California.

We escaped a few weeks ago to sunny (and much cooler) California. We had promised Joshua that we'd take him to the water park at LegoLand if he could learn to swim without his floaties. If you could have heard the shrieking and screaming that came from that kid's pipes at the beginning of the summer ... you would have never guessed we would have ever made it to CA. But ... How did it! And off we went!

Of course, How's really responsible parents neglected to take a camera with them for either of the two days spent at LegoLand. Which means we also missed taking pictures of ... say ... stuffing a child's shoes ... with um ... two extra pairs of socks ... so ...er ... he could make the 42 inch height requirement. You know, ever so often the rule follower has to bend the rules a bit. And he rode on LegoTechnic THREE times! Thanks to the "special shoes" (as How now calls them!)

After LegoLand, there was lots of fun to be had at Ben's parent's house. Just being outdoors and not sweating to death was FABULOUS. The boys attempted to play darts. At a really close proximity to the dart board. Amazing how many bull-eyes you can get from that distance.

And baseball. Which really turned into golf ....

With a bat ....

There were conversations out on the patio ...

And relaxing on the rug ...

Chats with Pap Pap ...

And superhero battles with Cake.

Fun. Fun. Fun.

Oh ... and Joshua measured 42 inches at the doctor's office yesterday without any special shoes. Phew. So I will feel much better about myself next time we go to LegoLand. My rule breaking days are over. Maybe. Unless Eli needs to get on.

And. Ben's mom, Patty ... who we like to call Cake around this neck of the woods ... just had a full knee replacement surgery this week and had a pin removed from her hip. Please be praying for a speedy recovery ... Eli is already preparing for his superhero rematch.