Daddy's Birthday, Aunt Julie, and a Mini Vacation

I'm going to wrap a couple of posts into one here for the sake of simplicity.  I'll try to keep it brief.

1. Happy Birthday, Daddy!  Friday was Daddy's day, even though Nicholas wasn't all that thrilled about it.  He was a little jealous that it wasn't his birthday and couldn't understand why we couldn't make it so.  Every time we mentioned it, he gave us a growl of disapproval even after Greg offered to share the day with him.  But by the time we got around to the cake and candles that night, he had softened up and happily assisted with blowing out the candles.  Ah, the world of a three year old.

2.  It was another stinkin' hot weekend but we kept cool with hours and hours of swimming at the lake. We  even got to spend a few more days than usual and I am forever spoiled now.  A normal weekend will never, ever be long enough again.  Not by a long shot.  The big boat, as Nicholas calls it, has turned out to be quite the party boat this summer.  We load up every morning with drinks, snacks, and gobs of sunscreen and cruise out to a good swimming spot.  I wish you could see Papa and Nicholas standing on the back of the boat dancing to the tunes blaring on the radio.  They're quite the entertainers, let me tell you!

3.  As if all of this wasn't fun enough on it's own, we quadrupled it by dragging Aunt Julie along with us on our little mini vacation.  Big thanks to Mimi for importing her there from Missouri!  There just aren't words to describe how much Nicholas loves his Aunt Julie.  He can't ever get enough of playing with her and even though I'm sure she's totally exhausted by his persistence and unwavering energy, you'd never know it for a second.  Not even one complaint out of this woman, from the moment he flung her bedroom door open every morning demanding they play "Space" (two chairs turned over to simulate a rocket ship blast off, making moon footprints a la Neil Armstrong, and chasing down and shooting aliens only to turn around and carry them to the space hospital to save them) all the way to tucking his sleepy head into bed at night with a story and a kiss.  And that's just one reason I love her so much - she loves my boy with her whole heart.  I can say that I enjoyed every single second of having her there with us.  I wish it had never ended.

On a side note, anyone who can identify for me just exactly what a "Pookrit" is will be handsomely rewarded.  Nicholas uses this term constantly but becomes very evasive when we ask what it is.  He either gives us a different answer each time or just flashes us a very devilish smile.  Is my child cursing at me and I don't know it??!! 

Proof positive that saying "It feels like 134 degrees outside!" isn't just a dramatic exaggeration! ☺

Birthday candles - round 2.  Because once is never enough.

Train robber! We laughed so much over this because he kept yelling "Give me my money back!" 

Playing Space with Daddy while using a bowl and a bucket to provide them with oxygen.  I am

amazed at  how much Nicholas uses his imagination now.  Over the last few months, he has really

gotten into play acting and can sit and entertain himself for long periods.  It's so fun to sit back and

watch all the hilarious things he comes up with!

Backing the boat in the water.  This game is an all time favorite.

I love this picture so much because it's almost the exact same shot we took last year when

Julie first visited the lake with us.  I hope there will be many more just like it!