Will the mechanic

Yesterday during our morning playtime, the kids played on their little riding toys. Will drove Mater and I helped Maggie drive her ladybug. Will had to race, of course, and after a few laps Maggie and I returned to another activity. I thought he was still racing, but instead he was busy working on the ladybug- it was broke, you see, and he had to fix it. I heard him from the other room stating he was at the garage fixing Maggie's ladybug car. Then he strolls into the living room with the bug in tow. So cute! I realize it doesn't take much imagination to use a tow for its intended purpose, but I still found it the coolest idea ever. (Biased mommy)

returning the restored car to a happy customer

Naturally, he has continued his towing and mechanic business because it's a cool new thing he's started doing and because mommy got such a big kick out of it the first time. Later he showed me his garage and I help him set-up a station for fixing, air inflation and painting damaged vehicles. (The sprayer does all three)

And just a couple things I've written down lately:

6/17

I had a terrible dream. We were at the beach and there was a kid that turned into a monster and if you were outside he'd eat you!

6/18

W: I don't like my daddy getting stronger 

M: How come?

W: 'Cause the stronger he gets, the stronger his spankings get

Father's Day

Boy am I late posting this! Daniel had a pretty good father's day this year (at least I didn't hear any complaints.) First, he didn't have to drive anywhere since we returned from vacation the day before, he slept in, opened gifts and went to a Chinese buffet for dinner. I am a not big fan of them myself, but Daniel could pretty much eat Chinese, buffet or otherwise, every day of the week. I didn't even argue, it's father's day and we just went.
Daniel- thank you so much for being a great daddy, even the lady at WalMart said so. :) This is your last one with two kids- from here on out you'll have three little ones climbing on top of you for father's day- and every other day for that matter. I am blessed to call you my husband and grateful to share this parenting journey with you. Looking back on our years together, it's crazy just how much things have changed and I'm glad you're the man God chose for me to face those changes and challenges. You're my steady, you keep me grounded, you keep the chaos from this home and I love you. Happy Father's Day!

Will gives daddy a massage

Beach Vacation- Saturday, June 16

If I were to make a video montage or slideshow of our trip, this would be the part where I'd add "Closing Time." Not sure why, but that song plays in my head as I look through these pictures and write about this day. "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." The end of the trip. Boo.

Good-bye pics and last views of the beach

the drive home- never as happy

Beach Vacation- Friday, June 15

*Sigh, the last day. Well, we didn't leave until Saturday morning, but there's no time to do anything when we're packing up to leave. Sadly, I only enjoyed half the day on the beach. I woke up sick in the middle of the night so I pretty much laid around all morning. So I went down after the boys swam, we had lunch and Maggie went down for her nap.

Daniel's vacation media center 

Kyle's new shovel

And the waves came back, so the guys were happy

 Daniel doing a flip

Maggie wanted to come with me, so I took all this pictures with her on my hip. Fortunately the shots didn't suffer much, it seems. Then we played on the beach a bit more before heading to the condo to ready for dinner. We had a later meal than usual, but we wanted to stay on the beach as long as reasonably possible.

 gettin' on those knees

 my beautiful girl

Beach Vacation- Thursday, June 14

The day Will went under water. I'm getting out of order here because we went to the pool after lunch, but it's such a big moment in a child's life (and thus his parents') that it bore first mention! Will Will was so proud of himself! He's never really been afraid of the water/swimming but has definitely gained more confidence and become more a water baby with each passing year and NOW he's really into it! Earlier this summer he would just barely dip his face in the water but for whatever reason he decided the beach trip to take the full plunge. I'm so proud of you little man!

I raced up to the condo to get my camera when he first went

under so it's still foggy from the temp adjustment, but this was 

the first shot I got of his new underwater adventure

I did take some other shots at the pool, including 

Kyle's favorite spot- the hot tub

Back to the earlier part of the day, pre-lunch and lunchtime:

 Ah, calm water, my favorite. If only I thought to bring 

a floaty for myself, I could've sat out there all day

A new nickname for Will

We decided to eat out for lunch and Rob suggested the Pink Pony Pub. What's funniest about this is the guys made fun of this place non-stop last year so I never thought they would want to eat there. In the end, the food was good but we did have to wait forever to get it.