Some Summer Fun

(I haven't been able to update in a while because my computer if full!  Imagine that!  I only have a million pictures and videos.  I'm really sorry!)

All summer we have been looking for fun and new things to do.  Our library has had some cute programs and so we have been there a few times.  This program was not cute.  We only went because Maddie loves animals.  Mommy was not happy and stood up and away for most of it (yes, leaving my sweet Maddie with a cobra in her face ... yes, people ... that is a cobra!!!).  This man has a reptile museum and brings them on the road for shows.  He educates kids about reptiles and it was a great show.  He said that if anyone was afraid of snakes it is usually because of a bad experience.  Nope ... I just don't enjoy venomous things that can bite me all that close to my face.  That is just me, though.  Maddie didn't mind at all!

Some kind of reptile that can bite you and runs really fast ... let's call it a monitor.

Very big snake.  That is the scientific name.

Hooray ... holding a snake.  Also, just as an FYI, I learned today that the "red and yellow ..." saying only works here in North America.  That does not apply in Asia.  I guess I won't be picking up snakes in Asia then.  I am glad Maddie loves animals.  I am also glad I didn't have to touch any of them.

Maddie brought her babies to the park.  She is getting too tall for her stroller though.  Luckily, there were several little girls at the park and they all played with the dollies together.  It was really cute.

The Woodstock Farmers Market (yeah ... I know ... you can't get much hippier sounding than that, can you?!) had a children's day on Sunday.  It was wonderful.  Maddie got a balloon animal (she asked for a polar bear) made by Olive Rootbeer (see lower in this post), plant and take home a basil plant,

... go rock climbing. 

... and make a clay pot (that will be fired and then she can glaze!).  It was a fabulous day at the farmers market!

 

On Monday, Maddie went to zoo camp!!  She went full day (9-4!) and loved every second.  She was in Lion Camp (Kindergarteners) and made new friends, that she called her BFF's (and it begins) and learned all about animals.  The weather was perfect every day and she was just so excited.

Mommy and Evelyn had an awesome time while Maddie was at camp emptying out the storage locker and putting it all in the garage!  Woo hoo!!!  We got it done, though, and Evelyn was a perfect angel the whole time.  She just sat on the dolly as we went back and forth each day.  So sweet.

We have also been exploring different parks and fountains.  This one is close to the tram to the hospital in this fun new area.  The water was SO cold, but once again, Maddie didn't feel a thing. 

There was no stopping Evelyn, so I took her clothes off and let her go.  It was a warm day ... and look how much fun they are having together!

Maddie and Evelyn have so much fun playing together.  Evelyn loves to go fast on anything.  She has just gotten big enough to ride the little car and just can't get enough.  Maddie loves pushing her on it.  This video is so sweet.

We went back to Art a la Carte again for some more artistic expression.  Maddie made several pieces ... mostly 3D projects with toys hot glued onto paper.

This time the ownder didn't put Evelyn in the high chair.  She put her at the table and let her paint on paper!  Beautiful work.

Evelyn can and does get into everything.  One day we discovered she can climb the sofa.  Watch.

I still go in and check on Maddie every night and give her a kiss.  Every night it is something new.  This was a good one.  Can anyone explain this to me?

Evelyn loves herself.  I bought a mirror at the supermarket the other day and put it in the cart.  Best. Trip. Ever.  Evelyn spent most of the trip making faces at herself.  It was really funny.

We had a wonderful surprise!  An old friend, Matt Ellinwood, and his wife Erin and their sweet new baby Rosalie came up to Portland for a wedding.  We were lucky enough that they had a little time on Saturday morning to spend with us.  It was a wonderful visit!

Again - Evelyn gets into everything ... including our sower.  If she can't open the door she shakes it violently until I open it for her.  She has me well trained I guess.

Ahhhh ... now we get to the Olive Rootbeer part.  We went to Cafe au Play, a kid friendly coffee shop that has different kid activities on different days.  On this particular day, Olive Rootbeer and her partner Dingo were doing story time.  I just love Evelyn's head trying to figure out what is going on up there.  Very Portland. 

Maddie enjoyed a coffee ... just kidding ... hot chocolate ... for now.

... and she got another balloon animal ... a pink kitty cat. 

Finally, mommy has not been working and is apparently throwing herself into her cooking.  I present meat cakes (think meat loaf in cupcake tins) with mashed potato icing in a bow tie pool.  Yeah.  There is really nothing to say about that.  Maddie thought it was hysterical though.