Late Summer Heat Wave

     It's hot... again... I get pretty irritable when it's hot and so do the kids. So todays solution was a mid-afternoon water break. After stopping at a local produce stand we filled up the little pool with water and splashed around for a little while.

Our loot from the produce stand!

     At first Big Brother said he didn't want to get in, but after seeing Froggie splash around he asked me to put his swim trunks on. Since Froggie was already in the water and he was wearing gym shorts I just took his shirt off and sent him in.  Froggie sat up on her own and did a great job even though Big Brother kept dumping cups of water on her head.

     After our pool time we prepped our string beans and made dinner. This was followed by our bath time routine and a movie before bed so that no one was moving around too much. Tomorrow is going to be another hot one so we'll see what's on the agenda.

Splashing Froggie

After he decided to get in

Peaceful bathing for Froggie

One of many cups of water over Froggie's head. 

Hi everybody!

Beach Babe

    Today was a little slow going and it seemed to be the general consensus that everyone was pretty tired. After Big Brother's nap time we took a walk down the road to hang out at the beach. The water was pretty cold but we took our bag of sand toys for some play time before grocery shopping. Big Brother and Hubby made some sand creatures and put their feet in the water while Froggie seemed happy to sit in the sand. She stood at the edge of the water for a few minutes too but the water was pretty cold.

Sandy toes

Happy Froggie

I'm #1!

My little family

Hubby and Big Brother

Sand toys

She eats EVERYTHING!

Sunday Run-day

     We were up bright and early with the kids this morning and headed out to do our August 5K. We checked in and hung out a bit before starting our jog/walk. Both kids were in the jogging stroller despite Big Brother's protest and telling us that he was going to "race with his feet". Our overall time improved and this was not a flat course; we started in grass, went through a park with winding paths and ended by coming back down into the park on a gravel trail and up through the grass with a fairly steep hill. The course definitely put our jogging stroller to the test but we made it in 49 minutes. We improved our time by approximately 21 minutes!

Pre-race snack for Froggie

The kids and I ready to go

Hubby and the kids at about the halfway point

Some of the goodies from our race bags

     After our 5K we packed up and headed to the peninsula so that Hubby and I could change and the kids could enjoy the sun, playground and beach before our next stop. After we exhausted our options at the playground we decided to head across the street to the beach thinking that we would all just put our feet in for a few minutes and then pack back up and head up the road. Big brother had other plans and ended up jumping in and swimming in his clothes and pull up. He seemed to have a lot of fun until it was time to splash in the water to get all the sand off.

All wet!

Why not jump on in?

     Once we got Big Brother cleaned up and in a new set of dry clothes we headed up the road to our local amusement park where we had our church service in the pavilion followed by a picnic. Froggie got to try her first "solid" (read as non-pureed) food - honeydew melon. There was a ton of good food and a chinese auction but we didn't venture into the park because we though Big Brother would want to go on all of the rides, most of which he's just not big enough for yet. So we packed up and headed home for nap time.

Big Brother picking out chinese auction baskets.

Initial reaction to melon

Then... She didn't want anyone to take it away.

     While the kids took a nap/rested under the supervision of my mom, Hubby and I went shopping. It's nice to be able to go get groceries and not have to wander around or listen to Big Brother scream because he wants to walk instead of sit in the cart. Overall it was a good day, I had big plans to make Rice Krispie Treats this evening but I think I'll save that project for tomorrow.

Unexpectedly Busy

     Today was supposed to be a lazy Sunday where we moved at a slow pace, lounged around and got things like grocery shopping and laundry done. However, Hubby and I had forgotten to write down an event in our calendar and were reminded this morning of a friends birthday party. 

     Our close friend is joining the ranks of the "almost 30" crowd and we had some pool time and some cake to celebrate. Here are some pictures from our day.

waiting to get in the pool.

Big Brother showing off his borrowed floaties. 

Hubby & Big Brother swimming

Froggie taking a break to eat

Big Brother swimming on his own!

Froggie and I hanging out in the pool.

Happy Birthday Katie!

     Froggie fell asleep before cake and Big Brother fell asleep as we were pulling out of the driveway. We dropped him off with my mom and headed out to the grocery store. We came home to a Big Brother who had just woken up and was pretty grumpy. (He had a pretty grumpy day, but he's two so there probably wasn't any real reason for his grumpiness.) As soon as I got in the door he said he had to go potty so he headed in to the bathroom and sat on the big potty to go pee. He came out and was getting his cars out while I was turning on the Bluray player so he could watch cartoons while we put away groceries and all of a sudden he said he had to go potty again and that he wanted his little potty. (I feel like now might be a good time to add that he was OBSESSED with pooping last week. He was determined to go on the potty so that he could get a "special surprise" and made me cart the little potty out so he could sit and watch cartoons and try to go) I thought we were passed the need to cart the little potty to the living room but I needed to put away groceries and I figured it was worth the chance. 

     Well... HE WENT! So I went and raided my stash of gifts that we started putting away for Christmas and his birthday and pulled out a car for him. As soon as he got off the potty he started asking for his special surprise! Today was a proud mommy day for me!

Big Brother's special surprise!

New Earrings

     If you read the post about a month ago you know that Froggie got her ears pierced. Thursday was the 4 week mark and we headed back in to where we got them done to have them check her ears and exchange our deformed earring. She wasn't a fan of having them taken out and changed but overall her ears looked great; which I was a little surprised about since her earring was so damaged.
     The piercing place was amazing and they replaced her damaged earring with little hassle. I also picked up a second pair of piercing earrings for Froggie (since they're the only ones I can find with locking backs). They are adorable little flowers with multi colored stones, and I don;t have to worry about them falling out because they's covered in resin!

Froggie's new earrings

How she still sleeps, even harness-free

     Friday was a fun day at school. Big Brother got to go swimming and Froggie got to sit in a walker and play with some toys. I was a little hesitant to let my co-worker put her in it but it didn't seem to position her hips awkwardly or put more strain on her hips than sitting her on my lap or the floor would have. She had a lot of fun playing while I fed one of her "friends" but seemed equally glad to get out and nurse.

Fun at school

Relearning Life with Froggie

     Just like having to learn how to live life with a Froggied princess we are now adjusting to life with Froggie out of the harness.
     Some things have stuck while others have changed permanently. Froggie now has a bunch of frog toys and ironically seems to prefer them to the other toys we try to give her. We occasionally call her Froggie (though that's really a rare occurance). We have developed habits that accommodated the harness; how we change diapers, how we hold Froggie, how we dress Froggie, etc.

sleeping with free toes

     In the last few days we have had to become reacquainted with pants/shorts/diaper covers. I scramble to figure out what I'm going to put on Froggie's lower half when I set out clothes in the evening. I had to relocate all of her pants and diaper covers since she never wore any of them; most of them were still on the hangers we received them on!

     Playing with Froggie is another experience with a learning curve. She's better able to roll around and is more tolerant of being on the floor for longer. Much like when she was 2-3 months old and would spend more of the day on her belly on the floor than doing anything else. Her modified Bumbo can still be used since I left the original leg holes though we are reluctant to use it for long periods of time since it forces her legs into a position very much unlike how the harness held her legs. This is also the reason that we are choosing, with the doctors strong recommendation, to avoid exersaucers and jumpers (at least until we get another "normal" x-ray).

Tummy Time!

     Froggie is also a little (maybe a lot) more wobbly without the harness. Because of this she needs a little extra support or her upper half leans a little further back than any responsible parent would be comfortable with. She is a lot more flexible though!

Tasty Toes!

     Things like swimming take a lot less forethought and effort. There's no worry about getting the harness on and off or how long Froggie is out of the harness. So, since it was in the 90's today, we had an impromptu trip into the swimming pool this afternoon.

hanging out in the pool

Silly Froggie floating in the water.

Flying Froggie!

Recovery Day

      Yesterday was a bit slower paced than Saturday was. We didn't have to be awake as early and didn't have as much to do. We slowly got ready for tthe day and headed up to the local arts festival. There were a lot of vendors and tables set up and most importantly there was a kids craft area set up. My kids are all about crafts (Big Brother more than Froggie for now)! Almost as soon as we got there Big Brother (with the assistance of my mom) made a sail boat.

     Then the kids made visors. Big Brother picked dinosaurs and went a little sticker crazy and I put together one for Froggie. The kids also made tiles that we will eventually need to have fired.

making a sailboat. 

watching a pottery demo

Froggie loving her visor

Froggie's visor

     After the arts festival we headed home with a grumpy Big Brother. After lunch and laying him down Froggie and I tried out the pool again. She hasn't really enjoyed it at all despite the heat and I think Big Brother splashing startles her. She did great when it was just she and I. She kicked her feet and splashed her arms. She even let me dump water all over her head! The only time she complained was when she learned forward and got water in her mouth. 

      Yesterday was also a special day for Froggie because she got to have a vegetable! We found these awesome baby food mixes by nuturme that you mix with breast milk. They don't have a ton of options but  they have cereals, single fruits and veggies, and blends. Froggie seemed to be excited to eat but not so sure of the taste.

Our options

Froggie's 1st food - squash

Froggie's first bite.

Thinking she may like it. 

Still ok with the squash. 

Telling us she was done.

Hoppy 4th of July!

Happy Fourth of July from our family to yours!

     Well the late night construction paid off. We were able to pull a completed "Airplane" down the hill this morning for the parade and 4th of July festivities. We were joined by lots of family and the rain held off so we could enjoy the morning.
     At 10am we kicked off the morning with the National Anthem followed by the Trike, Bike and Group parades (our kids were in the group parade because they both were in the airplane/wagon). I know you're all curious to see the completed project so here it is (and some pictures from the parade).

Our decorated wagon

Hubby pulling the kids in the parade

Getting their prize

Hubby, Big Brother and Froggie with the trophy

Froggie and her ribbon

Big Brother with the trophy

     We won 3rd place! Big Brother was kind of grumpy to start off the morning but as it went on he seemed to have a good morning. In addition to the kids parade there are swim contests, a watermelon race, tug of war, a sack race and a water balloon toss.
     Most of the activities are self explanatory, you may be curious about the watermelon race. It happens in the lake and is done twice, once for the girls and again for the boys up to age 13. The kids who want to participate are divided into two teams and placed behind a rope. Someone walks out into the water with a watermelon covered in Vaseline and drops it into the water when the ropes are raised. Both teams then fight over the watermelon and try to get it to the opposite side.

Watermelon race

     While the water activities were going on Big Brother splashed around in the water and Froggie fell asleep in the Ergobaby.

Froggie and I

Sleepy Froggie

     The rain ended around 8am and held off for the morning. We headed home and grilled up some lunch before Big Brother laid down for a nap. When he woke up we headed over into town to watch them release the ducks for the duck race. The local Kiwanis Club floats TONS of rubber duckies down a creek, each duck has a number and you can purchase a duck for $5 and the chance to win one of a bunch of prizes. The money they raise goes to a bunch of youth programs including two local marching bands. However, they postponed the duck release until Saturday at 5pm. No reason was really given but it looked as though there was too much flooding/fast moving water from the creek to release them.

     Now we're headed up to visit with friends and wait for the fireworks to begin!