The Fruits of Summer

We have been enjoying the fruits of summer and have found some good indoor activities to keep us out of this intense 100+ degree heat. We do get outside but it's just too draining to do it every day as we usually like to do.

This summer has been good to Pops and Nunie's tomato garden. They have plenty to share and we all chowed down on cherry tomatoes before heading out for a swim.

We bought some coconuts for the kids to try. They weren't too keen on the taste of the coconut milk but they loved the activity of breaking them open and drinking strait from the fruit with a straw and later eating little chunks of coconut.

Speaking of fruits, Payson, um, excuse me, I mean Superman (aka "Muscle Man") and I read a Winnie the Pooh apple picking book. Payson has a new love for super heros and continues to have his old love for books. Hey, why not combine the two?

Hayden asked me to give her a big braid and then she proceeded to decorate it herself with stickers so it would look like Rapunzel's.

My big kids are getting even bigger. They help me with laundry...

Get ready with me in the bathroom...

Take care of their own babies...

And get dressed for work! The other day Keith put on an Oxford shirt and Payson said, "Daddy, you're going to work." When Keith said he was going to church Payson laughed and said, "No you're not, you're wearing a work shirt." (In Payson's mind oxford=work clothes and polo=church or other). Ha!

The kids were invited to their first Chuck E. Cheese birthday party and they had a blast. This roller coaster ride was there favorite and it was extra special that they could all ride it together!

I took the kids to the museum to see the dinosaur display including robotic, roaring dinosaurs and the dinosaur skeletons. While Payson was not nearly as terrified as he was in February, he still wanted to stay close by my side when we passed the robotic dinos.

Madison, liking the robotic dinosaurs once again, posed in front of them and roared back at them.

One hot afternoon we made our way to the Bass Pro Shops for some simple excitement. The kids loved looking at all of the real stuffed animals and Madison would point to each one and exclaim, "He used to be real!" We soon came upon a mannequin and she said, "He used to be real!" I had a little explaining to do.

Hayden caught a huge fish...

As did Payson. (Madison's picture is lost in the system for the time being).

My best friend Andrew was in town and the kids had a blast playing with him. Here he is with Hayden bonding over pink pigs and baby dolls.

The kids loved hanging out with him, as usual, and Payson even told Andrew that he wants to be him when he grows up! Awww.