It's been hot around here lately. Really, really hot. Which is exactly how I prefer summer to be (although a tad less humid). Anyway, we've been enjoying our summer days outside in smaller doses this week with frequent trips into the house or the pool to cool off.

I love these pictures of Miles from earlier in the week. We met some friends at the park for the final summer concert, and he had a blast climbing the rocks and running around.

His wilted face.

With his main gal, Ruby.

Miles has been immersed in swim lessons recently. It gives me a chance for some one-on-one time in the big pool with John. He's getting to like the big pool better, and he's hard to keep in one place once we get out to dry off.

Sweet summer legs, bites, bruises and all.

While Josh travelled this past week, we made a quick trip to Fort Thomas for an overnight with my parents. We made a trip to the aquarium on Wednesday morning. John wanted to swim with the fish while Miles tried to "catch" the jellyfish.

On Friday, our friends Erica and Jeff Fritsche came into town with their adorable kids. We loved catching up with them, watching our kids play, and getting together with some other HC friends.

Then we capped off the weekend with a summer cook-out with the Habeggers. Miles enjoyed playing with his cousins and riding their roller coaster.

18 Months

A little about what our 18 month old is up to these days...

John is ON.THE.GO! He loves to explore everything; to tear things apart - drawers, bookcases, you name it; Archie; chasing, playing, and wrestling with Miles; eating anything he can get his hands on; and playing in the bathroom (specifically the tub). He loves to watch for trucks on the road and in the neighborhood and must know all of their names already since he cranes his neck to see out whenever Miles names the truck he sees on the road. John is very vocal and very happy. I love to go into his room in the morning and see his happy smiling face. He is truly a joy to us!

4th of July

We spent our holiday weekend with Lucie and Kurt in Nashville while the boys stayed with Lolly and Poppy in Fort Thomas. They swam, played in the sand, met a new friend, ate lots, napped little, visited the zoo, and took in a parade. Whew. They had a blast and have been recovering since.

Josh and I got to hang out with our best buddies, ate lots, slept little, took in the U2 concert, drove a lot, and also had a blast. {Side - the U2 concert was the best show any of us had ever seen. Lu has the pictures of the stage and from the show. Very hot but we had great seats (in Vandy's football stadium) and have never seen a production like it. It gave me chills, even in the extreme heat.}

We picked up the boys on Monday and had a low key rest of our day. I think we were all to tired to do much. Miles was really into the giant tractor in the neighbor's driveway (leftover from the parade). John liked hanging out on the trailer. Then it was early to bed for all of us. We heard the fireworks going off but couldn't make it to watch them.

Ahhh...

Is how my day has sounded. The boys started summer school today for the next 4 Thursdays.

Just before the start of school.

I worried a little about John. He doesn't much care for being away from me. He, however, didn't do too badly. He cried a little after I dropped him off, but he seemed pretty happy when I picked him up. He was definitely happy to see me. Miles was my crier, but just for my benefit while I was still in his room. When I walked past 2 minutes later, he was fine.

After dropping the boys off I headed to Target to indulge in a little retail therapy and burn some time until the pool opened. Then I spent the rest of my morning poolside with a book. Lovely. I will definitely enjoy my next 4 Thursday mornings. :)

A couple of pictures of the boys from this week-

Catching Up

It always takes me a little while to catch up after being away from home for a few days. Catching up on laundry. Catching up on sleep.

Catching up on all of the little things around the house, like blogging... So, here is me catching up on the blog.

Last week John finally let go and started to walk on his own. He is already a pro going backward, forward, turning around, all like he's been doing this for months. Which, of course, he has been. Just with the added stability of something else (ie mommy's finger, his push cart, etc.). This makes my back feel a lot better.

Miles is obsessed with sticks. And around this house, we have lots.

One of my favorite blogs to read is katherinemariephotography.com. She is so creative and has so many fun ideas of great things to do with kiddos. So I borrowed her weekly theme idea and did a Fish Week. This way I could incorporate some educational things into our week without boring poor Miles too much.

{Lots of Goldfish eating, frozen fishies in the water table, chalk fish, feeding the ducks - and fish - and adding some real fish to our little pond}

{Fish books, Fish color matching and counting game}

Fish Week wouldn't be complete without a chance to swim like the fishies. This little fish preferred to sit on the pool deck and throw shoes into the pool.

While this fish preferred to practice his jumping and throwing. As if the latter needed more practice! :)

On Sunday we headed south with a big group of friends to Holiday World. We stayed in RVs and did lots of cooking out and visiting. The kids had a blast - there were 16 of them! Miles loved the wave pool best.

John loved Ruby's spaghetti the best.

Miles also adored "driving" the golf cart all over the place!

While we were there we celebrated one very special Daddy... (and talked to and thought of our very special daddies, too).

Yesterday I took the boys down to Fort Thomas for the day to visit with my parents and my Uncle Ned who is in town from Idaho. All last week Miles kept talking about going to "Poppy's house" and knew just how many nights we had left until we went. Oh, Poppy and Maggie's house (the first name thing has spread to my mom now). :)

Now we're home for awhile. Still catching up on that laundry...

A few pictures of the boys from the last week -

We've hit the splash park a couple of times...

(John loves it, too!)

Miles enjoyed a bomb pop...

And John enjoyed it after Miles was finished and had discarded it on the ground.

And my favorite - Miles has a trundle underneath his bunk which currently does not have a mattress. In our effort to find the missing computer mouse last week, Josh pulled the bunk away from the wall and found ALL THIS STUFF behind the bed. You know, lost books, pages from books, underwear, wipes, etc. Miles dug right in to reading some of the missing books.

We also had a special visit from Lolly on Saturday. And due to predicted bad weather along her route home, she spent the night, too! Such a treat to have my mama here for part of the weekend, although we missed having dad along, too.

Grown-Up Getaway

Josh and I had a little getaway last week to Washington, DC. His company sponsored a table at a big Marriott fundraiser so we attended on their behalf.

We stuck around for a few extra days and enjoyed the sites and eats.

It was so nice to have a few days of just the two of us, but we sure did miss our boys. They stayed in Berne with Grandma and Grandpa, and I'm not sure that they wanted to come home. The acted appropriately enthusiastic to see us when we picked them up, though.