Memorial Day

I told you that Memorial Day weekend is all about the Indianapolis 500.  So what did we do on Memorial Day?  Remember that old lawnmower?  Well, it died Monday morning.  Not surprisingly, either.  So Bry-D went to Sears(insert grunting noises)  and got a new one.  This picture was taken after it's first run.  Wanna know why it's not dirty?

 'Cause he rinsed it off afterwards.  Let's see how many times that happens again.

 He also got another new toy.  (Insert more grunting noises)

He wasn't nearly as gentle getting this one out of the box as he was the PS3.

 He immediately handed me the instructions.  Not so I could read them to him, but so that I could put them away.

 Lex knew exactly what the box was really meant for!

 He picked up that handle thingy and asked, "This for banging?"  I told him no, it was for...something with the new thingy.

 Look Daddy, I can work it!  (Don't worry, it wasn't plugged in) 

 Bry-D plugged it in and gave a 10 second vrroom.  Lex thought that sounded funny.

 Then Bry-D really let it loose.  Lex did not find that noise at all funny.

Oh, I forgot to mention why Bry-D got this new toy.  I demanded he get fence to keep the dogs out of my veggie garden.  So he measured and estimated, and decided he needed a miter saw and lots of wood.  Lotta lotta lotta wood.

 It was so blistering hot and not a cloud in the sky, he didn't get very much done, but he plans on working on it a bit each day.

He also promised to show me how to use it.  I think I'm going to like this toy!

Memorial Day Weekend

Also known as Race Weekend in my family.  My entire life, the biggest summer get together has always been Race Weekend.  Living in Indianapolis, the 500 is hard to avoid, and the City devotes the entire month of May to activites surrounding the Race.  However, The Brickyrd 400 is starting to become "The Big Weekend".  Bry-D didn't have to work, even with all the rain!  On Saturday, Bry-D & I took the kids to the 500 Festival Parade.

 Sorry, we ran around alot & I was to busy to take more than these two pictures. 

 Sunday after the race everyone gathers at my parents house for a cookout.  Check out the lightwieghts.

 My dad had a wasp trapped, which really intrigued Lex.

 Lex also helped grill the hotdogs, bratwurst, and italian sausage.

 The Diva herself, and our adopted Grandma Wilma.

There are two places to hang out at my parents' house-one is the swing in the side yard.

The Deputy was giving self-defense lessons to the girls, using NewGuy as his dummy.  The Deputy said, "I'm going to hit your leg here, it won't hurt, but you'll fall down"

NewGuy dodged it.  I was laughing hard, sorry it's so blurry, but you see that The Deputy almost did a face plant.

He switched dummies to The Mechianic.  He is a Dummy, and took the hit, however, he didn't go down. 

The other place to hang out is the fire pit in the backyard.  Here's The Quilter, Lex, and The Quilter's oldest, Jesster, my parents are on the swing.  And yes, my Mom has her arm in a sling.  She slipped in some mud, fell, and broke her arm.  I can tell it as a very funny story, but I perfer to wait until she's around to be annoyed by it.

I don't know what we were talking about, but it must have been funny by the looks on thier faces.

Cousins playing together.  There are more pictures and some funny videos, but The Student & The Quilter have those. 

I left my camera at home, all of these were taken with my phone.  Not to shabby, I think.

Going with the flow of mud

You all know how much Lex loves mud.  And if you've watched the national weather, you know that Indiana has had LOTS of rain, and that translates into MUD.  Which isn't forcasted to end anytime soon(praying the 500 doesn't get rained out).  Anytime we go outside to play, we end up muddy.  I could fight this, insisting on staying indoors, or only playing in the front yard(less mud there)  Instead, I've been trying to think of a way to embrace the mud.  Lex particularly enjoys getting his vehicles dirty, then washing them, so I'm trying to come up with a carwashing area.  Of course, I then saw something I just had to do on Meg's blog. 

Mud Pie Kitchen

Our backyard has "the best spot" corner area, where the kids have dug holes that they use for all sorts of things, from fixing soup to washing toys.

 This is where we keep our firewood in the winter.  Seems to me this is the perfect spot for our new kitchen.

I did a Goodwill run, and got a bunch of supplies, with the intention of keeping half aside in case things got broken.

Eliz was big help setting up-we used the plastic bins for water and storage, and LEx immediately adopted one to be used for washing cars.

This was how Lex helped set up.

Soup's on!  I don't know how much we'll add/subtract/change this.  I suppose as the summer goes on, it can change quite a bit.  I was weeding in the veggie garden while they cooked up a storm, and was served several delicous dishes.  We have a family project planned this weekend for the veggie garden, can't wait to show you!

I followed the links on Meg's post, which led to extreme excitement, then I did a yahoo search on mud pie kitchens and found my dream-come-true-backyard here.  Seriously you need to look around this blog!  I need to stop before I gush all over you about how much I love this woman's ideas!  I spent for-ev-er looking and reading and getting all jumpy and silly with desire to try and make and do.  'Nuff said, happy Towel Day everyone!

I needed a nap afterwards.

Only a Children's Museum would have jelly-bean replicas of world renowned works of art. Yup, another trip to the Children's Museum, but with a twist, we took The Quilter's sister-in-law, Aunt Ruth, and we started on the top floor.

 The obligatory pre-fun restroom stop.

 This metal billiard-ball thingy has been around since The Quilter and I were kids.  Yeah, it's that old.

 We started at The Science Works, it's supposed to be for 6 and up age, but really works for all ages.

 Other than having to crawl under a portion so that you can play in the middle of the water works, it's a really fun part of the exhibit.  The crawling is only a problem if you're taller than 4 feet, the clearance is meant for kids, not adults.

 The construction area-so shocking that he went for the truck.

 It's called The Children's Museum, but adults can have fun too!

 Look what Teamwork can do!

 Something else teamwork can do!

 Lex-not so much a team player.  Especially when it's time to go.

 Maze of Mirrors-that's a lot of Clyde's!

 Aunt Ruth ROCKS! That's just my opinion, though. 

 She shared the cotton candy with everyone, so I bet they feel the same.

 The Quilter's kids did much better this time around with the Dinos.  The first time they came, all three had their heads planted in her butt and thighs.  She and I thought it was quite comcial.  The kids didn't get our sense of humor.

 Don't let the cuteness fool you.  Beware Bonnie.  This chick is going to rule the world. 

I'm really starting to contemplate hiring a driver.  I desparately wanted a nap on the way home like everyone else.

Sunday Afternoon

It wasn't the sunniest day, but it was hot.  Hot enough to justify Bry-D hosing off the kids.  Not just ours but the neighbor's children too.

I gave them umbrellas and towels.  They never did use the towels.

 He's gettin' his Conan on.

 I think all men get strange joy from torturing children while calling it "play".  Meanwhile, Conan's mom worked away the afternoon.  Made me tired just watching!

 He's a runner!

 Since it's Indiana, we ended the afternoon with hail, maybe a half hour after we went inside.

 Not big hail, but it happened twice.