She Speaks!

Reese has discovered her vocal cords.

She spends much of the day jabbering away just like this.
Another current favorite is spitting. This morning I awoke to happy spitting sounds at 5:20am. They last for some time until she was no longer interested in spitting and wanted milk!

Summer Camp Week

Last week the girls participated in two different summer camp programs.

Avery attended "Safety Town," a half day camp the city puts on to teach children 

about how to stay safe. Brinley also attended this camp when she was five.

Each day local firefighters

 and police officers welcomed the children at the door and participated in the events. 

One of Avery's favorite Safety Town moments was when, on "police day," the police helicopter landed on the field right in front of the children. After they learned about the helicopter it took off and  
circled the school several times before heading back to the station.

The little firefighter dog below was also on the daily welcoming committee.

 He talked and sprayed water on the kids. 

One day the police horses were there during drop off and poor little Aspen was 

in tears when she had to stop petting the horses and get into the car after dropping Avery off.

Brinley attended a full day cultural camp.

She had been working since January to earn money to attend and because of her financial contribution she was able to enjoy this opportunity with much greater appreciation.

Each day consisted of learning about a new culture, creating group art projects which demonstrated specific aspects of life in those cultures, swimming at the city pool and sports games. 

Father's Day Crafts

We had fun making crafts for Daddy's Day and even
more fun trying to keep them a secret.

Brinley created the little masterpiece above.

Inside the expanded portion of the hand card Brinley chose to write about character qualities she admires in her Dad. Avery drew pictures of activities she enjoys doing with her Dad and Aspen colored. 

These flowers were made by tracing the girls hands 

on construction paper to form the petals. 

Thanks to Mrs. Stephanie for doing this flower project with the girls.

Sure is hard to think of how to properly celebrate the most wonderful Daddy!

Finally Completed

 Last weekend we attended the  
grand opening celebration for Daddy's new hospital. 

His group will still be working in both the "new hospital" and "the old one,"

so basically the hospital just expanded...big time!

Although Brinley was sick, she did not want to miss this event and she was a great sport!

There were a variety of fun outside activities, but we were mostly interested in touring inside, 

where the air conditioning was alive and well.

The "magical forest" is located just outside of radiology. 

This space is intended to put children at ease as they wait to undergo procedures.

The young ladies above published a children's book all about inner beauty.

Here they are reading it to the girls.

Dr. Young was actually working that day, but he was able to sneak away for a bit to join us.

(tunnel in the magical forest)

The hospital boasts several of these huge solid wood animals.
They are locally made, very cool and fun for kids to climb on.

Not only is the expansion chock full of 

bright colors.  

Every little detail is darling. 

They got it right!

Checking out the aquarium in the ER waiting room.

Six new additional triage rooms are sure to increase imaging demands.

I watched the construction from it's beginning phases during those months when I took Aspen to her club foot appointments week after week. 

It took four years to plan and nearly the same amount of time to build. Beginning the first week of July the new section will be ready to house hundreds of little patients.

Take 2

We made it back to "The Beach," but this time with Daddy in tow!

While I mostly tended to Reese under the shade of our umbrella, 

Daddy mostly tended to the big girls and participated in sand and water activities.

This is how Avery choose to enjoy snack time. 

Sitting on her nice clean towel would have been way to traditional for her wild spirit.

Reese is still the happiest little baby!

Brinley built an enormous castle with a waterway to "the ocean," however, right when I was about to snap the picture it collapsed. Here is the refurbished version.

Right before it was time to go Brinley decided that she too wanted to be buried in the sand.

This spot is quickly becoming a family favorite!

A Zoo Day

Last week I subbed a class at one of our gyms across town, that club location was near the Zoo,

 so afterwards we headed over for our first summer trip. 

We met up with some of our friends and had a great time! 

Well, that is except for Reese who was totally thrown off her nap schedule.

Since Aspen talks about riding horses on a daily basis, I gave in to her pleading and bought her a ticket to go on a horse ride. She wanted to ride the tallest one, but was under the required height limit, 

so a pony was sufficient enough to silence those horse cravings, for a day at least.

 

The zoo puts on puppet shows, the girls were enthralled watching one.

 

Horse ride #2 of the day!

 Brinley was able to put Aspen on and take her off the horse so that I could take care of our

 fussy baby who was not allowed to be on the carousel.  

Carousel ride = $1

Older siblings = priceless!

 

The reptile house is quite extensive. 

The girls liked looking at a huge snake named Fluffy, 

but apparently he recently died.

We sure do have a great Zoo!

Luau & Last Day

At the end of the school year the girls elementary has a Luau party.

Let us not forget THIS years Luau dancing!

 (The girls and their principal) 

This year Aspen enjoyed the hula hoops and balls more than dancing.

Our friends the Haws' have a son in the same elementary school, a daughter Lucy (3), 

on Nollie's lap with Reese, and baby #3 on the way!

Tuesday was the last day of school. 

We took the girls out to a quick celebratory breakfast 

that morning...at McDonalds of all places!

Avery was rather impartial about saying good-bye to her teacher,

Brinley's experience was a different story.

 

Brinley had the world's best 3rd grade teacher, seriously! 

She cried the night before the last day, the morning of the last day, after school for quite some time and then cried herself to sleep that night.

She is certain she may never have a teacher as great as Mrs. B., 

 and you know, she may not.

My 3rd grade teacher was my favorite too and she was never replaced in subsequent years of school.

Brinley is determined to have Mrs. B. attend her high school graduation, 

hope she can make it!

Memorial Day

On Memorial Day I took the children to a local reservoir. 

We call it 

"The Beach"

Having a group of helpful and encouraging friends made this trip possible because

 Cody was working all weekend and unable to join us. 

 

As you can see, the water here is somewhat brown and muddy, 

but that did not stop the kids from having a glorious time playing in it! 

 Poor Reeseie bug struggled to nap outside of her normal nap time environment. 

I thought I had finally gotten her to sleep and was so proud I snapped this picture;

unfortunately she was awake a few minutes later.

 

Brinley and some of her friends spent a good deal of time 

 digging a big pit and filling it up with water.

We had such a fun time until the storm clouds rolled in and quickly began  

dumping buckets of rain on us. 

All 6 families quickly packed up and we scurried off to the cars, 

which were quite a little hike away, and jumped inside sand and all...

and the girls have asked to go back to the beach every day since!

Makes My Heart Sing

What makes my heart sing is: 

Happy little Reese sitting in her Bumbo in the middle of the backyard.

Aspen's last day of preschool. 

Both of her older sisters had the teacher on the right during their first year of preschool as well.

Reese in her Bumbo gumming a carrot while I cook dinner.

Watching my husband dance with our gaggle of girls.

Watching Brinley take care of Reese.

Reese joining her big sisters for breakfast.

 

My lunch.

And something else that makes my heart sing is hearing 

my nephew speak with 

his  British accent.