May can be summarized in a few different ways.
Category 1: The Helpers.
Taft helped Erik install a hitch on our van. We wanted to take our bikes to Utah and the only feasible way seemed to install a hitch and get a hitch bike rack. Erik ordered the hitch on Amazon. It was quite funny when it arrived and the bemused mailman knocked on our door with a large, heavy hitch. I was impressed with the strength of these fine, strapping men to install such a heavy hitch.
Joel helped cut the watermelon for dinner. Joel was happy and proud to help. He did not want me to participate in anyway. He carefully and diligently did his part.
We have started working together as a family to clean up dinner. This is the kind of help the kids aren't always quite as eager to offer, and sometimes it is hard to get everyone to stick around to do their jobs. But when they do, clean up goes pretty fast and we all work together!
We made delicious chocolate chocolate chip cookies for a Saturday night activity!
Category 2: The Funny Things Kent Collects
Kent's bathroom sink collection:
Notice how cute he is on his tippy toes so he can see what he's collected!
Kent's pebble collection, stored in his diaper.
Kent likes to throw rocks over his head at the playground, but they don't get very far. They mostly land on his head, roll down his back, and land in his diaper.
Alyssa confessed she built the tower, but it looks like a Kent collection.
Kent often throws things in his bed throughout the day so that he is prepared for when he has to be trapped in there.
Category 3: The Friends to whom We Said Good-bye
Many of our friends have moved away because it's that time of year and the much anticipated graduations are happening. We said good bye to a few friends ahead of time because the work could be done from home and there are more appealing places to live than deep in the heart of Texas during the summer.
The Browns
Helen - she lived next door and would play outside with the kids. She was very dramatic and often danced around, swirling her dress and looking adorable.
The Roys and the Powers - both are still in Texas; the Powers still in Austin.
The Hatches were our number one playground buddies from the day they moved in last June until COVID hit. We spent hours together outside, no matter the weather.
Not pictured are the Haderlies, the Stanleys, the Shepherds, the Vergas', and Ayse and Aysa Farah. We are blessed to have known all of these people. We truly lived in this complex at a unique and wonderful time! It was so fun to have so many families around all of the time. There never really was a dull moment!
Category 4: The Bike Rides We Took
Erik and the kids went on a few bike ride/runs together. I don't know all the details. Alyssa was often the heroine, carrying bikes up impassable trails or pulling Joel in the trailer.
Category 5: The Matching Clothes We Wore
Argentina for the win! Erik had a variety of Argentine soccer jerseys and the kids have each claimed one and wear them as PJs. Joel calls it his "ballerina jammies" because Alyssa taught them some ballet moves one night when they were wearing them.
Erik found these shirts on clearance at Walmart for $1.
Category 5: The Ways We Slept
I love to see how the kids are sleeping. Kent loves all 4 of his blankies and sleeps with them close to his face.
Joel fell asleep with his legs up at an angle.
A view from the outside.
Sometimes when sleep overcomes you, you just can't get your pants pulled up...
Alyssa doesn't often nap, but when she does...
Category 6: The Hikes and Runs We Went On
Erik and I ran around Lake Lewisville a couple of times while visiting Dallas. One time we found this catfish carcass.
Erik took Alyssa and Taft on a bike ride around the lake trail. Kent and Joel and I met them near the turtle portion along Barton Creek.
This duck was hoping for a snack, which we did no have.
Category 7: The Food We Ate
Kent got a pancake just like him!
The kids made "drone" pretzels when we borrowed Papa's drone for a few days.
Taft put so much whipped cream on his French toast that when he picked it up to eat it, all the cream fell right off!
Joel likes to notice the colors his tongue turns when he eats certain foods.
Category 8: Nana's House
We took a couple of trips up north in June. One was over Mother's day, the other was over Memorial day.
Playing balloon toss with little kids is interesting. The balloons don't last very long unless they are normal balloons filled with water.
Nana asked for a thumbs up. This is what she got...
Taft used his thumb but it is almost as straight as Archie's index finger.
Category 9: The Things We Do To Not Go Crazy
After being home for a few weeks, we decided we needed some excitement. Erik found this car wash for us to visit so that we could wash our car and get some entertainment! There was also a dinosaur that spit when you drove under it!
This was a little kayak, canoe, raft trip we took at Nana's.
Erik has made good use of our very small bedroom. It is an excellent maker space, especially if you can use the bed as a surface.
Category 10: The Sweetness We Showed
I caught Taft reading Joel a book about animals.
Category 11: The Haircuts We Received
Kent got his first buzz haircut. He had the sweetest curls, but it was getting a little gross. Erik did the honors.
That's all folks! There were some good times in May. They got even better in June and July. Stay tuned!
