just a normal day.

Lately I have been trying to keep caught up on all the fabulous reviews and giveaways that I have here. It can sometimes be difficult to remember to blog the normal things that happen around this crazy house. Summer has been busy and super fast around here. We have spend a great deal just hanging around the house. We spent a whopping 30$ at Target on a pool. The kids have spent hours swimming, so it was pretty much the best 30$ I have spend in a long time! On top of the normal wake up, eat breakfast, shower and play routine, we have had a steady flow of awesome kiddo's here hanging with us. I shared with you my not so great babysitting adventure at the beginning of the summer, but the rest of the part time baby sitting I have been doing has been fabulous! Elliott enjoyed having her school mate spend some time here with us over the summer and for the past few weeks we have had the sweetest baby girl here. It has been a lot of fun for the kids and I. It is amazing how one more kiddo's seems to make everything flow a little better. Odd.

Besides having a steady flow of kids in and out we have of course gone to the zoo a few times, as well as the local parks and pools. Even though we have a pool in our yard, it is really nice to meet up with more friends and relax poolside. Of course we have added to our family, we now have three additional four legged animals. 2 rats and 1 newt. I am becoming a paranoid housewife asking every person that enters if the house smells like rat. Everyone so far has said no. I hope they are being honest and not lying to me! I have to admit that allowing the kids to get these pets has proven to be a very positive experience. Elliott has been super responsible with the rats. Every few days she is cleaning out the cage and daily gives them plenty of love. Owen is trying, but it is a little less natural for him. He is doing very well with his newt, Fire Stream. It may help that it is a animal that needs very little attention!

the eco friendly Rat Shack. 

I spend a lot of time combing out this mess too. It is like a rats nest. 

and sometimes I let the kids paint themselves. 

I have enjoyed this summer. It has been crazy, a little lazy and most of all fun having my kiddo's together. I am getting excited and sad for school to start. Falling back into a routine will be very nice, but having the biggies gone for full school days this year will be so hard! I am praying for a great year, especially for Elliott. She will have a new teacher again. I am really hoping that she will end her lower elementary experience with a lot of positive memories!