Not his best day ever.

It had all the makings to be an awesome day: his best friends, water, sunshine.

It just didn't turn out that way.

We arrived at the new water park just as Andrea and Paola did. Lane got excited when he saw his best friend. He got even more excited when he saw the water squirting out of the ground and falling from the sky.

After a quick lunch, the two of them ran right for the water.



Instantly, the fun began.

Soon after, the rest of the crew arrived.

Even this little guy was having a blast.


But best friends and baby brothers can't always make things better. A slip on the concrete with a bonk to the back of the head got him crying first. Then, a big bucket of water fell right on top of him, which caused him to stand screaming in the middle of the park. Then, after all of my encouragement to get him back in the game, a big kid ran in to him and hit him right on his head again.

No amount of mama love could convince him to make his way back in the water, so he spent the rest of the time at the park doing this: watching George on my phone.




I let his brother soak up a little more sun and fun. Then decided to call it quits.


His bad mood was becoming contagious.

Little lovebirds.

June 4 marked a very special day for these two best friends - their two year anniversary. At six months old, these two had their very first play date. Who knew then that they would become such good friends.

With Andrea's mama and papa attending a wedding that evening, and Lane's mama and papa celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary, the day was too filled to get these two together.

So, Paola and I arranged a little morning date via Skype.

Oh, young love.

They showed each other their Chuck E. Girls.

And Andrea showed Lane her new Mickey Mouse or Chuck E. Cheese as we call him at our house.

Then Andrea showed Lane ALL of her stuffed animals. Lane showed her his new camo Monster Jam and his Braves hat.

Then, Lane really pulled out all the stops when he went and got his Papa so he could show Andrea his new BB gun.

He's a charmer that Lane.



The two chatted for about half an hour until I mentioned lunch - with a ham sandwich. Now we know Lane loves Andrea but we also know how much Lane loves lunch. So, he told her good-bye and then leaned in for a quick kiss.

Oh to be young and in love.

Big blue mess.

The bright blue bottle with the unique shape stood out from the others in the bubble aisle, and we got sucked in by the marketing just as Crayola wants.

I payed twice as much as I would have for a normal bottle of bubbles but it is summer and you are only two (and 34) once, so why not.

We waited until Evan's morning nap and then headed outside with the bubble machine for some fun.

Boy did we have fun. We blew bubbles for nearly an hour.

And when we were done, my child and my back deck was a big blue mess.











Be sureto pick up some colored bubbles this summer. Then be prepared for your child to be a big mess - and for your husband to ban you from bubble blowing on the back deck.

Best day ever.

Last week, a friend invited us to hang with her at her friend's house. We were told there would be swimming pools, a slip and slide and a bunch of outdoor toys.

Count us in.

I'm glad we went because it was pretty much the best day Lane has had all summer. I'm pretty sure he thinks Gracie and Jackson's house is the coolest house he's ever visited.


Anniston was the youngest babe there - aside from Evan who isn't quite ready for the slip and slide - but she didn't let that slow her down. In fact, she tackled that toy more than any other kid.


Her big sister Kaylee preferred to go down with the slide.

Gracie took things slow.

Oh there's Buddha baby.

Then, the day got even better when Jackson found his frog. This is no ordinary frog. He's not a pet frog. He's a common backyard frog - who happens to love hanging out with the kids. I'm not lying when I tell you that frog got passed from kid to kid for at least two hours.

He even went swimming in the pool.

Remember I said Lane loves Jackson and Gracie's house. Here's another reason why - a kid size Jeep.

Oh, and Lane was driving with Kaylee as the passenger but she didn't like how he was driving. Or the directions he was "following". So, out he went. She insisted she drive.

Us mamas couldn't stop laughing.

And Evan couldn't stop smiling. This kid really is so happy.

Oh, there's that frog. Taking a turn on the slip and slide.

Another reason Lane loved going to "Kaylee's two pools" as he keeps saying.

Gracie and Jackson's mom Jenica taking them on four wheeler rides.

Just like my papa, Lane told her.


The frog took a ride in the the toy boat too. I'm telling you this is no ordinary frog. He even jumped on the trampoline with the kids.

And hung out on Jackson's head!

Lane didn't want the best day ever to end. By nap time, he could hardly stand up.

Hopefully, we get invited back again.

Parking lot carnival.

As soon as Papa saw the trucks pull in to the parking lot beside his office, he'd knew I'd be excited to take Lane to the tiny carnival. We decided to go on opening night, and asked the grandparents to join us.

As soon as we pulled up, Lane exclaimed, "I'm so excited. Look at all dat stuff. I see dat merry go round."

See, he is like me - just a little. Cheap, small, parking lot carnivals excite him.

His cousin Lizzie Mae also showed up for the carnival.

First ride - the merry go round, of course. It is kind of our thing. We like to pick out which animal Lane will ride before hand.

This time, we had the merry go round all to ourselves. And this ride went much faster than our usual merry go round.


Next up, the spinning bears. Lane picked the purple bear. We convinced Lizzie Mae to ride with us.

Just for a few seconds - until the adults got dizzy and Lizzie Mae got upset.

It wasn't that great of a ride any way.

Lane and I then found the flying elephants. Awesome. A great way to cool off on a hot night - and lots of fun.

As the elephant went up in the air, Lane kept saying, "I like it. I like it."




Evan's favorite ride of the night - Papa. He snoozed in the Ergo for most of the night. It was well past his bed time. He's a good sport though.

Lane convinced me to climb all the way to the top of the fun slide.
Climbing up and looking down - not so fun.
Going down - fun.
Lots of fun.

So much fun, Lizzie Mae wanted to ride down over and over

and over again.

While Lane moved on the the bouncy house, she insisted her mama stay right there at the slide.

Eventually, the kiddos got tired - although they wouldn't admit it - and the parents got hot. So we packed it up and called it a night.

Good-bye parking lot carnival. It was real.

Now, I just have two weeks of taking the long way to Papa's office so Lane doesn't see that the carnival is still in town.

Because he keeps talking about that merry go round.