Big Girl Bike

If only she wouldn't fight us on wearing the helmet, she would get to ride her bike more! She is more than capable of riding but fell the first time and now is a little bit nervous. Like most other things, she quickly caught on to how to ride.

First time fishing

Jon has been so excited to take the kids fishing for the first time. Yesterday we went to Bass Pro Shop and the kids picked out their poles....Toy Story for Elaina and Batman for Skylar! They carried their poles with excitement through the store and didn't want to put them down in the car (especially Elaina). She talked about fishing all night and the whole drive to the farm. Yep, she was excited! Skylar needed some coaxing and waking up crabby didn't help but he eventually came around:) PS Click on the pictures...they look so much better big.


Elaina checking out the fish daddy caught.

Learning to cast with Daddy


Skylar's turn



Guess who caught the first fish?! Skylar! But he was a little freaked out by the flopping fish. Elaina wanted a closer look.


Relaxing on the dock


Pointing out the bobber...she totally got the idea of fishing!


Reeling is the best part of fishing!





Worms! She is not afraid of anything:)


Swinging


Such happiness!

Pool Time

Summer weather is here and our backyard pool is open! The kids are FEARLESS of the water and can't get enough of it. Just today, Elaina woke up early, and when we took Vaughn out she kept asking when we came back in to go back out. She got so mad that I said not now that she knocked over the chair (twice) to her little table. But that new attitude is another blog post!

The first few days off for me consisted of us heading outside mid morning and hanging out there until lunchtime, which usually was outside as well. I watched the kids playing in the pool for a couple of days before getting the idea to put their slide in it. BIG HIT! Here are a few pictures.







Video action of the slide (Please ignore my obnoxious voice!)

The big event of the day on Sunday was finding a frog. Jon put it in the water and they watched it swim round and round.


Skylar LOVED it and thought the frog was the best thing ever. He kept scooping it up and watching it jump out. Then he tried to hold it and that was a whole other adventure.




Elaina needed lots of coaching to try and hold the frog even in the cup. When it jumped and touched her, she screamed so loud while Skylar laughed. She loves to get dirty but is still girly at heart.

Playing at the Farm

While I was at a workshop this past week, Jon took advantage of the gorgeous weather and took the kids to his parents' farm. No surprise they had fun...horses, tractors, and grandparents were involved!

Skylar is in heaven on this tractor!


There are so many things to turn and tinker with...where to start!


Elaina, our girly tomboy, loves playing in the dirt..while wearing a dress!




Skylar LOVED the swing!

And the large logs...

And the woodchips (which he is throwing in this picture)...


But not really the horse...

Still holding onto Daddy while sitting on it...

Ok, time to get off!

Elaina waiting her turn with Grandma


Jon said she was cautious about it. Kind of surprising because she loves horses. We see them at Long View Park and she gets super excited. She has little toy ones she carries around and thrusts in your face while saying Neigh, Neigh, Neigh! And she can find a horse in any picture and will show you quickly. But she looks so cute on it doesn't she!?!

Outdoor fun!

We are really lucky to have a lot of parks near our house. The kids are getting to the age where they like to play on the equipment which makes it fun. Here are a few pics from the past week...

Our early childhood center had a Teddy Bear Picnic party. Our kids were more interested in the pool of balls though...


Swinging at Des Peres Park...Elaina's new thing is to yell weeee when you push her!


Still crawling (and drooling...I think we are almost done with the teething though!!)


He loves the slide!


But loves throwing the rocks even more!


Peek a boo!


Doesn't she look so ready to go down the slide?!


But she hit the bump and her tiny self went up in the air!


So she is trying it on her belly:)

Warm Weather + Happy Kids = A Great Afternoon

With all of us feeling better we ventured to the front yard to play today. I am not brave enough to go too far from home with the effects of the medicine still taking their toll on Skylar! Nothing like trying to change an awful diaper in a public bathroom or worse having to wait the whole drive home to do it. No thank you! It was just enough time outside for them both to go down easily for their nap after playing ever so quietly in the upstairs playroom while I cleaned. If only every day could be this easy (I hope I didn't just jinx myself!!)


Heading for the sidewalk...


Now what do I do? And oh, his head isn't as big as it looks (he has grown into it!). But this hat is too small and was just resting on his head after he started moving around. Skylar played on the sidewalk for a bit, but quickly moved back into the yard cause that is where the dirt is. He was having a blast digging and throwing it around. So I let him get as dirty as he wanted....who even cares?!? That is what baths are for!


Just taking a stroll up the street...


She also loves the outdoors....sticks, gumballs, dandelions. But she stays looking good while she plays. That is until she opened the cap on the bubbles and starting drinking it...probably to wash down the sticks and gumballs she had just taste tested!

A house of kleenex

This past week has been challenging. Elaina got sick first last week, then Skylar, and as soon as I said I never get sick from them, I got it. And when Mom is sick it is NOT fun!! I am lucky that Jon is probably one of the most hands on dads. With him working nights, I have had him here to help during the day but still it is not fun to be sick with kids.

"I am sick:("

Elaina is probably the most easy going sick child...she just runs around smiling with snot running out of her nose. Seriously, I want whatever happy pill that child is on because she is always laughing and smiling! Skylar seemed to have a worse time with it and we had to take him to the doctor, put him on antibiotics that has been causing the nastiest blowouts and on top of that the poor boy is cutting his final teeth. But the good news is that yesterday, we all were doing better! Enough that I felt up to a walk in the beautiful weather. Enough that Skylar didn't need Motrin for his teeth. Enough that Daddy got a much needed nap and to sleep in for a change.

Here are just a few pictures from before we were sick...


The dirtier I get, the more fun bath time is!!


Pudding!


Sky has a bit of an obsession with wheels...


Playing in the bushes.


Bringing mama a dandelion she picked.