Summer...

White fluffy clouds gliding by, blue blue skies as far as I can see, green green crops growing, and the bright sun shining. A prefect summer day.

Get Out and Go...

Camping!

A couple weekends ago we decided to head to McCormick's Creek State Park. We were hesitant because the forecast called for rain all weekend and when not raining it would be hot and humid. I finally said, let's do it! Let's see how we manage camping in the rain. 

I am so glad we did it! Seriously, it rained after we got everything set up. So, we played in the tent for a while. When it let up we had to head to town to get some supplies for cooking. Again, it rained while we were in the store, making us wait it out in the store. 

We were able to make it back to camp, make dinner, play for a while outside, try building a fire, put the kids to bed and then hang out until after midnight before it rained again. Thankfully, we had added extra tarps on top of the tent. We all stayed dry!

When we got up, we planned out day. There was a art fair taking place in the park with a food vendor, live music and lots of different kinds of art. That was the first thing we were going to do, second was to check out the nature center and last hike the trails to the major attractions. 

The art fair was great. Emerson loved playing in the nature center. The hiking was awesome. 

We hiked around for about seven miles with the kids on our backs. We went up and down and up and down. The last time we went down we walked down steps. I kept thinking, eventually we will have to go back up to get out of here. Boy, was I right! I counted the steps that basically went straight up. 150! 150! 150 steps back to the road to get to the campsite.

We loved our very short weekend camping trip to McCormick's Creek State Park. Camping in the rain wasn't so bad. We always have a great time and enjoy a break from our reality. Plus, for all of us, being in nature is revitalizing and balancing.


"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order."- John Burroughs

If you are looking for places to go and things to do here is a great list of places to camp.

Check out this article from The Indianapolis Star: 10 Glorious Places to Pitch a Tent in Indiana. I have been to most of them. They also are great places to visit for the day. So, pick one and get out and go!

Two Years …

Rhys, you are two years old. It happened so fast. I looked through the tons of pictures I have of you to find the prefect ones that describe you best, it was amazing to see all of the things you have done in your very short life. You will not remember any of these things but we will, your dad and I are lucky to have such a happy boy.

I thought I that I would ask each family member why they liked Rhys instead of speaking for everyone. Sometimes, I am overly sappy with my words because I am the mom! I kept the question simple.

Why do you like Rhys?

'cause I like playing with his truck all day and I like to play with him at school and at home and outside and eating candy canes and cupcakes with him. -Emerson

He's my baby boy. He is happy. He is loving. He is sweet. He is determined. He is easy going. He loves to play and laugh and run and jump. He adores his big brother, loves his daddy and is totally a momma's boy. I love every little thing about him. I love when he runs to me and says, "mommy hold you." I love when he lights up when he sees me. I love that he calls me, "Mommy!"- Jill

I love everything about him. I love him no matter what he is doing- running, talking, yelling, crying, sleeping, climbing…he has such a great personality & soul. Plus he is super cute! I guess I love him through and through I just want to give him a big hug now! -Eric

Happy birthday Rhys!!! Little has changed over the year in the way you eat cupcakes but you have grown so much. We love you!

Watching grass grow...

Literally!

My parents gave the boys these cute little dog crucibles and the items needed to grow grass. A super cute and inexpensive chia pet. 

Well, we did it. Emerson was pretty into planting the grass seeds and for the first three days watching it grow. 

Here's the thing, I was amazed at how fast the seeds germinated, and that I really was into watching it grow! 

I kept telling people that I was, "Literally, watching grass grow!" 

This image is the day after planting. The top half was in the morning and the second half was the evening. Really?!?! That was fast!

This was a few days ago after our first trim. Hopefully, we will be able to maintain these two small patches of grass!

A Walk in the Woods...

We were the only ones walking around on the paths through the woods. It was peaceful. It was grand. It was renewing. It was reflective. 

Things that I love...

Summer Events.

The Summer Concert Series. 

We are pretty lucky with our great parks system within our city and neighboring cities and on the county level, also. Each summer our city and the cities around us have a summer concert series. You can pick a free concert every weekday evening. Usually, local cover bands that have a good following and very family friendly. 

The Baseball Park. 

We love going to minor league games at Victory Field for the Indianapolis Indians. My favorite place, the lawns in the outfield. The boys can run around and make friends with everyone around us. 

The Pool. 

Since forever, I have loved spending my summer days at the pool. We are fortunate that our YMCA has a great outdoor pool and splash pad. 

Here's the thing, I often wonder if we are doing too much with our kids? I remember many a days spent at home doing nothing but riding bikes, playing in the sand pile or playing some type of sporting game. Seriously, my brothers would play baseball catch and we would play a game called "Run Down". I was always a permanent runner, it was basically a game to work on getting the runner out. My catching skills were not that great and my running skills not that much better. 

Not to mention, the hours we spent taking care of our family's garden and then harvesting it. Somehow, my mom would manage to can and freeze enough veggies, tomatoes and fruits to make it from the end of summer to the beginning of summer each year. 

I think that I just have many fond memories from my elementary school age-self that revolve around our home and I hold them very near and I want those same type of memories for my boys. 

So, are we doing too much? No, we are creating our own family memories that bring along bits and pieces of our childhoods. I am totally going to play Run Down with my boys and only sometimes be the runner!