That time of the year....

North Carolina summers are HOT! No, did I say, "HOT?" I meant HTH....aka "hotter than Hades." However, with us just beginning the summer, we have our up and down days of temperatures. Today was a warm day, but nice and breezy. So, after playing baseball and a few other outdoor games this afternoon, it was time to take those pictures that I'm so fond of and will look back on for the rest of my life - the closeups. You have all heard, I'm sure, how a Dalmation puppy isn't born with spots, neither are my children...thus, Cody has freckles on his nose, as does Andrew, but Nathanael's are still on the up and coming list. I love doing these closeups of my kids and try to do them often. I also got them to sit long enough together to snap off a few pics of them together....Wow! Granted, they weren't entirely happy about it, but they humored their mother and posed for the pic. I guess I can't expect total perfection ; ) At least they aren't punching each other in the picture...

We caught our first wild life critter today, alive. Last week we called Animal Control regarding a certain masked creature...yep, a raccoon. We set up a live trap two days ago and finally, last night, we caught him/her. It wasn't too happy with me this morning when I went to walk the dog and discovered its presence. I felt badly for the poor dear, who, every time I walked past it, would curl up in a corner of its small imprisonment. However, I can't afford to feed it, the outdoor cat, Dusty, and all the possible little 'coons that will eventually come. Animal Control came fairly quickly in the morning (before 11am) to come get it.

Yes...it's been awhile.

Between working full time again (three days a week at Duke) and the kids...things have been busy. The kids have had several opportunities to go to the in-laws pool, and the summer is just beginning! Andrew is comfortable putting his face in the water - as long as he's got those huge goggles on.... Cody, on the other hand has been jumping off the edge of the pool and the diving board into nine feet of water! They are both so proud of themselves for these most recent accomplishments. Nathan enjoys the water as well...although, as fair as his skin is - he needs lots of sunscreen. It took three tries, but we finally found a sitter that we really like. Dawn comes over and watches the kids two days a week (Mondays and Fridays) and Dan watches them one day a week when he has his day off. I'm trying to come up with enough summer activities on my days off to keep the kids busy. Andrew and Cody will both start in the school system this coming August. Andrew will be in kindergarten and Cody will start 4th grade. His Iowa tests from this year came back and he's at least on grade level or higher. We are waiting to hear if the county decides to make all the kids wear uniforms or not. The vote should go through soon, so I'll know whether I need to buy uniforms or regular school clothes.

They are both excited by the prospect of going to a "real school." We'll try it for a year and see how it works.

Speaking of clothes...my wardrobe has changed a little. I'm putting aside the look of simple fitted t-shirts and jeans and moving onto more "adult" stuff to some extent. I still show my creative side through what I wear...

I'm still going to the gym as much as I can - which usually ends up being three days a week now. Three miles on the elliptical trainer and then 30 minutes of weight training. The kids go with me and love the childcare that is provided at the gym.

Andrew's birthday is around the corner - July 2nd. I can't believe he's going to be five years old already. He wants a monster truck themed birthday party...so just you wait to see the cake I'm planning for this one. I'm not sure what is harder to believe - him turning 5 or Cody turning 10 in December! Two milestone birthdays in one year - I'm not sure how I'll handle it!