Butterflies, watermelon, and BBQ

 The Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, here in Richmond, have a live butterfly exhibit that we went to go explore last weekend.  I love the gardens, I think mostly because a lot of the plants that grow here are so different then the ones that grow back in Colorado or Idaho. PLUS they have a great splash park for kids, which Raivis loves.  It started out as a nice cool morning, which is the best at the gardens, by the time we left though it was a little steamy. 

 Raivis had a great time at the splash park, he calls the frog sprinkler a  "car wash".  He finds "car washes" all over the place because, after all, in his words "I want to wash cars and trucks wen I grow up." 

Mommy forgot to bring a towel so we had to play in the sunshine to dry off a bit before making our way back to the car.  While Raivis was drying we played with the sidewalk chalk and Raivis talked me into trying to hula hoop.  As long as it stayed above the belly I can still do it... I feel sorry for anyone who happened to see though. 














Summer festival season is in full swing here in Richmond.  Two weeks ago we hit up the Watermelon Festival and last weekend we went to RVA-B-Q. 

 Raivis got his first tattoo at the Watermelon Festival, it was the big red bird from Angry Birds.  He wanted it on his arm, the same place as one of his Daddy's. :) He also got a poster of the local baseball team from their mascot, Raivis loved it.  He carried it around the festival, calling it his map.  Aside from the massive meltdown the three year old had over the jumpy things, we had a great time.  We had a watermelon smoothie, watermelon lemonade, just plane old watermelon, yum yum yum!

RVA-B-Q was just a few blocks away, so we walked down and enjoyed some great BBQ (and Daddy enjoyed some Virginia beers).   It was hot, we parked in the a shade for a while, ate, people/dog watched, and played. 

We have been a little boring this weekend.  Friday night we got to catch up with some friends (we don't get to see everyone as much as we used to with the new 3rd year schedules). 

It has been rainy so we stuck close to home.  My big accomplishment was getting a big re-organization of Raivis' toys done, they were taking over the house.  Somehow, I think that they are still taking over the house, they are just temporarily put in different spots ;). 

The baby is doing good, wiggling and growing.  We went to pick up the jogging stroller that we ordered on Friday.  When we told Raivis where we were going he says, "And get my baby, too!?!"  It was so so sweet.  Raivis also declared today that he is going to help his baby and "sometimes share his animals with it."  I just had to document that statement for use as ammunition at a later date.  :)