Phone Dump + Vacation

Since I'm so far behind on my posts, I thought I might as well just combine this week's phone dump with vacation pictures. 

We had a slight change of vacation plans when everything came up with our little girl, and felt more comfortable staying closer to home...so we planned a shorter trip to Red Rock Lake and did some camping! Yep...I stayed in a tent while 7 months pregnant! I did the exact same thing when I was about 6 months prego with Zay...we don't go camping often, but I guess there is something about me being pregnant and camping that go together! 

I was so thankful for beautiful weather and getting to go with our friends the Duncan's! We had a great time and look forward to more camping trips with them! 

I had to pull out a few of the pics...you know, just because.

Our family at the top of a lookout tower...love these boys and that little girl that's hiding inside my belly!

Our entire crew...so much fun hanging out with the Duncan's!

Ahhh...the beach - we had lots of fun at the beach! 

Does it get any cuter than a Dad reading to all the kiddos?

I honestly cannot get enough of this little boy's smile!

And by the time it was time to pack up...we had one tired boy on our hands, Mr. Leyton is checking him out to make sure he's ok. 

in our backyard

We've turned our backyard into the ultimate hangout. We discover things like the sweet flowers that smell (bad if you ask Zay), rough rocks to touch, throw and put in our pockets, and sturdy shade trees to rest underneath. We run through the grass barefoot and share each other's company as we eat our snack on the patio. 

It's a place where we the birds chirp and the bunnies run. Where our doggies lounge and then run away to the neighbors yard. And while I yell at the little black pooch to come back, Zay sternly points in the direction of the house while yelling "LEE! MOM!" (He strategically leaves out the "bai" part of Bailey's name and goes with "lee" instead. And he's become so accustomed to hearing me holler at her, he takes it upon himself to help me out, letting her know that Mom is talking to her. It's beyond cute...as long as I'm not too annoyed with the wandering dog.)

So much energy is released in this big grassy space, and each day I'm just plain thankful. While we long to find our permanent home, God has blessed us richly with our temporary home that just happens to come with a big green turf begging for bare feet and playtime.

 

And as much as we love our backyard...we highly dislike leaving it to go inside for a nap. Certain days it's clearly hard being a two-year-old!

He is his father's son.....

Acknowledgment that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.......

I have to hold back tears looking at these pictures (remember...I'm pregnant!)...such sweet memories in the making! 

Summertime Ready

A continued celebration of a good day...

Zay's first time at the fish hatchery. Now, I'm not a big fan of fish...I don't eat it, I can't recall ever having a pet fish that lived for any amount of time, but there is something so cool about visiting the fish hatchery. Particularly, with a little boy! 

They give you the fish food to throw into the water...and the fishies were well fed thanks to us the other day.

It's days like these when I really start getting excited for summer. While I was still working, I dreamed of staying home with Zay and those thoughts always centered around summertime. I love other seasons too, but there is just something about running through sprinklers, picnics at the park, spending an entire afternoon at the pool and well...visiting a fish hatchery I suppose.

Here's to hoping for a lot more summer days to be celebrated! Thanks for making my days so much fun, Zay! 

Our "Moo Moo"

Isaiah has recently decided that we have a COW for a pet. He calls our Bongo "Moo-Moo"...as in that's what cows say. Once in awhile I can get him to go back to saying "Bo-Bo", but only after he's called him Moo-Moo first. We have shown him cows  before, however I'm not sure he remembers. And to him, Bongo looks as though he's a cow. I suppose as I look at the picture below...Bongo does look a bit like he's grazing in the grass, just like the "moo-moos" we see in the pastures along side the road....

A boy and his cow...nothing cuter!

Mr. Independent

With each day Zay gets more and more self-sufficient. It's a balance for me to be oh-so proud of him and to not be overwhelmed with each passing day that the learning comes easier, faster and more effective than the day before. I can hardly keep up with him some days. He's such a problem solver. And with his speech getting better each day the ongoing effects of knowing how to argue is becoming apparent. 

And then there is a little problem with his 'time-out' consequence. I'll state the question "Isaiah, would you like to listen to what Mommy said or do you want to stand in the corner (his timeout spot)?" And he will promptly choose the corner! I've started making him stand there for a longer period of time, but it's just comical to me that he prefers the corner over doing (or not doing) a simple instruction. Shane and I have to try hard not laugh at his self-talk while in the corner. And there are many times that while he is making his merry-little-way over to the corner, we can completely read the expression on his face saying "That was totally worth it!" Lord, help me when this boy is a teenager! :) 

Even though discipline is a essential part of parenting a 2-year-old, I've found so much more satisfaction and payoff through positive reinforcement. Zay responds so well to helping around the house. So much so that I've found times where he initiates helping out or finding things that he can do all by himself. 

For example, for a long time now he's enjoyed helping unload the clean dishes from the dishwasher. It started out him putting 'his dishes' away in his cupboard. I basically just have a couple baskets where he can put his sippy cups, plastic bowls, plates, etc. Then he graduated onto assembling the protein shakers for me. 

Then he would hand me the silverware and I would put them away (after all the sharp items were removed of course). And now...the other day, as I'm putting dishes away...I notice he's putting all the silverware away by himself...sorting them and everything! 

Love the fact that he loves to help!

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There are days that Zay likes to have and do whatever Mommy or Daddy are doing......and Mommy sometimes wear's her sunglasses on her head. Didn't quite work the same way for Zay....

"It's ok, Mom...I think I can fix this..."

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And to round out our week...pictures of some sprinkler time! We've had many 80+ degree days around here and it's been great! Lots of outside time!  

The game is to throw all the balls into the water and then run in and get them! 

Loving these moments...

We tend to hit the park frequently. Often going back for second and third helpings most weeks. Small town living just lends itself to finding the simple pleasures of things like parks. 

But last week was special. We packed up and headed to our neighboring town's park. With Daddy. It was good. A perfect Friday evening, with the sun shining and the ideal play-yard to make our little guy happy. 

It's so good to have Daddy along. He makes the already fun atmosphere so much grander. Climbing to the top of these whatchamacallits and giving Zay brilliant ideas of things to try. ;)

 

Thankfully, Zay doesn't always absorb the climbing skills of his father and opts to get himself caught up in the easier obstacles.

He moves about the park at lighting speed. Eager to try out the each slide, swing and merry-go-round. No exceptions. Each one must be tried and tested!

Ready Zay? 1...2...3...JUMP! This is perhaps the cutest thing watch, put forth with the most effort in the world.

And then there are moments. The moments I love. Moments that I'm not even sure I'm aware of while they are happening, but it always melts my heart when I get home and look at the pictures. It never gets old.  Pictures of Shane and Zay that continually remind me just how great life is.

As you know, the little guy is growing up with a hunger to be just like Daddy. I see it everyday and I love it. Remember the pocket thing? It keeps showing up. And proof that his Daddy does it too.

It may not seem like it, but I do play too. I teeter-totter and merry-go-round right along with them!



The little man sure is growing up. I feel like I literally see it happening each day. I'm so proud of my "big" little boy.

It wasn't an extravagant Friday night. But it was our's. Every bit of the fun that was captured makes it a first-class Friday night.