July - Pre-Birthday Fun

July really seems like a lifetime ago and it's not even under my belt yet.  It was a month of emotions - happy, sad, confused - but even in the midst of the craziness that finalizing the divorce brought on me, we had fun!  I personally have just been trying to keep one foot in front of the other and am thankful that I have tripped several times but not fallen completely flat on my face.

It's hard to believe but we didn't even make it to the neighborhood pool but one time in June and it was for a Swim Team party to support our friends on the neighborhood swim team.  So, the beginning of July, we hit the diving board.  Last summer, Ian went off the diving board over and over and over again ... so I was a little surprised with this result when he got up there the first time this summer.

But I was thoroughly impressed with Bonner's approach since I really don't think she went off the diving board a single time in 2011.

July 4th involved a pool party at a friend's house but I cannot believe I did not take one picture :-(  On our way home from that, though, we called our trusty neighbors, the McBrides, to see what mischief they were getting into and they were still up for visitors.  And, of course, Jane had sparklers and hot pop things so Ian and Bonner were in awe.  They loved the sparklers and the popper things that you throw at the ground!  We are truly blessed to have the greatest neighbors in the world - I call on all of them time and again and each and family continues to embrace us!

The children also went to SummerQuest "camp" at their school for 3 days in July.  I hate for them to forget all about school so I like them to be able to go there during the summer just to keep the surroundings fresh in their minds.  The last day of camp, they were having a bike parade ... I had planned on getting Bonner a bike for her birthday (the McBrides mentioned above have already given Ian 2 bikes so he's good) and she loved the one I picked out - Strawberry Shortcake!  It even smells like strawberries.

 Ian had no desire to ride a bike so I took his little car that you just steer and it goes.  That didn't last long either but at least he got it decorated!

Bonner is very much into not only taking pictures but having her picture taken ... she gets goofy looks and says, "Mommy, will you please take my picture?"

 Here she is wearing a pair of my sunglasses!

 She put alot of hairbows in her hair and then insisted on a picture!

 Here she is watching Disney on my iPad ... my oh my ...

"Look at me, mom!  I can touch my nose!"

We went to a birthday party for a sweet friend in June and Bonner got a Fancy Nancy book in her goodie bag ... well, she finally wanted to read it and this is what she learned from the book :-)

Speaking of "having fun", these 2 are so silly.

Next up, birthday fun!!