Cool in the Pool

My friend has an in-ground pool in her backyard (sooo jealous!), and she invited us over for a swim one morning.  K. has really started to embrace the water, and went in gladly.  She loves sitting in her little floaty ring, and is a little obsessed with her paintbrush and cup (you see her clutching these along with a toy turtle in the second picture).

Free Parking

During the weekend of the Fourth, we spent some time visiting Grandma and Grandpa L.  One evening, we took a walk to their neighborhood’s park (which you can see from their house).  We took several pictures as per usual.

Kate and Mom at the top of the slide:Kate digging in the sand.  The scoops were a little difficult for her, so Daddy helped quite a bit.  She also liked the springy-teeter-totter.And N. got to hang out in the shade of her stroller. Fine, then.  Don’t let me run and play. Cheeeeese! Grandpa and N. looking on as K. and Mom go down the slide.

N. with Grandma. And my friend K. stopped by to see my parents’ new house and to meet N.  N. was showing her how to chew on bristle blocks.

In and Around the Lake

N. got to have her first experience riding on a boat.  She tolerated it quite well (and she seems to like having new experiences).She was a little miffed, though, that the life jacket was thick and prevented her from crawling—she just didn’t have enough clearance to move her arms and crawl.She did like sitting on Grandpa’s lap.  And took her driving very seriously.  K. had a great time too.  “Beach?” she continually asks.  “Pool?  Beach?”  Both of her parents really like the water, so it’s no surprise that she is becoming aquatic.   She even ventured out on a float with Dad! And took her turn driving the boat, though she quickly abandoned that for more playing with the water: filling the bucket and dumping it out—usually on Daddy’s head! [whistling]

Fantastic Fourth

Hoping your Fourth of July was fantastic!We spent time with B’s family and got to hang out with the girls’ cousins!  As a bonus, since everyone was wearing patriotic colors, their outfits all coordinated nicely. Although it was quite a trick to try to get everyone to look at the camera, to say nothing of trying to have smiling!  I have some outtakes that feature very sad-looking children. And then someone was done with the sitting and posing.

Spitting Image

In case you weren’t sure which of her parents K. takes after, I offer you some pictures comparing K. with her dad as a kid:   (In case the pigtails didn’t tip you off, the pictures are K., Dad, and K. again).

Slightly older:

And the first time I saw this next picture, I actually thought it was K:

And they share an apparent propensity toward sadness at their own birthday parties:  

In the Navy (Blue)

This post includes many pictures and a sentence expressing disbelief that the sweet baby is 8 months old!