Here are the Budge Superstars

We finally got a family picture of all of us in our "Superstar" t-shirts. Here's a big hello to the original "Superstar", Marian Goates! Our good friend, Blake Niederhauser (we are still sad because the Niederhausers are on their way to Wisconsin and the rest of their life) took the pictures out at the Belle Meade Plantation. Ethan was being a little silly that day and Phil is post call, so a little sleepy. We did manage to get a couple of good ones though.

Gotta Love Their Imagination

Jakob and Ethan have been trying to keep themselves busy so far this summer. With it having been so hot and the chiggers being vicious this year, they haven't been too eager to spend the whole day outside like I had envisioned. Instead they have been rather creative with their time and have come up with some interesting things. My favorite so far has been this collection of Lego 'dogs' and various things to go with them, like dog-catcher catcher offices. They have a couple dozen of the little 'dogs' and one big one that they call Wilford. The 'dogs' have had football and baseball games, traveled the world, and many other adventures. You wouldn't believe how busy this has kept them. Just yesterday they added falcons and African rhinos.
This one with the people is Sophia's creation. The kids were their own photographers and I just realized they didn't get any profile shots of the 'dogs'. They are really simple, made of 6-7 Legos and you have to use your imagination to see a dog.

We had to keep from laughing

As Ethan said after he was chastised, "This needs to go on the Budge Chronicles." Sure enough, that is what I was thinking when I walked outside to see him doing this:
Ethan is really the dare devil of the family and will climb on anything possible. Usually, I just let him indulge himself, as long as there aren't any little impressionable kids watching. This time though the chair on the garbage can didn't seem the safest ladder and I worried what the landlord would say, so he got verbally reprimanded by dad (I couldn't keep a straight face) after which Phil just looked at me with a grin of disbelief on his face.

Three Weeks Old!!!!

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since this little one has entered our life! What a life changing thing every baby can be. Our life has been irrevocably changed for the better and it is a joy to have Clara in our lives.

I meant to post a 2 week old picture but didn't quite get around to it (go figure). She had her check up last week and was up to 9lbs and 22inches. She's growing so fast! Here she at 2 weeks old, smiling in her sleep.

(Last) Friday Fun

These are some of the summertime fun things going on around here. Since the pool isn't really an option for me right now, I got the kids excited about a water balloon battle. It's too bad it takes so long to fill them up and that I'm the only one that can tie them. It did cool us off in this crazy 90 degree weather.

That night we also stayed up late to catch some fireflies, which were out in abundance. These are one of the coolest things about living in the East. They never cease to amaze me or the kids. A true sign that summer has arrived.

Here's what we caught and one lighting up (it's not the greatest picture).