Summer Fun

Thanks to Amanda for taking most of these pictures! Aren't my girls funny?

Beauty, No pain, No gain!

Julianna went through a streak where she would not let me fix her hair. Oh the wailing and the woes, (and that was just from me when she would pull out a lovely hairdo that took so much longer to put in than be pulled out!) Well I decided to do the mature thing and try to reason with her. It did not work. I then did the "I am the Boss" thing and gave her an ultimatum: "You will let Mommy, Daddy, or someone fix your hair every day, or you will get your hair cut short." That is it. Well she decided to let me do her hair, after much frustration on all parts. As I was styling her hair for the third time today, she asked me, "Did Ma Wheeze do her hair in a ponytail when she was another age?" Yes Julianna, I think she did!

Miss (I need to work on my) Manners

Dear Miss Manners,

I went with Mommy and Reagan to see how work is going on Great Grandmas kitchen. It was so beautiful, that I could not resist trying out all of the cabinets doors and drawers and even climbing in many. Is that so wrong? Mommy and Grandma and Grandpa seemed apprehensive, and even a little worried. Work has been going on for quite awhile there; I even asked Uncle Brent to "fix the messy house." He seems so skilled in everything, and often buzzes around like a honey worker bee getting things done, and has a way of motivating others to work. Well Grandma had put the mop and bucket full of soapy water out on her deck, and though the inside floors looked clean to me, I thought that I could be a big help with mopping the deck, and also mopping the nearby potted flowers. Not wanting to leave anything dirty, I mopped the nearby dog as well. The only trouble was that there ended up being more dirt on the dog than when I had started because of that pesky potting soil! What is a girl to do? Grandma and Mommy came running out the door and seemed so excited! I just knew they would love all of the hard work I had done in such a short time. The only problem is that they did not seem very happy for some reason, and Grandma even cleaned up the dog I had just finished shining up. Well I decided to get away from those party-poopers, and check out those lovely cabinets again. I guess everyone was tired, because no one wanted to play with me. Not wanting me to be bored again, Mommy and I went down in the basement and found some nice books, including the Berenstain Bear's, which just happens to be my very favorite. I sat for a long time just looking at that book, and had Mommy read it to me a few times, with just the minimal interruption of adjusting the wet dog's towel, making sure her face was covered totally with a towel to keep her warm, and moving around her fur giving her the best possible look. Any ideas for how I can be a better guest?

Sincerely,

Not Looking for Trouble

Kyle's Graduation

Funny face

Isn't this a silly face? She cracks me up. Reagan has taken to babbling up a storm, and loves to say "ba ba ba ba BA BA...". I am hoping she will soon turn the "B" to an "M", though Ryan is working with her to make it be a letter D. Julianna said Dada first, of course!
It has been so nice having Ryan home for four days at a time. His days off seem to go faster than the two that he is working sometimes though. Julianna loves to have her Daddy bring her to preschool. Reagan is getting to know Daddy better too. When he was gone so long for training, and had to put so much effort into that, we did not get to see him as often. It is worth it though. Ryan is good at his job and has met very interesting people in some difficult situations. He has some pretty good stories.
Reagan looks so cute on her tummy with her head held up, but she does not like to be on her tummy for long.
One of the best inventions ever... the portable swing. I think that most adults would like to sit in one of these battery powered babies. Or maby I am the only one.

Reagan loves to spend time in her bouncer. She also loves this book that was a present from Grandma. She enjoys moving the animals around on the bar and then putting them in her mouth.
When one thumb is just not enough, insert both.

Julianna is totally a daddy's girl. She loves sitting on his lap and having him tell stories.
Julianna was sick for a little while, but this morning, she informed me that her sickness "ran away". I am glad for all of us. We were able to go to storytime at the library as a family today. We all enjoyed it, even Ryan who was the only male above age 4!