Independence Day

Independence Day was a lot of fun this year.  We had a BBQ Pool party at our house.  About 21 people hung out, ate, swam, and watched neighborhood fireworks.

We had lots of umbrellas set up out back but as soon as everyone arrived it was overcast.  There was a huge fire on Mt. Charleston and the sky was cloudy and orange :o/  At least the kids didn't need to put on any sunscreen.  We bought a big hamster wheel floatie and the kids all had fun playing in and on it.  The food was delicious: steak skewers, fried chicken, hot dogs, fried zucchini, beef and rice, a fruit watermelon bowl, spinach and broccoli salad.  For dessert we had two cheesecake pies and a cake.  I meant to get a picture of the food but I was too busy eating.  Almost everything was devoured too.

We had planned on popping a few fireworks in the driveway but around 8:00 we heard the neighbors popping a bunch on the side of our house so we decided to head out there and watch them and pop ours there.  Then we came back and went swimming in the dark.  It was pretty neat because fireworks were popping all around us.  The adults didn't plan on getting in but once Carissa pushed Rachel in we decided to just all get in!

We all had a lot of fun, even Kris had fun cooking (BBQ and frying), so much so we plan to do it again next week for Summer' birthday party!  Oh wait, Pepper did not have much fun watching the fireworks, I forgot that part, she was almost going to cry.  Luckily her pacifier and my iphone helped :o)

Party and Swimming

We have been having a pretty fun summer so far, swimming, hanging out with friends, swimming while hanging out with friends ...

Las Vegas is also experiencing a heat wave, for the past few days we are enjoying 115+ temperatures.  I wanted to take the girls to the park and do 4th of July photos but it is just too hot out, even around 7 PM when the light is ideal, so instead I put up my flag inside and took a few shots of the girls this afternoon.

I haven't been taking very many photos :o( I have been so bad but all we seem to do is go swimming.  June will forever be known as the month we swam I guess.  July is going to be such a crazy month, we are having a 4th of July Pool/BBQ party at our house, then we have our 13 year anniversary on the 8th, and then Summer is turning 6 on the 13th.

Definitely keeping busy and making the most out of our new house and our pool.  We are just trying to stay cool and keep our electric bill down.  The number of times I think "how lucky I am" in a day - too many :o)

The End?

I might be done blogging .... but until then, here are some underwater and swimming photos thanks to my iPhone :o)

All we do is swim

All we do is swim, and shop, and swim, and eat, but mostly swim.  The girls (thankfully) love to go swimming.  Daddy and Papa both love to go swimming.  I don't really care for swimming.  I like to sit on our fake grass and sip yummy cold drinks while the rest of the family swims.  All we (they) do is swim!

Here is a video I took earlier tonight that shows how well Pepper enjoys the water and going under.  She only started holding her nose today because Summer always holds her nose, but Pepper really doesn't need to hold her nose when she goes under, somehow she knows how to hold her breath.

Motherhood (1000 word challenge)

Fear like you have never experienced. Overwhelming worry. The understanding that you are in complete control of a situation that is unlike any other. You are fully responsible for either breaking or making a difference. Motherhood.

Lack of sleep, overloaded emotions, stressing about every little thing, including stress, debating to do or not do this and that, making choices with outcomes that may remain unknown, doing what you think is best, only to doubt your judgement and second guess the doubt.

Organic, vaccines, discipline, sunscreen, bullies, milk, sleeping arrangements, pacifiers, disposable diapers, earrings, and a million other things that keep your head spinning.

And yes, for some unknown reason you find yourself wanting to do it all over again. And again. And again.

What will they think of me when they start thinking like me. Will I make a difference, will they strive to be the best person they can be, will they be loving and love each other, will they be strong, will they be smart, will they understand and have compassion, will I be able to give them everything they need, and will they be able to get whatever I don't give them? Will they eventually understand me, will they always be my friend, and always love me, and call me, and be there for me when I am old and need them?

Or, will I be too pushy, too overbearing, too smothering, too hard, too strict?

Do they know how much I love them, how I spend time thinking about them each day, trying to find something for them to do, something to keep them busy, to teach them. Do they realize how much I worry about them, how much I want them to enjoy life and be safe. Do they know the need I have to protect them and keep them safe. Do they understand how much I worry about the little things they do?

Like playing at the park where anything is possible. Someone could grab one of them, they could fall and get hurt, they could get bit by a dog, they could eat something on the ground and get sick, they could get coughed or sneezed on and catch something, they could find a sharp object and get cut, and get infected, they could fall, they could get hit by another kid and get their feelings hurt, or they could hit another kid and hurt his or her feelings.

I take full responsibility for them, if something should happen it is my fault, I am on duty all the time, I am the one that has to keep them safe, I am the one that has to make life altering decisions for them, I am the one that has to watch them all the time, to know what they are doing, to anticipate what they are thinking, to hope that they are going to be ok.

Why?

I can't explain the love a mother has for her child, each child is so different and so unique, and the love somehow overpowers all of the stress and the worry and the fear. Love is a superpower, love can heal, love can protect. A mother's love is a powerful thing, unimaginable, and very real. I can only say that I have never known a love so strong in a way that is as protective. Once I became a mother I knew that my job was to help these little girls become. I don't have any idea what they are going to become and I don't know how much I can help but I do know that I am fully responsible for doing everything I can to give them what they deserve.

And I enjoy them. They make me so happy. I love to watch them think, and learn, and play, and smile. I love to give them hugs, and breath them, and kiss them, and snuggle with them, and tickle them. I love when they love me, when they kiss me and hug me. I love to look into their eyes and see them looking back into mine.

To think that they exist because of me, somehow, they are a part of me. They don't look just like me but they have a piece of me in them. It is amazing to look at them and see some of me. After my body dies and I am no more I will know that pieces of me continue to live in this world.

All I want are for them to be happy. Happiness cannot be defined – only experienced. I don't know what is going to make them happy, it may not be the same things that make me happy or that make each of them happy, so whatever it is I want them to know I will love them and accept them and help them however I can, and I will try not to judge them.

In return I want them to love me forever, to live with me until they are at least 25, unless under the right circumstances and we are all in agreement, then and only then can they leave sooner, like maybe 23. I want them to give me grandchildren, oh and I want them to become wealthy and independent, and live in a nice house, or a modest home, whatever makes them (and me) happy. I want them to be smart, get a collage degree or two, or get a good job without even needing college. I want them to become famous, a dancer, a singer, a scientist, a painter, a doctor, a teacher, or just a normal person living a normal life who lives with their mother, or mother in law if she needs them more.

I just hope they grow up loving life like I do, I hope they have the ability to handle the situations that life hands them. I want them to be happy. I hope they stay best friends and live around each other and stay in each others lives. I hope I can be there for them as long as possible to give them whatever they need or want, like money or someone to talk to.  Or maybe just a hug :o)

Grassy Girls

We went to home depot the other day to get a new dishwasher and ended up buying a nice fake green piece of grass!  I honestly miss all of our grass, but at least this grass will stay green forever, unless the sun fades it or something.  I have really been slacking on taking their photos, maybe I have been too busy?  Likely excuse...

18 Months Pepper

Pepper had her 18 month well check appointment today, and she is doing very well.  This was probably the fastest appointment ever, we were in at 9:45 (15 minutes before the appointment) and out by 10:05 (the appointment was for 10:00).  No shots either!

Pepper is 28 pounds and 33.25 inches.
Summer was 28 pounds at 33.25 inches at 18 months too.

This is Summer at 18 months (first picture) and the second picture is Pepper (with the hat) at 18 months.  I don't think they look anything alike!  Maybe they have the same nose?

Here are a few more pictures of Pepper from last week.