Kids Kids Kids!

Abby and Shane FINALLY closed on their new house, so they have been busy moving and cleaning. Abby dropped the kids off yesterday for a morning of fun! Charlotte was excited Lilly was here!
Syrus and Lilly are so well behaved! Lilly hardly says a word, and Syrus just goes with the flow! The kids had fun playing with all Charlotte's toys!
I am beginning to think it was a bad idea to put toys in the office, they just keep ending up outside! Charlotte was cooking us up something yummy for lunch! If only that were the case!
Lisa came over with Joli and Markus before Joli's swim lessons. Markus was a bit ornery, but happy when he had his Mama!


Joli had on a "big sister" shirt, but no one was really cooperating for pictures!
Charlotte and Lilly think it is fun to push Markus in the swing!
Today Abby brought the kids over to Lisa's so we joined them! Charlotte and Lilly were trying to figure out how to escape!
Charlotte really likes Markus!
She really likes Brody too, but likes to look at him through the gate. He might run her over otherwise!
The little girls were pretty well behaved. Well, Lilly was, Charlotte was mostly! They colored on the porch together!
Lisa filled the pool up for after lunch. Charlotte of course didn't want to get in, but admired from the side!

A glimpse into the future? I hope not!! She seems awfully happy behind those bars!
It was a fun, crazy couple of days!

Farewell Party!

Tonight we went to the concert in the park to say goodbye to our friend Lily (and her mom and dad!) They are moving back to the east coast. I think Chris is envious! Charlotte learned the hard way not to stand on chairs... It tipped over with her on it a few seconds later. She still wouldn't listen to me to sit down. Charlotte liked carrying around the water bottles because Anna had one. I really enjoy this age, when they don't quite understand sharing and they want whatever the other person has, just because. It's really fun.

Poor Charlotte's teeth still haven't come through. Her gums must be pretty sore!

The guest of honor, Lily! Charlotte will miss you!
"No I'm telling you, that is a soccer ball, you use your foot to kick it!"
Once Charlotte had some food she was a maniac. She ran down the sidewalk and did not want me to redirect her, even when she got to the end and had no where else to go but the street!
"And then my mommy told me I couldn't run into the street with the cars and she dragged me back here... it was so awful!"Charlotte tripped and fell in the grass... she decided to lay there for a bit while she was down there!There was a couple who were watching her and she kept checking to see if they were still there before she got up!
Anna's mom Sue and I were both wiped after chasing the girls as they ran through the park filled with people, lawn chairs, food and blankets! It's crazy how fast the little monsters are!

Our friend Wesley had his soccer ball tonight and it was a big hit!
Have a safe move Laura, Trevor and Lily! We will miss you!

Botanical Gardens!

The weather here has been horrible for July. Chris had the day off and Lisa had been in the house with the kids a lot this week, so we decided we didn't care if it was gloomy, we headed up to the San Diego Botanical Gardens. They have an amazing children's garden complete with plants, arts and crafts and a crazy awesome tree house!
Charlotte was pretty crabby for the beginning of the morning, but perked up a little bit after having something to eat. She was still pretty grouchy though!
Lisa was super mom and carried Markus in the wrap while playing with Joli!
Charlotte loved the chalkboard, except she only draws for a few minutes, then wants to collect up all the chalk and wander off.We spent a lot of time just playing and exploring around the gardens!





Their was a "mountain stream" that the kids could play in. Charlotte loved stomping her feet in the water!
They had boats that the kids could start at the top and watch float down the stream!
Then Charlotte went to get her sweatshirt and wanted to wash it in the stream too. I swear, this kid loves doing laundry... better teach her how to do it soon!!!

Catch up!

Last week Abby had a hair appointment so she brought Syrus and Lilly over to play. It was a beautiful day so we played outside in the pool!
Charlotte loves her dog... Baylie has gotten really good at tolerating Charlotte and I think she really loves her too! She gets so excited to go an get Charlotte up in the morning and gives her lots of kisses!We spent the 4th of July at the beach, well for a few hours. It was cold and windy and miserable. Charlotte had on a really cute shirt, but then decided she wanted my drink and HAD to have it. So I gave it to her and let her try to drink out of the cup. It ended up all over her. I don't think she learned her lesson though.
Then she poured sand on her head. It was everywhere! I remembered why I hate the beach!
We came back home and Lisa and I took Joli (and Markus) down the street to the park to see the fireworks!
A few days ago Charlotte threw this doll on the floor. It was my Cabbage Patch Kid when I was little, and it has a pacifier and comes with batteries. We didn't think the batteries still worked or were even in the doll, and didn't know what she did. So when Charlotte threw it on the floor and it started crying and wouldn't stop, we were all in shock!
Charlotte is not a fan of the crying doll. I am surprised that the batteries work still after all these years!
Watching the baby from afar...
This morning it was cold and rainy. I put Charlotte in a pair of my old overalls! I am so glad my mom saved some of my clothes! They looked so cute on her... if only she cooperated and smiled!


We went to storytime today and Charlotte proceeded to run all around the library for the duration of storytime. She wanted nothing to do with the kids books, or the songs/finger-plays/story. She just wanted to run through the stacks of books and pull one out every so often. She is just in a lovely mood lately!!!