Dance Party

Blue picnic

I love how these turned out! We'll have to use bowls for the goldfish in the future though... note the casualties on the ground.

Diaper babies

At the fair

Sorry I didn't get more pictures, guys. Went to the county fair this Sunday with Tony and Deborah, it was fun! The boys were pretty hot and didn't nap well, so they were more out of it than I had hoped, but mission accomplished re: introducing them to some animals! They liked the baby chicks a lot. Also just running up and down the aisles of the barns. Gave them the un-sugared edges of funnel cake to try, too. I think Phin's favorite part was riding the school bus to and from the parking area (windows down, no car seat).

In one end...

Latest fun stories:

Was feeding the boys lunch one day, and had a peach there ready to cut into pieces for them. Micah nabbed it when I wasn't looking and started voracious gnawing. I was pleased initially because he's been a bit picky with fruit of late. Then I remembered the sticker. First thing he swallowed. Lovely. When I was working this Saturday, though, Andrew texted that the sticker had made an exit. Lovely.

Yesterday was a messy morning. Boys woke up late, and I usually cuddle/play with them for a bit before changing diapers. Phin bent to sit on my lap and I heard a telltale squishing noise... overflow poo was squeezing out one side! My choices: let it fall on the floor, let it fall on my lap, or hold out my hand and catch it. Yep. Number three happened. Once I cleaned that up, I changed Micah proactively and went to get a few things ready for work. Ten minutes later, I'm back in the living rooms ready to start the boys breakfast and I see suspicious spots on the carpet. In the space of ten minutes, Micah had a poo explosion and was leaking it out everywhere he sat in the living room. Somehow he had even streaked it on Phin's leg. Babies are disgusting.

To swim or not swim

Summer evening

Baltimore Aquarium

Watched the dolphin show before remembering the Cove. Ugh.

Off to California!

Order is all off, but here are Susanne and Bettina headed off for a 10 day trip from San Fran to the Grand Canyon and back.

Picnic time!

This table and chair set is now the color of my shirt- looks AMAZING.

Playing at the creek

One more fun day with Susanne!

Transitions

Hi there- remember me? It's been a bit busy as we've sent off Susanne and welcomed Sarah. Additionally, I was thoroughly dependent on Susanne's phone pics for this blog... need to start taking my own! Have not written for three weeks, so here goes-

• Saying fare-thee-well to Susanne- we did our darndest to polish off her bucket list, and I think we were just missing Six Flags in the end. We had a big potluck, went for sushi, got to the Baltimore Aquarium, went to a pub, tried out garage sale-ing, and most importantly had some MD blue crabs! This last one was quite an accomplishment for a girl thoroughly dedicated to fork and knife. It was like an edible high school dissection, but tasty I suppose. If you want to come for a visit some August and be grossed out during a mealtime, we'll take you, but otherwise I think Andrew and I are set on the crab front. Just not into gutting our meals on the same table we're eating it on. 
• Welcoming Sarah- this has included many burgers, the Baltimore Aquarium, Andrew's family's cottage, and a week with Susanne to get the lay of the land. The county fair starts Friday so I hope to bring her to that, and have a nice long list of ideas for the fall too. 
• The boys- I think we're at 11 teeth (Phin) and 8 teeth (Micah). They are great walkers/runners and are getting harder and harder to leave alone for a few minutes (getting into everything). Still two naps a day. They point a lot and imitate the sounds we make (meow, achoo). Phin still wants more attention and cuddling. Micah is independent and a bit more tantrum-y. Both are biting each other to get their point across, ugh. Both are enjoying the little beach at the cottage- sand and water. 
• Andrew- continuing to work hard for CPB and going downtown nearly every day- he's away from 5:30 to 5:30, ugh.
• Laura- is enjoying August as a program-free month at work, dreading the fall's programs with extended construction causing problems all around.

We'll be going on our first ever not-family-member's-house vacation since the boys were born in August- to Asheville NC. Should be fun.