Love

There's no love like Mimi love.

Fun Fridays

I am trying really really hard to take Fridays off from work completely.  I work 25 hours a week, and have 30 hours of childcare between Monday and Thursday, so surely I can figure out a way not to work on Fridays.  This is my goal, at least for August when both kids are out of school and camp, and we have the chance to do fun activities in the long span of the morning before naps, instead of cramming in an outing from 3:30 to 5 in the after-nap/before-dinner window.

This Friday we made plans to go with our pals to Pullen Park in Raleigh.  Our friends had never been there, and Ella and Dash were super eager to share all their favorite activities with their buddies.  It was hot, way hotter than its been in weeks, but we dutifully put on our sunscreen and packed our water bottles and headed out early this morning to try to avoid the worst of the heat and the crowds.  We had a great time on the playgrounds and riding the boats, the train, and the carousel.  I thought all that activity would be exhausting for my kids, but so far, Dash has spent the first hour of his nap singing at full throttle so maybe we should have stayed out in the hot sun even longer...

Me and my small dude on the carousel.  Love the moving background as we spin. 

I'm liking this idea for holiday card pictures.... 

Big enough to ride an up-and-down horse all by herself 

The giraffe, Dash's totem animal. 

Small boat captains.  They only tried to climb out into the water once or twice.

So excited to be the first boat riders that they sat on a bench in the middle

of a fabulous playground for 15 minutes waiting for the ride to open.