Rewind to August

I really am trying to catch up! I have to make it! I love going back through the pictures... it is too fun to see. Even just how much they have changed in the last 6 months! And after this winter (59 inches of snow and counting) it is wonderful to see green and the promise that winter does always end!

 Here is Maren playing in the dirt in what they called our garden. It is the planter under the tree in our front yard and it has a few annuals in it and we were trying to plant more flowers. They were just having fun in the dirt!

 I don't think this was the day that Elena smeared dirt all over her arms ( I was a little bit in awe that the child that does not like anything extra on her body did that ), but she did have fun digging and watering the dirt.

 You never know what you're gonna get... like a day cool enough in August that Elena felt compelled to put on her sweatshirt and boots! (Yes, Uncle Rob, she still puts her shoes on the wrong feet. She says she likes it that way.)

Papa's Birthday

The concentration!

Putting the candles on the cake... Elena and Maren dressed in their party dresses.

 Papa's 34th Birthday... that cake is almost on fire!

 A trip to the Zoo

 We cannot leave without a ride on the carousel!

Papa's Birthday Celebration Day

 Elena with Kyla on our front steps... the day we celebrated Kirk's birthday with friends and family.

 An action photo! 

Playing at the Park

 Sisters and baby going down the rollie slide at the Jonquil park.

Afternoon at the Beach

 COLD water! Papa braved it and the kiddos, too. I stayed on the sand. In my sweatshirt.

 I would say they were enjoying themselves :)

Trip to Phoenix

 Snuggling at Unckie Beth's

 Vegging with "Big Sister" Sophia at John and Deana's house. 

Elena ended up getting sick while we were there and had a fever so we stayed an extra day with John and Deana while she got over that.

 We did a little fairy taling... as in sprinkling fairy dust over a tiny door for fairies. The kiddos were hoping for candy.

Maren loved climbing the ladder 

 Dada Jeff tossing Elena in the air

 Dear "old" friends in the water.

 I love that look! These two had a great time with the hose.

 Does it get any cuter than these Four Musketeers?!

Three sweet girls!