Staying cool in July

 Painting inside where the A/C is forever on....

These two...always into something.  

Cooling off in their nudities in the backyard sprinkler.

He is in a phase of zooming trains and cars all around the house.  The trouble is, he can't listen at all when he is doing this because he is so in the zone.  He plays trains while he's on the potty.

We tried out bowling as a family for the first time.  Ramsey kept doing hilarious moves with the bowling ball, like placing it on the ramp, balancing it carefully, and then hitting it with her stomach, or running up to it.  She was on her own wavelength trying to get the ball down in different ways.

Ramsey is just so animated and Beck is so busy.

He insisted on doing it himself, naturally.

The grown-ups had a great time too.  The only sad thing was when the 2-year-old on the lane next to us tripped and busted her lip on the bowling ball.  She was gushing blood, but she ended up being okay.
 

Check the scores...the winner was....Beck.  Seriously!

Snuggling at Anita's for lunch.

Beck tried the guacamole--"I love guacamole!"

Ramsey asked for a picture with Bella.  Of course, Beck joined in.  Before this pic, they were dancing on the bed to the old Coldplay CD that is in my alarm clock that Beck loves to turn on all the time.

It goes south here, because Ramsey had to remind me, "I just want it to be ME and Bella."

Smiles through the tears.

Beck is laughing here.  

Bella puts up with a lot, but she really loves the kids.

We went to a cookout at a friend's house and the kids had to swim...even though we didn't bring suits because we thought it was too overcast for swimming.  Ramsey is wearing a change of clothes I brought for Beck since we are in the middle of potty training.

They loves floating on the raft and insisted that Kristina push them all around the pool.  Ramsey started to get specific about where she wanted to go, so bossy!

Running with Bella.  This is the highlight of Bella's day, I assure you!

And then there was today

We are staying home most of the time during the beginning of Beck's potty-training.  I hate feeling cooped up, but it's going better than I expected, sanity-wise.  I had such high hopes for potty-training which are thus far unrealized, but I am staying positive and remaining calm.  I am making sure I exercise daily to keep the happy thoughts going!  Today I rode my bike at 10A, thinking it wasn't too hot yet.  I was so wrong!  There was a heat advisory today, and it was no joke.  I guess I am a little arrogant, being from Florida and all, thinking I can handle it.  I couldn't!  I almost didn't make it home.  I had to walk the bike the last part of my ride and keep taking breaks so I wouldn't collapse.  It was to the point where a lady driving by asked if I needed help.  Beck kept trying to talk to me, as usual, just asking a lot of questions about his surroundings and enjoying the sound of his own voice, and I told him I couldn't talk because Mommy was having a hard time.  After that, Ramsey was really diligent about keeping him quiet!  I made it home and had to lie down for 45 minutes.  

It was the worst feeling--while I was lying down I was hallucinating!

The day got better after that thank goodness. 

Here the kids are playing dress-up with friends.  Beck wanted to be a princess too, but settled for prince.  Later I heard him announcing, "I'm the king!"  Truer words have never been spoken.

Always dancing :)

Macaroni dinner for the kids at Noodles & Company.  We discussed manners a lot, since these little monkeys love to run everywhere they go and constantly climb all over stuff.  We had a lot of "please" and thank you" practice, as well as the "take smaller bites of food" lesson.

Love it!  Thanks for dinner!

Bella got a haircut today.  I also had to take her to the vet for a special visit just to get her dewclaws trimmed earlier in the week--I have to take her every 4 weeks for the next few months.  Luckily it is a very brief visit and she doesn't mind.  This dog is well-loved: the dog groomer goes nuts over her, and our vet is wonderful.  It took us a year to get the right fit, and voila, here we are!  Sounds crazy, but we had trouble with a previous groomer neglecting her dewclaws, and thus they got messed up, landing us in our current "visit the vet too much" mode.

Recently...

Beck is potty training, and it is a slow process.  Snail's pace.  

Gross, I know, but I thought it was funny that his first accident was in front of the fridge, 

with the door wide open.  Mr. Independent.

New puzzles to kick off our many hours indoors.  He did this 24-piece Thomas puzzle in 9 minutes!!!

Ramsey has been with him every step of the way.  Including the nudity.

The throne and its accessories.

He loves playing with the iPad while on the potty.

Proud moment--I pee-peed on the potty!

His prize for going on the potty for the first time--new Play-Doh :)

I have a goodie bag of inexpensive prizes, and he gets to choose a prize if he goes on the potty.  It has been a week, and he has been successful....wait for it....four times.  Snail's pace.  Stay calm.

I have no idea why Bella is under Beck's book.  She is so loyal!

Beck and Ramsey have spent several hours in the backyard in their nudities.  It has helped! 

Meanwhile, Ramsey is learning to read.  It is so amazing to be a part of this process.  

I have to be so patient and calm for the potty-training and reading lessons, and it is exhausting.  

So, Matt and I have been fighting a bit more since I'm pretty fried by the end of the day ;).

Practicing her letters.

We're using the book "Teaching Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons."  Love it so far!

Sunday cuddles with Daddy.

They were playing a game that Ramsey thought was hilarious.  

Something about smooching or biting Matt's face.

Cold Stone.  Yum!