Tamism

While Tam and I are lounging in the kiddie pool...Jude decides to exit and commence crawling away like he's on an important mission.

Me: I wonder where Jude is crawling off to?
Tam:  He's off investigating.

Our kids watch too much science stuff on tv...
But that's cool with me.

Fourth of July

 Happy Fourth of July!

Here it was HOT HOT HOT, but luckily we've got the kiddie pool and central air.

Like previous years, we ventured out in the morning for our local neighborhood parade at 8:30am.  This parade is one of the longest running ones in the county, I think?  It is mostly composed of local kids on bikes, cub scouts, politicians, and emergency vehicles...plus there is candy and it is short.  The parade route is only 5 blocks from our house, so we walk on up to it.  The past couple of years I have marched with the conglomerate band, but they didn't need drummers this year so I drafted Brian to take my place with his trombone.  This meant that I had kiddo duty :-)

We found a nice shady corner to sit on to view the parade.

 Yes, Jude has turned himself around in his stroller, the stinker.




The parade started with a gun salute and fire trucks with their sirens wailing.  Tam LOVED it, but Jude wasn't too sure about these noisy vehicles.

 Here's a photo of the band, consisting of locals who may not have pulled out their instruments since last July 4th :-)  Can you find Brian?

 

 Here's a closer snap of Brian with his trombone.  He says that he got the hang of the music by the second play through; It was Hail to the Chief.


By the end of the parade, we were all Hot and sticky...someone on a float tossed out icee pops, which were a cool relief but created wonderful messes.  I think it was already close to 90 degrees by 9am here and horrid humidity.

After the parade, we met up with our friends and their two kids.  We all walked on back to our home for the cool relief of the AC and a little backyard fun with squirt bottles of water.


The rest of the day, we laid low and tried to keep cool.

Though, I can't wait until the boys get a bit older and can stay up late enough to watch fireworks.  The Boston Pops show on TV isn't quite the same as seeing these pyrotechnic burst of color live.

Wordless Wednesday: Trains

 We've collected a number of Geotrax since Tamlin first set for his last birthday.  Our latest addition was a train/semi-truck and lumber mill from Nana.  This means that now we have enough trains so that both boys can play at the same time with a bit fewer sharing problems.  Both boys love the trains, and Brian and I love twisting our imaginations to set up cool tracks.

Our first backyard fire

 Brian got a firepit as a Father's Day / Happy Aniversery present.  One early evening after dinner, we tested it out...

 Brian drags out some stored twigs to start 'er up.  

He prides himself on not having to use lighter fluid...so manly.

Nosey Jude decides to "help" by inspecting the sticks.

 With a swoop, I've got Jude away from the soon to be flaming zone and onto my lap.  

He's mesmerized by the fire...and getting so big!

 Then Jude decides to gnaw on my knee?

 And we have flames!  What fun!

Time for marshmallows!

I decide to give Tam a haircut...he gets so hot with all that hair under his hat in the summertime.

I buzz him down to an eight of an inch.

We call him Captain Fuzzy-Head now.

Jude likes marshmallows too :-)

I only trimmed up the back of his hair so it didn't look like a mullet. His hair isn't quite as thick as Tam's and it still has the ash blond coloring which turns reddish in the sun.

We then just sat around watching the flames for a bit...at least, until bedtimes.

Ramblings from Tamlin

Scenario 1: While I am sitting at the table eating lunch, Tamlin comes over.

Tam: Momma, can I see here?
(Indicates my lap)

Me: Okay, but I'm eating lunch.

Tam: Momma, you're soft and warm.

Me: Aww...thanks, Tam!
(And I give him a big hug)

Meanwhile, during this loving hug, his little fingers dart out to snag a fry off of my plate!

Scenario 2:  While we are playing outside in the wading pools, Tam jumps out and goes over to the bucket o' toys.

Tam: I'm doing Science, Mom!
(He shouts this proudly)

Me: Awesome, my little man.
(As I wonder what he means by this)

Tam takes the shovel toy over to the pool and shouts:  "Sink or float, Momma?"
(He then waits for me to answer)

Me: Floats

Tam throws the shovel in and exclaims in delight that it floats.
(Repeat this for nearly 10 different toys from the bucket...the pool is looking a bit clogged now).

But, my heart is extremely warmed by hearing him trying "experiments"!