Is this July in Texas?

Rain brightened everything up!   

Benjamin and I have both enjoyed some of Eliza's ideas this week.  We have had an unusually wet, cool summer here (which has been GREAT) and I have had in the back of my mind to take the kids out to play in the rain some time.  But it never seems like a good idea at any particular moment of a rainy day.  So when it started raining last week and Liza bolted for the door, I immediately thought of the ordeal of wet clothes, muddy feet, and whiny, wet kids.  I thought, well, ok, we can just go out on the porch....as soon as we got out, E was down the steps and out in the puddles.  

This bucket is the first thing to fill with water from a rain chain on the side of the house.   

Where is St. Francis' bird?  

Where is St. Francis' nose?  

I'm not sure you can see that it is actively raining while these pictures were taken.  We all had a blast.  

The last few Saturdays we have spent the morning hiking in Cameron park.  The first weekend we hiked for about an hour and we were proud of Ben for walking the whole way.  The second weekend we were out for THREE hours with another family with only a quick stop at a playground along the way.  It has felt so good to spend the morning outside in nature.  

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Another fun summer development is that Eliza and Benjamin really seem to enjoy being together sometimes!  They are both eager for baths and swimming together now, and while it is still a lot of work to keep the peace at times, there is also real delight in being together starting to emerge.  Benjamin is even starting to ask for Eliza when she is not around.  "Where is she?  I want to see what Eliza is doing. I want Eliza to come in the pool with me."  Wow.    

And one more great development is the completion of the first phase of the tree house!  Benjamin and I were playing up there yesterday evening before bed as JB mowed the lawn.  It's a bit breezier up there, and with a cold drink, I think it will be quite a pleasant place to pass a summer evening.  

A visit to Proctor Springs, maybe the only reliably wet, mossy place in Waco. 

Ben got to do all of his favorite things:
climbing on rocks, playing in the water, and getting good and muddy.  

A study in contrasts.  I gave each of them a little blob of dough to make their
own bread.  K's survived and Ben's...

...well, I don't think we tried to salvage this.
We also did a little painting project outside with similar results.
Benjamin was covered in paint from head to toe.  His friend was seriously spotless.  Amazing. 

We had a grandparent visit!  Ben got to stay up late for his first fireworks,
and here we are at the farmer's market.  E has discovered the game of 1-2-3 swing!

Didn't someone out there give Ben this silly straw for Christmas??  

Eliza finally got her way with Benjamin's bunk bed this week.  She has always been strong-willed, and that quality has been directed at increasingly more specific things as she has her awareness of the world has developed. Lately it has been climbing up the ladder to Benjamin's top-bunk, where he plays when he wants to be by himself.  She is also persistent with wanting to wash her hands at the sink like Ben, climb on Ben's kitchen chair, use Ben's art supplies, etc.  The pattern is obvious and predictable for a second child, but I just didn't expect, and really I have to admire, both her awareness and her persistence.

Anyway, I finally gave in and let her play up on the bunk with Ben and they had a grand time with puzzles, dominoes and legos.  It is such a pleasure to see them playing together.  And yes, I was standing there the whole time, keepin' things safe.  We also keep the ladder tucked away when not in use, so the top bunk is only a sometimes place, even for B.  

Mom, go away.  We were having fun without you.