I Know What We Did This Summer...

I have a few random pictures and videos from the last couple of months that I wanted to post, so here you go! Most of it is from the later part of this awesome Phoenix summer, so we were all going a little crazy from being cooped up inside.

We went to the mall with Tommy's friends one day to play in an air-conditioned play area.  It's amazing how much pleasure the little ride brought to Tommy.  It was worth every quarter I put into that machine!

They loved playing on the fire truck.  It had a little slide on it, so I can understand why!

We spent quite a bit of time at the splash pad this summer.  Summer here is really not tolerable unless water is involved.

And last, but not least, here is a video of Tommy doing cute things including saying his ABC's, counting to 10, and reading a book to his monkey. In some of these clips you really get a good sense of how crazy the summer makes active little boys.

August in Review

Since I don't keep a very good journal anymore (I wish I did better!) I figured that I need to do a lot better documenting the everyday stuff that goes on. Lucky you, you get to read it! I've done a decent job of posting big things like vacations and outings, but I need to do better at posting the more regular stuff. Here it goes!

Tommy got his first haircut right after we got back from Utah. I was so sad to see those cute baby curls go, but it had to happen. He was growing a curly mullet. Here is the "before haircut" picture. I hope to see those blonde curls again soon!
Tommy loves to play outside in our little swimming pool. We play out there at least 3 or 4 mornings per week when the patio is shaded. He can play in the water with a cup and a few balls for at least an hour, and even then he is sad to get out most days. I sit out there with him and read and splash him occasionally. Playing outside in the water has become one of our favorite things to do together. This picture is of Tommy playing with his friend, McKay.
We also love to go the splash park. Sometimes Tommy is more interested in the wood chips at the adjacent playground or the rocks that border the sidewalk, but I can usually keep in the water for at least 30 minutes or so. It's the perfect thing to do on those really unbearable Phoenix summer days.
Here is a video of Tommy using my shoe to smash imaginary bugs. You know you kill way too many bugs when your 0ne-year-old thinks that is what shoes are for. We kill several crickets every evening (hate them!), but luckily we wash off the shoes before Tommy can play with them!

Tommy has learned to help me clean up the floor. He sees me wash the floor underneath his seat after he eats so sometimes he grabs a wipe and helps me do it. He has also been known to grab any washcloth (wet or dry) and clean the floor with it on his own. It just goes to show you how much our kids watch and mimic us even when we don't expect it.
Here is a picture of Daddy and Tommy reading together. Tommy loves his books and he sure loves his Daddy.
Below is a video entitled "Wrinkles on Wheels".

Speaking of Wrinkles, my heart just melts sometimes to watch how much Tommy loves his little dog. Sometimes he brings me Wrinkles and a towel. I swaddle the doggie up and then hand him back to Tommy. It is so cute to see how excited Tommy gets when I wrap Wrinkles up. He gently holds Wrinkles in his arms and gives him some hugs and loves and then we do it again.
Lastly, here is my most successful shopping trip of the month: I spent a total of $1.52 on all of this, which included $1.15 in tax. Awesome. I guess you could call couponing one of my hobbies since I get such a thrill out of it.