Saturday, in the park...well, technically it was our backyard

But it's such a great song, who can resist? Cute story...Beth and I have been friends since I was a teenager. When she told me in 2004 that me she was expecting, I was so happy for her...a little jealous, but happy nonetheless. I found out less than a week later that I was also pregnant. We had the same doctors, took the same Childbirth Classes (I thought for sure we were going to get kicked out...we could NOT take it seriously!!) And we had the exact same due dates - Jan 9th. Ella came early, Afton came late (she takes after me). And now here we are...best friends whose little girls are best friends; how very Old Navy of us. But I digress. Last Saturday my BFF, Beth and Afton's BFF, Ella, came over to play. We hooked up the Slip & Slide and the Beach Ball Sprinkler. Those two monkeys had so much fun!!

I can't remember whose idea it was to put the roller coaster in the sprinkler, but it was pure genious!!

And then there was this little hole in our backyard...

I don't know why - but I really like this one...maybe it's the rain boots, or the muddy toes...whatever.

Thanks for coming over girls!! We had so much fun!!

My Mom Rocks

My mom is a champ!! I become such a baby when Joe is out of town...and she doesn't mind letting Afton and I crash at her house, or riding around town running errands with us. Last weekend we took Afton to pick strawberries at Lewis Nursery...they have made me a berry snob. They're berries are so yummy!! And did I mention the homemade ice cream? Here are some of the pictures...

Kids Say (& Do) the Darndest Things!!

Since Joe has been in Peru for the last 2 weeks, I've let a lot of things around the house slide. There are only so many hours in a day, and if my time has to be spent A) doing the dishes or B) reading an extra book to Afton before bed...then chances are I'm going to be reading the book. Not only because I love to read to her, but also because it's about the only time she lets us snuggle with her anymore. And, seriously...can you think of a better reason to skip the dishes? I can't. So, anyway, Afton has been trying to "help" more around the house - and I've been letting her. The other day I was folding laundry in the living room and I could hear her putzing around in the kitchen, I asked her what she was doing and she said "cleaning dishes". I let it go, because usually that just means she has the water on and is rinsing a bowl over, and over, and over again. A few minutes later she came into the living room and said, "Mommy, something is very wrong in there." I said, "What's very wrong?" and she said, "Just follow me". So I did...and this is what one ENTIRE bottle of Ivory dish soap + one sink full of water + one 4 year old little girl will get you:

As a prelude to the following segment, let me tell you that we've been working with Afton on familial relationships (Grandma is mommy's mommy, Papa is daddy's daddy, etc...) and she's getting pretty good at it.

I took Afton to Wal-Mart with me last Saturday night to pick up some things for a (really cute!) Mother's Day Sharing Time. As we got in line, a man stepped in right behind us that looked very much like my dad - whom/who??? Afton calls "Poppy". Never the shy child, Afton looked at this poor, unsuspecting gentlemen and said "Are you a poppy?" Once he realized what she was asking he said very sweetly "Oh, no, honey. I'm too young to be a grandpa. But this is my son." and he introduced us to his son who was probably 19 or 20 years old. Afton looked at the two of them for a moment and asked "If you're a poppy, is your son my daddy?". I prayed for lightening to strike, or the earth to open up and swallow me whole...anything. This man's poor son looked TERRIFIED!! I couldn't think of anything to say that could save us from this horrifying, painfully embarassing moment that wouldn't make it sound like we all needed to visit the Maury Povich show. I just looked at Afton and laughed a little and said "You silly girl, you know your daddy is on a business trip." (At least, I think that's what I said...the details are a bit fuzzy...I think I'm repressing the more traumatic moments). And I know that the man she was talking to was thinking "Yeah, right lady; a business trip." When I told that story at dinner on Mother's Day, I think my sister spewed water out of her nose because she laughed so hard.