Also From June.... our little bug's 2nd Birthday.

Here she is preparing to bake the cake.

 Reading one of her many cards, thanks for all the lovely wishes!

 Opening a gift.  Honestly she seems a little afraid of the sound of the wrapping paper.  We allowed the bigger kids to help out with the other gifts.

 Enjoying the cake and trying to maul the camera.

June Missouri Trip

The children and I had a lot of fun visiting my family in Missouri last month.  We did many of the same things I did growing up.

 We looked at cows.

 We caught a snake.

 We played at the pool.

 She did too.

 We caught lots of fish.

 We played with all the cousins.

 I got my toes painted.  Then at the lake I was eating a nutritious breakfast (my Aunt Bobby's chocolate chip and pecan cookies, my favorite, with coffee)  and noticed my toes matched my coffee mug.  MUST TAKE A PICTURE! 

 We fead fish.

We had a boat ride.

All in a weeks time.

Hooded Towels

We've received hooded towels as gifts from grandparents, and have found the 4 we have to be over used.  They often double as capes for a super hero in need, a beach towel, and of course a bath towel.  I love using them, especially at the beach or pool......  because it's attached to their head they don't drop it and get it filthy. 

Any way....... I've thought for a while that we needed more, 2 per child would be nice.  Also lately I've been trying to be more budget friendly with birthday/ baby shower gift ideas.  It's been a couple years since I last made some hooded towels as a gift, but I thought I'd try again, as we've been invited to a birthday party and baby shower this month.  I like to buy nice printed towels, which I can find reasonably priced at TJ Max.  

So if you are in need of a nice gift idea for about $10, I add some bubble/baby bath to mine for flare,  (add a  couple bucks for that) here's a nice little afternoon project idea.  Or maybe you might enjoy a hooded towel in your home? 

Suppilies: 2 body towels

1 hand towel

thread

sewing machine

scissors

Step 1: cut hand towel in 2 pieces

 Step 2: pin raw edges of one piece together ( wrong sides facing) and zig zag stitch. Do this to both pieces of the hand towel.

 Step 3: Turn inside out, you've just made the hood. X2

 Step 4:  Zig Zag stich the hood to the middle top of the body towel,

I fold the towel in half to find the center and pin it.

 and ta-da ...... hooded towel.

 Here's the four I made this afternoon. 

The kids really like theres, and hopefully our friends will enjoy their gifts as well. 

Baby Bean 15 weeks

I had an OB check up today.  The heart rate was 140.  They put a referral in for me to have an ultra-sound at a specialty OB clinic, so once that goes through we will schedule the big ultra-sound.  We are hoping to find out the gender this time around.

Destin

The week of the 4th Mike's family rented a condo at Destin beach.  It had pools perfect for young children, so the kids had their fill of the water.  Unfortunately I didn't have my camera most of the visit, but I did get a few shots to prove we were all together.  I am enjoying watching Mike's younger brothers getting older, growing into the role of "uncle" and such. Speaking of uncles.... Uncle Tyler has moved back with us after the visit, he has a fresh pair of job hunting legs underneath him. 

These are all patio pictures.

 Bubbles

 Hanging out

 Playing with grandma

 Buddies

Playing on the sofa

The Fair or something like it????

Our air conditioner is out of commission and the sticky hotness reminds me of walking around the fair as a young girl. I guess it reminded Hosea of that too since he requested to have batman painted on his face.  We've never done face painting at the house before, but in honor of our "fair" conditions I decided I would try my hand at it. 

Shiloh of course did not want to miss out on the fun.

You never know, maybe I'll have a booth set up at a location near you. ;)

Note: The repair man is coming this evening, so it was only "fair" for one day, which is really more than enough time at the fair I think.

Swim Lessons

Earlier in the summer, perhaps late spring, the children had an opportunity to have swim lessons.  We went with the same lady that did them last year, they are at her home and the children were requesting to see her again. They enjoyed them, yet again. 

Shiloh was a beginning swimmer last year and has had some opportunities over the past year to practice her skills.  This year her biggest accomplishment was learning to dive.  In regards to the diving board she states "it is just so fun I can't stop doing it". 

Hosea was much more brave this year as he dealt with overcoming fear of the water last year.  He had fun this year.  He would tell you " I can swim all by myself with out my life jacket on".  He should include in parenthesis, (for about 5 seconds, then I go under).  He is trying really hard and starting to get the hang of it for at least a little bit.  We will do some practicing this summer.

Aggie Rae even had the opportunity to play in the water while we were there.  I brought the bucket for the first day we were there, then the subsequent days Mrs. Susan invited us to get in the pool also, and so we did. Aggie will attempt to kick when I tell her "kick, kick, kick" and when I tell her to blow bubbles while putting her mouth in the water she is obliged to take a big drink of the pool and choke herself.  I didn't tell her to do that much. :) But even when I did, she would come up choking joyfully, all grins.