under the magnolia tree

 What a great start to summer!  Here's what we did in June.

We went strawberry picking which resulted in a strawberry pie, strawberry ice cream, strawberry shortcake, and strawberry crepes!

 This big boy finally got potty trained!  I was waiting for him to show signs that he was ready but I was getting nervous since he needs to be potty trained for preschool in the fall.  One day he decided to do it and he hasn't looked back.  So much easier than I thought and he loves his super hero undies!

 We've done lots of sidewalk chalk.  We've dipped it in water to get stronger colors.  We've drawn big fires and then "called" the fire department to come put it out.  This meant someone had to run and get the hose and put out the fire!  This also gave us practice for dialing 911 and giving out our address.  They loved this.

Magnolia and her neighborhood friends had a lemonade stand.

 George built a fence in the yard.  It was just an extension of the existing fence to close off the backyard.  While there's no gate on it, it has kept the kids in the backyard and it's starting to feel a little more private.

 We have done a lot of water play.  Sprinklers, slip and slide, and wading pool.  This water activity was a huge hit; water balloons hanging from the tree.  They loved swinging them around waiting for them to break.  Then they got out their bats and swung at them, it made great practice for hand eye coordination.

 We've gone to the beach a few times.  It is such a treat to be able to ride our bikes in the evening to play in the sand and water.

Other things we've been doing:

• Magnolia's tennis lessons four times a week. 
• Magnolia's Tball games twice a week.  
• Outdoor concert.
• Swimming at Nana and Papa's pool.
• Make popsicles. (lemonade with fresh blueberries dropped in)
• Eating outside as much as possible.
• Birthday parties.
• Getting around town this summer on bike and burley.
• Signed up for library book club.  Magnolia has to read 400 pages, George 200.  
• Watering our vegetable garden on our upstairs deck.
• Play baseball in our backyard using chair cushions for the bases.
• Spending a lot of time on our screened porch.  I love having coffee out there and lounging with Magnolia in the afternoons.

Summer has been wonderful so far.  We love spending summer through the eyes of a child!  Farewell June, can't wait to see what July has in store for us!

And in case our summer sounds like wine and roses, here are the not so pretty summer happenings around here:

• George pushed a slice of american cheese through the screen on our porch and it's still there.
• Magnolia fell out of her bed and smacked her head hard on the hardwood floor.
• George hasn't gotten his aim down when he goes potty.  I spend a lot of time wiping up urine.
• Magnolia continues to need naps.  She can be nearly impossible when she's tired.
• George loves his naps so much that we are pretty housebound most of the afternoon.
• When George built our fence he hit a water line in our sprinkler system, turning our $200 fence into a $500 fence.
• Magnolia still cries when I take her to birthday parties.
• George has started to tell Magnolia she's mean, bad, or stupid.
• George has taken to not wearing shoes and I've decided that he just doesn't have to wear them unless the sign says "no shirt, no shoes, no service."
• George also loves his new found freedom of no diaper.  Backyard, fine.  Running down the street naked, no.
• I tell myself I'll someday have all the time in the world for a clean house but I would still love a clean house now.