Hula Hooping

Amelia is getting ready for the hula hooping contest at Sandy's house again. I love her face, she has the best hula hooping face ever!

Baby Laughs

This video is really more just for the audio portion of it. Is there really any better sound in the world then baby laughter? Nina thinks it is hilarious when I spit a plastic ball at her, she laughs the hardest when it hits her.

Other (photoless) Summer Activities

We have managed to keep ourselves very busy this summer without actually scheduling a darn thing. It has been so nice to be able to wake up and decide what to do instead of planning everything down to the minute. We go swimming at least twice a week. Amelia is playing baseball, coach pitch this year, and is doing very well learning to hit a pitched ball instead of off the tee. There have been, of course, countless trips to the park. We went up to Pirate's Cove a couple of weeks ago and then played in the attached park and rode the little train. Focus on the Family has become a favorite play area; they have a great play room for babies and Amelia loves the giant slide. The library is another favorite of both girls. Amelia can read all by herself now, level 2 books even so she is pretty proud about that and we have been getting lots of books from the library so she isn't even memorizing them. We have also started reading chapter books to Amelia at night. Right now we are reading James and the Giant Peach, The Trumpet of the Swan is next. then Stuart Little and then we are going to start on Harry Potter (at least the first one, before they get all deathy).

Still up on the agenda is the Mining Museum, the Children's Museum, and the Denver Zoo. We still need to go to the Sprayground too. We are also hoping to get up to Fort Collins for a weekend to visit Chase. Of course, the State Fair too, Amelia is excited to ride the rides. We are also thinking about a trip to Water World, I can get discount tickets through my job.

We have already begun shopping for school. Amelia got to pick out her backpack and lunch box. We have a good bit of clothes to get us started but I have to wait to buy shoes until a week before school or she will outgrow them. So as you can see we are managing to keep ourselves busy just waiting for Kindergarten to start.

4th of July

On the 4th of July we all ventured to Denver for a birthday party/fireworks show. Amelia and Nina had the time of their lives. Amelia told me if we move we should move to Denver so she would be closer to her cousins. They had gotten a 30 foot inflatable slip 'n slide and sno-cone machine. The girls had a GREAT time on the slip 'n slide. Nina loved it, especially when all the big girls came on to play with her. Amelia was scared at first but eventually took right to it and had a blast. It turns out Amelia does like sno-cones, she ate at least 2, she just doesn't like $15 ones from Disney on Ice. We even got to stay for the fireworks, Eric has great fireworks every year. Nina wasn't even scared, she eventually fell asleep and didn't even wake up with the loud ones. We got home around midnight but it was so much fun.


Amelia, Nina, and Cecelia

Now that is a nice way to end the day.

Nina is Precious

Almost Walking

She is getting very close to just taking off. She has taken a couple/three steps on her own at a time but she was really cruising with this walker.

Swimming and Golf

Last Sunday we went swimming in Canon City with the Hern and Johnson clans, even Chase was there. It was a lot of fun. Amelia loved the diving board and even though her teeth wouldn't stop chattering, Nina splashed away all afternoon. We had a picnic too. Afterwards we went to hit balls at the driving range. Amelia needs some work on her form. It was a very fun day and we can't wait to go back some time, hint hint Mom.


She even got brave enough to jump without the noodle and just swam back to the side with no problem.



Nina at the picnic



The 3 big girls in the golf cart. That was another favorite part of the day.



Swimming wore Nina out

FORE (but only if you were standing within about 2 feet of her)!