Up, up and away!

Dear Maya and Emi,

Well, mommy finally had to buy a pocket-sized day planner--the wall calendar just wasn't cutting it anymore. Yes, that's how busy the weeks and days are turning out to be. With mommy's business starting to flourish and so many fun outings for you girls, it's hard to keep track of what's next!

Maya, you started swimming lessons this week! The goal for the first 6 lessons is to get comfortable putting your face in the water and possibly to do a back float. You are fearless and excited and can't wait for your turn with the teachers to go try out each new skill. Mommy is so proud!

Emi, you've been toddling around at a faster and faster pace lately. You get into everything and are interested in any new thing we put in front of you. Your babbling is becoming more animated by the day and you can clearly let us know when you're done--with your food or with your sister's antics.

Maya, yesterday mommy took you out for a 'super duper special surprise' without telling you where we were going. We saw a hot air balloon launch! You were in your own happy world, spinning around dancing while they blew up the huge balloon, closer to it than most of the other spectators.

Mommy was so glad you enjoyed your surprise, Maya, and even more glad that you were up for a few scenic photo ops on the way home from our adventure--after some ice cream, of course! We stopped at a wheat field and a corn field and you commented on how beautiful the sky was and how orange the sun was getting as it got lower in the sky. By George, I think you've got an artist's eye already! We stayed out past your bedtime but it was so worth it!

Well, mommy needs her rest for another fun and busy week. Love you both!

Hello, full summer days!

Dear Maya and Emi,

We had a really full week and mommy is exhausted so I'm going to just list what we've been up to.

On Tuesday we went to the library story hour and it was a special one--the same clown from last year came back with all new material! And then we had a free picnic-style lunch on the lawn with all our favorite kids and mommies.

On Wednesday we went over to Aunt Kelsie's house to drop off some things and took cousin Gracie for a little walk down the street. We found a bunch of little baby frogs and had a blast playing while Kelsie took some time to pack for their family vacation.

On Thursday we went to a new park that you two hadn't been to before. Maya, you made it a point to pick and give a flower to every single kid there, even though there were a lot and they were almost all much bigger than you. Then you gave them out to the moms, too. What a sweetie!

On Friday we went to 7, count 'em 7, yard sales and stopped at Dairy Queen for lunch. It was a tiring but really fun day for all of us. Then after dinner, Maya, you and mommy went for our usual trip to pick up our farm share and out to the fields to pick herbs and flowers

Today we went to a 4th of July barbecue party. Emi, you were very quiet and sweet despite missing a nap to be there. Maya, you had such a blast playing with the other kids (especially your buddy Wyatt), jumping on the trampoline, and going down the 100 foot slip 'n' slide on a tube, over and over and over again. Mommy was very proud that you didn't throw a fit when it was time to go home after all that fun.

So you could say we've been keeping busy. And it looks like the next few weeks will hold more of the same. It's going to be a full, fun summer!

Love you both!

No puppy dog tails

Dear Maya and Emi,

When mommy posted last week I forgot to add some other pictures I had taken--your 11 month photos, Emi. I dressed you in this adorable bathing suit not because we were going swimming, but because every month on your birthdate mommy has taken pictures of you dressed in an item of clothing that used to belong to your sister. It started as a way to compare your growth, then mommy just ran with it. And now you're almost a year old already! We can't believe it!

Of course, this past week also marked daddy's first Father's Day as a daddy to two. Mommy had plans to spend lots of time outdoors but the weather didn't cooperate so we went to, of all places, a mall. We so rarely go to malls, though, that it was actually a nice change of pace. We got home pretty late, at least as far as your usual bedtime, so mommy just barely remembered to snap a picture of you two with daddy before taking you inside to go to bed.

Emi, you've been teething and sniffly, and Maya, you've been stubborn and destructive (please tell me this is a phase!) but we still had some fun times this week. We went to two parks, a fun event at the library, and picked peas at the farm. We collected slugs, snails, and flowers. We painted with our fingers, danced in mud puddles, and crawled in the grass. We made plans for more fun times this summer and strategies for some of the behavior troubles we've had. Whew! Mommy is tired!

Speaking of tired, mommy's signing off now. Love you both!