Tutu Crown!

We had an impromptu playgroup on Tuesday inspired by the fact that my college roomie, Michelle, and her boys were in town. So Melissa and her boys and Amber and her boys all came over to play. Eight boys and one lone little Laney. She must have been anticipating a lot of Y chromsomes and decided before everyone arrived that she wanted to wear this precious tutu (made for her by our friend Katie!) She wore it in the more traditional method of around her waist for our entire playgroup. But once everyone left, she decided that it could also be a pretty fancy hat! Silly head!

Two Teeth!!!

I definitely want to give Miles's first teeth some blogtime. His bottom two came in at the same time last week. He didn't seem too bothered by them. Hopefully that will be his attitude towards all the ones to come too!
I could not love that little two-toothed mouth any more than I do!!!

In case anyone was waiting for the latest installment of Miles's crazy eyes. Although I might have to start calling them, "crazy beautiful" instead of just crazy.

First Haircut!

Note the singular and not the plural. We only gave Sam a haircut. His crazy patch on the top was getting a little out of control and kept getting in his eyes. So, I had to suck it up and let Todd cut my baby's hair.
He started off by spraying it down.

Laney helped by pinning his arms down while he cried in protest. Todd just twisted up that crazy patch and snipped.

Then he gave him a little sideways snip on the bangs, so that he could maintain a little funk.So now Sam looks even more like his Daddy!

Miles sat next to Sam for moral support. He didn't mind Sam getting all that attention. He must have been happy to be a little bit further away from those scissors!

Arts and Crafts!

We had a little craft time at our house yesterday. I was reading in a parenting magazine about how great puppets are for kids Laney's age. So, we got out some paper bags and lots of crafty stuff that I have left over from my "business" Pop Culture! Sam got a hold of this strand of red puff balls and was having such fun rolling himself up in it.

Miles and his tongue were helping us sort crayons.

Laney was not interested in smiling for the camera. Yikes look at that mess.

After we totally annihilated our living room, Laney wasn't even that into the puppets that we made. She just wanted to turn the paper bags over and fill them up with trash.....oh well!!!

Swinging and Swimming!!!

Yesterday, we went to Pantego Park and met up with Grommy for some swinging and swimming!! We used to go to this park all the time, but haven't been frequenting it in a while. But recently when Laney and I were reading a book with a see saw in it she became a girl obsessed. She was desperate to get to "the seesaw park," which is Pantego Park. We went with some friends last week, and Laney had so much fun. So we decided to go back again for more.
The boys love swinging!

Part of the appeal of the Pantego Park is this fountain/pool. It is absolutely perfect for us this summer. Laney isn't a swimmer yet, and I can't get in the pool with her these days. So this little wading pool is just what we need. Lez and I held the boys with our feet in the water and Laney had a blast splashing around!

Rain Rain Don't Go Away!!!

It started raining the other day and Laney saw it as the perfect opportunity to don her ladybug raincoat and go outside to splash around a little bit. Laney started reaching high to catch some raindrops.

She started jumping up and down to catch the rain. You can't really tell in this picture, but she is in mid-flight!!

Our little moving man was ready to get outside and join his big sister. Miles is such an avid army crawler. If I leave the room for a second, he is scooting right behind me, usually in tears, trying to catch up. He is definitely a mama's boy!

This little Bones was happy as can be staying inside with a popsicle wrapper.

Last week, we got a fun package from my dad's fiance, Kami. (The fiance-ness is a new development that is very exciting!) She teaches classes on and does lots of custom embroidery. We have benefitted from her skills before and have the softest blankets all with our names on them. This package contained a super cute summertime bag with initialed beach towels for all three kids and some fun pool toys. Also, Kami sent these cute ball caps with the boys initials on them.Loving those blue hats on my blue eyed boys!!

Heaven!

A few months ago, I came across some information about a Dora Live show in our area. I was so excited because I just can't imagine Laney ever having the same kind of love that she has for Dora for anything else as she gets older. I know that she will have other loves, but I think that as she gets older, she is probably going to spread it out a little. Some love for princesses....some for Hannah Montana or whatever....etc. Right now, she is so exclusively committed to Dora, so I could not pass up this opportunity. That is how I felt until I clicked on the purchase tickets button and learned about the exclusive commitment that my bank account was going to have to make. Yikes!
Not to worry! I asked my dad if he would please get Laney and me tickets for my birthday! He was so generous and happily obliged! He even got Jess, Claire and Tessa tickets too. Our seats were amazing and it was such a fun girls' day. Obviously I don't get a lot of time alone with my big girl, so this was a really precious treat for me.
One happy and excited little Laney!!
We weren't allowed to take pictures once the show started, so we were only able to take a few shots before it got started.

Laney sat in my lap the whole time. I was a little anxious about the noise factor for my sensitive eared Buggy Bug. She was a little reserved for most of the show. She didn't really want to jump out of my lap to "help" Dora and Boots lift up the clouds or spin around in circles with them. But she really enjoyed the show. Her eyes were glued up there the whole time and she came home talking about how silly Boots was swinging around upside down on that vine. (Boots was pretty hysterical in lots of ways. Jess and I were well entertained by him!)

The whole experience was made even better by the addition of cotton candy at intermission.

I wish that we could have taken pictures with the cast, but I can only imagine the kind of mayhem that would have created. We settled for one last picture in front of the stage. It was a very fun afternoon!!!!

Pool Party!

We spent Sunday afternoon at the most amazing pool/backyard ever!!! Renee's sister, Donna, hosted us for a day of lunch and swimming. Their house is incredible. She works with kids and has a full arsenal of toys, so our three were super entertained the whole time we were there!
Sam and Pops spent some time together with this green noodle. Sam has not been a huge fan of the water so far, but he had a great time with our family on Sunday!

Laney had fun with Aunt Hailey, who has been her water buddy already this summer.

Miles's newest nickname is "Moo" or "Moo Hoo" We don't know where it came from, but it is definitely sticking. Here is my handsome little Moo!!! The boys took a turn floating up on the raft.

Laney moved over to the hot tub, which wasn't hot, for some swimming in the kiddie pool.

She and Todd started playing a game that had her making some seriously silly faces. She is one expressive little girl!

Pops joined her in the kiddie pool and started asking for some kisses. She was only pretending to go in for the kiss here. She really was playing hard to get with those kisses.

She certainly does love her Pops!!!