End of Summer Photo Shoot

Miscellaneous Summer Extras

 Like a boy, Liam decided he was done playing and thought he should lounge here by the pool.  Silly Kid.

 Here, Emalyn and Liam decided to watch the golfers just beyond the backyard while eating their icey pop.  Reminded me of a little old couple, sitting on their front porch watching the cars go by...

 At the Park!

 Little Miss decided to go into my purse and find some "Chapstick" and apply it herself.  The child is in love with Chapstick...no joke.  She now has her own Bonnie Bell lip balm in the kitchen drawer that she can use as long as she asks permission--the child would eat it if I let her, hence the strict regulations!!

Lastly, what life is like in my toddler and preschool filled house.  This dinosaur was indeed found in my fridge.  

And I just keep learning more and more with children...you really can't make up some of the things they do or say!  Really, you can't!!

CAMP!!

We arrived on a HOT muggy afternoon...Liam in his indie rock shirt...later going shirtless, because really, it was just ridiculous humid.  His curls prove it!

And the next day, poor thing didn't even make it through lunch!

We had fun getting buried in the sand and Emalyn had the pleasure of burying a friend in the sand as well!

Mid week we had a little situation that required some special maneuvering.  If you look closely in this next photo, you can see the predicament Liam got himself into.  Not quite sure HOW he did it, but he was stuck for a little while.

Liam loved the popcorn that we could eat there...so much so that he would often sit with us and demand some (politely, I might add) while Emalyn played in the nearby playground. 

My boy giving me a flower.  Awwww....

Liam enjoyed his first boat ride!

And of course, highlight of all highlights, the Farmyard!!

 I think this has to be one of my favorite shots of all time...if you really know me, you know I have a love of cows.  Used to be Black Angus--only--but I've now broadened my love to Brown Jerseys.  Adore!

 This year there was a new bird house--HUNDREDS and hundreds of parakeets.  The farmyard sold little sticks with peanut butter and seeds so you could have the birds fly closely/and on the stick.

Mind you, they also landed on your head...Emalyn lasted long enough for a photo and then quickly said, "get it off!!"

 Liam making a bunny face holding a bunny.  So cute!!

 And Liam's highlight of the place, of course, the tractor.  He preferred to sit on the tractor over all the animals, slides, ponys...everything.  Such a boy!

 We made him ride his first pony.  Yeah, he wasn't liking it.

 This girl on the other hand has no problem with riding the pony, one handed while waving.  Not that I could help her if she tipped to one side because Im on the other side of the gate!!  Miss Independent!  

 A cute one with the kittens.

 And two pretty great family shots:  First at the Farmyard...

 Then by the lake on the last night there...

See you next year, camp!

Zoo

We went to the zoo the other day and his was my favorite shot...the weather was cooler and all three bears were out and about.  Liam and Emmy loved it.

Red Hot Fire Truck

 One very hot day this summer, I was returning home from a hair cut appointment only to find a couple police cars and firetruck nearby...they were about one or two houses down, so thankfully, I knew there was no cause to be concerned with my house. (So thankful!)

Turns out, my neighbor called because there was a smell of gas--and when that happenes, apparently the whole brigade comes by!

I quickly ran into the house, knowing my Liam would just love to see the trucks...and little did I know he and Emalyn had just gotten out of the tub.  So in his towel, I dragged him out to see the truck.

I expected the truck to be gone by the time I returned, becuase that always seems to happen...those firemen, they get their job done quickly!

I think Cameron quick put on a shirt and pant for Emalyn and they joined us a little bit later.

The other lady on the truck holding Emalyn is my neighbor Eydie, who came out once we did.

Turned out to be a fun surprise visit!  So glad I got a shot on camera.

Happy Birthday Little Miss & Mister!

Emmy and Liam had a combined birthday party this year.  I know I am not going to be able to do that much, but want to since they have so much fun together and all their friends are essentially the same.

Her birthday is at the end of May and his the beginning of July, so June was the perfect month!  However, due to out of town guests it ended up being July 1st...close enough if you ask me!

We had a sweets themed party.  I, of course neglected to scan the invite...but I may still do that so you can see how cute it was.  

And, you know, the candy theme was great in theory because it was gender neutral, but of course it led to kids wanting to eat WAY too much candy--and horrific sugar highs ending in crashes! 

 

Here is a photo of the candy table.  Really, it was all so good.

Emalyn enjoying a much desired lollypop.

I am so not a candy buyer...I love candy and chocolate, but it is so expensive and I know I don't need it so I just don't buy it...that fact alone truly made eating the candy all the more enjoyable!

 Here Emmy is playing the jelly bean bag toss.  I also had pin the gumball in the machine...for some it was way too easy, for others there was no wearing the blindfold.  It ended up still being fun, but definitely some logistical errors on my part. :)

 I decorated by making giant hard candies out of paper lanterns and wrapping them in cellophane (below)...and giant lollipops (above)-that Liam LOVED-by gluing two plastic paper plates together adding a dowel rod for a stick and cellophane for a wrapper.

The banner is just fabric cut triangles hot glued to a piece of ribbon and the letters were printed out of word and paper punched.  I got them to stick with double stick tape!  Thanks Husband for that idea!

(I had favor bags but forgot to take a photo...yet another one that will come later.)

Sweet birthday friends.

 Singing happy birthday to the birthday kids...and seeing the way to intensely colored frosting stain said birthday kids!  They already blew out the candles at this point.

 And last but not least, enjoying birthday spoils.  Emalyn got her first bike and Liam a much loved dump truck.

Over all a huge success and much loved time with family and friends who are like family.  Happy birthday Kids, hard to believe you are both such big kids already!

Walking

The four of us supported a non profit place up here called New Life Clinic...if you want to check it out click here.

We walked around Lake Nokomis, and Emmy actually had a fun run.  Here are some shots of her loving it.  All the kids that participated got a cute little medal.

We really couldn't ask for a better day...good friends with us, good food and beautiful weather!!!

Hummus Face

He loves the stuff, this boy.  However instead of eating the veggies I serve along with it, he uses his fingers!

Como

 I think my boy has allergies.  I tell you since summer began the poor child has been miserable.

I think it may possibly be the fact that he is approaching 2 but what a momma's boy he has been!  I'm not saying I don't like some of it, but the clingy, whiny momma's boy well, I'm about done with that.

 We visited Como Zoo recently with a friend and her son.  Kids loved it, and from what I hear it was pretty empty.

Como is the free zoo in the Twin Cities.  So it seems to be packed whenever we visit.  And if you know me, I don't like packed.

We usually go places at open and leave by 11:00 to avoid the masses.  Usually it works, and this time it wasn't so bad, but crowds just really get me.

 These two really were enjoying themselves.  Although Liam looks almost angry, he was squealing with joy.

Love these two.