Thursday, September 1, 2011

Last Days of Summer

The Safety Seal has actually made swimming with two toddlers fun!


Last time I send Travis on a mission to get our daughter sunglasses. Returned :)

Cal fighting crime at the playground with his shooting gun stick.

Love that my Nellie girl can't go to the playground without her pearls!

This may be my favorite moment alone with Natalie. We were shoe shopping for me, but not in Natalie's eyes. The second I got her close enough to the boxes, Nellie ripped off her own shoes and started trying on whatever was in her reach. What was I to do but get out my camera and enjoy her delight?!

Can't seem to leave guns and shoes. We always have to stop by this shoe sculpture on our way home from the playground. Natalie is of course enthralled by the "SHOOOOES!" Calvin is convinced it's one big shooting gun made up of little shooting guns.

As soon as it dropped below 90, we were at the zoo for their summer concerts. Always a treat!

My two shopping buddies at Schnucks patiently waiting on Mama to get them their free cookie.

Fun morning at the Transport Museum with friends!


Don't worry Meemaw!

More fun with Sammy and Grace at Powder Valley. A new favorite!

Yay for another Price visit! Upon their arrival we headed straight for the Magic House.

Natalie was pleased to finally be able to reach the water guns!

Next on the agenda was a date with the hippos at the zoo.

Happy Birthday Cessi!
love,
Princess Aunt Ari (that's what she calls me :) )

So fun to have Aunt "Tistina" and Cessi in town!

Giddyup girl!

Sewing machine case magically transformed into a rocket!

Daddy and Natalie appease Cal's sticker fun.

Thanks for the snake, Uncle Joe!

Cal's 2nd (I know) Day of School!

These are the best pictures I got. Cal refused to make a normal face. Thankfully, he absolutely LOVES school!

One last summer concert at the zoo.

A visit with our favorite jaguar

And a butterfly and airplane balloon to end the night!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Summer in the Northwest


Turned around to find sweet big brother warming up his sis after their bath

Back in Seattle- this time it was to celebrate Gramcracker's 89th!

Happy Birthday, Gramcracker!

While in town, I also got the privilege of going to my sister-in-law's shower. Counting down the days for baby Everett!

Finally got this girl's hair in a pony- sort of. Big achievement!

C and N putting a bug together at the Pacific Science Center.
(Our St. Louis Science Center membership came in handy with this visit. St. Louisans- can you imagine paying $14/person to get into a science museum?!?!)

Nana and Cal "shooting guns" with water!

This was the most terrifying and thrilling part of the whole trip for Cal.

On to strawberry picking!

It takes a lot of coercing to get everyone up and moving to go strawberry picking. But something about $1/lb organic strawberries gets me excited!

Nellie girl loved it- stem and all!

Off to the Museum of Flight!
(Science Center membership got us in here for free too!)

My little pilot/bug girl! She gets so serious when she's trying on something new.

Natalie preparing for the loud noises that accompany lift off

Thank you for the long awaited Concorde, Nana!

My little pilot loving every minute!

The display of World War II pilots was the only thing that really excited Natalie. "Shoes! Shoes, Mama!"

Off to the Oregon coast for Iron Man Summit III!

Lots of fun at the arcade! It took a solid hour and a half before Cal realize we'd been depriving him of tokens. The jig was up!

Free entertainment is just as fun!

If only I had had a rubber band- this could have been so cute.

The children reviewing the day's recorded activities with their photographer. Hint! Hint!

We stayed in the same city Goonies was filmed. Our sweet hosts created this treasure hunt for the kids at the beach. So very fun!

C getting a closer look at a crab

There was much fun to be had thanks to our wonderful hosts and the sweet company!