Fancy Flamingo

The girls and I stopped over at our neighbors home for a visit tonight and Emma spotted a flamingo in their backyard. It wasn't there when we watered flowers for them and she was surprised and delighted to spot it. She ran outside and gave it a hug. 

Emma had a first today- she went into her closet and brought shoes into the living room and put them on her feet herself. They were on the wrong feet but all things considered I thought it was a smashing success!

Gwen is growing up (just in maturity, not in size- she is still a tiny pixie of a baby who refuses to grow rolls no matter how hard I try!) so so fast. I love my girls!

Sleepy eyes...

Emma ROCKS the arabesque move!

Emma's last dance class was Wednesday. They don't resume until September. She had a BLAST. I was so happy to see her having so much fun. I have a few adorable photos of her in class that I will post when I can get to my computer tomorrow. 

Back to the Gallows

Emma's first dance class was pretty good. She had to be held by the dance helper for part of it but danced almost the whole time. The second and third lessons she did nothing but cry the whole time and wouldn't get off of my lap.  These last few lessons have been wonderful though! She goes in by herself and follows instructions and participates. You can even see her holding hands and dancing with a classmate. I am so happy that she is having fun at dance. I like seeing her smile. Tomorrow is our last summer lesson before she begins again in September. Hopefully this last lesson is a ton of fun for her!

You could say that Gwen had her first food the other night, but not really. She is teething something fierce and I gave her a fresh cold cucumber slice to chew on during dinner. She didn't eat any of it, but I guess it still counts! 

Yes, that is what you think it is. No, it's not from Ava (or me). Yes, that first poop is almost as long as my foot was. No, she wasn't alone long; Emma was running nakey while I changed Gwen's dipe (3 minutes). Yes, I was shocked. No,  I'm not sure that was all of the poop. Yes, I caught Ava eating a chunk of it which means there may have been more initially. No, Emma did not tell me she needed to potty. The skid marks down her little legs told the whole story- there were turds somewhere in the house. I had only to find where she dropped them...

Emma will often sneak a good lick onto Gwen before she kisses her. 

Gwen's new trick is to blow bubbles. What a sweet sound and funny to watch, albeit messy and slobbery. I love it! 

Gwen in her Bumbo seat last night for a little while while I prepared eggplant for dinner. It was her first time in it and she was pretty happy for a while! :)

Emma took Violet for a stroll around the house in her car last night. She's beginning to play more make believe and imagination games which I love to see. 

The other night when we were preparing dinner Gwen got tired and fussy. I tried holding her and cooking but that made her mad, I put her in the sling, and I tried a playmat but she was just tired and grumpy. I took her over to her swing for a little bit so I could finish preparing dinner and Emma ran over and grabbed three stuffed baby toys to give to Gwen to help her feel better and stop crying. It was completely unprovoked and I didn't ask her to. She simply acted out of love and kindness for her sister and wanted to help make her happy. Oh, what a sweet sister she is and what a proud mama I am!

Gwen was smiling while bouncing on Papa's knee, but then the flash came on and she became my little deer. 

Today was our last Storytime before they take a break in August. It'll be sad not to go every week for it! 

Tomorrow is Zack's last day of the easiest rotation he'll have this school year. It was nice to start easy but then again it means it's all uphill from here. It's been a wonderful five weeks on this rotation (much to the dismay of those of you who follow the blog regularly). When my family is together I make them my number one priority and these past five weeks have been divine in that regard. Lots of family time! No time to post. The blog can wait, but making real memories and enjoying life doesn't. Time slips by all too quickly. The good news? Starting next Monday I should be posting regularly again. The bad news? That means my best friend is back in the gallows. I'm making sure to enjoy thoroughly every minute I get. 

Ding Dong the Dog is Gone

...The dog is gone 

The dog is gone

Ding dong the wicked dog is goneeeee!

At first I was sad. Then resigned. Then disappointed. Then there was happy Ava. Happy family. Happy yard. Happy happy happy. Saturday evening Angus was given a new home with an English fella who hunts and has acreage in a neighboring city. He was incredibly nice and was excited to get Angus. The peace that has come over our household over the last two days is incredible. We are all so happy now that the decision has been made and the deal over, especially Ava who is eating like a champ (we all remember the hunger strike of winter 2014-15, right?) and is no longer being exiled outside or being harassed constantly. My stress level is exponentially lower and I swear our backyard looks more lush and beautiful than it has all summer. 

It was not an easy decision and was one that took a long time of talking and working out to get to but we finally came to the realization that Angus just wasn't working for us. After a year living with us he never gained more respect for us or accepted his position in the general pecking order. Our yard was constantly destroyed, Ava went on regular hunger strikes, I got him to learn to heel on leash but he was not good (read: awful) at the park (which is where we walk to). Zack was stressed and not wanting to be around him or train him. We had countless reasons that it wasn't working and no solution for the problems other than to find him a home that would work better for him. I cried because it was too hard caring for a brute on my own (I still swear a female would've been better!) and then in the end cried because although it was best for him to go I was sad to see him leave. (And I consequently spent a good amount of time that night sobbing in the shower over my Mollie... I think she's a heartbreak that will never completely heal.  I still cry often over her and miss her so incredibly much.) Now that Angus is all done I'm happy and peaceful! But it was sad saying goodbye, even as he drove off in a Land Rover to his new plush digs.  

(Update: the new owner contacted us two days after taking him because he was so rotten that he needed help finding a new home as well.  At least I lasted a year- they lasted two days. I truly can be a patient woman. Hopefully his new home after this one is a good one.)

Hugs for Ava!

This is our beautiful flower bed. We bought two clearance plants today and divided some hostas from the front to recreate a happy landscape this evening. I forgot to take a before photo, but Angus had dug huge craters in it as well as a trough alongside the house. I love the new bed. It's even better than the original! (Which couldn't be recreated without a large amount of money anyways because he dug out all the fancy plants in it.) Thankfully I like simple. 

So above you can see we need to reseed  the yard again but below you can see vast improvement already in the grass. 

Emma had a blast running around the yard in her undies while we were working. She was one very happy camper. 

Gwen just hung out with me. :)

I gave Emma the hose to play with and turned the water on low. She lovessss the water. I bought a new pocket hose and think it was worth every penny. It's durable and soft and easy to store and perfect for Emma to play with and easy to use... And and and (I sound like I'm getting paid to promote them doesn't it?)

Sigh. And this was my giant "C'MON, iPHONE!!!" What a great photo this would've been had it not been blurry. 

Schnortles

On the Fourth of July we went downtown for their festival. Emma and I made a bracelet at a children's tent that they had set up. After about 30 seconds of wearing it though I had to take it back because she pulled it apart and was eating the beads. At least it was fun while it lasted!

Gwen slept the entire time we were there. 

We enjoyed a meal outside on one of the rare nights when it wasn't sweltering outside. Emma had a mouthful of food when I took the photo and I told Papa. He decided to match the pose and this was the hilarious result:

Emma now uses "bubble" in her repertoire of words. :) 

Gwen has darker and thicker hair than Emma (I think we all remember the Friar Tuck 'do that she spotted until about 9 months old). Gwen looked like a Clark Kent in this photo with her little curl. 

Just like there are two sides to every coin so there is to every photo as well! Here is proof of what my raw material is like before I get them to smile for mama. 

I took Emma to see Llama Llama at the library. The llama llama series are among her very favorites and she was excited to see him!

...but not so excited to take a picture with him. I had to hold her for the photo which taught me a lesson. If you plan to get your child to take a photo, prepare to be in it as well and dress up a little bit. Gwen of course was sleeping through llama llama time. 

Happy 4 month birthday, Gwen!

I loved these two photos!! It's like she's a southern belle clutching her pearls as she watches calamity occur and is going, "oh my my my..."

Emma keeps a close eye on mama and was mimicking me with my nursing pillow. 

We were able to take papa dinner at work. It ended up that he fed Emma instead of himself first! What a sweet papa he is!

With all of the heavy rains we were able to get back outside to splash in puddles again. Fun!!

Emma is now sitting at the big table for meals in preparation for when Gwen needs the high chair. What a big girl!! 

Update: I realize now I didn't explain why the title of the post was schnortles. Gwen and I have been fighting colds and the poor lassie has her first sick. :(