foam swords. pretty much the best $2 i've ever spent a target.

splash city. for real.

ruta knows sometimes you need help untying your fierce sneakers.

kale still gets a little overzealous when hugging babies.

listing today's specials.

riley is turning out to be quite the swimmer.

it's never to early to introduce beyonce.

nothing like a warm towel after a cold swim.

tye dye family!

these days riley holds his nose and actually goes all the way under the water. amazing.

floating with nama.

ahoy there mateys! today we be flying the tye-dye pirate flag.

the kids liked the idea of tye-dying, it was just the reality they didn't enjoy so much.

lazy summer days at the bend.

heading for a snack. food being one of the only things kale will voluntarily leave the water for.

nama and hattie like each other almost as much as riley and schuyler. (which is a lot, people.)

on your mark, get set, walk slowly and carefully toward the finish line.

big kids holding hands in baby swings.

heading home from another successful playground adventure.

you know you're on vacay when you get store bought popsicles.

i'm sure hubie or nama has a better picture of this impromptu luncheon, but at least kale is looking at the camera. and that is not nothing.

riley couldn't get enough of that lena nightstar.

gotta love a grandma that brings press on nails to the party.

pretty much sums up our visit to great grandma edna's house.

cat pose with nama.

brighton beach memoirs, indeed.

what's up, subway readers?

a passel of persons proceeding to the spray park.

beautiful bike gang.

first bike riding and now boogie boarding. what's next, race car driving?

maxin' and relaxin'.

catch!

a rare photo of all four spades.

hard at work on the 'ole sand pile.

it doesn't look particularly comfortable to me either, but he napped for two hours. so there you go.

sometimes you gotta stop and smell the roses - though these particular roses smelled like urine so maybe sometimes you should just keep walking.

riley demonstrates proper pony feeding position.

kale and his rain boots have a date with the kiddie pool.

raise your chard in the air and wave it like you just don't care.

yet another thing older brothers are good for.

riley and mommy have a new favorite game and it is called spray-n-shield.

well hello there, elton kale.