A Case of the Moondays

Mondays can be hard. Daddy goes back to work, and Mom has her hands full. After an especially fun weekend with Dad, this particular Monday in July was just a little rough.

Emily smeared so much food in her hair and on her clothes at lunch, it was decided that a sink bath was the only way to go.

While Emily was getting cleaned up, Addison decided it was time to learn how to climb onto the kitchen chairs. But she didn't stop there, because the next highest thing around was the kitchen table!

**Don't worry, folks, I stopped her before she reached the coffee, and it was sitting cold from the morning, anyway.
***Also, our kitchen table no longer has anything on it. Ever.

Weekends with Daddy

We sure do love our weekends with Chris. Playdates at parks during the week are getting harder now that Addison is getting so fast. If Emily were running right beside her, I could keep an eye on both of them and be one of those spectator parents. However, Emily's still into the knee-walk, and requires assistance in getting around. She likes to take her time and puts up quite a fuss when she feels rushed. So these days, the most fun way to play at a park is one-on-one, and we get to do that when we're all together as a family.

EB Rains Park

First stop: a picnic table with our ice cream sundaes! 

Addie took a few bites of her vanilla ice cream

What kid doesn't love ice cream? Well, on this day, Emily, for one! Every time I tried to give her a bite, she'd shake her head "no." Since this trip to the park, I've discovered that anything I try to feed her with a spoon (even the beloved cottage cheese!) gets the emphatic head shaking response. She wants to do it by herself!!

Then it's off to the playground!

Both girls playing in the same area? It's amazing!....but it doesn't last long!

Dad joins Addie on her adventure...

while Mom and Em play peek through the bars....

... and around the columns

Dad finds a way to take a little break...restraint!

Emily gets a turn, too

After we played ourselves out, we headed out for a stroll around the lake.

Lots of geese to look at

A little girl gave Emily her balloon

Back home it was time for a nap, and when the girls got up, it began to rain, so we got to sit on the porch during a great thunderstorm

When the rain eased up a bit, Dad took Emily out to play in the water

There's a stream in the street!

Hot concrete and cool rain are a wonderful combination!

And what comes after splashing in rain puddles? A bath, of course!

Washcloths are one of our favorite bath toys!

Happy 4th of July!

from a couple of cuties!

Father's Day with the Hicks's

We spent Father's Day traveling back from Michigan, and we celebrated with my dad the following Sunday at Grandpa John and BG's condo downtown. Most of the Hicks's made it out for the celebration.

Grandpa John with his newest granddaughter

Chris and his squirrelly girls

Grandpa John and Grandpa Hicks

Skyler came prepared for the pool. Swimsuit on. Innertube in hand. What's with all these adults wanting to eat first?

Pretty Mama and Baby

Sweet Annalea

Alright! These cousins are ready for the pool!

Post-Swimming shot with the Greats

And one with the Dads

Orchard Town Center Fridays

Last summer, the Sebrings raved to us about how wonderful Friday nights were at the Orchard Town Center, just minutes from our house. There's live music, splash fountain fun, and lots and lots of families with picnics. We never made it last summer, but actually did make it to one so far this summer.

The music was a Sting cover band, the kids were rowdy and happy, and the ice cream was cold and delicious! We're hoping to make it to another Friday night family night out before the end of the summer. (Maybe we'll even make it out to see Under a Blood Red Sky, Chris's all time favorite U2 cover band, playing August 3rd. Too bad I can't type with heavy sarcasm.)

Splash!

Addie was on the move, and whatever was in that green sippy cup on that stroller must have been pretty amazing, cause she kept running to it and trying to steal it.

Claire enjoyed her first ice cream cone ever! (I think she liked it. Vivian was just a little jealous.)

Emily, showing off her new walking skills

Addison, leading Dad towards the band

Our Favorite Toddler Playground

Found toys....they're the best!

This playground is great for Mom because everything's so close to the ground, I can actually relax a bit and watch the girls play. We first visited this playground back in April, when Addie was just beginning to take her first independent steps. Now that she's a cruiser, I had to take another video on the same equipment. (Although since this video was taken last month, Addison doesn't just walk everywhere, she truly runs. As she runs, her arms are either clasped behind her back or they are sticking straight in front of her, and nine times out of ten there's a huge grin on her face.)

Emily Walking (On Her Feet)

Last month, Emily started walking (while holding a hand) very well. She still prefers her knee walk, but will walk alongside someone while holding their hand.

She walks from chair to chair on her own and has been seen standing up on her own and walking up to three steps on her own.

She will now reach for a hand to help her walk when she's on hard surfaces, but when she reaches carpet, it's down to her knees, because her knee walk is still the fastest way to get around.

Here's a video from June 19th of Emily walking around with Chris. When it looks like she's licking Addie, that's a kiss. Emily went through a phase of licking for kisses, but her lip pursing skills have advanced, and her kisses are less wet these days. She will purse up often, asking for a kiss, because she sure does love lip smackers!

Toads, Fairies, and Raspberries

We planted three or four raspberry bushes in our garden a few years ago, and this year they've finally taken off. They've spread all over, and we got lots and lots of delicious berries!

One evening after the girls were in bed, I went out to the raspberry patch to do some harvesting.

I was startled by a crunching sound under some of the leaves. I have seen snakes out there before, so I jumped back. But on closer inspection, it was just this little friend.

Can you see him now?

How about now?

The raspberry patch does look like a very inviting place for a toad to make a home. There's plenty of shade and water, and there is nice soft moss and plenty of insects.

Another evening, after dinner but before bedtime, Chris went out to the raspberry patch while I took pictures of our little fairies on the deck.

It was pretty windy that evening, and no matter how many times Addie put her hat on, the wind just kept lifting it right off her head.

Dad brought his bounty up to the deck, and shared with the girls.

Emily begged for more! more! more!

"More!"                                                "Please?"                                             "Yay!"

Thanks Dad!

Another night, Emily had a little too much fun with her raspberries at dinner, and ended up looking like this...

It was all fun and games, until the cleanup!

The sink hose-down

Frustration

When they say girls are sugar and spice, is this the spice part?