Summer Rules Continued . . .

18.  Indulge in spur of the moment play dates.  The best buddies are the kind that don't care if you're in your pajamas at close to noon.  Or your skivvies.

19.  There's no shame in free Chick-fil-A, so feel free to take advantage of it twice in one day. 

20.  Stay and play on the slip and slide longer, instead of cleaning your house for the sister missionaries' dinner visit.  Sometimes play time is the most important time.  

21.  Have so much fun at the children's museum that you make your mom fight to get a picture without blur.

22.  Say a prayer of thanks every day that the two best boys in the entire world tested negative for the FABRY gene.  

23.  Jump at the chance to score a free swing set, when your friend nabs it for you online.  

24.  Rejoice that Daddy has some mad Lego skills, and hope that those translate to swing set assembly.

25.  Splash in the shade on hot days.  

26.  Try not to have an anxiety attack when your counter top looks like this: 

27.  Be forever grateful when the ant traps start to work and the food can go back in the cabinets.  

28.  Say a tearful goodbye to the best shade tree on your lot, when it splits straight down the middle.  Then look on the bright side:  no more needing to prune those giant branches that were touching the house, and now there's plenty of room to plant hydrangeas along the fence line.    

29.  Keep working hard in the pool.  

30.  Fall desperately behind in blogging and continue to put off catching up.  

Reese Rules of Summer

1.  The library has events that are free and air conditioned.  And there are books there.  Books are awesome.  Therefore, go to the library often.  Sometimes, go with friends.

  

2.  Keep a watermelon cut up in the refrigerator at all times, or at least as often as humanly possible.

3.  Bring a change of clothes to the art museum, since the fountains outside are as tempting as the art activities inside.  

4.  Yoga is good for the mind and body. 

5.  Give guests a superhero's welcome.  

6.  Use selfies to practice those budding photography skills.  

7.  Live in the moment, and realize that an empty arena of seats (and a few tractors kicking up dirt) is as thrilling to a group of preschoolers as what was supposed to be a horse show.  Be thankful you had awesome friends with you.

8.  Eat lunch at the pool.  It makes for a lot less kitchen cleanup.

9.  Live at the pool.  Pool water is cooler than 90 degree weather plus humidity.  Even with a fussy baby who hates the water, it's still worth it.    

10.  Clean up other people's garbage.  It makes you feel good to show Mother Nature you've got her back, especially when you're with the world's cutest trash police squad.  

11.  Party until you pass out.  

12.  Try to master pedaling a bike, after a year of balance-biking it up.

13.  Learn to cheer for team USA in the World Cup.

  

14.  Find an awesome swim teacher and make her lessons one of the best parts of each week.

15.  When you're invited to a dino birthday party, go party.  You will not regret this decision.  

  

16.  When you find out that the mini-infestation of ants you've experienced are crazy ants, instead of carpenter ones, go celebrate at Mellow Mushroom.

17.  Make lots of yummy treats and share them, before you eat them all.  

We've had a pretty amazing summer so far!

Postal Love for the Month of July

Dear Leather Recliner,

I previously expressed loving sentiment for you here.  While I was obviously twitterpated at the time, the adoration was fleeting.

Fast forward four years, find me no longer pregnant, and suddenly you become far less charming.

Do you know what a swiveling, rocking, and reclining chair does to a mother of small children? It nauseates her.  That's what.  There were days when I thought I might end up in the loony bin before 35 if I had to watch Kaden twirl in you at top speeds one more time, while trying to prevent him from injuring himself or others.  Then Everett discovered how fun it was to spin you, and something had to be done.

We sold you on the 4th of July to a buyer off Craigslist.

There was a moment on the evening of July 3rd, when I wondered if I was making a mistake.  All those comfy pregnancy snoozes did mean something to me.  They really did.

Then, on Independence Day, when your new owner came to collect you, I pointed out the small tear in your upholstery, and she said she didn't care.  Because she has cats.  In the plural.  And I felt guilty committing you to such a fate.  I still kind of do.

But you were so unbelievably ugly.

Fondly,
We'll Always Have the Summer Months of 2010 and 2013



Dear Whoever's Behind the Advertising Campaign for Blue Bell Ice Cream,

Cruel.  That's what you are.

You can't run an ad for Magic Cookie Bar flavored ice cream, then boast about it's delicious flavor combination online, only to not have it at TWO grocery stores.

"Just in time for National Ice Cream Month!" you said.  "In July!" you said.  I didn't even KNOW it was National Ice Cream Month, but I sure wanted to celebrate tonight with a bowl full of "sweet ice cream loaded with graham cracker crust pieces, chunks of dark chocolate, roasted pecan pieces and toasted coconut, all surrounded by a caramel sauce swirl."  Instead, I'm stuck with chocolate chip cookie dough.

What gives?

Sadly,
Disappointed Doesn't Cut It



Dear Husband,

Thank you for driving to not one, but TWO grocery stores at 9:30 at night in search of Magic Cookie Bar ice cream.

I love you.

XOXO,
The Wifey