A Rainy Day

When it rains in Las Vegas

It's a really big deal

So we wake up late and put on our shoes

And head outside with our umbrellas

(which are amazing, by the way.)

We march down the street

And we get all wet

And then we have a popsicle!

My favorite picture is above.

Popsicle juice dripping off the chin and everything!

Camp Nana

Carson and Sam have been at "Camp Nana" for the last couple of weeks.

This free summer camp led by an experienced Chicago educator

is the creme de la creme of summer camps in Las Vegas.

24/7 fun, learning, and reading....summer highlight after summer highlight!

Here are our pics from the Lied Chidren's Museum on Monday.

Pretty cute check-out guy at the grocery store - should we ask for his number?

Playing the touch-sensor harp

Smiles and hugs in the science area.

The love of his life....

Anyone who knows Carson knows that he is in love with Dora and always will be.

Last weekend he was invited to a Dora-themed birthday party at this sweet new place called Kidville. The guest of honor was his friend Emma from preschool.

Needless to say, it was a big hit.

A happy ride in the backseat with Nana.

No better way to wrap up a Dora-filled day!

Mt. Charleston

We had a great trip up to Mt. Charleston with Nana last week.

Here's the evidence!

Not bad at all.

We played in our PJs in the yard this morning.

Carson hit a few balls and then Samantha walked up and hit this little drive.

Anything brother does....she says "Hmmm. I think I can do it better."

These are the days....

It's summer in Las Vegas.

And as Natalie Merchant said in 1993...

These are days.

To goof off in our diaper all morning long if we so please...

To ride our neighbor's mini hummer all over the cul-de-sac.

WHILE EATING A FUDGESICLE.

By the way, it's a good thing Carson is a good 13 years from getting his license.

He needs all the practice he can get.
Thankfully he won't be getting our keys anytime soon.

To hug "baby girl" as Carson now calls her.

To paint, and paint, and paint some more.



To go to BBQs at our friend's house as a family.



Summer in Las Vegas = FUN

Chicago

In Chicago we...

Remembered someone beautiful that we loved and lost.

My wonderful Grandma in her wedding portrait...

We went to every children's museum on the south side...

Ate a lot of popsicles.



Made new friends, like Mya.

Hung with our treasured Aunties...

We did a lot of clowning around with these two...

Nana and Uncle Mike are always non-stop FUN.

Went to farms.

Played with some very special people.

Aunt Marge is one of those to us.

Read thousands upon thousands of books with Nana.

Basically, we had an awesome time!

Iowa City

When we were in Iowa, Jason and I had a chance to go back to where it all began.

We met here when we were 17 years old.

Fell in love when we were 21.

Kind of disgusting, isn't it?

15 years since we first met.

More in love than ever.

When we get a chance to look back...

We see Iowa City.

It is ours.

Iowa

In Iowa, we....

posed with four generations.

played at the pool...

captivated Grandma after Grandma....


Saw old, good friends.

Walked down the aisle together again...

like it wasn't even 7 years ago.

The RB and the FG

Carson and Sam did a great job as members of the wedding party for Aunt Jenny and Uncle Ian on 5.28.2011.

They were the "RB" and the "FG", respectively.

There are a lot of great pictures from the day.

Here are just a couple favorites.

Back at it.

We got home from the Midwest on June 10th and it's been non-stop ever since!

It was a fun trip filled with many emotions.

I have bunches of pics to load and put on the blog.

Right now it's time to get back to blogging since I've been out for so long.

Here's a sample of summer with the Smiths...

Last night, Samantha ate red jello with her hands and ended up looking like this...

Samantha continues to surprise us every day.

She stomps her foot and says "No" with a cross look on her face.

It makes us laugh every time.

She looks just like Carson when she does it and it is hilarious.

When the sun goes down, the party in the backyard starts up.

This guy can't get enough of it.

He's really into tennis, baseball, and soccer right now.

He is focused on hitting and kicking a ball whenever possible.

His moves appear pretty good.

He gets them from his Daddy, I think.

Or does he?

Carson went to summer camp at his school for two weeks.

His last day was today.

He made a rocket ship in school this week during mad science.

Rockets were blasting off all over the house all week.

We've had friends over this week to play with us.

Our backyard is a party place.

Here, Jackson Bickler and Sam get their pool on.

It's the best thing to do when it's summer in Las Vegas!

Cheers to summer in fabulous Las Vegas!