Aaaaah, Summer...

Dada got out the hammock so that he and Max could climb up and 'swing, Dada!' (as Max would say). As soon as the major house projects are done they should be able to do this more often (Yeah, in about 6 years or so).

Look What I Can Do!

Last week on a sunny afternoon all four of us were playing in the back yard. I had Charlie in her excersaucer to keep her from putting grass, sticks, rocks, and whatever else she can find in her mouth. Dada decides he wanted her to crawl around and enjoy the weather. She noticed pretty quickly the back steps were quite close, and in about 5 seconds flat made it over there and crawled all the way up - she is only 10 months old!!! Dada got her and put her back on the grass but after she made it up the stairs two more times, he put her back in the excersaucer. ;)

Can I Help?

If I'm going to help you, Dada, I'm going to need a toolbelt that fits me!!

Little Dear/Deer

Last week Dada found an old pair of holiday antlers in Max's toy bin and put them on Charlie's head.

Of course, they didn't stay there long and quite soon were in her mouth...

Well, at least her immune system is boosted by putting all of this stuff in her mouth, right? Right?!?

More on the Home Reno...

Here are a couple of pictures from a couple of weeks ago after Dada put up the insulation and done the prep work for the drywall.

And here are a couple of pictures from this morning of the drywall and first coat of mud. It is coming along!

I Like School!

I have been emotionally preparing myself for Max starting preschool in September and found a great one near our house. This summer they also offer summer school in 3 week sessions to help keep kids busy. With us being tied to the house in the mornings for Charlie's nap, poor Max has been very bored so we decided to try out the summer school for him. He loves it! When we first walked in yesterday morning he went straight for the playdough.

Then, as soon as the painting easel was free, he started on his first masterpiece. He wouldn't even say goodbye to me!

When Charlie and I returned at 11:30 to pick him up, he was very busy playing in the sandbox.

He didn't want to go home, and ran all over the playground like crazy before I could catch him with the promise of lunch when we got home. He kept saying all the way home, "I go to school tomorrow! I go to school tomorrow!"

Can I Play With You?

This past weekend the kids and I went down to my parents house so that Dada and the guys could work upstairs installing drywall without nap interruptions. Max immediately pulled out the toy bin, and Charlie figured out pretty quickly to hang out with Max next to the toys.

So this is grass...

We had some weather warm enough to put Charlie down in the grass to see what she would do. She immediately started looking at the tall blades of grass sticking up in front of her (we have been working inside the house and the yard is badly in need of mowing!)

Just after this one was taken, she took off across the yard. Go speed racer, go!

Sunny Days

Last week we had a few really nice sunny days (of course, this week is the Rose Festival, so we are back to rain) which meant that Max got to go outside and play on the dirt pile. Dada got him doped up with sunscreen... and likes to mess with Max's hair during the application. Max is playing the king of the hill and looked so cute I had to capture the image!

I, for once, got to be in a picture with one of my kids!! That doesn't happen very often when you are the one usually taking the pictures. Charlie and I were matching last weekend (with clothing color, not hairdo's) so Dada got our picture.

Fence

A few weeks ago Dada began putting up a new fence along the far end of our back yard along with the help of our neighbor (it's his new fence too). Here are some 'in process' pictures. Above, the new posts are in.

Max and the two neighbor boys are enjoying the dirt pile created by the planting of the new trees. Boys like dirt!

Above, the cross braces are in and the fence boards are being installed.

Our neighbor had never used a saw before. Dada made sure he got to try out a couple different kinds and now he is a pro!