and his name and has had fun playing with it all day. Of course, Nattie wanted one too, so Daddy let her play with a smaller box. :)

We spent the sunny afternoon today playing in the water on our deck...

What would a summer day be without a little sprinkler action?

Quick Benny story...tonight at dinner Ben was freaking out, as is usually the case, about having to eat what I made. I knew he'd like it, so I was being pretty stern with him about taking a bite and at least trying it. Well, he ended up liking it and eating his entire plate full. Afterwards I told him I was proud of him for trying something new and eating it all. He said "Thanks, Mom, but I'm a great eater. I don't know why this is a big deal." He is seriously a nut. He whines, complains and messes around at mealtime 99% of the time. He is a royal pain in the butt when it comes to food...but apparently in his own head he's a great eater. I guess one day he'll figure out that when you take your shirt off and your ribs show and your legs look more like your mom's than your dad's...you might want to start eating. :)

After dinner, I sat on the deck and watched the rest of my fam run around and chase each other like wild animals in the backyard. They were sure having fun. Ben dropped his drawers and peed in the yard at one point and Nattie had no clothes on. I'm sure the neighbors think we're total hillbillies!

Happiness...

Finally, here's a short video of my little dancer. Nattie LOVES music. Whenever we turn on the tunes she usually runs around the kitchen like a crazy women and then she'll randomly stop and show us some of her sweet moves. She makes me smile.