It's summer, and its way too hot outside. I had my kids read this afternoon, after swimming lessons. Ford and Gigi ended up snoozing instead. Ella, I'm not sure how, but she managed to read her 5 book requirement so should could go play with cousins.

We have been renovating our house. What started out as oh we'll just replace the carpets has now turned into oh we need to fix the roof, replace part of the wall, paint all the walls, and put up new baseboards, oh and while we're at it lets put new tile in the bathroom. So this summer is not lacking excitement, but the kids are dying for some sort of vacation. Lucky for Ford he gets to go flying with Grandpa, and Ella, is looking forward to going to the movies with Grandma.

(Gigi in her new swimsuit and the new floor)

I'm hoping to have our house back to normal by Christmas, I put that as Mr. Pond's deadline so I will be pleasantly surprised when he finishes everything before school starts. (wink, wink).

Ford earned his orange belt at the end of June. It was cool when he kicked two boards in half.
and Ella's excitement for July, she was lucky to catch a stuffed animal at the fourth of July parade.

Simple Pleasures

Mmm cookies & milk, something everyone enjoys at any age. Cookies seem to bring some sanity and happiness back and for some reason makes doing homework easier. So we are sure to make time for COOKIES.

Today Ella, Gigi, and I walked down to feed the horses by our house. Gigi calls them CC's (horsies). Ella carefully fed the horse, by extending her arm out as far from her body as possible and holding the apple with two fingers. Mr. Pond has evoked such fear into her that the horse will bite of her fingers, that she takes all precautions. She was so brave and so proud, that the horse had eaten the apple out of her hand (well 2 fingers anyway) and she didn't loose any fingers, not even a nail. Anyways, I did take some pictures but regretfully they are all over exposed. Better luck next time. Gigi and Ella were so happy after feeding the horses, it kind of brought the same result as eating cookies, and I think the horsies were happy too. Enjoy Simple Pleasures.

What its like to be EARLY

So I carpool with my neighbor, and I drive the kids to school and she picks them up in the afternoon. Last week was the first week of school so we didn't start our carpool until this week. My kitchen clocks were and are still set a different times, and the clock in the car is different also, so I had no idea what time it was when we left the house. But I thought we were OK on time. We pick up the neighbors, Nick and his sister, Nick is in a real panic that we are late. I think I got the kids to school right on time. But for Nick right on time is 5 minutes early. Anyways I have now set all my clocks at least 10 minutes fast (they still all have different times) so we are always early. Which for anyone who knows me is a BIG deal (I think I was even late to my own wedding, Sorry Mr. Pond). We are now some of the first ones at school! Before the crowds from the busses unload, and the school yard is empty just waiting to be filled with children.

Here is Ford, on the make shift zip line at California Adventure. I feel like our summer has just zipped passed. I went to the mall with Ella & Gigi today, and the stores are filled with Halloween and everything fall. In fact I went to pick out some adorable Halloween shirts, only to find that if you want the cute Halloween shirts you should have bought them in August not September, because the sizes are gone!! What, Its only September 1? So have you all ready done your Halloween Shopping?

EggCiting Easter Fun

Long Lost Tradition

This is one of my favorite magical childhood memories. Every year Santa Claus would make a surprise visit to my Grandmother's house. This past Christmas, my children got to experience Christmas, Lund Style. Ford and Ella, were so surprised, and impressed that Santa new they would be at Grandma Melva's. It was fun seeing everyone, and having all the kids together. Krista shared with us all some important makeover tips.

Indiana Jones at our house

Weekend Pictures

The kids had fun discovering Layton's "beach". I think it was a little too sunny for these pictures.

Birthday Surprises

Wow!! Ella is 5! We had a fun Birthday weekend full of surprise. On Friday we celebrated Elle's Birthday by taking her and her friends to Build-a-Bear, they were pretty serious, and I think it was more work building those animal friends than play. Her Grandma gave her a hamster, which takes the cake as the best birthday present, followed closely by her mouse shoes.

On Saturday we drove into Gunnison for Great Grandma's Birthday Party, and on the way there, Gigi got here first teeth, that's right she cut two bottom teeth at the same time. Later that afternoon, Gigi took her first step. It was a big day for Gigi. Then that evening Fords first little baby tooth fell out. And as he put it, "the fairy dust made me sneezed" and that's why he woke up in the middle of the night to find the surprise she had left him under his pillow.

Pillow Fight Fun

Bouncing into Summer or Something like That

Summer is never boring around here, with two very creative minds. They haven't played this game for about a year or so, but its still hilarious as they get older. So to give your children some ideas for summer fun...

Easter Eggs

Ok, so I wanted to share these pictures a long time ago, but my computer came down with a virus and it has taken me a good 2 weeks to get photoshop up and running again. So without further ado...Easter Eggs.

Presents Day

I thought everyone would enjoy this story.
Ella said, "How come no-one brought me presents to my house?"
I said, "Well, because its not your birthday."
Ella said, "But it was Presents Day, and no-one brought me any Presents."

Try Explaining, Presidents Day to a 4 year old. Ford on the other hand, thought that we would meet the President on Presidents Day, and this whole week, Ella has thought we were talking about Presents Day, and wondering why she didn't get any presents.

Momma, I want a horse.

Ok, so on the drive home from school yesturday, Ford said that he wanted a pet horse as we drove past the horse stables. I told them well I don't think we have a big enough yard for a horse. And Ella thought that was just the silliest idea, she said, "Momma, the horse would live inside the house." I said, "Where would the horse poop?" and Ella said, "We could get one of those boxes, like what Grandma has, where the kitty poops," Oh what a great idea, a HORSE-SIZED LITTER BOX, to put in the laundry room, for our pet horse, Rosebud.

Off to a good start

Thats a Laugh

So I don't know if any of you remember that movie Hanging up with Meg Ryan, but in the movie she has a son who has reinvented his laugh, into a very annoying little boy laugh. I remember watching that movie and thinking, I hope my son never does that. And so in spite of all my hopes, My son has reinvented his laugh into something, that I find even more annoying than the boy in Hanging up. Anyways....little boys will be little boys, laughs, burbs and all.

Per Requests, the laugh (audio only):

and the laugh with a little Princess Bride

Inconceivable...

So the kids have been reenacting The Princess Bride. They love to pretend to be Wesley and Buttercup. I know what you are envisioning, Ella would make such a beautiful Buttercup and Ford a charming Farm Boy--I would agree. Its been fun to watch them act out the entire movie but the best part is Ella insists on always playing the part of Wesley, and Ford by default is everyone else. He makes for a beautiful Buttercup, very strong Fezzik, clever Vacinii, and funny Miracle Max, oh and don't forget the albino. Its quite fun, Ella gives Ford his lines and is very much in control of this pretend play. Ella wears her pirate bandanna and my big black boots to achieve the look of the Dreaded Capt. Roberts. Anyways, maybe one of these days I'll catch it on film...And maybe Ella will one day decide to be Buttercup for now, Ford will be my Buttercup, and Ella my Sweet Wesley (as she calls him).

Turning 6...

So the count down begins. Ford is already counting down to the day he turns 6. Needless to say he loves birthdays!! And being the oldest. In Kindergarten, they have special VIP days instead of celebrating birthdays, so this is his VIP poster we made for him.

Exhausted

Whoa-- what a week. We were planning on closing on our house this Friday, and our buyers threw us for a real loop by backing out 3 days before, so needless to say we are now moving back into our house and starting the whole sales process all over. We are Exhausted. Hopefully we'll have a more promising week this week!! This picture was taken of Ford and Ella after the pirate and princess party at Disney World, they road rides until midnight, and crashed on our stroller ride out.

First Day.

Ford and Ella started school on the same day. They were both very excited. I'm missing them both lots while they are both gone.

Savvy

Nothing says goodbye to Summer better than meeting Cpt. Jack Sparrow!! The kids loved meeting him. When Ford was dueling with him, Cpt. Jack said, "now thrust the bellie" and then Ford gave it his best shot, and Cpt. Jack said, "the bellie's a bit higher." It was a riot. And yes, Jack kissed Ella on the cheek and as we walked away she wiped the cheek as clean as she could.