Summer Fun and Father's Day


I so, so, sooo enjoyed this past week and weekend. My kids went to bed late smelling of sunscreen every night, we saw lots of good friends and family and just got to enjoy lots of little moments of fun. This is what I think of when I think summer.
 
The kids and I are quickly falling into a lovely summer schedule. Morning cuddles have to happen first before I can function. We roll around on the couch, the floor or our bed until Emery starts asking for toast non-stop until you get her toast. Not kidding. The girl is a breakfast lover and could eat toast for every meal. So toast it usually is!
After that we try to head outside to beat the heat. The other day I told Emery to go put on her shoes and to get mine out of the closet. I noticed she was taking forever but then she arrived with her shoe pick for me....my heels! Don't they just look wonderful with my jammies ha!?! 
We have turned out back patio into Water Land. Big pool, baby pool and two water tables. I have decided that putting the kids in bathing suits is overrated. By the time I get them in them and outside, they want to go back in. So we strip down to skivvies and play the mid-morning away.
We play and listen to Disney Pandora and Em and I dance around in the pool. The neighbors probably think I am crazy. There is something about playing in water because after this the kids are starving and sleepy. Which is perfecttttt. 
You could have found Auggie and I on the couch like this every afternoon this past week. Such a little stinker. He would sleep for about an hour in his bed and then cry out. The rule-follower Mom inside of me screamed, "Don't pick him up! Do what you are doing at night and just pat his little back and tell him to go back to sleep." But the mushy "I can't believe he is one and before long won't want to cuddle with his Momma" Mom scooped him up and slept for another hour on the couch with him. If I remember anything from this summer I want it to be these afternoons with my boy on my chest. He is making me slow down and just enjoy.
And then he wakes up and craziness ensues. He must know I need the extra rest ha! 
On Wednesday, Doug had to travel to Indianapolis for work and I got to tag along. Even though he was technically working it was still a fun little date day. He needed to drive and look at two spots of land and pick out which he liked better. So that was the day. We drove to Indy, look at this land and drove home.  
Of course we ate a delicious lunch out on the patio which makes things taste even better, I think. 
When we got home we had visitors! Aunt Kaci, Orie and Sharon came for supper and a swim. I don't get to see Kaci (or her sweet little girl) near enough. Really to be honest I don't get to see Sharon, who lives maybe 30 minutes away, near enough either!). Kaci and I can not see or talk to each other in forever but when we get together we pick up right where we left off. And that's what we did seeing as how she stayed until two in the morning, laying on the couch talking. I am way to old to be doing that and in the morning I felt it. But I also really missed that and am ready to plan a late night chat again.
There was no way we were going to change out of pjs on Friday after staying up that late. I begged the kids to take early naps but instead they ran around like crazies. And I am not kidding that they BOTH ran around. We are officially saying that we have a walker! Go Aug! He falls more often than not, but he has places to go and he needs to get there fast. Finally around two I got them both sleeping and I crawled into bed too. Guess who joined me in about an hour....hint: blonde, short, cutest grin ever. I was only mad for a second but then he layed his head down on me and we snoozed off and on until Em woke up at 5. Yay naps! Then it was time for Father's Day weekend to begin!
Feeling refreshed we did get dressed and met Daddy at the door with his Father's Day present. Yes, we knew the actual day wasn't until Sunday, but we thought why wait? We were going to celebrate Doug all weekend!
I caught my littles kissing before we left for Effingham's Foodfest. How stinking cute, right? Their kisses are just as different as their personalities are. Emery puckers up like a fish and Auggie opens his mouth wide and sticks out his little slobbery tongue. 
Emery Kayt was in love with this outfit. She said "I have a 'mingo on my shirt and lotsssssss of 'mingos on my pants!!" And then she argued with me that a 'mingo is not a bird because "birdies are just little."

Besides a new polo, Emery wishing him "Happy Mother's Day" twice and two naps on the couch, we also surprised Daddy with a little movie for Father's Day. Check it out:

I loved her answers. He smells like cows, they watch "Baby Michelle" aka Full House, and he tells her to brush her teeth and go potty. Sounds about right! 
We wanted to do something fun, different and cheap on Saturday. I randomly thought of Lake Sara's beach. We had never been and it is only a couple of minutes from the house. And free. Guess what....the kids (and adults) LOVED it!
Clearly. The beach got many claps from Aug and cheers from Em

What really made it a success was enjoying it with our friends. The Probsts and Uncle Chuck joined us for a little beach getaway. We brought snacks (note that the boys are eating cookies probably covered in sand), waded in the water and attempted to build sand castles.
My best-friend found shells and swam in the deep.
And my sunshine hung out with the boys and only ate about two hand fulls of sand.
Doug and I were so happy with the experience and with it being practically in our back yard, we will be back!
Sunday we wore blue to church to match Daddy and gave him a little extra love.
Emery and Doug have such a special bond. As he told her last night, she made him a Daddy. She has his sense of humor and laughs at everything he does. He is patient (or tries really hard to be) with her and tells her she is beautiful everyday. After I get her ready she cannot wait to "Go show Daddy." He is the reason she says her please and thank-yous and he is also the reason she loves cheeseburgers and sleeps in miss-matched socks. Sometimes at the supper table they will both look at me and be giggling at some inside joke and I am hit by how much she looks like Doug. I hope she is smart like him too. I think she is. It is already becoming clear that she takes after me in her non-competitive girly ways and instead of fighting that, Doug is embracing her little personality yet instilling in her that she can (and should try) to do anything.
Auggie has always been a Momma's boy but as he has gotten older, he is quickly realizing that Daddy is the best. I need to have my camera ready one of these days when Doug gets home from work. Auggie lights up and cannot get to his Daddy fast enough. Doug is the reason he is already in love with all things ball and the reason he thinks burps are funny. I love watching Doug watch Auggie. Already so proud of his little boy. I know he day-dreams of backyard catch and cheering on the Illini. I also know that he will teach him to be respectful and kind and hard-working.
I foresee August wanting to hang with Daddy during the day and cuddle with me at night. And I am a-okay with that. 
One of the reasons I feel for this man was knowing what an amazing father he would be. I cannot imagine doing this whole parent thing without him. He picks up the pieces where I fall short.
Emery, August and I are very, very lucky. 
We are also very lucky to have Grandpa Jim. I love my Dad so much. When I hear Doug telling Emery that he is proud of her or that she will never be too old to give him a hug or sit on his lap I have flash backs to my Dad saying that exact same thing to me. My Dad has always cheered me on in anything I have done and I hope that I have made him proud. I am hoping there are outdoor walks and hunting trips (aka days of lots of life lessons) in my children's futures with Grandpa Jim.
Papa is one of our favorite visitors. For one, he always brings a treat when he comes but he also has the best lap and hugs. My Grandpa catches himself calling Emery "Ashley" and when my Grandma gets on him he just smiles and says, "Well that's the size that Ashley should still be." I know that I am the apple of my Grandpa's eye--I can do no wrong-- and now Emery and Auggie are filling that spot. He watches them with a smile on his face and I can't help but think that that is the same way he has always watched my brothers and I. So special to have my kids receive that same kind of love.
Grandpa Sammy is one of my kids' favorite people. Emery has never not greeted him with a grin from ear to ear and a hug. She just giggles when she is around him and her happiness is contagious. He is a treat giver too and has shared a bowl of ice cream (or jelly) with Emery on many occasions. Again, I love watching him watch Emery and Auggie. He takes in their little personalites and enjoys watching every single kid in his big Jansen crew. I remember watching him with all of the grand-kids and thinking I couldn't wait to add one to the mix. I know Doug thinks the absolute world of his Dad and hopes to be following in his footsteps.
After wishing all of our guys a Happy Father's Day, we played at Aunt Vicki's and again stayed up late and went to bed smelling like sun screen. I am all about these last minute get-togethers and summer nights of fun. Let's do it all over again this week!


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