Butts, Buddies and Passion Fruit Bandits

Yesterday was a busy day for the Fox Family. We arrived home from Breckenridge at 3am after driving for 15 hours. We decided to do it this way because we learned that Jayno is not the most...umm... fun to have in the car on a long road trip. Screams...from her and us. Not so much fun. We were planning on stopping halfway, but when we really thought about it we decided to drive straight home. This gave us 7 hours of quiet peaceful driving while she slept. But, driving straight meant no sleep for us (and by us I really do mean us...Brady actually stayed awake for the whole trip...I think that's a 1st). We were hoping the kids were sleep until noon like we wanted them to, but that was not to be. We received our usual 8 am wake up call.

So, to make the morning easier on Brady and I, and to make it still fun for the kids (as much I wanted the to watch TV all day that would not be good...and Stella isn't much of a television watcher...). So, I got out the trusty Rubbermaid bucket. Mr. Bucket once held baby clothes that Teigue has worn out. Since his services are no longer needed, we use Mr. Bucket as our go to friend in a pinch. He can be a boat, or a cave- yesterday he was a pool. I filled him up and the kids got in, then they got out and decided that they wanted to water the garden...well it once was supposed to be a garden...now it is just a place for the kids to dig, get muddy and make a mess. I guess it's the Children's Garden. Fancy.

In order to play in the pool, they must get naked. This is not my rule, they decided this the first time that Mr. Bucket came out as pool. I think it was Jayno that decided it- her diaper just didn't work very well in the pool. So, as soon as the water enters the bucket, the kids get naked, and they usually stay that way for the rest of the afternoon. It is summer after all. I love naked baby butts. I don't think there is anything more delicious in the world. Especially brother and sister getting muddy in the garden butts.

After Mr. Bucket was finished doing his job and needed to take a nap, we decided, as a family, that it was also nap time. Well, 3 of us took a nap while Teigue watched "The Incredibles". (I received a lovely play by play of the entire movie while attempting to sleep on the couch.) When Stella woke from her nap, as usual, she only wanted Teigue. Teigue then goes into her room and puts all her "buddies" into her bed. All of them. Even the blocks.

She thinks this is quite hilarious and usually stays in her crib for about 10 minutes afterward. I think that it is so cute that she only wants Teigue (and he takes this job quite seriously). I love how much they love each other.

And finally, to end our long exhausting not much sleep day, the Passion Fruit Bandits rode once more. On the other side of our canyon, there is a house that has a huge yard with loads and loads of frut trees. One day while running the canyon, Brady discovered that this house also has one of Teigue's favorite favorite fruits- Passion fruit. These tiny little tart fruits are a whopping $3 a piece at Whole Foods. We never, ever buy them. We luckily have Max and Jill to go to, and now...the canyon. A couple nights during the week Brady, Teigue and Stella hike into the canyon and loot the vine. Normally they get about 12 fruits. Well, we have been out of town and no one has been around to get the fruit.

Disclaimer: The man that owns this vine does not harvest his fruit. He has loads and loads of fruit rotting on the ground, so it's not like they are really stealing the fruits. Plus, it's legal in San Diego to harvest fruit that is on city property. They never take fruit from the other side of the fence. It's too hard...Teigue has tried.

Yesterday they went hiking and got 80 fruits. Teigue was quite excited.

They then make a big production of of the gathering of the fruits and have to cut into the biggest BIGGEST one as soon as they get home. Instead of doing that, Brady and the kids made a delicious passion fruit cocktail and celebrated.

Even though we were so tired, yesterday was a pretty fun day.