Lake'n it

Ahhh... summer... it truly is the best time of year (ok, except the week of Christmas!).  Sleeping in, cuddles in bed, staying in jimmies until we want to swim, and pretty much daily playdates of some kind... yep.. summer. is. awesome.  We finally got our new boat out on the water that J and Steve brought down from Nebraska last October.  It took us a couple weekends to find our groove but its an awesome boat.  J decided it needed a little sound upgrade, and I have to say we have all, especially Zoe, thoroughly enjoyed our summer tunes (very loudly).  Zoe wants to listen to Rio Rio and Dancin' in the Dark and Chase wants Pirate Fairy ;)  over. and over. and over.  Summer started out with a whirlwind - Zoe got out of school June 2nd, and 4 days later Charlie, Tete, and Julianne came for a few days.  We took Julianne to the lake and Zoe found her new love.. tubing with friends.  Borderline obsessive about it and its the first thing she wants to do now when she gets to the lake.  She LOVES it.  Chase likes it, and more as the summer went on, but he asked her once.. "Zoe, why do you like tubing so much?"  We all laughed.. since buddy is more of my hardcore child.  But, hey.. I get it.. I love tubing too - nothing is better than laughing your head off with a friend while you fly around on a tube.  We bought Chase skis for his birthday and got him up on the very first try.  He did awesome!  As the summer went on, he was able to go farther and farther.  We MADE Zoe try the skis the first time we went out - it was NOT pretty.. picture screaming hysterically.  But, we knew she would worry about it every time we went out if she didnt conquer her fear.  (which is what happened with surfing).  Sure enough.. she got up for like.. 5 seconds.. but it was enough.  She didnt do it for about a month, but then she said she was ready and did awesome! (I think there was a promise of ice cream somewhere in there)  The lake is definitely our happy place.  The river was flooded pretty much the whole summer, so we missed out on that, but were able to take a bunch of friends to the lake.  We also did 2 lake weekends.  One with grandparents, the other with our Community group at Cedar Creek.  Both were great locations and water, and weather!  Next up on the calendar, we went to Mexico with Troy and Cayce - adult trip!  We stayed at the Royale and  had a great time, though the beach was not our favorite.  We laughed a lot ;)  We did scuba off the beach and it was awesome- no wetsuit and 5 minute boat ride is my kind of deal!  Zoe and Chase I dont think really missed us as they hung with the grandparents while we were gone.  Zoe had a precious little art camp with her "Fab four" or her 3 best buddies from her class last year, Sydney, Claire, and Rainey.  Claire's big sister Elizabeth taught it and Zoe just LOVED hanging with her buds and a "big sister".   She also did Cross Cheer and both Zoe and Chase did VBS.  June was the month of camps and trips.  We also started taking all our showers outside.. bonus.. outside showers after swimming rock.  July we were home more, and pretty much swam every day.  Zoe went to Pine Cove in the City and said it was awesome and her favorite thing of the whole summer!  yea!! Im so glad she loved it! Also notable:  Zoe and I have been doing shoots for one of the Matilda Jane trunk keepers for each delivery of MJ.  I do the pics and get outfits in return.  Zoe loves doing these with me, especially when she gets to bring a buddy.  They bring clothes, shoes, and big bows- what more could a girly girl ask for!  And of course, getting to pick out some outfits she likes doesn't hurt either. The kids really enjoyed just being home together this summer, and though of course there were plenty of "he hit me, and she was mean to me" moments, overall, my sweet kiddos really played together constantly and happily.  Even if Im doing laundry, or making dinner, or whatever.. when I hear them playing together (still usually parade) it makes my heart smile.  I love just listening to their voices and wild imaginations and the dynamic that is big sister to little brother.  Zoe is always trying to instruct in some form or other.. and Chase.. well he may.. or may not.. listen.  Zoe loves her beenie boos and Chase loves his vehicles... and, of course, his "momu"  I have no idea where he got that, but oh my sweet buddy, you still are momma's boy and will alway save kisses for me, even if Daddy tries to take them!  They love playing games, hide and seek, oh.. and popsicles.  That is a summer must.  Zoe and I did several Zoe Mommy days again this summer - which usually ended up being lunch and some kind of art, or going to the book store.  We also did our "annual" overnight trip with Lindsey and Ainsley at the Jade Waters.  The girls, of course, had a total blast and asked when the next one was when we were on the way home.  We got them matching nightgowns, pens, clipboards, and beenie boos for their backpacks, all while trying to remind them of who they are in Christ.  I love these weekends.  My buddy and I had days together too when Zoe had camp.  We hung out, discovered the library, and swam with his buddies.  Both kids are great swimmers now and I can sit very happily in my chair watching them laugh and play.  We did our first 3 mile bike ride with the kids- Chase loved it and asked me to take him on the trail everyday the next week.  My favorite Chase quote is from when I was driving through the bank.  "mommy, are we going to my bank? "  Your bank?  "Yes, my bank"  Oh, you mean Chase Bank?  "Yes!"  No buddy, we do our banking at another bank.  "But mommy, we alway get to go to Zoe's Kitchen!" We spent 4th of July and a few days in Dallas with the cousins.  Got to to have our cousin time!  We laked it, went to the World Aquariam, swam, trampolined, ziplined, and played at Pops and Gigi's.  They still just love going upstairs and playing with all the "old toys" of J and Chad's.  Zoe now brings girl toys over for her and Stella, but most of the time they dont even come out of the basket.  Zoe asked me the other day why Stella was her cousin instead of her sister and why she couldn't live here.  She loves her Stella - and loves the fact that Stella is younger and will do whatever she says ;) Wonder how long that is going to last! Summer rules!  And Disney... coming soon!