peas please!

Peas yes!  Please no.

Vivian is all about grazing in the garden.  

But she won't have anything to do with "please".

Now that the raspberry bush is just about picked clean Vivian has moved to the peas.

Vivian being vocal about the peas.

(still refusing to ask nicely)

"work with me fingers, don't drop the little peas."

"peas, love and happiness!"

Rolli is wondering how he is going to get the peas out with only one hand.

He didn't want to drop the shovel in his other hand.

He decided to just eat the whole thing...

then spit it out later.

It makes me happy that the kids are enjoying the garden with me :)

Splash Pad!

Last weekend we went to the Splash Pad again.  This time with Daddy, Grandpa Roger, Aunt Lindsey, and cousin Miles.  Good times!

Rolli likes running through the puddle (not the Splash Pad).

Vivian and Daddy splashing in the preferred puddle.

Vivian, cooling her feet.

Miss Opportunist doesn't miss a thing.  

Grandpa went to buy a snow cone and got a new BFF. 

Yum!  Sweet cherry coolness.

Thanks Grandpa!

I'm sure we'll be back this summer!

Sunday brunch

It is a pleasant day in Wenatchee today.

July 10, 2011.

Ten years after the 30 Mile Fire.

Some day Marshall and I will tell the kids about the four firefighters who lost their lives.

Hopefully we will be able to teach them to respect and cherish each day.

For now they seem to be convinced that the world revolves around themselves.

While my thoughts were up north Rolli and Vivian found their way to the raspberries.

A couple hungary toddlers fending for themselves.  

Helping themselves to the raspberry bush.

Serious foragers. 

Pick the berry.  Eat the berry.

Grandma's dress

It's been almost two years since my Grandma Ruth passed away.

I think about her often.  Especially since my first born were twins, just like hers.

I would visit Grandma several times a year.  

They were usually short visits and I rarely stayed the night.

I always took some sort of needlework to keep my hands busy while we chatted.

It's probably fitting that I was the one to finish knitting a dress that she had started.

The pattern was out of a 1980's knitting magazine.

I'm guessing that Grandma had intended the dress for my cousin Cassie.

Grandma had knitted the front and started the back.  

I finished the back, knitted the sleeves, and did the finishing work.

It was completed last summer.

Vivian wore it today for the first time.

(it's really hard to take pictures of a busy toddler)

Vivian like wearing the dress so I let her wear it the rest of the day.

I'm pretty sure that it is a christening dress.

Lacy and long.

She loves exploring in the yard and the dress was just perfect for a chilly evening.

Out in the garden I stuck a bean leaf on Vivian.

Silly!

smoothie

Avocado, broccoli, banana, vanilla yogurt, and a dash of cinnamon.

Delicious!... and a little messy.

Rolli drinking his yummy smoothie.

This kid is ridiculous.

At least he is 'using' the straw. 

He insists on being independent.

"Thanks for the goodness Mom!"

our 4th

we had a Happy 4th of July!

The weather was pleasantly hot and the sun was shining!  

No bbq for us.  In fact we had sushi for dinner (this is a free country).

Marshall worked, like usual.

Rolli, Vivian and me just chilled in the morning.

By the time afternoon rolled around we were ready for some cooling water fun!

Splash Pad here we come!

Michelle joined us for the splashin' around and we ran into some familiar play-mates too. 

Otto showing Rolli what it's all about.

It was our first time here.

Look what this little explorer found!

Yup, Rolli likes the stagnate, muddy water waay better than the clean, flowing Splash Pad.

Vivian and Michelle.

Vivi isn't so sure about this cold-water-splashing-in-your-face deal.

Vivian leading Michelle around.

Vivian found the one pole that isn't spouting water.

the Puddle.

Rolli, Vivian, and Felix.

The kids seemed to prefer the warm puddle... there wasn't so much splashin' going on here.

Rolli.

Doesn't the Splash Pad in the back ground look refreshing?

Otto and Felix (per their Mother) invited us over for some fruit popsicles and a warm dip in their backyard kiddie pool.  You bet we accepted the invitation!

By the time Marshall rode his bike home from work we were all tired.

Vivian said "Goodnight!" with a roll off of the toy box and a HUGE goose-egg on her head.

Crazy Rolli protested bedtime by turning the light on and falling asleep anyways.

After all was quiet in our house (but not the neighborhood) Marshall and I climbed on top of the roof to watch the fireworks.

Marshall and Hannah, rooftop.

Fireworks!

... till next year!...

dunes

Good Morning Saturday!!

Yesterday morning started (a little too early) with underdogs at the park!

Followed by a trip to the sand dunes and beach with the whole family!

Bella was in HEAVEN!  Marshall was excited to see how high the river still is.  I was glad to get some fresh air with the kids.  And Rolli and Vivian were along for the ride.

family picture.

minus Bella...

Those odd growths on our backs are the kids in their backpacks.

Daddy and Rolli 'bouldering' on the way to the beach.

Vivian thinking she might like to take a climb.

Beach at the north end.

We weren't the first ones to the beach on Saturday.

We followed a horse an rider down the trail.

And there was a group of young trouble makers getting the day started right.

Of course Vivian and Rolli were still the cutest ones around.

Vivian watching Bella fetch.

Bella has missed the river.

Rolli just sat here for the longest time... taking the occasional bite of sand.

Vivian.

Miss Mae got right to exploring and figuring out this sand/water stuff.

Rolli watching Bella fetch.

Bella L-O-ves her tennis ball!

Rolli and Daddy.

Rolli leading Mommy down the beach.

Vivian leading Daddy down the beach.

Rolli braving the cold water to do some exploring.

After an early nap we finished the day with a water themed backyard birthday party at a friends house.  Ice cream sundaes too!

These two toddlers were beat!  

Too bad they woke up before 6am again this morning.