Those Are the Rules (I Didn't Write 'Em)

The rules of photography clearly state that, "at any given time, only one of the party being photographed shall look directly at the camera and make a decent and/or passable expression..."

Clearly these boys are rule followers.

Top {Mommy} Chef

 You know it's been a long day when the remains of dinner look like this:

{Tuna sandwiches, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, cheese quesadillas. 

Oh, and  Pirate's Booty. LOTS of Pirate's Booty.}

Not surprisingly, it's nights like this when everyone actually eats all of their dinner. (Except Lex, who ate enough Pirate's Booty to sink a ship and then opted out of eating her tuna-fish sandwich.)

Just call me Mommy of the Year.

Performer in our Midst

Alexa's got a pretty impressive resume for a 5-year-old:

Singer/Songwriter

Helper Extraordinaire

Jewelry Collector

Alphabet Expert

Dancer

I-Spy Book Genius

Personal Stylist

Spencer Wrangler

Professional Snuggler

Gum Connoisseur 

Storyteller

Moon Finder

Just about everything about her is fun and awesome. (She does have her moments of stubbornness, but heck, so do I.) I'm so interested and excited to see where she'll find her niche. 

{seen here performing her hit single,

 "Listen to Your Heart: Everybody Come Up and Stomp Your Feet"}

Recipe for a Happy Boy

Start with your favorite little boy (preferably wearing pajamas.)

Add:

-one pair of boots
-two shovels
-a watering can
-free rein in an entire backyard full of dirt

Mix well, and you are sure to have one happy {muddy} little kiddo on your hands.

(Just prepare for a healthy dose of kicking and screaming 

when you tell him it's time to go back inside.)

Procrastinator's Progress

What do you get when you cross...

a semi-truck in the middle of your street,

a speedy forklift driver,

and one Very Curious Little Boy with a cookie and a front row seat?

PROGRESS!!

That's right, folks, things are moving along in the backyard. Craig has literally been working night and day trying to get all of the underground stuff done (gas lines, irrigation, and conduit) so that we can finally get the decking done around the "pool." (Or, as I like to call it, "the kidney bean-shaped hole in the ground that will probably never be done.") 

Heck, even I got dirty trying to helping him get stuff done out there. Let's just say, if you haven't helped your husband painfully shove approximately one thousand cords and wires into too-small conduit at 12 in the morning when all you both really want to do is give up and go to bed, then well...you haven't lived, my friend. 

(And you must not have an adorable procrastinator husband like mine.)

Can't you just see us swimming and enjoying the scenery out here in just a few short months?

I know. I can't see it either. But Craig tells me it's true.