Out for a spin.

Mya decided to try out the egg chair for the first time today. She and Darius has a blast, this was definitely the best $25 we've ever spent.

Whoa!


Something tells me these two are going to be very close.

Taye jumped in on the fun (yay for a photo-op!)

Gilson Pond

Monday was another beautiful day (unlike today - yuck). We went for a picnic at the pond we first visited with Emma almost 2 years ago. We were momentarily upset when we got there and saw this sign, but then we decided to just ignore it and go anyway, and we felt much better. (Everyone else was doing it - the parking lot was full!)



We took the hike through the 'green tunnel'



and when we got to the pond, we laid out the picnic.



Of course lunch can't compete with rock climbing, and looking for creepy crawlies, no one actually ate.



In addition to a giant, dead tadpole, the boys found this sunbathing water snake that Taye chased away. I truly can't think of anything more ick than the idea of a snake coming near me in water. Imagine just swimming along, and there it is - ugh! Anyway...



The mosquitoes were nasty, literally swarming around us. It didn't take too long before we cried uncle and walked back to the car, determined to come back another day with the proper chemical protection. Taye had been talking about building a house with leaves and sticks ever since he picked that giant leaf in the first picture. So Luis and the boys worked on that while I fed Mya in the car.

They're a trio of budding engineers, those three.

Troublemaker

I thought I'd have at least a year or so before I had to worry about her coloring on the walls!


The face of a troublemaker if I ever saw one (and I've seen at least three.)

Taye

Coming home from the grocery store today, the boys were talking about what they love. Taye asked me what I love, and I said him, Darius, Mya and Daddy. He said, "Yeah! And I love you just like I love ice cream!"

This afternoon he was spinning himself in the egg chair, and the entire time he was saying, "Hahaha...stop it! Stop it! I'm gettting dizzy, hahaha!" Did I mention he was spinning himself?

Memorial Day

Nana and Jim came over yesterday for a Memorial Day cookout. We spent hours playing on the porch, grilling, eating delicious food, and watching Nana plant her flowers.



After dinner, it was time to move to the back yard for s'mores...



and swinging.

Snooze

Thanks for sharing

Warning: Grossness ahead!

The other day, Darius let out a huge burp (he rivals Jon, its impressive) and I said, "Nice burp."
Darius: "That wasn't a burp."
Me: "It wasn't?"
Darius: "No. There were little pieces of hot dog that came in to my mouth..."

Ew.

Bath

I leaned Mya back to rinse her hair in the bath, and noticed that the water level was perfect for lying in. She loved the soak...



so much that she almost fell asleep! Who can blame her, baths make me sleepy too!

Morning with daddy

While Mama slept in...



I also got a sweet surprise. Taye brought me some flowers and a kiss...



When I woke up, they brought me outside for another flower surprise.

I'd say this summer vacation is off to a good start.

Get the point?

I've been trying to get this on video forever... Whenever we mention something to Taye that he doesn't want (or want to do) he says, "I don't want it...

Lars Anderson

We met the Dorsey's at the park the other day. It was so nice to finally have a beautiful day after so much rain, we had a great time. After the playground...



it was time to explore the lake (pond? Whats the difference?) There were the usual ducks, geese, and fish...



and also turtles and frogs and snails (oh my!)

Sweet baby

Monday I was lucky enough to get to see Matt and Tia's new baby. Mya and I attempted to be there in time for the birth, but we didn't make it (and neither did anyone else!) Ella made a super speedy entrance, with just her Mama and Daddy to greet her. We met her when she was about an hour old, she is so sweet.

Welcome Ella!

The newest performer

You may all be sick of this trick by now, but you've got to admit she makes it look pretty darn cute:


Yay! (another new trick)


and the grand finish:

Building

There has been a lot of building and creating around here lately. Here are a few of my favorites.

This bridge was hours of fun (who knew?):


Taye made this rocket from Ikea cookies:


He also built this car:



Both boys also made Daddy proud and built Transformers. I didn't get a picture of Taye's, but it had legs that you could move and turn into wheels, very cool. Darius took the cake with his Optimus Prime:


that is also a finger puppet!