Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Get that corn out of my face...

We had another ultrasound of peanut 2.0 -- she's looking pretty cute, but I guess we'll let her cook for a few more weeks -- 8 weeks to go!


And Ellie and I had the chance to go up to Coeur d'alene for our second (and last :-(...) summer trip. We had a blast. Eleanor stayed very busy with her respective grandmas (and great-grandparents Nonna and Nonno), not to mention her aunts and uncles. 




Nonna getting Ellie excited about a treat. The 20-month old is well aware which cabinet at Nanna's house has all of the good stuff....








Ellie learned how to do a summersault -- I'd like to think it was because of all of the Olympic gymnastics we were watching. Surely, one can see the strong resemblance to the flying squirrel...


Nothing beats naked raspberry picking...good thing the bushes are thornless....I'm pretty sure she singlehandedly wiped out the whole summer crop.



Going down to the lake


Playing with her cousins Mylie and Tytan





So -- we all set for an afternoon run here? Who's up first?




Didn't love the lifejacket...but loved being a flag girl with her aunt Hannah



Ellie and her little Nonna and Big Nonno


Dinner on the deck


Go ahead and try to take this corn away from me Augie...





Night away up at the cabin at Schweitzer



Cabin oatmeal -- its a staple. Aunt Madi is helping out with the logistics...





Monday, August 6, 2012

Pioneer children sang as they walked....

Mike and I were doing some post-church lazy lounging-around in our bedroom while Ellie played in her "room." Turns out she was getting into my makeup bag instead and decided her lashes needed some gravity-defying boost. 

Swim time with Aunt Mary!




Favorite playmate and second cousin James...




Dinner party with college friends! (and babies...)



Mike went to check on Elle before we went to bed and found her like this. Dead asleep - legs in air like a deer on the side of highway 95...so funny. We had some fun getting the tripod out for this low-light shot...



Peanut butter toast. Emphasis on peanut butter.


Pioneer Day! You don't have to push a handcart...but you can ride in a tricked out wagon/stroller in your neighborhood kids parade. I only achieved this shot (with the bonnet) by shamelessly bribing ellie with taffy. Yes, it's sort of a made-up holiday,  but when has that ever stopped me from dressing up??


Pretty sure that particular shade of yellow was not found in any of the original pioneer wagonstuffs. Don't remember yellow dye #2 on the Oregon Trail game...a lot of dead bison yes...candy...not so much...




I like to go for all - out authenticity in my Pioneer Day costumes (including the pregnant Mormon woman belly). W



Somewhat villainous laughter that she managed to steal a sucker and James didn't.




Naked patio time.


Summer cherries.

Ellie loves to go out with Mike when he flies his remote-controlled helicopter. She makes the helicopter sign whenever we talk about Daddy during the day. Exhibit A...




Swinging around the park -- more?! more?!


Our first watercolor adventure.


I think this is her "blue" period...probably because she put the blue paint in all of the other colors.  I try not to stifle the creative process...so I let the work unfold...



But at the end I did have to douse her entirely with water....not as jazzed about that part...