Summertime in Arizona, but it is a DRY HEAT!

Sea Turtle! I love the surprised face and Wyatt's cheesy grin!!

Clowning Around-He never stops moving!

It has been so hard for me to sit down and blog lately.  I am so tired at the end of the day that I hardly can keep my eyes open.  It has been too long though so here goes!  The summer has been great, even in 112 degree weather.  I would much prefer this over the cold, and it really doesn't last this long.  We have found that it is much more tolerable when playing either at the Surprise Aquatic Center or at my parents pool.  Taylor and Wyatt love to swim, and are both getting quite proficient at floating and Taylor can get across the pool quick!  I will say that I have seen asphalt turn into a liquid form though, a little warm.  There are definite adjustments to deal with the heat, and that involves lots of water, misters, and going to the park earlier and earlier.  We may be there by 7:00 a.m. here soon. 

The kids are both doing so wonderful!  Wyatt is my big boy and he is all boy.  He is drawn to every kind of ball and actually knows what to do with them!  He won't watch a cartoon to save his life, but if golf or baseball or even NASCAR are on the television he stops cold in his tracks and will watch.  That's my BOY!  He really doesn't say much, which is quite different from Taylor but he definitely communicates and understands everything we say.  He does enough grunting that I am convinced he is a neanderthal.    Taylor is also doing great, but is gettin antsy to get back to school.  She is in ballet right now through the Arizona Ballet Company and will start T-Ball and Soccer next month.  She has made a great little friend through school and church, and they inform me regularly they "are bff's"! HA!  They get along really well and put on shows for the parents at every chance they get.  We adore the Parker family, and their cute kids that are the same ages as ours.  Taylor has informed me she is going to be a doctor "to get the babies out" as well as a "soldier who protects the country".  I love it!  They both bring me infinite joy each day, even when they are trying my patience and nerves.  That is parenting.

We have found a great home in Radiant Church here in Surprise.  It is an amazing gift to look forward to Sunday morning so that we can all go to listen to Pastor Lee teach us about God's word.  Chris and I have really enjoyed all aspects of the church from the amazing music, the kids program is awesome and we really love listening to our Pastor.  We are becoming more involved in the church and I am excited about the new relationships and opportunities to serve others and God that I know are coming our way!  Taylor has blossomed at Radiant (she also attend the pre-school there during the school year).  Hearing her sing about Jesus and God, and the time we pray together before she goes to sleep are among my favorite during the day.  Children really are extraordinary in their wisdom and faith-let me love like a child!  We were blessed to have found this church.

The summer has been busy, I try to keep the kids really busy during the hottest part of the day if we aren't at the pool.  There have been trips to a museum and there are more to come!  Once things cool off we are looking forward to more outside time that doesn't involve a swimsuit.  Here are some pictures of the Schultz kids that show what a great time we have!  They keep us laughing, cringing, and Chris and I are so grateful that we have been blessed with these two little people.

He loves his baby

They love the 4-wheeler

Loving on each other

Read to me!

Reading his favorite book-he loves the firetruck

Smiling Pretty

The Dinosaur Bones

The Dinosaur Guy at the Arizona Natural History Museum

The Green Room!

Patriotic Playroom-I am very proud to say that Taylor was saying the pledge of Allegiance at about 18 months, and she still will stop on a walk when she sees a flag and put her hand on her heart to recite it!  She makes her Daddy SO proud.  She has even adopted the phrase "HOOAH" when she does something good.  Thanks to Daddy and GI Joe. All joking aside, Happy Fourth of July!  Let us honor our amazing veterans and our active and reservists.  They have given so much so that we are free, we should never take it for granted.  Let us honor our founding fathers, and their dream.  While I try not to get political, I will get a bit PATRIOTIC!  :)  I feel we are so far from the dream right now, but that as all things American - we learn the hard way!  I believe in the dream, and that we have strayed too far from that dream.  I believe Americans are starting to realize that right now and become scared.  Fear is a good motivator.  I have a lot of fear for our security, both financial and physical.  However, I have great hope and love for this country.  I know we as Americans don't always get it right, who does?  But the intention is there, and that intention has always come from a good place where freedom is everything.  Really what else are we if we are not free?  So please, honor our veterans and this great country.  If you see an old or even a young guy with some sort of military hat or clothing, stop and thank them.  I do, and it is the least I can do to show my gratitude for what they have sacrificed.  I will be thinking of those distant grandfathers of mine who were part of the Revolutionary, Spanish American, and Civil Wars.  I will be honoring my late Grandfather who was part of the D-Day invasion as a Seabee as were all of his brothers.  My Great Uncle who served during the Korean War, and my late Great Uncle who brought the dead home from war.  I will be honoring my father, and my husband!  He is such a great patriot that after being out of the Army for several years, still has the desire to serve!  What an amazing role model for our children!  We will be grilling and swimming with some friends and family this holiday weekend, watching some baseball and fireworks and thanking our lucky red white and blue stars that we were born in the USA!  Hooah!