Picture of the Day ~ Week 29

This was the sunset as seen from our backyard tonight. The coloring of the sky was absolutely beautiful and I like the way the clouds dot the sky! Thank you, Lord for such a beautiful creation!

The weather here has been, hot, hot, humid and HOT, which is perfect for a run through the sprinkler and some homemade popsicles. I found the recipe for these here.

Our dryer quit today {we were expecting this as it came with the house and is pretty old}, but I didn’t discover this until after I had washed a load of the kids’ clothes. I would have dried them outside but with all the humidity, I don’t think they would have ever dried. This was my solution instead.

Baby I turned 18 months old today! Happy ½ Birthday, Little Man!

We got a reprieve from the heat and humidity today and took advantage of it with a trip to the playground with Aunt D and Cousin K. While we were there, L conquered her fear of the chain ladder {which she climbed independently several times this morning} and the tube slide!

We drove to my dad's tonight for the first time in 7 months {sad, I know, but true!}.  While we were there,  L got to spend lots of time with Grandpa including walking the dog {Lucy}, cutting flowers, getting the car washed and enjoying a sprinkled donut without a hole {long john}.  On the way home she said, "I say 'delish' now because Grandpa says it all the time!  ;-)

Saturday {07.23.11}

We had a pool party at Dad and H's house today.  We had a fabulous time but unfortunately I don't have any pictures {yet!}.  Coming soon...

Conversations with L

{As we passed a lake or swamp or something}

L: “Dad, I’d like to look at the river. Can you please stop for a moment?”
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L: “Dad, do you want to color with us?”

D: “No, I think I’ll just watch.”

L: “Ok, but it’s much more fun to color!”
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L {while on her pretend phone}: “I’m talking to Julie.”

Me: “Who’s Julie?”

L: “Um, Cousin K’s teacher.”

Me: “Oh.”

L: “Why do you think I’m talking to her on the phone?”

Me: “I don’t know.”

L: “Well, look around, mom.”

{I look around}

L: “She’s not here, is she?”
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L: “I don’t like horses.”

D: “Don’t tell Grandma that!”

L: “Do you know why I don’t like horses?”

D: “Why?”

L: “Because they’re smelly!”
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{While playing a game of 'I Spy' in the car…}

L: "Let’s find a red barn!"

Me: "I don’t think we’ll see one {there isn’t one on the route we were taking}."

L: "Daddy, can you drive by a red barn so I can find it...please?"
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{While giving L the 'big sister' talk…}

L: "But Baby I's doing it!"

Me: "Yes, but you know better, you are older, you need to show Baby I the right things to do {blah, blah, blah}…"

L: "Huh, I have to think about that."

18 Months

Dear Baby I,

You are 18 months old today. How can it be? Wasn't it just yesterday that you were born? Actually, I can't really remember what it was like when you were a baby or how life was before you were born. It seems like you have always been part of our family. Today, I want to write down a few things about you at 18 months because in a few months, I'm sure to forget the details of today. You are a good sleeper {thank you for that!} and are becoming more and more verbal each day. You say please {pronounced 'peas'} and use this whenever you need help. Throughout the day, I'll hear your little voice saying 'peas, peas' until you find me and take me to whatever it is you need help with. You are also fond of the word foot {which you pronounce with a 'b'} and say it whenever you find your foot {or somebody elses'}! Just recently, you have started to say 'no' whether or not you really mean it! This is a bit frustrating as you will say no to something and then cry because you really DO want it {in fact, if you could stop that I would appreciate it!}! In addition to these and the words you could say {and sign} at 15 months, you can now say hi, moo {cow}, roar {lion}, puppy {followed by oof!}, mommy, daddy, baby, spoon, more, nose, knee, up, down, please, thank you, Grandpa, tummy, hi, bye, and L {or something like that}.

You are always happy

{ok, not always, but almost!}

you love to be outside

and are quite fond of obsessed with balls {this can include peas, grapes, watermelons...}

which makes bubbles {the ball you can never catch} quite frustrating for you.

You are easily entertained {yes, that is a toilet paper roll}

and even entertain yourself {blowing the pinwheel}!

You like to make noise

almost as much as you like chocolate!

You adore your sister and sit nicely while your she tries to 'help you.'

I'm pretty sure you'd follow her to the ends of the earth,

though there's bound to be a few spats along the way!

And sadly {for me, anyway}, you are growing up way too fast!

If you could stop that, I would appreciate it.

Love, Mom

Picture of the Day ~ Week 28

L and Baby I were playing nicely together with this 'roll the plastic balls on the fireplace hearth' game. It would have been quite peaceful...except for all the noise {I didn't record that for you, you're welcome!}

Baby I got a much needed haircut today. He always looks like such a big boy with his hair cut!

Today we went to the Fair, complete with animals, tractors, rides and cheese curds!

D said he was going to lay on the couch for a while when he got home from work today. Obviously, L and Baby I had other ideas...

Cousin K came to play for the day! The kids enjoyed puzzles, a project, games and plenty of time in the 'ball pit!'

Busted! Baby I 'accidentally' turned the TV on this morning while playing with the remote. When I took it away from him he quietly snuck over to retrieve it. What a stinker {in a totally adorable way, of course}!

We went to the street fair with D, J and Cousin K today. It was hot and very humid!

At the Fair

When the Fair in our area offered free admission from 11am - 1pm the other day, we took advantage and went to check it out and have lunch {good thing we didn't pay for admission, since the food is expensive!}. **Note: I apologize for the poor quality photos, I am really missing my camera! :-(

While at the Fair,

we saw

cows

sheep

pigs {L thought it was great that this one was sleeping with its tongue out!}

tractors

and lots of baby chicks!

L got to milk a cow {a pretend one, of course!}

and we enjoyed lunch

complete with cheese curds {because you can't go to a fair without getting some cheese curds, can you?!}.

L got to go on a few rides, too {The motorcycle ride gave L a big jerk when it took off and she did NOT enjoy it at all. She did like the dinosaur ride, though!}!

Ignore the peaches in Baby I's mouth, I was trying to keep him happily occupied...

while L and D were riding the Carousel!

We all had a fun time and on the way home, L was already talking about which rides she would go on next time!

Picture of the Day ~ Weeks 26 & 27

Baby I took his shoe off in the car on the way home from Church today. When I told him, "no, no!" he tried to put it back on by himself {it didn't work}!

I painted L's toes for the very first time after having the following conversation: L: "Guess what color I painted my toes, mom...gray!" Me: "How'd you do that?" L: With a pencil, but I can undo it, there's an undoer on the back!" She was SOOO excited to have her toenails painted 'for real!'

I was pretty happy when I realized that the new 'ball tent' was a good way for Baby I to be happily occupied in a confined space, until I came up to find this. He had pushed the tent over, crawled through the hole on the top and was wandering around the porch with balls in hand!

We headed north for a family fishing trip today. This is the 'Grand Lodge' where we stayed for the remainder of the week. With 8 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms {there were 17 of us staying here} it was grand, and pretty much like our very own hotel!

We spent the morning fishing {thanks Grandma and Great Grandpa for watching the kids!!}.

We went out fishing again this morning. We didn't catch any fish, but we did get very close to this flock of pelicans. I never realized how BIG these birds are!

We said goodbye to the Grand Lodge and to some of our extended family today, but not before getting this picture of all of us!

My camera is broken {actually it broke on Friday but I already had pictures to use for Friday and Saturday, so this one got bumped to today} and I have yet to get it fixed or replaced. I gotta say, taking pictures with my old camera {that has no zoom and very poor lighting} kind of takes the fun out of my POTD efforts! :-(

Happy 235th America! Nothing says '4th of July' like running through the sprinkler in Grandma and Grandpa's yard with Cousin K and Uncle J, right?! {Photo courtesy of D's sister, D}

Ummm...obviously, Baby I could use a hair cut, like now yesterday!

L was making a red, white and blue collage today but because the project went largely unsupervised {I was cooking supper and D was hanging pictures}, it turned out to be more of a red, white and glue collage, instead!

I would like to say that L and Baby I always sit so nicely on my lap when we play the 'can you find the _____?' game with this {Baby I's favorite!} book. Unfortunately, it's usually more like the picture on the right. You know, L saying, "No, Baby I the mittens are here!" and Baby I trying to escape! Sigh...

This is Baby I's pressed up against the glass face that says, "Hey, mom, are you comin' out here?"

D trimmed the hedges today and L got to help pick up some of the branches and leaves. She is such a happy helper!