Don't drink the water...

I'm having a hard time blogging lately. Can you tell? I don't know if it's because there's too much going on or not enough. I THINK it's too much.

Here's the run down...(I'll try to keep this brief)

We went to one of those community water parks last week with recycled water and it was filled with nasty kids (some of whom were in underwear) but my kids had a blast.

The problem is, is that Nolan LOVES water.

In his face.

Mouth WIDE open.

I'm sure he guzzled a gallon of water (urine).

Next to the water park is a regular water park with a big playground. I'm watching my kids play all over this thing when this little kids drops his wet drawers. I start yelling at him "NO! NO NO NO NO NO!" but it was too late and he whizzed all over the rubber flooring. (BTW, there is no parent in site and he's....mmmm...maybe 4?) So I start yelling at this kid again, "YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM! EL BANO! BATH-ROOM! THAT IS YUCKY!" and he's looking at me like I'm a total lunatic. NICE.

ANYWAY, moving along...Nolan is PUKING that night. All over me. And the carpet. Spencer's in Utah for high adventure and two days later, Carter is PUKING. All over. (My carpets REALLY need to be cleaned) Coinsidence that they got sick after guzzling recycled pee? I think not.

Moving right along...Carter started swimming lessons last week. The first day he cried (bawled) through 75% of it and wanted to come give me hugs and kisses about every 2 1/2 minutes. The next time he got so worked up before class he puked in th teacher's Impatiens. I made the mistake of telling the other moms he has an "easy tummy" and that's ALL I've been hearing since then from him.

Friday we hit up the Wild Animal Park in San Diego. It was HOT and we were drenched with sweat. We walked a lot, saw a lot of animals, left and got some grub (which was, you guessed it, puked up) and then hit up the beach in Oceanside for the sunset. At the end of a very long, hot day we played in the sand and in the water (which was actually warm!) I finally got to take pics.

The kids were out within 5 minutes of being in the car.

So if you have been wondering why the heck I haven't been posting much, there ya go. Plus I have been cramming my head with everything photography the past 3 weeks. I am SO excited about some sessions I have coming up! (and a wedding! Wahoo!)

Hang in there. I know I'm tryin' to!

Fowl play

Apparently we have an affinity for birds. Or, I guess, the children do. I got 2 parakeets for Christmas one year when I was like 13 and ended up hating them because they would wake me up at the CRACK of dawn every morning (and if you know me and have ever woken me up, it ain't pretty). So anyway I'd throw stuffed animals across the room at their metal cage and the noise and impact would scare them so bad they'd shut up for like 10 minutes. Then they'd forget to shut up (bird brains) and we'd start the process all over again. Anyway, that was a total side note. The point is, the kids like birds. Nolan points out every grubby bird on our lawn (remember when birds were fascinating?) and Carter runs to pic up this little hen EVERY TIME we go to Grandma's house (remember when you thought animals enjoyed your attention?)

And this MAY be my favorite picture of all time. Yes, of this duck was sassy. Or really hungry. She bit my finger and took my whole piece of bread and ran away with it. I chased her down, tackled her, and snapped her scrawny little duck neck. No not really. But I did chase her down and take the bread back (give me a break. we only had like 4 pieces and she was being greedy) This is her POed at me for taking the bread back.

Okay, I swear I do not beat my toddler. He constantly has some sort of cut/bruise/scrape on his head/face/arm . The one over his right eye was from falling down the stairs (whatever, I'm serious) and the other is from him jumping in his crib and splitting his eyebrow open on the top banister.

"Carter. KEEP. YOUR. EYES. OPEN."


Aww. Precious. If only they were holding hands it would be cheesier.

It landed at his feet.

And then he ate the rest.

Then we ran out of bread.

And went home.

I was THIIIIIIIIS close...

to posting something. But it's late. And I'm tired.
We've been playing non-stop and I've been sweating profusely. Seriously. What is the dizzle with the 110 degree weather? It's unbearable. We've only been into the scortching hotness of July for like a week and a half and already I'm dreaming of fall. You should see my sad garden. The leaves are almost as saggy as...nevermind.
Well off to bed I go but before I leave I just want to emphasize again that it's really hot here. And I have a hard time sleeping when it's hot. And my air conditioning runs non-stop from 9am-9pm. But I'm so grateful for it. Every day I'm grateful we have air conditioning. But I'm rambling. I'll get back to the subject and that is that it's hot.
And I have sweat behind my knees. And my once-cute bangs stick to my forehead. And the water coming out of the hose burned my hand the other day when I tried to fill up the little pool for the boys. And my glasses won't stay on my nose. And I have cans and milk jugs accumulating in my kitchen because I have hot-phobia and haven't walked them out to the recycling. Plus I get a headache like every day around 10:30 and I'm pretty sure it's because it's like 103 by that time.
Think of me, my dear friends, the next time you feel sweat gently caressing your spine from the nape of your neck all the way to the crack of your kiester (and beyond) and know you aren't the only one.
Tell me, are you enjoying summer as much as me??

The 4th in Eagar

Eagar, Az.

Huh?

I knew that's what you were thinking.

It really exists. And it's really, really pretty.

I really don't understand how people can stand living in Phoenix. It's so miserable there that after visiting it feels SOO good to be back in hot old Hemet in July.

So luckily we weren't there for long. We were here.

Ahhhhh....it was awesome. Our weekend in a nutshell included: private lake packed with trout (caught 4- killed 2), volleyball, frisbee, hiking, river, fire (contained), marshmallows (all over faces), S'MORES (all over my shirt), cherries (hail the fiber), blueberries (roughage), awesome food (ebelskivers- google it), cool weather, RAIN, mountain air, sweet parade (complete with collapsing and rebuilding giant Lady Liberty), fireworks, BATHS, BEDS...it was such a blast.

And finally, pictured is a very rare creature to ever be caught by the camera.

For more pics of kids, blah, blah, check my photography blog (link to the right, here)

Glad to be gone. Glad to be home.

HOW WAS YOUR 4TH??

I apologize that I am the worst excuse for a blogger (well maybe I've seen a few worse then me, not to be mentioned). I promise I'll be back to the real world in a little bit. For now, we're playing hard all day, every day. Hope you are doing the same!

YAY!

A promotion on my photography blog. Click the link to the right and check it out (and help a sista out).

Lunch...every day

Mmmmmmmmmm....

romaine lettuce
cucumber
avacado
red onion
walnuts
feta cheese
craisins
raspberry vinegerette

and for desert,
LF cottage cheese
Activia light vanilla
chopped berries

Omega 3s, antioxidants, protein, veges, probiotics, fiber, and de-lish.