Let's pull an old lady and discuss the weather.

So, I think it's quite obvious that it's hot. Like crazy, stupid hot. And you know there is nothing I enjoy more than pulling an old lady, and discussing the weather.  It's a gift I have. 

 But I won't drag out the weather talk.  Instead I will talk about our fun morning. 

There are some fountains downtown, and I thought it might be fun to go let the kids run through them. 

I'm sure most cities have something like these. You know water squirting up out of the ground like so..

 This was at 10 in the morning and it was already 95. SEE! I just can't help myself, I HAVE to talk about the weather.

But as long as you are running through the water, it's all good.

Hope was a little intimidated by these last year.

But as you can see...

This year? Not a problem.

Pierce of course is off like a dash, because he's 7, and doesn't need me anymore. And I don't ever cry about that fact either. Nope, not me. 

And you know what else is fun about these fountain things?

You can make them go different directions and get other people wet.  Oh you know, LIKE YOUR MOTHER. And while I might normally complain about something like that? WHEN IT'S 8748956 DEGREES, I DON'T MIND.

And let me share one last super fun thing about these fountains.

This.

Summertime, you mean so much to me now.

Summertime has never been my favorite season, I've always been a fall/winter gal myself. 

But then I had children. 

And one day those children started school, and then it all changed. 

With it now, almost July, I'm beginning to panic. 

I absolutely do not want the kids to go back to school, especially with Hope starting kindergarten. I just want summertime to stay, I guess you could say, I've come to love summertime now. 

Summertime, you mean so much to me now. 

You mean play. 

Lots and lots of play.

You mean freedom.

Free to run.

Free to take daytime naps.

Free to play in a hose.

Just because it's fun.

And you mean friends.

Don't you understand summertime? You mean, I get to keep my kids to myself. So please, I beg of you, don't leave us.

Purple belt!

Pierce has been doing Tae Kwon Do for almost a year and a half. That's a year and a half with no off seasons, and no major breaks. Just year round kicking, blocking and being all Chuck Norris. 

I can tell he's starting to grow tired and bored with it, yet he just doesn't seem to want to quit it either. I will lay money on one thing though, I bet if he quits it, he will regret it within a couple months.

As of now though, we are still chugging along. 

Testing was scheduled the day we were to leave for vacation, so they agreed to let him test the day before. 

The boy he went up again, was quite a bit bigger!

 But once again, he held his own.

Since we were still vacationing during awards time, he didn't get to go through the usual hoopla getting his belt. But he did in fact pass, and he is now officially a purple belt!  (even though it looks totally blue in the picture)

If he sticks it through purple and tests again, he will make it to brown belt, which is a whole different league, and much tougher. We shall see!

Florida wrap up.

We are now home. Surrounded by piles of laundry, an empty refrigerator, and no ocean in sight. 

As much as we miss it, there really is nothing like peeing in your own toilet, and sleeping in your own bed. It's good to be home.

Our last night in Florida, we decided to hit up our favorite spot to eat, the Crab Trap. 

And I may have gone camera crazy that last night.

 I'm hoping as much grief I get for my excessive photo taking, that one day these pictures will be appreciated.

I want to thank my parents for the vacation.

Lord knows it took them to get us there.

And because of their sacrifice to get us there, we had our first beach family vacation in 16 years.

The last time we all went to the beach together, Cody was just a baby, and Nathan and Hope, weren't even around yet.

Nor were these two.

So, that last night I was determined to do two things.

Get us all to the beach for some pictures.

And plant myself there to watch the sunset.

My very favorite time to be at the beach is at night.

The beauty is undeniable.

So, I just sat there and took it all in and got all reflective. I do that at times.

 Thankful for my family, and what a blessing they are.

Thankful for God's creation. 

And thankful for a great week.

Until we meet again....