The "Dairy"

Some friends and I took our kids to a local "dairy" that had free "tours" and some yummy homemade ice cream.  Well...the company and ice cream didn't disappoint. :) hahaa.

I guess since I grew up on a farm, had friends who were dairy farmers, and knew others in both categories, my expectation of what a dairy should or would be was apparently way off the radar with this place.

My favorite part was the free tour.  Yeah, it was a sign that pointed to path which took you back to a barn, where a bunch of cows were just lounging around.  That was it.  Phew these cows STUNK.  Megan wouldn't go near, haha, she just stayed up on the little hill behind us and watched.  I love that girl.  The barn was a just a barn.  No stalls, no high tech milking quarters, nada.  Just cows in a bunch of poop and mud, or maybe just poop. hahahaa.  The kids still thought it was lots of fun. 

There was this random chicken wondering around too, and you should have seen Carter.  His friends were impressed by his chicken knowledge.  You see, my parents have chickens, and Carter's job when we are in WA is to take care of them and to gather the eggs, so Carter is pretty confident around them.  Makes me proud!  We also wondered down to these little huts, off the beaten path, which had tons of baby chicks in it.  Again, Carter and even Megs were able to tell all the kids all about their Grandpa's baby chicks. My little wanna be farm kids showing off.  :)

We loved the ice cream afterwards, and of course couldn't miss the opportunity for some group photos!  We have some really, really good friends here, and we love going out on fun outings with them! 

Derrick LOVED the cows.

Megan and Sammy, and nope, they didn't plan their outfits.  

The inside of the barn.

This picture cracks me up because Megan and Carter are both doing some weird face.

Jake and Derrick, living the good life.

Summer Lovin'

This park nearby does free lunches for kids every week, as a sort of get out of the house and get exercise incentive.  The kids get the lunch and then they get charms for running laps.  My kids LOVE going to this place.  Carter runs at least 4 laps everytime.  Free lunch and a chance to wear my kids out, yes please! 

Anyways, after the lunch and run we usually go down to the creek or park afterwards. Here are the kids with their friends from our ward.  I love the swimsuit Megs is wearing because it always hikes up on her right bum cheek. hahahaa.

Derrick is not too hot on the water. 

Dear Friends

Dear Friends,

I am sorry I am so terrible at corresponding.  I've never been good at keeping in great touch, just ask, well.., any of you. If any still read this blog anymore....  I blame it on my children.  I can do that, you know.  My kids have this thing with taking up all.of.my.TIME.  They also somehow know when I am on the phone, even if I am in the other room, and decide that they need to raise their voices/screeches/cries to the highest and loudest level possible. That is generally why I don't call.  Why don't I email then?  Because that phone radar also extends to the computer.  The moment I'm at the computer they are pulling on my leg, dragging my chair away, pushing the keys, or just plain sitting on my lap.  I'm only able to write this blog post because it is 10:45 at night and I am graciously giving up my oh so precious child free time to you.  Feel honored, because as you are aware, I don't do this often.  My blog is hardly visited anymore because of that fact. 
My kids have also sucked away my memory and other important brain functions.  So if I promised to keep in touch, it's not because I don't like you, or that I lied, it's because I can't remember. The other day it took me like 10 min. to remember the name of my BANK.  So sad.  I used to be witty and somewhat funny (and humble :) ), at least some humored me and told me that. I used to be somewhat intelligent too. I could remember things very well.  Not anymore.  I'm not graceful, not that I ever was, or coordinated anymore either, I fell down the stairs today as proof.
So bottom line, my friends, is that I BEG you to be patient with me.  Love me anyways.  Please still be my friend. Don't give up on me!  I'm not depressed, or hating my life or my kids, I promise, but I do get sad sometimes thinking that my choice to be a mother made me lose tight friendships.  I wouldn't trade it, I have the bestest of friends in my husband and kids, but a girl needs her girls and friends, and well, I get the feeling I'm losing you all. Did you know that not even my parents read this blog? 
So love me.  And if you feel like I'm not leaving comments on YOUR blog, believe me I've tried, but as mentioned, computer typing time is rare.  But I do read them.
ALSO, as a bribe, I've renewed and UPGRADED my Children's Museum passes and zoo passes to a plus 2, which means I get to take 2 guests with me, SO PLEASE COME VISIT ME!!!!

Love,
Your onetime good friend,
Cassidy

Independence Day Fun

We started the 4th of July by going to a "fun" run.  Carter ran the 1 mile race on his own, and Cassidy ran pushing the other two kids in the stroller all the way.  They had a pretty steep hill to run up, and Cassidy made it up pushing two kids in the stroller.  I barely made it up on my own when I had to go pick up the car after the race.  I was very impressed by their finish time, and Carter came in just ahead of Cassidy and the stroller.  The pictures below show the kiddos getting their medals (notice that Megan hadn't worked up quite as much sweat as the others), and the courageous crew after the race.

After the race, I came home and took a little nap (I worked the night before), while Cassidy and the kids did something.  I don't really know what they did; I was sleeping. (Cassidy insert--We went to the mall to get free stuff from Radio Disney and then we went to McDonalds for lunch and to get out of the crazy heat!)  But we headed downtown early in the afternoon to spot out some good seats for the Indianapolis Indians baseball game.  We had tickets to an earlier game that was rained out, so we needed to redeem them sometime.  We figured the 4th of July game would be good, since they were having fireworks afterward.  One of my favorite memories growing up was going to Mariners games with my dad and Travis (the reason why I still faithfully watch the Mariners despite the fact they haven't had a winning season in a decade).  Anyways, it was really fun taking the kids to the game, even though they could care less the game was going on. 

Victory Field has lawn seating all around the outfield where you can bring in your own food and let the kids play.  It was a ton of fun, even if it was 100+ degrees out during most of the game.  You can probably tell from everybody's red faces.  We probably went through a couple gallons of water and a couple Icee's.  After the game they had a great fireworks show in the stadium, and then walking to our car we got to see the downtown fireworks show.  All in all, it was a fun, hot 4th of July.

More Fun

We bought a little pool and a slip n' slide a couple weeks ago, and the kids played on them a couple times before it got unbearably hot outside.  Megan never got too brave on the slip n' slide, but Carter had a lot of fun.  Hopefully, when the weather gets back down to double digits, the kids will venture outside some more.

They also have a new Hot Wheels exhibit at the Children's Museum.  I think it may be my favorite one yet.  They have a bunch of life size "Hot Wheels" cars and a ton of tracks set up with plenty of cars to experiment with.  Carter had fun climbing up over and over again to send his cars down a huge ramp.  We probably spent a couple hours here, and the kids never really got sick of it.

Megan's FIRST Haircut

ACK!!!  I can't believe I finally mustered up the courage to take Megan to get a haircut.  She needed one. BADLY.  Her hair was getting too long to comb.  She hated having me do it, which was a sign that it was time...time for her to grow up...time for me to let go. 

Why did it take me so long?  Because look at that hair!  It's gorgeous.  Not to mention that natural curl at the bottom that was left over from when she was my baby.... I really really REALLY had a hard time parting with those curls (still do, to be honest).  Oh my baby.  Why, oh why, do they grow up so fast??  I'm not ready for this stage in my life. 

Anyways, she had about 4 inches trimmed off.  She still has long hair, but now it's manageable.  It's a little past her shoulders, and Meg loves it.  She does look quite cute with it too, if I do say so myself. 

Summer Fun

I have really tried to get my kids out of the house this summer and get in some nice fresh air. We take turns between going to parks, splash pads, swimming pools, lunch bunches, and anything else that suits our fancy.

It has been crazy hot here these past few weeks, with no rain, so usually our activities only take up the morning. That's fine with me!  It leaves the whole afternoon open for the glorious nap time. ;)

Below our some pictures taken at the splash pad.  I would like you to note that my kids are not IN the splash pad.  Nope, they are playing on the playground right next to the pad.  You might also notice that they are wearing their swimming suits and that, no, the suits are NOT wet.  That would be because my kids are wimps.  They HATE getting splashed in the face, so they don't even bother going near the soakers.  So why do we still go?  Because MY friends are there, and I need a fun summer, just as much as my kids :), and also because I keep hoping against hope that each time we go, THIS will be the day they go crazy in the splash pad.  Hasn't happened yet.  I still have four weeks left of summer though....Although to be fair, Carter has gotten in a couple times, for like a couple of minutes, at the end, which to me kinda makes it not count.  Why is it always at the end of the activity that they decide to join in???

Megan and her best buddy, Max.  Max's mom and I have high hopes that they will meet up at BYU one day, fall in love, and get married.  No pressure, right?