I've said it before and I'll say it again: I am so grateful for Instagram. It's quick, easy and I can use it from just about anywhere. I can't say the same for blogging, hence my absence this summer! Since I blogged about our month of May, Ronnie has gotten a Saturday/Sunday job working for a courier service. It's surprisingly great money and has helped our one income family a bunch! He still had a ton to do with summer school these past two months though so adding the job has been an adjustment and we both hate that it takes him away from spending time with us on the weekends. 

So having said that, our summer has been stupid hectic. Basically Ronnie's with Violet all day while I'm at work, then I get home and take over so he can study/do homework. The afternoons when he had class, my mom would watch Violet. Then on the weekends, she's all mine while he works. It's been tiring to say the least. We haven't spent much time together as a family this summer but the positive is that we've both gotten a TON of one-on-one time with Violet. I don't get nearly enough of that being a working mama so that alone is worth everything! Ronnie is finally done with summer school and has this week off until he starts back at Texas State next week. Then the week after that, Violet starts school for the first time!! So much to talk about, so little time. That'll come later though. For now, PICTURES.

I have pretty much a crap ton to share so I narrowed it down to just 16 from the month of June. Next post will be dedicated to July and before you know it, I'll have gotten busy again and I'll be making a very late August post. If we're not already Insta-friends, follow me there so you don't ever have to miss out on my exciting life! haha!

1: Her water setup at home. One of the last weekends we had together before Ronnie started working! :( // After a bout with a broken flat iron, I got a new one and was happy to be back to normal! // This was the month of phrases. She started putting two words together and just took off from there. This was "roni cheese" :) // Just a random new beer mama tried. 

2: I hope she doesn't ever need glasses but if she does, at least she'll look cute. // I let her play in the rain and immediately felt guilty and worried that she'd get sick. She didn't. I need to chill. // My mom totally spoiled her with water fun at her house this summer. // "Tinky feeeet". Another new phrase she added and thought was the funniest ever. And oh, the giggles. They are the best ever.

3. Meeting another animal friend, this one was my cousin's cat and SO freaking cute. // Ronnie got the best Father's Day gift ever - a Spurs Championship! // Date night of the month at Gartenfest. German food + beer. Nom! // We went to a baby shower and my child acted like a wild fool and was in everyone's way but she looked sweet and quiet in this picture beforehand. Ah, the truth behind pictures. ha!

4. We've made so many trips to Home Depot and Lowe's this summer, it's ridiculous. // Another trip to HD I believe, this time wearing her favorite hat of the summer. lol // More shopping with my girl. This time, Target. Because mama is always and forever an addict. // A new swimsuit from you guessed it, Target. And more water fun at you guessed it, her spoiler of a grandma's house.

never end, summer.

As hot as it is outside (and it is HOT), I'm not ready for the summer to end.

The summer ending means Ronnie goes back to school soon and the craziness will ensue. I really am going to miss having him around all the time and I know he'll miss being the one at home with Violet every day (me, too). We have just two weeks left before our comfy little summer routine comes to an end. Say it ain't so!

So here's what we've been up to the last week:

// Playing in the sprinkler // Aunt Jeena time // Playing in (or out) her new tent //

// Watching her daddy grill // Sleeping in on the weekend // Farmer's Market //

// Waking up with Prince hair // Still obsessing over sunglasses... //

And that last picture up there? The one with a blurry Violet and a Hannah trying to crawl into a dog crate? It's one of the last pictures I could get of our girls together. My friend, Elizabeth has decided to leave us (because it's all about me here) for bigger, better things in Cambridge, MA. She is headed to Harvard Law this fall! No big deal, right?

She is one of the first local bloggers I met, oh, about 3 years ago and is one of the sweetest people I've ever met. I will miss our lunch dates and chats so much but most of all I'll miss her and her little family being just 5 minutes away. I can't believe how much bigger our girls will be the next time we see each other! Crazy. I really am so excited for their new life and the adventures to come. Best of luck, friend. Harvard is lucky to have you!!

Elizabeth loving on a teeny Violet :)

This "back to school" thing is killing me.

 

I'd like a forever summer, please. And for friends to never move away!

A kid's night in Austin.

Not sure if you've heard this but San Antonio is hot. Much like the rest of Texas. So what do we do during the summer? Anything involving water. The pool, lakes, rivers, whatever. Or we're forced (I say forced like it's a bad thing. ha) to go to places like SeaWorld, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Splashtown or drive to New Braunfels for Schlitterbahn. Those are all awesome but sometimes you just want a relaxed place, so Ronnie -being the awesome dad he is- had the idea to find Violet a splash pad. But for some reason, there are like zero splash pads in San Antonio. (Yeah, I said like. Ronnie hates that.) Maybe because we're so water conscious? Who knows.

 

Since we're always down for a road trip, I googled splash pads in Austin and the first result was "25 Austin area splash pads". Perfect. Thank goodness for our much cooler neighbor. So we packed up our girl late in the day Saturday (to avoid the hottest temps of the day) and headed to Austin. 

 

The first stop was Ricky Guerrero park - a little park tucked into the back of a neighborhood. There were 3 other kids playing when we got there and it wasn't packed at all. So nice. This splash area was small but had plenty of room for a good amount of kids and it was completely perfect for someone V's size. It also had a ton of shade so that was a major plus. The first 5 pictures below are from there. Our only complaint was that the water turned off earlier than expected (apparently it shut off a half hour earlier than it should have). But nice thing about Austin having so many splash pads is that there's always another nearby so we headed over to the Liz Carpenter fountain at Bulter Park (the rest of the pictures :). That one was insanely crowded but the view - you can't beat a splash area with a view. The entire Austin skyline was right there! Violet was a little worn out by then but still managed to have fun. I mean, WATER. She loves it.

 

Quick side story about the annoying man and his baby son in the above picture.

 

See, Violet LOVES other babies and immediately goes up to them so we already knew she'd be happy right next to this little boy. But he had sunglasses on (I'm guessing prescription after what happened) and another thing Violet loves is sunglasses. So she goes up to this kid, reaches (not grabs, but reaches) for the kid's glasses and while I'm trying to keep her from actually getting a hold of this kid, the dad rushes over to put his hand in front of Violet and in what I swear felt like slow motion, he yells "No no no no no!". You'd think my daughter was getting ready to push his son off a rooftop ledge. I quickly apologize and explain that she just loves sunglasses and meanwhile the son starts screeeeaming so the dad scowls at me and takes his son to the opposite end of the fountain. Dra-ma! Violet was still drawn to him though and as you can see, Ronnie had to keep stepping in to take her away. Like her dad, she's stubborn so I'm sure she would've eventually taken those glasses right off the boy's face...and ain't nobody got time to get into a fight with another parent.

 

But anyway. Happy, non-crazy people thoughts.

 

Can you see the happy on this child's face? Gawd, I love her. She had the best. time. ever.

 

And THIS. Downtown Austin sure is pretty.

 

We've wanted to move there for years but apparently everyone else and their mother from outside of Texas wants to also, so now it's just way too crowded. I'm just grateful a city with so much to do is nearby and we can visit whenever we want. Even if crazy parents do run rampant here, Austin's always a favorite.

tail wagging tuesday!

Well, my weekend was definitely lazy. We didn't even do anything for the 4th! But from the looks of your posts, you all had a great weekend! I was just SO grateful to have a 3 day weekend because I so needed it!

Considering I don't have much to talk about today, it's perfect timing that C. Mae has brought back her link up, Tail Wagging Tuesday! I don't like coming off like that dog obsessed woman that I really am so this is the perfect excuse to show 'em off :)

The theme this week is pictures of the fur babies enjoying their summers thus far..

Problem is, my poor boys are hating the summer [as are we!]. Temps for the past couple of months have been in the high 90s-low 100s EVERY DAY and we are SPENT. I think the boys prefer the Fall, like their momma ;)

I know dachshunds are finicky about rainy or snowy weather but I had no idea they would get this bad during the summer because this is the first summer they've done this! I almost have to drag Niles on the sidewalk just to move! There have been points where he just stands there and stares at me because he does NOT want to walk. Brat. I think their only summer wish is to lay on a cool blanket in the a/c and drink lots of water!

Warning: X-rated pics ahead. ha!

I can imagine Frasier's cooling off position is very effective :)

Blurred pic I took of Niles at my mom's. He was right near a fan :)

Looking pathetic this past weekened on their favorite cool blanket :)

But I don't blame them - hell, if I could do nothing but sleep all day, I would too. It's effing HOT!

I can't wait to see all your pups! have a great day!