Pools, Pride, and Pho

Mali ~

Summer...summer...summer...time....Summertime! Yes, summer is in full swing up in here!

One of our first orders of business was to establish a plan to attempt to try a new restaurant each Friday. Our first Friday we chose 6-1-Pho and you were smitten. We've been back so many more times since this first visit and you just can't get enough of their pho (I love their banh mi)!

It also just so happened that a local church was having a Christmas in June festival with a drive-in showing of The Grinch in their church parking lot, too. Now, this movie is one that you and Jelysa have been dying to see together ever since last December so it was perfect. We took Jelysa (and her brother Jeffrey) with us and had a fun Friday night. Surprisingly, we *all* enjoyed the movie. It was really cute!

your freaky licorice trick

stretching out to watch the movie

The next morning, you, Lao Lao, and I also pedaled our booties into Westerville for the Farmer's Market and rewarded ourselves with some delicious, freshly made crepes. You've been asking to try crepes for some time, (although you were calling them Spanish pancakes), and so you were thrilled (ok, maybe moderately excited with a slight side of whining) to ride the 12 miles (round trip) to wrap your lips around this deliciousness!

yummmmm

Lao Lao decided to jazz up her helmet on the way home

Of course, along with our adventures, I can't forget to throw some Grizz spam into the blog as well. She is getting so big ~ check out her tongue!

She's recently decided that she likes to steal the ripening blueberries from our bush.

caught in the act!

And when she's not stealing blueberries, she's busy looking cute on the stairs with Suzy.

Or getting a kinder version of a time-out with Mom. Ha.

Ok,  back to us. If it's June, you know it's Pride month up in our house! One of my favorite times of year! Of course, we attended the parade and it was glorious. As usual.

bought you a rainbow squid hat from a vendor, but it was so
hot, I don't know that you wore it much

waiting for the parade with Ana

I seriously love this kid right here

Lao Lao and I also decided to participate in the Free Hugs movement this year. Entirely too many kids (and adults) are rejected or disowned by their families for simply being themselves and living authentic lives along the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. Our family firmly believes that this should never happen to anyone, but sadly it still does. Because of this, the Free Hugs (and in particular, the Free Mom Hugs) movement was born. Doing a quick Google search will tell you all you want to know about this beautiful movement and its story.

Anyway, we were inspired and so Lao Lao and I decided to bring our own signs and open arms/warm hugs to Pride and spread love, acceptance, and support to any and all who needed or wanted it. Let me just tell you that it was one of the most touching and profoundingly moving Pride parades I have attended. So many hugs, smiles, and tears. I don't think I will ever go to another Pride parade without my Free Mom Hugs sign. It was impactful on so many levels. I'll never be the same and I am so grateful.

Well, after Pride weekend had come to a close, guess where we headed a few days later. Yep, you guessed it. 6-1-Pho...remember how I told you we kept going back this month? Yeah, this was us introducing Daddy to its noodle-y deliciousness. Yum!

It was so hot, we also hit the pool with our new rafts...a taco, a rainbow, and a panda (except I think I was still blowing your panda up when the picture below was snapped). Of course, we took friends with us...Ana, Carter, and Alyssa from the 'hood.

parental units in the sun

chatting it up with Carter on the taco

snuggle session with Mama and the taco

I discovered the wonders of doggie ice cream this month as well which was a perfect treat to cool off the pups. As you can see, Grizz approves.

Maybe it will stop her from chewing up pillows? ...Nah.

I also took you to the pool on another steamy, hot day and this was you, sitting with me and peering under the beach chair, cracking yourself up as you looked at my butt squeezing through the slats of the chair like biscuit dough about ready to pop out of a canister. Hahaha!

After the pool, I took you and Ana to Fourth Fridays where we ate dinner and then you got to chat with paramedics in an ambulance and investigate a real firetruck. Very cool.

The pool is expensive so on one particular day...we made due with what we had in the garage. Popsicles and a plastic dog pool in the driveway. Swimming...hillbilly style

You, Daddy, and I also headed over to Sharon Woods one evening for a family date of canoeing. They have free canoeing on certain days at the park and it was a really neat experience. Can't beat free!

you and I contributed some artwork to their paths while we
waited for our turn on the canoes

The following are some texts that you and I exchanged while I was at work one morning. They made me smile and warmed my heart.

And finally, Audrey Ayi had a birthday this month (the 28th). We did take her out for a belated birthday dinner, but she also came over on another day and swooped in to pick you up for a fun date as well. I love that you can spend time with her, just the two of you, like this. Makes me so happy.

playing at the library

Love you, Monkey.
Happy Summer!
Mama