Mud Pies

We have been doing a lot of this around our house lately (consequently I have been doing a lot of laundry too).

The girls have been playing out back by their playhouse with water, dirt and lettuce.  I grew a  bunch of lettuce in my garden and have no use for it at all so I have been giving it to the girls to play cooking with.  They love it and we have lettuce strewn from here to breakfast.

 We had a good rainstorm a few weeks go and the girls were ecstatic to put on their rainboots and get splashing.

 They started in our puddle but soon moved next door to the big puddle by Bob's house.  It was a muddier one.

First they splashed, then they sat in just the mud and dug. 

 The miss Brailie ventured partly into the water

 And then I finally just said, "oh go ahead and sit in it" and they didn't hesitate.  

 It started like this but let me just say a full bath was required when it was all done.

The new playhouse

Our neighbors the Hughes family has a little outside playhouse that the girls absolutely adore.  It is a pretty girly one but I figured if we could just find any kind of outside playhouse the girls would be happy.  And I was right.  I found this one on KSL classifieds.  We were going up to Provo for Stadium of Fire and Auntie Helen was giving us her old table and so we just decided to see if we could find a playhouse and a kitchen that we liked and we did.  I got the playhouse and a nearly brand new kitchen (we have it inside-pictures to come) for $180.00.   

 We put the girls old kitchen inside the playhouse (which is a good size).  They have been making mud pies ever since.

Backyard Blast

With the weather heating up we have been trying to find ways to cool down outside.  While Greg was gone to basketball camp the girls and I borrowed Grandma's Gecko sprinkler and paddling pool and got refreshed with that for a couple of days.

 The when dad got home we built the girls a water blob (it's like a bit water pillow slip and slide).  The girls had a blast especially on the night we let them play on it in their dresses.  Dad made sure it was safe.  And since we didn't have our big pool set up yet dad promised the girls he would swim with them in the paddling pool.  It was a tight fit but a ton of fun as you can imagine.

 Then a few days ago we got our big pool set up and it has been a lifesaver.  We can all fit in it together and it is the perfect temperature and we bought a cover for it this year so it is staying clean.  Oh thank heavens for this pool.

Cooling off

It hasn't been overly hot around here yet but it was pretty warm the other day-warm enough for the girls to take a dip in the sprinklers.  It went from washing their hands to fully soaked in just a matter of minutes. 

 Here the girls decided to wash off their shoes.  I had to put the axe down on drinking the water out of their shoes (always a dark cloud I am as the mom).

 And of course washing off their feet.

 Brailie was more willing to pose for the camera than Allie

 And of course what would a dip in the sprinklers be without washing off your bum.

Swings

I am so thankful for our backyard swing set and that the girls love it so much.  We usually go to the park but I have discovered that pushing 60+ pounds of child in my red double stroller is too much for this prego mama these days so the girls have been content to play in our backyard much more.  I just thought they looke super cute on this day and couldn't help but take pictures.

 One of my favorite things about Brailie is her wrinkled nose cheesey smile.

How we are staying cooled off while the weather heats up

I bought this toddler pool at the thrift store to use as an indoor ball pit but it was really too small.  When the weather started getting hot I decided to put it outside and fill it with water for the girls to play in.  I didn't really intend for them to basically swim in it but in the end that is what happened and they loved it.  Greg called me out with the camera to get some actions shots of the head dunking they were doing.

 At least they are getting over their fears of water on their faces.

 Dad hosing them off cause they were covered with grass and we had let them stand and pee on the lawn through their wet clothes which they thought was the greatest thing ever.

Backyard Fun

Yep, I know i am behind once again on blogging.  this week has been really busy.  Since Greg got out of school on the 23rd in the afternoon we have just been going non stop.  I have been doing projects, painting my countertops (more to come on that), getting a Christmas tree, seeing the lights on temple square and now having the flu-it has been a busy week.  I am doing some catch up on pictures this week.  These are from an afternoon in the backyard with perfect weather.  Allie is all about raking the leaves right now and Brailie is really into swinging.

Our Yard

I have been meaning to get pictures of this all year.  Our yard is so pretty this year.  I planted Zinneas in every available spot-including all along and around our garden.  I love the color and cheerfulness they add and they are the easiest flower in the world to plant, grow and take care of.  Goal for next year-double the number of Zinneas. (p.s.-anyone want some seeds-I have buckets full right now and will have even more in a month).

Washing the Car

We should know by now that if there is water any where near our kids they are more than likely going to be soaked.  Helping dad wash the car is no exception.  Well actually I don't think Allie was soaked (she was holding the hose).  Brailie was drenched-she kept wanting a drink from the hose Allie was holding (Enough said right). 

This would be Brailie sucking water off the back bumper of the car.

And she thought she was just so funny doing it too.

This picture is unrelated to car washing but I just wanted to share my beautiful flowers in my front flower bed.

Simple Pleasures

When we got home from our anniversary getaway we went in the backyard to play.  We had brought the girls a push lawn mower and a push vacuum to play with  (from DI-$3.00 well spent I might add).  I watered the flowers and the girls played in the drips then tested out their new toys (which they are thrilled with).

Simple evening with simple pleasures-I pledge to have more of these this summer.