Denver Botanic Gardens

There is an amazing children's garden at the Denver Botanic Gardens, and this summer, the girls are big enough to enjoy it. Our favorite part is the little stream that the kids can wade in.

The first time we went was in May. The girls had a great time getting wet and then did a great job posing for me on a big wooden chair.

The next time we went to the Mordecai Children's Garden was a month later, and Dee Dee came with us to join in on the fun. Being able to play with the girls one-on-one was really fun, and it meant we got to spend a little longer at the garden, getting a little wetter and dirtier than the last time!

It started out innocent enough, wading (and sitting) in the water.

 Addison got daring and explored the waterfall area, where big kids usually play.

Spending time with Dee Dee is always special.

Then the girls took a break from the stream and spent some time in the sandbox. Wet babies in sand? This is a recipe for MUD.

Do you think some sand got injested?

And here is a diaper that has absorbed about half the creek

 Clean, dry girls and their mama on our way out. We can't wait to go back!

***Don't worry Auntie Wendy, Shout and Oxiclean work wonders. Our ruffle butts are good as new! :)

S'Up?

Slumbering Babes

Just makes you want to cuddle, doesn't it?

Family

Of course, there was lots of family time while we were in Michigan, and lots of pictures of that family time. Here are some of my favorites.

So great to have Eric and Cathy back in the US. We missed Eric's silliness!

The Fam!

The Girls with their PopPop and CeeCee

Emily snuggles up to her Aunt Cathy....

and then hams it up with Uncle Eric

Addie and Emily got to spend some time with their cousins, Johnny and Heidi

Heidi loves babies. What a sweetheart.

Relaxing by the lake

The girls were a little nervous about the big lake, but floating with Dad was safe and cozy

Mom and Addie 

Em and Mom

Playing with old toys from when the boys were little. Emily was especially entranced by the old FisherPrice Sesame Street Clubhouse.

Catching a ride...Hey this guy's even taller than Daddy!

DIY slip-n-slide

Addie and CeeCee go for a float

The girls got to spend lots of time with their Uncle Eric and Aunt Cathy

We ended the trip on Father's Day. Happy Father's Day, Chris!

A Love-Hate Relationship with Sand

The beach by the lake had some wonderful sand, but I usually don't trust the girls around sand.

(**see video, below, taken May 10th in a friend's backyard sandbox. After said video was taken, we've pretty much avoided all sand boxes.)

After repeatedly brushing Addie's full-of-sand hands away from her mouth, being the problem solver that she is, she decided to just put her mouth directly down to the sand to take a mouthful right from the ground. After that, it was sayonara sandbox!

But, like I said, there's a great sandy beach by the lake, and it's pretty hard to avoid the sand if you want to play in the water, so Chris and I got lots of practice catching the sand-eaters, and the sand-eaters got some practice learning not to eat sand.

Addie's poor little intestines had some trouble sorting out all the sand, and Chris captured the struggle well in this perfect shot:

 Followed closely by sweet, tired relief...

why oh why did I eat all that sand?

Overall, though, there was lots of fun to be had in the sand and in the water!

What sand? I didn't eat any sand.

I'm exfoliating my legs, Dad!

Here Kitty Kitty

As usual, Sally Cat was quite the hit while we were in Michigan. The first thing the girls did when we got out of the car after the drive back from the wedding was chase Sally.

Addie would run to Sally, arms outstretched, squealing with delight

Sally was so patient with the girls

Addie tried awfully hard to share her popsicle with Sally

The girls and I are waiting for the day a hypoalergenic cat comes looking for a home, because a kitty sure would be loved around here!

Michigan Favorites

We took so many pictures during our summer trip to Michigan, it has taken a long time to go through them all! While there will be more pictures to come, I thought I'd start by posting some of my favorites. 

So without further ado, and in no particular order, here are some of my favorite shots of the girls in Michigan.

Happy Babies in the Pool

Beach Beauties Sporting Sunglasses

Smiles and Silly Faces

A Cool Evening on the Deck

Girls in the Garden