Since it’s been so hot around here recently, we cooled off by playing in the water while visiting Grandma and Grandpa. The girls are finally starting to become less cautious of sprinklers and had a great time. The girls started by helping Grandma water her flowers.
And then played with the hose-as-sprinkler.
After spending a few days at Grandma and Grandpa A’s house, we journeyed to visit Grandma and Grandpa L. Since N. keeps a fairly demanding nap schedule, we didn’t venture out a lot but got in a lot of playing.
Daddy-daughter smiles!
N. discovered a pull toy from my childhood, and spent several days pulling it around. She was in love!
She also spent a good portion of her mornings talking on the phone. While doing other things.
Still on the phone, but playing with a different toy.
“Can’t you see I’m on the phone? Do you mind?”
We celebrated K’s upcoming birthday while spending the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa A. She was quite excited about the cake (ice cream cake!) and presents.
“Whoa!”
With some of her birthday money, K. bought an inflatable pool for the backyard. Later in the week, we set up the girls’ climber and slide to make a water slide, and K. climbed up and slid down for about two hours straight.
So the little N. had her first dance class today—once I realized there was a class that she and her sister could be in together, I signed up pretty much immediately. The class has a bit less “technique” taught than the last class K. was in, but she’s not old enough to really mind. In fact, she introduced herself to a sweet girl (similar in age) at the beginning of class and they were ‘buddies’ throughout, even exchanging a hug at the end of class.
(And sorry the colors and lighting are so odd in these pictures—I was mostly helping N. and just snapped some pictures at the end of class. By that time, I didn’t want to be The Mom Who Changes Her Camera’s Lens At Dance Class.)
Oh. My. Lawd. Such sweet baby pudges!
And N. went back and forth between dancing and following along, and wanting to be held. There was a lot of “mom participation” (meaning I should have worn my dancin’ shoes) as the kids warmed up to the class. K. did a great job—it was really neat to see the difference from her first dance class to this one, after having 12 other classes under her belt. She jumped right in, followed directions, went with the flow, and a whole host of other things I didn’t imagine possible when she first started. I think she’ll really thrive in preschool this fall.
When we paused in the middle of class to hear a story, N. sat briefly on my lap, then proceeded to walk over to each mother/daughter pair and greet them individually. She’d make eye contact, say “hah” in her southern gentleman voice, and try to shake their hands. Seriously. She circulated the entire room and waited patiently for the littler kids to notice her. I think she plans to run for public office someday.
Poor N. tried to reach the barre and was too short, even with her arms fully extended. Then she wouldn’t stand still for a photo op.
Helping the teacher pick up the hearts at the end of class:
N’s such a sweet little person!
K. has started to be a really big help in taking care of her sister—holding her hand when needed and just generally showing her what to do.
This makes my heart melt!
Oh, sweet sweet N. You bring so much sunshine to us! You’re a pretty intense little kid, but I know you will use that to your advantage.
And so much energy it’s unbelievable! Plus, she’s started to pretend play pretty much all of the time, and it’s cute. She loves her babies—and always makes sure they’re buckled in when she puts them in the stroller. She’ll feed them play food.
She’s also become even more outgoing—she still is in the “separation anxiety” phase, but I can see that it’s a phase and won’t go on forever. When we go to church or another event with people she knows, she looks around excitedly and waves even more excitedly. She’s so much fun!
Have you ever seen a more sad set of sisters?
And for no particular reason—I mean, I caught them in the midst of playing and *this* is the pose they rewarded me with.
Later on Memorial Day, while poor N. took a nap, K. and others went out on the boat and to play at the lake. First, she got ready:
And we tooled around the lake on the pontoon.
Then she spent some time kayaking with Grandma.
And picking up rocks and attempting to catch minnows with Dad. They were successful against the rocks, but the minnows triumphed.
For Memorial Day, we went up to Grandma and Grandpa A’s house. The weather was beautiful so we spent a lot of time playing outside.
Jumping up and grabbing the tree branches:
Tractor rides with Grandpa and cousin W:
And driving the tractor pedal car. Maybe next summer her feet will reach the pedals.
