Enjoying Summer...

We were cruising right along on our Minnesota Summer Bucket List when the rug was pulled out from under me...

(more on that later)

I'm doing my best to stand up and move forward...and an invitation to hang with some friends of ours this weekend was just what we needed...a chance to do regular things and feel normal for a bit...

And while I was excited to visit with whats-his-face and his adorable little daughter - I was more excited to see the creepy bellehs that are growing right along...
and the creepy faces that go along with those bellehs as well as some of my other favorite creepy people who aren't growing other people...

And though I had lots to say to those people, things I wanted to ask them, like 'How are you spending your Fridays this summer?' and "How's the new puppy?" "Let me hold your baby! I cannot believe this is the first time I'm seeing her and she's almost 11 weeks old!"

... I mostly hung out with my feet in the water soaking in the sun, not talking to anyone, and watching my babies spend hours doing this...

She was soo proud - 'Take lots of pictures of me Mommy!" she said - and Matt overheard and laughed - that is not very like her at all - typically I'll get one pose, maybe two (though I do prefer candids) - and then she can't be bothered by me or my lens...but she was so confident in that pool, she wanted Daddy to be sure to see lots and lots of pics of her swimming all by herself in the deep end.

And because of what happened last year - I emptied my pockets and was at the ready, just in case...

but he didn't need me...he's 3 now after all -




And every once in awhile, when I could convince them to get out of the pool for a break - they enjoyed some of the delish treats the Goodmans had to share...

It was great to see old friends...

Brooke & her JosherMonster -

and while I enjoyed myself immensly, I mostly kept to myself, silently counting my many, many, MANY blessings.

It was a great place to be and know that I didn't HAVE to keep conversation. I was among friends, great friends, and for a few hours...I was able to forget about what is my reality.

And that very day - I got my first lily of the season from my own garden ~

Happy Father's Day!!

So...another Father's Day rolls around...another one of those 'silly holidays' in my opinion. I love the idea behind it - I just don't love the idea of someone telling me to make my kids make their dad feel special on a specified day on the calendar ~ I think that's something we should do EVERY DAY of the year - or as often as possible - not on a day that we are told to -

Besides - what about the folks that don't have a dad to share in this special day? Way to rub it in people. I miss my dad on plenty of occasions - reading through the Father's Day cards at the local card shop is enough to make me throw up in my mouth - Boy do I ever want to send him a card for the World's Greatest Grandpa on Father's Day - My dad never got to meet my children...

I like to think that my husband knows how much I love him and appreciate him ~ I try to tell him or show him often - though I know I could be better at it...And the kids - well, they for SURE let Daddy know he's the favorite, and fairly often too! "Mommy, I DO liiiiikkkkkeee you - it's just...it's just that I LOOOOOVE Daddy more!" ~
um, thanks?

So anyway - it's been a running joke in our house that Rob got a Mustang for Mother's Day last year...so he sort of owed me for that (his words, not mine!) - and the only thing I really wanted was some sleep and some rest - he gave me both for Mother's Day...and he also agreed to spend the day with my creepy friends at Maddy's 2nd Annual Pool Party!!

What better way to spend the day than with one of the greatest Dads we know?

These next two shots were taken by our own Creepy Nancy - She always has the BEST pictures EVER!!
I still can barely work the functions on my own SLR!! She's an inspiration to be sure!




Em is for Marcie made this cake for Matt & Maddy -
The crazy Bunny Toy, Madeline and the Robot in the Weinermobile!!
This was too cute!





So no sooner had we settled in to the pool party when this lil butterfly friend showed up!
Kris & the Butterfly Friend on her shoulder!


The lil ones coaxing the butterfly to take a hand ~


Again - photo by Nancy!! THANKS NANCE!


He LOOOVES 'B' & can't stop talkin' about her - but he wasn't too impressed with the fact that she had the butterfly for longer than he thought she should have it!


But she so generously helped him to be able to hold this butterfly!
Nancy took this photo too - I could NOT capture that butterfly friend like she did!


D with this lil butterfly on his leg ~


Again - photo by Nancy - D told her she could NOT take a picture though!


There was plenty of ROOT beer to go around...




And ICE CREAM! (I felt pretty special to have MckMama use this pic of her little Small Fry on her blog after the pool party!! ~ Not the greatest of pics but cute all the same! She was NOT wanting to share that ice cream!! ACK - she's too cute! )


Lil Creepy Friends Havin' a snack at the party ~



And of course - what pool party is complete without some swimming? I wasn't going to bring swimsuits for any of us - but the smart man that my husband is...he told me to at least pack the suits for the kids - at least we'd have them - and as usual - he was right! Thankfully Matt humored all of the kids (& us parents who didn't bring our swimsuits!) and took them swimming!!






Joe checkin' out Matt - or Matt checkin' out Joe?






B's mom had the same thought that I did - no swimsuits = no swimming - but when you are a kid - sometimes you just HAVE to have your way!! I think she can get away with it for a couple more years!! Though next time I bet she'll bring swimsuits!


And is any pool party ever complete without SOMEONE falling into the pool unprepared? This time - it was our kid - our crazy little boy kid - The hubs was waiting for it - in fact - he told me not 10 minutes before it was time to get going because D was done swimming but was playing ball on the edge of the pool and it was really wearing down the hubs - he knew something was going to happen - and it did - D fell overboard - but I'm pretty confident that the hubs hit the bottom of the pool before D did...The hubs had a very hard time relaxing all afternoon because the pool was making him too nervous with the lil ones playing all around it...

Here I was visiting with the gang & trying to canoodle Stellan
when I hear Jennifer say - "Someone's going in" ~ only to turn around and see that someone is my hubs - D didn't even know what hit him - the only mishap besides the wet tennis shoes and socks was the cell phone...and that can easily be replaced...


I am sure you are wondering where the pics of THAT are...I'm pretty sure I would not still be married if I'd of stopped to take pics of THAT fiasco!

We left immediately after that - my poor hubs - such a good sport - and on Father's Day no less!
At the end of the day - we were all tired but no one was any worse for wear ~ Happy Father's Day Big Poppy - We love you!!!