Difference between boys and girls

Here's the difference between boys and girls. You hand them each a flower, and this is what they do with it.

So yesterday was the first real day of our summer. It's the first full week we're all home, and the excitement is palpable, let me tell you. We had loads of fun hanging out laundry together, cleaning the bathrooms, sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming (twice), taking a walk in the sweltering heat, and eating popsicles out on the swing (pictures from that later). I think Rory and Camden are bored already. Can't say I blame them - I'm bored already! I've got to come up with something fun to do to fill our days. Camden is going to play soccer starting in August as well as going to Mother's Day Out 2 days a week so that will help. We're also checking out the library reading and crafts day tomorrow.

I got up and walked for 30 minutes on my own this morning. Exercise is pretty low on my list of least favorite things to do, and exercising alone falls even further down on the list, but I made myself do it and plan to try to every day. I prefer to walk with a friend, but I've decided my exercise schedule can't rely on them since we have very different schedules!

Brian is out this morning having breakfast with a group of preachers and then he's stopping by his old school to turn in his keys and finish cleaning out his room. After nap time, we're going to the mall to have the kid's pictures taken at JCPenney's. I definitely prefer having our picture taken by professionals (Kellie is taking our family pictures June 21), but when it comes down to buying in volume for our family, I decided we needed a quick photo shoot, and I've got a coupon for 2 free 8x10's, free sitting fee, and $3.99 portrait sheets. I used to take Camden about every 3 months when he was a baby. I also wanted a picture of the two of them on a plain white background wearing something red to match our new red couch in the family/computer room. We've promised them (a.k.a. Camden) ice cream if they behave today so hopefully that will help keep the fighting to a minimum.

A few new things about Rory. When she's upset, she puts her hand through my shirt sleeve to rub my arm. When you ask her what a pig says and then demonstrate the snort, she shakes her head and says "NO!" She not so free with her kisses anymore. In fact, when I ask her where my kiss is, she shakes her head and holds her hands out as if to say "I don't know" and then she refuses to give me any! She sweats more than any baby I've ever known! Almost as soon as we're outside, her hair is soaked and she has big drops of sweat rolling down her face. She is quite the drama queen and if she gets upset about something, nothing calms her down. She has these big tears and cries, although they are mostly fake, and we haven't discovered anything that stops her. She also increasingly likes to test us when we tell her "don't touch" or "no."

And not to leave Camden out, his new favorite things to do are drawing and playing with playdough. He can sit and do this forever - and this is from the boy who we could never get to color at all! He's been using words like delightful and horrible and prettiful (combo of beautiful and pretty). He's also discovered the way to my heart just might be flattery since he's told me the last 3 days in a row that I look pretty. He's perfected the fine art of pouting and is developing quite the attitude. We don't let him get away with it, but it's got me worried about how this might get worse as he gets older since he's not even 5 yet.