Summerlike

The weather has been hot all week and Pepper has been enjoying herself more now that she is back outdoors. .

“I need hot screen!” Matthew cries like a banshee before heading outdoors. “And bug screen!”

On Friday, Matthew and I met up with friends at the farm with a splash pad. We arrived before lunchtime and stayed until it was nearly dinnertime.



The next morning we are outside as soon as we are dressed. Matthew walked around the yard with his bug catching kit, and book of insects. He finds ants, bees, and even a butterfly.

That night we are in the mood for some old fashioned fun and headed to the drive inn to see the new Shrek movie. It was enjoyable to watch a movie under the stars, snuggled under a blanket in a camping chair.

Alligators and Trains

“Matthew, please stop talking for a little bit, ok?”

“But I like talking, Mama,” he says. I shoot him a pleading look in the review mirror but see that he is sitting with his arms stretched behind his head and sunglasses upside down on his face. I can’t help but laugh quietly.

“We’re almost there love bug,” I assure him, although it’s me who is the impatient one.

“Almost there Mom love bug,” he parrots back but in a friendly way.

The zoo is not crowded which is a nice. We take out time strolling though exhibits. Matthew is eager to ride the train which has wheels like a bus and rides on a dirt trail.

“Where are the tracks?” he asks me.

“It’s a magical train, which creates tracks as it drives.”

“Ohhhh,” Matthew is impressed by this.

After the train ride we venture over to the lions and tigers. “Grrrr!” Matthew growls at the tigers, sneering his teeth. The tigers look at him dubiously.

“The tigers growled at me,” Matthew will tell Bob later with his voice full of sorrow.

He rode on the kiddie rides before lunch. 

After lunch we head to the petting zoo.

Matthew alternates between joy and feeling terrified while feeding the goats. He would have preferred an organized dinner line but does his best to get a corn kennel to each and every goat or sheep.

We have our second train ride that afternoon before heading over to the deer forest.

“I need to see the map,” Matthew tells me when we leave the deer forest. He takes it out of my bag and studies it in all seriousness. “We go this way,” he points in the direction we are already walking in.

“That alligator is not scary, he’s my best friend,” Matthew tells me as we pass one. Then we stop for an ice cream cone before going back to the rides.

“I had so much fun today,” he tells me when we leave, music to a mom's ears.

Three!

This past weekend Matthew had not one, but two birthday parties. Saturday was a family brunch to celebrate both his third birthday and Bob’s graduation from grad school. It was also his cousin Emily’s birthday and so we celebrated that too. Sunday was a party at an indoor jump palace with all his friends. It was a busy, busy, weekend, and I made sure to capture most of it through my photo lens.

Some of my favorite moments from the weekend could not be photographed. One would have to be when he opened up a package of football cards and said “I’m going to be that when I grow up.” Or asking me, “Are all these presents really for me?” and announcing, “I had so much fun today,” on our way home.