July. Texas.

It's July. 

I live in Texas. 

The triple-digit heat is almost unbearable.

In order to keep our sanity we decided to take advantage of anything indoors with AC. 

I'm going to combine InstaFriday at Life Rearranged and Friday Favorites at Finding Joy (is that cheating in the blog world to link up one post to two blog hops or just being efficient?) and list our favorite ways to beat the heat.

{ONE}

Paciugo

It's gelato and it's SOOOO GOOOOOD! By the way, kids eat free on Tuesday evenings. On the receipt it shows "Bambino free".  How cute is that!?!

Mark and I shared the Amaretto Chocolate Chip, Tiramisu Cheesecake, Mediterranean Sea Salt Caramel and Fondente Dark Chocolate.

The boys had Pannacotta (Wedding Cake) and Cookies'n Milk.

Almost too pretty to eat.

{TWO}

Kid-friendly fun at Chuck E. Cheese's

One large pizza, 4 sodas and 50 tokens was just right.

Let me confess that we've never taken Will and Ben to Chuck E. Cheese's before this visit.  It never seemed appealing on Saturday when the birthday party scene was happening.  We visited on a Friday around 11a.m. and it was perfect.  It wasn't crowded and we stayed for a couple of hours.  Perfect!

Mark and Will 

Ben is chewing on a piece of candy in this photo.

{THREE}

IKEA

I had a doctor's appointment in Frisco, which has the nearest IKEA.  It's about an hour from where I live.  I don't go very often, but since we were already in the area we stopped by.  I only spent $10!!!  I usually eat the meatballs for lunch, but this time I had spinach and cheese crepes.  They were good and I shared a ginormous piece of chocolate cake with Mark.

Love the parking area reserved for families.

The boys always head straight for the toy area. The kitchen and train tracks are their favorite.

Their cooking up something...

Vroom!

We don't have a real dog so we take them to IKEA or Old Navy so they can pet the fake ones.

Ben and Will liked the pod chair that spins.

{FOUR}

Apple Store

I almost didn't get the guys to leave this store.  Mark, Will and Ben would stay and play all day.  Will's all about this iPad.

{FIVE}

Barnes and Nobles

The boys read books and played with the train set while we enjoyed the free wi-fi.

{SIX}

Target

Really, it's July!  Back to school already...

{SEVEN}

Blue Bell Sherbet

It's not really a place we go to escape the heat, but it deserved to make the list because it's so tasty.

{EIGHT}

Family Christian Bookstore

We've been on the lookout for a children's story Bible for Will.  I'd like to make reading Bible stories a part of our bedtime routine.  Our boys go to Sunday School/Bible class at church and we talk about the Bible at home, but as far as a daily routine--I admit, we don't have that.  We read books together, but I'd like some of the stories to be from the Bible.  I have a couple in mind and I'll write a post as soon as I've looked over them. I'll let you know what Mark and I think and what Will and Ben think about them.

Psalm 119:105 (ESV)

Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.