Cousin Erika Visiting

My cousin came to hang out this morning.  It was so fun catching up.  We went grocery shopping and made some AWESOME salads and popsicles.  She brought the kids a really cool old desk which I have plans to repaint and restore (one day!)  We went for a walk, and Jackson's new thing at the park is to pretend he is sleeping on the rocks.

Jackson and Erika

Jackson pretend sleeping

Splash Pad

We went to the splash pad at our local community center to beat the heat today.  Yes Nora is potty training, Yes I stayed home with her while Matt left to go to the pool with Jackson, Yes she screamed when Matt left without us, Yes she wanted to go to the pool.  NO--she wouldn't go on the potty, this is when we QUIT!

Swimming at the pool with her new potty bribe toy Ariel

Jackson and Daddy

My take on trying to get her to go potty, potty chair on front seat after we were at the pool.  Didn't work!  OH WELL.

Potty Training? - WHAT?!

The best potty trainer EVER....way better than ME!

Matt and I were having a casual conversation while Nora sat between us Thursday night.  We were talking about WHEN/IF Nora would ever get potty trained.  I said "she would probably do it when we had a sticker chart for her" and I started searching for Disney Princess potty charts.  I found one and printed it.  To my surprise by the time I went downstairs to get the chart I printed, she had taken off her pajamas, her diaper and was sitting on the potty and WENT pee!  The next day she would go after MUCH MUCH MUCH convincing and bribing.  Then the next day it was almost unbearable trying to make her go - Matt has way more patience and love and understanding so he would sit with her and calm her down and he was able to get her to do it a few times.  I gave up, I will take teaching her how to drive, he can take potty training!!  We did both decide she is not ready, after she went practically ALL day NOT going and screaming every time she sat on the toilet.  One day she will be ready to wear her Minnie Mouse underwear. 

Her Disney Princess Potty Chart

Ready to Potty Train

4th of July Festivities - America's Birthday

We woke up this morning and Matt told Nora it was "America's Birthday".  She kept saying it all day.  We had a DAY full of fun.  It was and has been HOT, like over 100 and HUMID, HOT HOT HOT.  We dared the heat and went to the city's festivities and went to the petting zoo, got some popsicles and walked through some trails to the event.

Before the heat got us

Nice America sunglasses

Getting in the petting zoo

Jackson trying to pet the donkey

Both kids CLINGING to me.....honestly, why are we so afraid of farm animals

Bomb Pop

Fudgesicle

Family photo

oh Jackson....where are you looking

We then went to a neighbors house for a BBQ, it was seriously a MEAT FEST, vegetarians would not have enjoyed all the pork, brisket, turkey, beef that was grilled!!!  Nora finally got in the pool with the neighborhood kids FINALLY.  She takes forever to warm up to people & she always gets into it like 10 minutes before we need to leave!

Nora was a lucky lucky girl and got to stay up late and light off a few fireworks with her daddy!  She was really into it UNTIL the fireworks started making NOISE. 

Sunglasses

My kids love sunglasses, they love putting them on themselves.  They love trying to put them on the other.  The love wearing them backwards and upside down and in the dark.  They laugh and giggle while they are doing it.....until someone pokes someone in the eye

Dinner with Tony & Erin

We planned a dinner date at our friends house in Shakopee.  We had a blast eating some really good smoked meat and asparagus at our friends Tony and Erin.  The kids played with their dog, Logan, and Tony even threw Jackson up in the air and J loved it.  Nora also called Tony "Naughty Tony" because he was tickling her and she did NOT Loved it!!

Building a tower today

Ready to push it over-

Tony and Jackson

Awwww

Poor J got splinters from something at their house, a plant, a deck, a dog?!  I have NO IDEA HOW!  he never made a peep when it happened.

Day at the Lake and Date Night!

We went to Lake by our house today.  The kids are loving being in the water and playing in the water and drinking the water and floating in the water and spitting the water and throwing things in the water....can you tell they like the water?!

ooh Nora

I swear she is NOT pooping. 

Matt and Jackson coming back from the lake

Nora playing with the HUGE water table at the Lake

More water please

Jackson Splashing

Happy Boy

Playing in the water

After a hard day at the lake, Matt had set up his parents to watch the kids so we went on a little date at the BIG LAKE (lake minnetonka).

My love

We don't have any updated photos of the 2 of us!

Chanhassen Library & Puppet Show, Farmers Market and picnic fundraiser

We went to the library this morning and the kids BOTH loved it.  Nora found an Ariel picture book the moment we walked into the kids section.  Jackson loved playing with the trains and we found him a touch and feel book-which are his favorite.  We then got asked if we wanted to go to the puppet show by the librarian.  Matt and I though, 'why not?'  It was kind of creepy-glad the kids wanted to go after 20 minutes (side note that there WAS NO wrapping up of this puppet show story so the puppet show could still be going on NOW for all we know!)  The kids and Matt and I walked around the farmers market by the library and saw miniature horses, really cool wood carvings, awesome tasting salsa and some bbq sauce (the only thing we ended up buying!)
It was a fun day with the family.

Who knew making a mess could create so many giggles?

Throwing Jenga blocks at me and around the room.  Who knew it would be so funny and make Jackson giggle so much?!

Nora finger painting - mess free!

We have been trying to find activities to do to keep kids busy.  Here Nora is mess free finger painting.  Again, trying to do something from Pinterest each week.  Here is my attempt at that this week.  Nora loved drawing on the paint and couldn't figure out why she wasn't getting dirty.  The paint went in a ziploc bag and she could push paint over all over.  It was fun watching her play and examine the paint. 

Dog Days of Summer

Nora eating a homemade popsicle

Photo of Mommy and Jackson taken by Nora!!!!

Jackson in the lion Pool

It has been HOT here....hot hot hot.  We have been in the pool all week.  The kids love being in the pool and playing in the garage.  We have been eating popsicles every day and trying to stay cool.  These are the dog days of summer, hot, humid, hard to stay outside.  The kids are enjoying being outside and loving and thriving in the heat.