Frost Family Fun aka Summer peach picking

When the family hears, "Who's ready for a Frost Family Fun Adventure?" 

It usually means I have been brewing an idea of "fun" in my mind for a while, and we have to do it no matter what.  There can be mixed reviews of excitement, and panic, adventure vs torture.  You never really know which feeling is going to come out on top at the end of the day.  But it is always an Adventure.  

So in the middle of July, the temperatures are in the 100s, I am still in the mode of thinking I should entertain the kids over summer break by getting into nature, introducing the kids to work and fresh local produce.  I have our manny, Spencer, on the schedule, it's 9:00am, so we should miss the scorching heat.   

 So of course it is a good day to go Peach Picking at Homestead Farms.

After 1 hr of driving.

20 min of outdoor picking.

30 min of cooling off.

30 min of wading in a stream down the road.

Equals an adventure/torture.

Megan was being a good sport, but I think she was complaining of her sweat burning her eyes, and backing away from a bug at the same time. 

Everyone knows I can't resist a photo of kids sitting next to piles of fruit.  Eli is still to young to resist.

The ice cream was awesome!

I think this was the last "outing" of the summer. 

 I found that the pool and TV really brought everyone the most happiness this summer.

4th of July on 1st Street

I Love the 4th of July!

It brings out the best of summer: friends and community, summer treats, outdoor barbecues, swimming, and playing outside at night with neighbors.

The Barcoft parade is the quintessential 4th of July parade --  it is a 2 block radius, and anyone can be in it.

Our "Arlington Cooling Station" float took 2nd place and made the nightly news (this was the point at which half of Arlington had been without power for days, following a tropical storm.) 

Summer treats after the parade

Swimming and Ice Cream

Neighborhood Fire Works Show

Notice all the "Pop Its"

Thanks, Grandma, for the supply

Moments

 Maybe life isn't so blah.  

After a month and a half of avoiding downloading our pictures to the computer, I finally did it.  And looking back on a single image/moment of time I realize that life is just made up of little moments.  And those moments happen every day, but sometimes they get lost in the big picture of life, the craziness of trying to enjoy the monotonous routine of making it though every day.  And so I will try to remember life is full of moments that make up the hour, the day, the week, the year, and in the end it is the little moments that you want to remember because that is where happiness comes.

A Sunday afternoon in June, with Eli Bear.

 

FABULOUS FOUR

Happy Birthday, to our 4 year old Henry James!

(as of April 24th - better late than never)

Round 1

Friend party with Elizabeth

Henry wanted a Chuck E Cheese Party this year for his birthday, with some slight influence from his big sister.  Megan had gone to one of her friend's parties there, and came home with glowing reviews of the fun to be had. From then on out, listening to his older sister's advice for fun, Henry only wanted a Chuck E Cheese Party.  We told him if he had it there, only one or two friends could come, and he didn't even think twice. It was Elizabeth ("my best friend") and Ms. Megan. 

I was a little leery of the Chuck E Cheese party at first, but in the end it turned out really fun.  Henry had a great time with just Elizabeth, he loved all the games and tokens, and loved getting a rainbow slinky at the end.  It was the easiest party I have ever thrown.

Round 2

Family party with Ms Megan

Ms Megan is Henry's nanny/helper, and we love having her be part of our family.

She brought what every party needs BALLOONS, but not just any  balloons, balloons filled with money.  Henry LOVED it.

We started off the party playing outside. 

 His new t-ball set was a hit.

As the sun was setting we went inside for a birthday dinner, with all of Henry's favorites -- chocolate milk, cheetos, hot dogs, and cake.  Henry has never eaten so well.

Happy Birthday, to my sweet, funny, joking, loving, chocolate milk lover, tv/computer monster, hard working, smart, clever, playful 4 year old Henry James, who has all of Arlington memorized because "my bus goes here" (can it really go everywhere in this city?)

We love you forever and always.