Now that it's HOT....

Now that it is crazy hot in the valley we spend a lot of time outside. Running through the sprinklers at Lil and Mel's house, the park, we just hosed off our kiddie pool today and set that up in the backyard. My kids don't love the big pools. They like going into them but they clutch you. Hard. Several sets of swimming lessons (for Ella) has not affected this in any way. It does not bother me, for now it just is.

But they LOVE the water. Not the big pool water as much as the bath time, kiddie pool, washing dishing water. Heaven. Both of them can be amused for long periods of time. And anything that amuses them for long periods of time makes me happy! So we spent the day today cleaning the kitchen (they helped wash dishes then did a lot of filling cups, bags, etc, while I cleaned the rest of the kitchen!), then setting up the pool.

One of the greatest benefits of the water in the backyard (the water from cleaning said pool)? More mud. More mud means more bugs for Ella to find. All in all, a heavenly time for the kids. Here are some photos from today and the last week.

Also we had an earthquake tonight.

I did not enjoy it.


Ella likes to dress up a LOT. Charlotte likes to be naked.


Partners in crime, Ella and Lil on the slide at school


The neighborhood kids in the backyard. Love it.


A sisterly moment (Ella in her cute little soccer uniform)


How cute is Charlotte?


Pensive, pretty girl


Ahh, the life of the tiny second. Always trying to see what is happening just out of reach...


Cleaning the kitchen (Ella works hard, Charlotte laughs 'I can't believe she let me make a MESS with water!')