Oh to be a Kid Again

We have had a fast but oh-so-fun summer!  The boys have thrived on being outside.  We've even gotten to spend a little time with cousin Stephen Ross.

While over at PaPa and Elley's a few days ago, John Paul found a frog!

He accidentally dropped the frog, so it became a challenge to get him back...

Peter did have clothes on that morning.

Caught again!

Seeing them play reminds me of doing the same things as a kid while not having a care in the world.  It was a time in my life when frogs weren't gross, when I enjoyed just laying in the sun's rays after an afternoon in our giant sandbox, and when nothing else really mattered.

My kids are at that point now, and will be for years to come, I hope!!

Case in point: PaPa and Elley set up a huge water slide in their yard and as it was going up, Carter said, "Hellllloooo Gorgeous.  Dat's what I'm talkin' 'bout!"  Then he slid down over and over again.

The summer has brought a little fun with some left over dry ice...creating our own witch's brew.

Stephen Ross got a taste of what it's like to have a sister around.

And, Carter and Peter found some "big big big bees" that I needed to take a picture of.

And a butterfly too!

They've also spent a lot of time in the sand box.  Duke, their protector, is never far away.  I love how they're all together yet are each doing their own thing.

Carter had been doing a little tractor work in his birthday suit and came in to tell me Peter had found a "tiny hiney" bug.  I think he meant teeny weeny.

That bug followed us to the restaurant we ate at that day and was lost in the car on the way home.

Before they shared popsicles in the nude (kind of a regular occurrence in the middle of nowhere), Carter hugged Peter, and Peter said, "You are my best friend the whole world."

They really are best friends.  All of them.  And, it couldn't make me a happier mom.  I would say it's been an amazing few months of just being kids.

Family Pictures

Sweet Jolene (our family friend who shot Rozann's wedding) came to town this week and asked if we wanted family pictures.  When someone as amazing as Jolene asks, you don't turn her down!  Here is what she got...

I'll cherish these forever.  Thank you so much, Jolene!

A Country Kid's Swimming Pool

Jeremy cleaned out the big stock tank the other day.  When that happens around here, it means it's time for a swim.  The tank is as clean as it will be until it all happens again, so we loaded the boys in the pick-up one afternoon after Jeremy got off work and headed to the pasture for a little fun in the sun.

Peter was soooo excited.

Once we got the tubes, there was room for little else in the pick-up.  So, we had to carefully place the kids between them.

John Paul lasted about three minutes in the cold water.

The other boys were in Heaven!

Even Sophie got in for a picture.

All was well until the very end.  We were getting out and Peter decided to toss Carter's "favewit toy motocycle" into the murky water to be lost forever...or until the next cleaning.  In Carter's words his "birthday is ruined forever."  Hmmm.