backyard splashes

Every summer the boys get a little more comfortable in the water, so to adjust to that we went from this:

To this!

 

  There has been lots of splashing going on.

  under sea exploring too.

 Carter stayed out of it for several weeks...

 ...But had a blast when he finally decided he wanted to join in on the fun.

 Don't forget your goggles!

 Or inflatable!

 Its fun!

 The games they play...

 And the things they come up with!

 

Brothers being brothers!

fish and lizards

I have boys... I know that we are going to have endless encounters with 'pets'... I just tend to prefer the furry ones.  That is not so much the case as our curious animal lovers.  Lizards are a natural part of our backyard, they are seen daily running across our block walls.  They are caught on a weekly basis... That is where the story started.  Josh decided he wanted to use his earned money to by a 'real lizard cage'.  To the pet store we went... and asked about lizards as the kids fell in love with the 'pet lizards' that were sold in the store.  I asked what was needed/how much it cost to keep a lizard as a pet and the guy sold me on buying a gold fish instead.  Not sure how I fell for it, but I did, it was the sweet little smiles that looked up at me that convinced me that we 'needed' a gold fish.  And of course we can't walk out the door with only 1, we got 3 (they were only $0.15 you know).  The big box pet store worker told me they should be just fine in a 2 gallon bowl that I already had.  He was wrong as I discovered a day too late when I saw that their water was cloudy only hours after setting it up for them.  I read that you should never put a gold fish in an unfiltered fish bowl (let alone 3!).  To the store I went again to buy a filtered tank for these 45 cent fish that I couldn't flush down the toilet because they became our pets.  So that is how I acquired a new weekly chore of cleaning a fish tank ;). 

the fun in watching our new pets

 one of the many 'day pets' that we acquire.

 this little guy has some very cool blue markings on his underside.

 Josh did end up buying a cage for the caught lizards, here they are setting it up. 

 they did a good job.

 And here is the new permanent pet in his 'tank'. Ironically after all that only one is still alive!

 Kyle named him 'Shiny'. 

Ranch fun with Friends

We headed back to the ranch this year for a fun open play day.  This generous organization opens it ranch up in the summer to let the city/suburb kids experience farm/agricultural life.  We feel so blessed to get to go learn and share in the fun.  We spent the morning there with friends and met a lot of new animals.  The ranch's slogan is "Bringing Pure Joy to Children"... Just by looking at the faces in the pictures you can tell they definitely accomplish that!

Chickens!

 Josh learned how to throw them up and then they fly down.

 Best buds and wall neighbors :).

 They still have horses, just not to ride like before.

 Except this one!

 The miniature ones can be taken on a walk on the obstacle course. 

 Hanging out to watch is fun too.

 Jake got the stubborn one.

 But he didn't care :).

 Kyle getting buried in the corn pit.

 Relaxing in the tunnel.

 K & J LOVED the mud pit!

 Jumping off old tractor tires.

 redirecting the mud water

 Holding the fluffy bunny.

 Hanging out with buds.

4th of July fun

This post is over due, but we took some cute pictures so I can't resist not posting this :).  We had our typical get together at G&G Barker's house to celebrate our country's freedom.  Family, food and fireworks is what it is all about. 

The five of them.

 Auntie Lori's first visit with Austin.

 Summer BBQ!

 Love and cuddles with Grand d d d!

 Family picture

 My intention was to get a picture from each of them, but Jacob was the only poser for me this evening.

 fun

 This kiddo knows how to have a good time ;).

Austin 3 months old

That month just flew on by!  Austin spent most of his 3rd month in my arms, in the swing or occasionally (when not too many bigger brothers were around) on the floor).  He loved looking at new things and still growing like crazy :). 

What is that?

 We love you big blue eyes!

 Hanging out with daddy.

  His lizard tongue saying hello.

 Big Boy!

 Tada!