Just Because...

I never posted this picture, and I should have.

Circus! But not Circus!

Circus--because these are pictures from the night we took the kids to the circus.

But not circus, because there aren't any pictures of the actual circus.

But who cares?? I've got pictures of elephants! :)

We went to see the Ringling Brothers "Zing Zang Zoom" show, and beforehand they would let you go see the animals, and it was totally worth the walk to the animal enclosure and the heat and the sweating, cause circus elephants are way more fun then zoo elephants.

we even saw them get a good hose-down.

at this point we were a little jealous of the elephants, cause it was super hot outside.

you see that gorgeous creature?? oooh, they're so cute!

that's why I'm so happy here!!!

and this picture just came out cute. beckett wasn't terribly interested in the circus (Caleb loved it, though), but he was happy to eat some raisins.

The circus was very different from how I remember it as a kid. They've really tried to modernize it, which was awesome in some ways (like the clowns looking more like silly teenagers than creepy psychos) and annoying in others (like having a character in the show singing a pop-song about not trying this at home). It was a lot of fun, though, and I would love to take the kids again. I think they'd enjoy it even more as they get older.

And I just want to go see the elephants again. Kenn said my face lit up like a little kid on Christmas when the elephants were performing, and I believe it. They were awesome. :D

A Little Soccer Camp for y-- "No, it's Soccer BIBLE Camp!"

Every time we talked about it, Caleb was extremely adamant that we call it Soccer BIBLE Camp, not just soccer camp. Heck, he's still correcting me, and it's been over a month.

Anyway, he loved it. It was the first week in August, and he was so excited to wear his soccer cleats and shin guards and tall socks ('Just like daddy wears to play soccer!') and he had a blast.

This is him before his first day. Ready to go, lookin' tough. ;)

(I didn't get a 'during' picture, but Natalie did, and I posted it before)

This is Beckett waiting so patiently (and adorably) while Caleb was finishing up on the last day.

Caleb and Garrett's team. Bet you can't guess which wacky kid is mine.

Best buddies, wearing their brand-new awesome S.B.C. t-shirts with really big crosses on them. Yay.

I should've taken a picture of the back of the shirt--it's awful(ly graphic). But it was a good time, and Caleb definitely enjoyed it. Even if all the Lutheran leaders did think he's ADD.

"I snatched you out of the air!"

So, I don't think I'm necessarily 'boring,' but I have certainly mellowed in recent years as I've become more mommy and homemaker than crazy punk college girl. It's cool, and I'm fine with it, but with this journey into family life does bring a decrease in 'wow'-ness.

I know Kenn likes that I make jam and bake bread and sew things and all that fabulous stuff, but I don't always feel like I 'wow' him so much anymore.

But boy, that changed one night in early August. Kenn was outside turning sprinklers on and off to water the lawn and came in and told me there was a frog/toad outside, and we should get a container and try to catch it for Caleb to see.

So being the prepared mama that I am, I grabbed an empty peanut butter jar from the cupboard and went outside with him. The toad (I think it's a toad, but what the heck is the difference??? I digress...) was on the patio right by the house, so I tried to corner it, but it hopped past me to the right. I turned around and took a couple steps, stuck my arm out, and CAUGHT THE TOAD MID-JUMP, IN THE AIR.

And saying that in all-caps really emphasizes the awesome-ness of what I did.

Kenn was almost bowled over in disbelief at my wicked skillz. I think he even said 'wow.' :)

I was quite proud of myself, too. Heck, I still am.

oh, and here's the frog. :)

We put him a bucket with some twigs and grass and water, and lucky the twigs had bugs for him to eat. Caleb loved it. :)

The only bad part was that this happened after the boys were asleep, and we forgot that Caleb wakes up before we do, so when I came down the next morning Caleb was sitting on the couch looking nervous, and said "mom, what's in that purple thing??"

It was kind of funny to see him jump every time the frog did. :)

Millions of peaches...Peaches for me...

Yes, I'm sure that title has been used a MILLION times for a blog post, but I couldn't help myself.
It was either that or 'Love Delicatessen,' but I think the peaches thing makes more sense.

So our awesome neighbors Rob and Becki have a peach tree, and they said I could pick all the peaches I wanted and can them. So I did!

They're white peaches, and they were delicious, and perfect, and so yummy I almost ate them instead of canning them.

And it was my first time canning fruit, so I didn't know you're supposed to really pack 'em in there. I did better on the 2nd go-round.

Caleb's opinion of canned peaches. That's ok, though, kenn and I will eat them ourselves.
As Caleb himself once said, "Duh-lish-us."

(yes, the above picture was taken before I made the massive mistake of chopping off all his hair.)

kristen came to stay. a while ago.

So whilst she was here (and yes, this happened back in July) we went to the Waco Zoo and to the Dr. Pepper museum. Both are pretty sweet. And the zoo is really hot in July.

here's the photographic proof.

beckett ready to guide us through the zoo

thas me and mah kreeesten

caleb LOVES to push the stroller, and no, we don't know why

hello giraffe

dude, a truck full of dr. pepper. that is happy.

see how sad beckett is that kristen is leaving? he was all broken up about it.

too emotional to even look at the camera. but caleb rallied. go caleb. :)

we miss you bunches kristen!!! come back someday!

Minus the Water

The other day, Caleb was sitting on the kitchen floor eating a bowlful of grapes. Suddenly he gasped, held something up in his hand, and said, "Mom! How did this raisin get in here with these grapes??"

I laughed pretty hard, and then was able to stop and try to explain to him that raisins are just grapes with the juice sucked out.

He didn't look very convinced. I guess when you're 4, it's just easier to think a raisin jumped ship and hid with the real fruit.