We had the best weekend!!! I’m so tired today, but it was worth it because our Thursday through Sunday were the happiest four days and we packed in so much good family time. Truly felt so good. Also, it’s July and this Cancer is thriving 🙌

Thursday was our Friday, but we kept it pretty low-key. My kids had played in the pool with my parents and I came home for popsicle time. Once Joey was home, we had leftovers for dinner and went on a scooter ride around the block. Dempsey is getting so good on his and Lydia basically made me carry hers the whole way 😂 Got them into bed on time and watched an episode of The Bear before we went to bed.

A fun fun 4th! Joey and I each went on an early run and then red, white and blue waffles before heading to the children’s museum. I thought it would be packed because everyone had the day off, but it wasn’t too bad! Dempsey has been asking me to go see “the lanterns” for a month after I showed him a picture of Lydia and Landon with them 😂 I’m usually on Lydia duty anytime we go someplace but she ended up with Joey and I got to spend most of the time with Dempsey, which was so sweet. He loves that workshop area and then we spent a lot of time at Joy Park outside and even visited the garden area, where he pulled his own garlic bulb and got to bring it home! Left in time for lunch and Lydia’s nap and then we got some clean up and BBQ prep done before everyone came over around 5.

We had the best time eating and celebrating with our family! The ribs turned out really good and everyone brought great side dishes. Dempsey told me he ate “a nibble” and that’s all the dinner he ate, unless you count both red velvet cake and a smore 😂 He was also begging to light things on fire all night, that little pyro! We gave in around 8:45 and had quite the show. Truthfully one of the best things we lit was a little tiny firework Lori brought that went off for way longer than it’s size indicated but we did have a snow cone-shaped fountain for our finale and it was 10/10! Everyone left right after and we got the littles inside and into bed by 10ish then went to bed ourselves.

We let the kids sleep in as long as we could on Saturday but Lydia still had soccer practice at 9 AM. There’s only one week left and let me just say THANK GOD. I had hope when she was actually participating in the warm up but it went downhill fast from there 😓 We played at the park for a bit afterward then headed home for lunch and nap. Dempsey helped me clean out the playroom and do a toy rotation. I’m always ready to throw in the towel on that because they have so many big/favorite toys that we always have out but every time I DO do it, I’m rewarded by how well they play with those “new” toys. We ordered in Illegal Pete’s for dinner then headed over to the Rockies game! Dempsey was acting slightly insane toward the end (late nights and no nap will do that to ya!) but they behaved for the most part. We made it down on the field for the firework show and the kids loved it so much! Last year Lydia needed me to hold my hands over her ears and was pretty scared but she was loving it this year 😍🥺 Such a late night — we didn’t get the kids to bed until after 11! But it was worth it 😉

Joey and I woke up just before 8 on Sunday but the kids were still sound asleep so I took a solo trip to the farmers’ market and gosh did that feel good! I love my kids, but that alone time was truly golden 🥰✨ I got pastries, coffee, peaches (!!!!), potatoes, tomatoes, bread and some flowers and walked home feeling so blissful. The kids were up by then, so we all got to eat (and make a mess with) our almond croissants and then Joey took them on a birthday expedition of some sort — all I know is that each of my kids has told me someone got me socks for my birthday 😂😂 — while I did a Peloton workout. Felt like the day was a million hours long because even after all that, we somehow fit in Lydia’s nap, The Parent Trap, cookie baking, grocery delivery, salad making, laundry and dinner! Got the kids to bed (Lydia cried for so long after we put her in her bed 😭) and watched more of The Bear before going up to our room and then I read for a bit because I’m hooked on Fourth Wing! Maybe that’s why I’m so tired today 😂

Wishing you all a happy week!

Last weekend was jam-packed so it felt nice to be a little less busy this weekend! We stayed in for homemade pizza on Friday, had our best friends over for dinner on Saturday and, since we had no plans for Sunday, we ended up making the spontaneous decision to head to the zoo and had a really great time there 🥰😊 I am so Type A about making plans ahead of time but truly, some of the best experiences are the ones you have on the fly!

My mom gifted Lydia that dachshund outfit on Thursday and we couldn’t get it off of her until Saturday afternoon 😂😬 I made time to go get a MUCH NEEDED pedicure and after Lori brought the kids home, we took Dempsey to get a haircut (Lydi occupied herself by trying on sunglasses) then came home and made pizza. The classic cheese and pepperoni turned out best! Got the kiddos to bed at a normal hour and watched some Poker Face before our own bedtime.

Zoom in for the poutiest lip ever 😂

Got up and made whole wheat pancakes for breakfast but I didn’t love the way the batter turned out so I’m back on the hunt for a go-to whole wheat recipe. Lydia had the biggest cheering section yet for soccer and… she was not into participating at all this week. She wouldn’t even stand up on the field and just kept falling to the ground. Felt very reminiscent of another child living in our household 🤔😅 Afterward, the cousins all played at the park and then we walked back home for lunch and Lydia’s nap. Dempsey and I also made an upside down cake that we completely burned the bottom of, so I quick cut that part off 😂

Had Hannah, Josh and the boys over at 5 and we all had the best time! Poor little Lydi just trying to keep up with the boys. She came running over in tears at one point and told me “I just wanna play too” 😭😭 I’m not worried because she really can hold her own most of the time but that was so sad. I was definitely an older sister always trying to escape with my friends from my younger sister, so I guess I get to repair my sins by teaching Dempsey how to include his little sister. After our friends left, we got the kids to bed, watched the rest of our Poker Face episode then went to bed ourselves.

We had NOTHING planned for Sunday! Such bliss 🥰 We let the kids sleep in a little later than usual then we all had breakfast and while we were sitting there, trying to decide what to do all day, Joey suggested the zoo. Lydia and I had been on Wednesday but Joey and Dempsey hadn’t been able to go, so it sounded perfect to me! I made us some sandwiches and packed them up with snacks and water and we were off. We made a beeline to the sea lion exhibit because a demonstration was just about to start and we made it just in time. Afterward, Joey went to rent a wagon because the kids left their walking legs at home 😂 Forever amused/annoyed that there are so many cool animals at the zoo but my kids are sometimes more interested in the props and/or light fixtures?? Who knows. But we really did have a great time. They played for a long time in this nature park area and had a blast running through one of the zoo’s splash pads. I’m so glad we went 🤍

Back at home, I put Lydia down for her nap and Dempsey had a little down time watching a movie while Joey did laundry and I made salads for the week. Once our girl was back up, we headed outside because Dempsey wanted to try riding his bike! He’s been real timid/uninterested since he got that bike for his fourth birthday but I think having Henry and Mason over inspired him. He was trying so hard and even got back up and on after a few falls. We were so proud! Lydia packed her backpack and took her scooter over too. She had Bitty Baby’s potty, some toy baking utensils and puzzle pieces in there?? 😂😂 We brought the kite over too and we’re getting better but we don’t quite have it yet. I made us some salmon with rice, tomato salad and basil sauce for dinner but my kids both needed a side of yogurt and full stems of dill?? I’m not sure about those two sometimes🤪

I hope everyone has a good week and a nice 4th of July weekend 🤍