hot, hot, hot

It's been out-of-control hot around here lately.

To relieve ourselves from our heat-induced house arrest, we ventured over to our favorite sno cone place for some yumminess.

Charlie decided to make himself at home and sit directly on the concrete to eat his sno cone.

'Cause it's totally sanitary to eat next to cigarette butts and broken sno cone spoons.

After a few bites, he decided to go ahead and paint himself with the sno cone too.

Highlighter yellow.

Awesome.

We met my sweet, sweet, sister-in-law...

and my brother - for some serious conversation...

and a laugh or two.

When the tongue turns purple, you know it's time to head on home.

my friend flika

A boy and his horse.

...Or as Charlie would say, a boy and his "Yee-Ha"

There's nothing in this world that makes him happier.

...With the exception of a nice, big, sippy cup of milk.

Or maybe an "ahcoowr" (a.k.a. sucker)

I just wonder...do they have to make them so...anatomically correct?

moving on

It's official: We are finally moved out of Itty Bitty House and into my Mother-in-Law's house. She has kindly agreed to let us stay with her while we regroup and decide where to move next.

Avery and Charlie may never want to leave.

They are loving living in their Boo's big, giant house.

Especially Avery.

One day, after David and I told her that Boo was bringing home some strawberries and peaches from the store for her, she said, "I'm so glad we don't live at that other house any more."

Hopefully, Boo feels that way too.

Although, after a few months of Tornado Charlie and Hurricane Avery invading her lovely home, she may feel differently.

If we could just manage to keep the destruction and chaos to a minimum while we are here, I'll be happy.

________

I'm beyond pleased to announce that Avery finished her sticker chart at the end of July.
For a little girl totally addicted to her thumb, she's handled her detox like a champ.

As her big reward, Avery decided to get a Jessie doll from the Disney store instead of a Bitty Baby.

I don't know, maybe I'm a total freak, but I was a little disappointed that she didn't want to get a Bitty Baby.

In fact, it's highly possible that I was more excited about taking Avery to the American Girl store than she was.'Cause let's be honest: A trip to the Disney store just doesn't hold the same charm as an outing to the totally adorable American Girl store.

The 8-year-old girl inside of me was crushed.
Totally.

Thankfully, the 33-year-old Mom in me told the 8-year-old Me to grow up and deal with it.

Because Avery loves her.

And that's what it's all about.

I have to admit...she is pretty darn sweet.

Even if she didn't come from a store with an adorable cafe...

Per Avery's very adamant request, Charlie is in no way, shape, or form allowed even remotely close to her.

As usual, Charlie is totally unfazed by Avery's rules.

In fact, he's pretty much made it his mission in life to try to pull Jessie's beautifully braided yarn hair out of her pretty little head whenever he gets to the chance. 

As a result, Avery screams her head off whenever he gets within 2 feet of Jessie.

 

Good Times.

In other news, since the temperature has been ten zillion degrees here lately, we've spent a lot of time indoors.
Going crazy.
And desperately trying to find things to do.

Indoor things.

Things that don't involve breaking one of my Mother-in-Law's lamps.

Or her alluringly shiny candlesticks.

Or any of her lovely breakable items.

Painting seems to do the trick most days.

The paint doesn't always make it's way to the paper, but at least it's NOT on my Mother-in-Law's couch.