Summer Days with my crew

We're already into our third week of summer and I'm already feeling like fall will be here before I know it! Gosh, I love the sun and warm grass so much--why can't I just enjoy it and not feel like it's only going to inevitably come to a very dark, very cold end?
Our days mostly consist of park days, grilling, eating dinner in the grass, swimming in our filthy wading pool, being bath-worthy daily, the occasional (okay, once) Mariner's game, and watching Miss Piper grow up big and beautiful right before our very eyes. 

Ever have one of those moments when your near 3 year old, while watching her older brother zoom around on his big-boy bike, turns to you and says, "Mom, I need a Scout bike", and you realize, "Oh, crap, you don't have a bike!"? So over the weekend, Craigslist bestowed her with just about the cutest little pink bike a girl could hope for. 

This last picture is a big deal. HUGE. If I could turn the sound in this picture, the explosion of self-accomplishing joy and confidence resulting in Jude screaming at the top of his lungs--"Woo-hoo! I can do this!!"--in celebration of being able to finally swing all by himself--it was one of those parenting moments you dream of. 

Nothing brings siblings closer together than swimming in each other's pee and drool. 

Day 1 of art class with daddy! On a stress scale from 0-10, Adam was probably a Monica, but I think they had a good time. Jude learned how to use less paint and smaller brush strokes, and Adam learned that watching your children's uncontrollable curiousity with acrylic paint won't destroy anything except maybe his hairline. 

Those faces post hot dog, nachos, ice cream and something called a "tiger brownie." Our faces in the morning were less cheery. 

She's already 10 months old! And Scouty turns three next month! *tears*

Hope you're all enjoy your summers so far! 

Little Boy Things

We're realizing that Jude's room needs to be updated from "baby" to "toddler."
And here are a few world maps we're considering hanging in his space from the genius designers over at These are Things.
Every little boy needs one of these, in my opinion. How else is a little man inspired to go exploring while sailing on the ocean blue and become an adventurer who travels to all of the most remote and exotic areas of the world, bringing along his telescope and pet monkey? How else? 

Can't I just suffer in my denial that I have a near two-year-old in peace? 

It's about time…

Hello to the readers of A Private Tour. For months now my wife Britney Stevens has been writing to enlighten and influence your lives. Also, for the last few months she has been asking me to write a post in her blog. The Husband. I've been putting it off for some time now but I finally am buckling down and writing a post. About what you say? I still have no idea. I don't consider myself a skilled writer; that is why I avoided writing this post. I thought it would be nice though for me to tell you some things I enjoy about my family.

I love when I come home from work and find Britney baking some extremely delicious treat because she's bored and Jude laughing to himself as he plays on the floor.

I love having movie nights with my wife after Jude falls asleep.

I love how much my wife cares what I eat so I will stay healthy.

I love when Jude blows bubbles with his mouth.

I love Jude's fatness.

I love when Britney get nervous to call someone on the phone because she just feels awkward on the phone for no reason.

So those are a few of the many things that I love in my everyday life. Hope you enjoyed. I am also including in this post a new illustration I've done called, "The Fox jumps…" Enjoy.

Click THIS for a larger version.

Gatsby

Ok just kidding--I'm leaving you for the weekend with this poster from Postertext. The entire image of the poster is made of the complete text of The Great Gatsby. For some reason when I saw this it made me want to cry. Reminds me of the time when I was afraid that my millions of dollars would get in the way of my relationship with Adam. Remember that? My husband finds the coolest things. Smooches, love, smooches. 

Jude's Wall Art

I recently asked Adam to design some images to print out as wall art for Jude's room.
Here's what my sexy, talented, masculine, gorgeous, visionary, inspired, wonderful husband came up with--in like half an hour:

Basically, I'm going to print them out, put them in separate frames, and mount them side-by-side above Jude's crib. I'm so excited! Next up: One fish, two fish. 

Having a designer for a husband is SO convenient. I recommend it :)