Cousins

We got the chance to hang out with the cousins this last weekend.

We had LOTS and LOTS of fun with them.  How can you not?

We herded them on scooters down the greenbelt. You might be surprised how loud 6 scooters and 1 skateboard can be on the greenbelt.  Everyone heard us coming and maybe was a little afraid.  Maybe.

When you go on the greenbelt you always have to have an adventure and throw rocks. And when you throw rocks you have to take off your shoes and when you take off your shoes you start to think about how water goes into houses, and wonder where the snakes are and how many good skipping rocks must be left there in the middle of the river.

It was a male wood tick (right.)

Down by the river the kids like to wander through the trees.  I have to try not to freak out about all the little spiderwebs, grass, and leaves brushing up against my skin.... sort of the way I try not to itch at the thrift store.

When we got home Nathan had a little wood tick on the back of his neck at his hairline.  Yikes! 
Trevor saw it as they were jumping on the trampoline.  And, growing up, that's the same way I noticed a tick on my sister-- twice!  Trampolines are very important.

We did some drawing lessons -- like this YouTube one:

There was plenty of giggling and  swinging, too.

We cruised down the Municipal Park.  It has the BEST big trees and some nice shade by the sand pit.

 Then we visited the fish and saw the sturgeon, trout, and crawdads.

It was hot.

 Joel jumped too many stairs and hurt his tailbone pretty bad.  Here he is feeling the pain and his buds, too.  He cried all the way home in his car seat!  I thought I might need to get x-rays!  But he's doing much better today.

That night we played kickball with friends.  We may have been a little more strict with the rules than we have been in the past because at some point we need to learn the real rules of the game, right? However, I think more will stay in the game next time if we give the kids a bit more leniency. : )  Parenting is tricky!
#iheartmyhood #kickballisforeveryone #girlswon

Here are some of our star players rounding 3rd base.

The boys wanted to drink milk out of coffee cups.  It's the new thing now.