Sweet. July.

Goodness, am I ever behind.  Nonetheless I have some stellar pictures that just have to be put down for the generations.  Like Kate as a chipmunk.  And Asher taking a nap in a Costco shopping cart.

Kate went to her best friend Jill's birthday party at a cabin in the mountains and came home as a chipmunk.  I have very little to add to that.  It says volumes by itself.  

I guess everyone has their limits to wholesale shopping.

Kate and Asher went to their cousin Sam's house for a little pool time.  Gotta love zinc.

Asher decided to take vengeance on daddy for always cutting his toenails.  Unfortunately he didn't quite have the power to cut those monsters.

Asher decided to be very helpful and give grandpa a hand putting together a... something.

My very clever kids found that a stick horse could be almost real when put in rocker.  My kingdom for a horse, even a rocking stick horse.

Ah, to be a cat.  And to not be a vacuum.

Kate and I had a mommy daughter date.  We went to get pedicures, lunch, and pottery painting.  It was awesome.  Kate has the most ticklish feet in the city, apparently, and it took awhile to get her settled enough to paint her toenails.

What is summer without chilling at a park with your best friend?

Asher took a puppy nap.

Asher tried out a friend's skateboard and decided he NEEDED a skateboard.  Please, mommy, puh-leeeeeeze?

The kids got in swimming lessons.  And got some gnarly hair-dos.  

I distinctly remember Kate decorating herself like a tiger at about this age.  I'm trying to figure out if it's genetic or just a kid thing.

We went to visit daddy at work.  Kate most often looks fairly presentable but Asher went around most of the summer in his Lightning McQueen Mickey Mouse hat and his cars slippers.  And I love them both.

June (did I mention how much I love summer?)

We went camping in the beginning of June.  It was so very hot in the valley and even in the mountains it sweltered in the afternoon.  But it was still fun, mostly because of the kids. 

Asher loved the muddiness next to the stream.  Jon loved playing Candy Crush on his phone until it died.  Mommy loved watching the kids play.  Kate loved taking pictures of every leaf and flower.

When Asher finished burning his marshmallows he said, "Mommy, it done." 

Then he turned on his headlamp and followed the light around for a while.

  Kate graduated from Kindergarten in June.  She didn't seem to much care about the actual graduation but she loved the program and seeing her teacher one last time.

Kate is such a great artist.  Her class painted butterflies and acted out "The Hungry Caterpillar" story by Eric Carle.  Hers was the best.  :)

 Kate just absolutely LOVED her teacher, Ms. Eskeli.  I liked her a lot as well.  She took a lot of interest in each kid and Kate really felt that.  It's such a relief as a parent to see good teachers for your children.

 To start the summer off, Kate went to a week-long camp at Red Butte Garden.  It was an art-based program.  I was so very impressed with her work.  She really is a great artist and has a lot of natural talent.

I met a cool chick named Holly in spin class at the gym.  We became buddies and she asked me to join her group at the Color Me Rad 5k.  We totally got Rad.  It wasn't so much a "run" but it was fun. 

 I took the kids to Color Me Mine to paint things for Jon for Father's Day.  Asher made him a robot and Kate made him an awesome "Dad" mug.

 Kate and her best friend Jill played in the pool a bit.  When I asked Asher to turn around for the picture he said he was too busy.  When he had time he graciously turned around and smiled for the camera.

 Kate and Asher started swimming lessons.  Kate was so very nervous, but they both did awesome.  Asher, granted, had a hard time focusing on what the teacher was saying...  

So whenever I talk about not being able to sleep with Asher in the bed people roll their eyes.  I decided to prove it with a photo.  SEE WHAT I MEAN?  I sleep in a little ball at the bottom of the bed if Asher comes in the middle of the night.