Conversations with Amy: Misc Summer Snapshots

Mommy and Son date to Zone Action Park.

These pictures were actually from the last week of school.

Kellie and Moriah stayed with us a couple of nights when Josh was out of town.

Getting ready to walk to a store.

Don't you love Evie's get-up with cowboy boots?

She loves those things.

So glad I stopped at that garage sale.

Simon and Evie continue to get along incredibly well.

The only problem is sometimes they get along too well ...

And that's when I wish we had sound-absorbing carpet all over our house.

Our new paint color in the den!

Bamboo.

Love it.

I rarely love a color as much afterwards, but this color was a real gem.

Handsome, fun, and unassuming

Beautiful, Detailed, and Compassionate

Simon took SO many pictures on our walk.

I'm not including most .... let's just say he was enthralled with EVERYTHING from a feather to an apartment balcony overflowing with potted plants.

And our walk to the store took a long time

But, what can you expect when you are taking along a little photo-journalist?

Clutching my reusable British flag shopping bag.

Sarah would be proud :)

At the pool last week there was a family with a British Accent.

I mentioned to Simon that they were from England.

"What, Mom! Someone should call the POLICE! The British want to capture us. We're enemies!"

Maybe Simon understand that history isn't stuck in the American Revolution....but it's more likely he was just being funny, that kid is too smart!

I made my photojournalist stop so I could take his photo.

My little crook

Yesterday when I was getting together our shopping list and coupons for CVS,

Evie 'made' her own coupons to take with her in an envelope.

Sweet, but illegal.

The cashier thought it was really sweet.

It's probably the first time she received artwork, er, coupons, at the workplace.

Simon and I went to an ice-cream tasting contest at the Dallas Farmer's Market.

It benefited a local disadvantaged youth outreach.

For $5, you bought a plastic spoon, and you received a sample of all of the participants original ice cream creations. For example, one flavor was sweet corn, but most flavors were fruit-based.

Simon asked me which one I voted for, and I told him whichever kid had the least number of votes. I can't remember the flavor, but neither Simon or I could finish our sample. Yes, it was that bad.

Simon said that was a good idea (to vote for him), and that he wished he had done the same thing.

Oh, no, it looks like I am teaching him mercy, not honesty.

Look what came out of the pig's belly!

I love the juxtaposition here in this picture.

Dallas really is an amazing place to live, once you get past July-September's heat.

Lots of family-friendly places, tons of convenience, and public schools and charter schools that are much more conservative here than elsewhere.

Our little Mr.Bean car.

We have been a one car family since April.

We did it before for 10 months a few years ago, but our only car was a van.

We've been in some pretty tight spots only having one (little!) car, but I'm proud that we're managing.

But, in a few months, we will be in the market for another (bigger) car.

yee-haw!

Giraffey is one LOVED animal

In this picture, Evie remind me so much of my cousin Jessie at this age.

Simon and his loyal friend at a local splash park

These two kids have a sweet friendship that is low-maintenance.

What a blessing!

I think having a close, consistent friend since such a young age has helped Simon immensely.

Here is a long-shot of the new splash park (free!) in Carrollton.

My friend Debi and I stayed in the shade and enjoyed a nice visit.

Debi was telling me that when her sister from out of state visited last year, that she was amazed at all of the family friendly amenities North Texas offers. She said it was really unique, and that it wasn't like that everywhere. I had never thought about it from that perspective, so I am much more thankful for the money our city spends on families.