Maddie & Evelyn: June and July in One Post

We had a busy June and July! I am going to try and squeeze it all into one post.

Nana started our summer off with a quick visit. We managed to get a trip to the Rose Test Garden in between rains. The flowers were beautiful!

Nana had her hair done by Miss Evelyn

While we were out in the garden, a butterfly landed on Evelyn's rose dress. She was super excited and needed a picture. :)

A snuggle and a book with Nan.

The trip was wonderful but way too fast! We love you Nana!!

Maddy decided to try out basketball camp this summer at her high school. She had a wonderful time! She is going to put all that height to good use!

One day I found the girls in my closet trying on shoes. :)

Fathers Day lunch with their daddy. Doesn't get much happier than this!

Our girls are growing up way too fast but I have found one big bonus ... Maddy made banana bread all by herself one day! Awesome!!

Yum!

I have a million pictures of Maddy like this going to Cardinals games with Nick. Now that we are in PDX, we go to soccer games. Go Thorns!

Speaking of Cardinals ... they came out west for a weekend!! We couldn't miss seeing them so we took a little trip up to Seattle for a weekend get away. Here is Evelyn modeling her new Cards shirt/dress (Thank you Donna!).

We met up with my friend Michelle and her two girls and headed out to sight see around Seattle. We started at Pikes Place Market where we got to see the fish throwing and all the fun shops.

And of course we at the hot fresh donut holes. YUM!!

We wandered down to the carousel and had a great view of the sound.

Here we are up the top

Next we hopped on the monorail (front seat of course - these kids were ruthless making sure they got to the front for the best view!!). We headed over to the Space Needle for a little fun.

It was a perfect day!

We did not go to the top of the needle but found an amazing playground! That is Evelyn up the top of that thing! Sheesh!

We were exhausted after a wonderful, full day. We had an early dinner and went to sleep. The next day we woke up and met up with some friends from StL living in Seattle now. We wandered around their neighborhood and had a wonderful visit. After we left them we headed to the baseball game. Woo hoo! Here is a baseball shoulders photo! :)

There were a lot of Cards fans all over the stadium. Cardinal nation is all over!

We had a few hot days this summer perfect for water play!

She just showed up like this one morning.

Nana sent a baby bed and chair. The girls were over the moon about them!

... and some fancy shoes (I think these were Amy's)

And some Cabbage Patch dolls ... yes ... original ones!

Our kids lead a really tough life is what we are realizing more and more. Here is Maddy living the life at the pool this summer (we spent a lot of time at the pool this summer - it was great!)

We went to a friend's almost 4th of July party (they have it on the 3rd so that everyone has the day off after the party!). Maddy made BBQ themed cupcakes. Here she is piping chocolate grills. Amazing!

Again - toughest life ever (they are watching a movie on the iPad)

This kid.

Sweet girls walking Evelyn to school one morning.

Another Thorns game!

Rainy day movie

When Maddy started going to camp, Evelyn and I started going to Preschool Story Time on Monday mornings. We had some fun at the park too! (Evelyn asked me to take these pictures ... so funny!)

She made a lion at preschool story time.

Peach picking at home! Yum!

A little trip to the zoo ...

She came in to show me her lightsaber skills.

Evelyn was super excited to go to the dentist and get pictures of her big girl teeth (x rays).

Still a little girl and I love it!

We went on our first camping trip with a bunch of our friends and had an amazing time. I took few pictures because we tried to unplug a little and it was nice. Here was the beach one day (the benefit of living in PDX is camping at the beach!!)

When we got home, Maddy started two weeks of cooking camp. It was a wonderful two weeks!

fresh pasta

fresh gnocchi

bolognese and pesto

cheese biscuits, chocolate chip cookies and marionberry muffins

homemade tortillas turned into enchiladas

Berry tart

chocolate caramel cupcakes

Marionberry pie

fresh butter braid bread

Blackberry is an annoyance here in Portland. It is impossible to get rid of. There is, however, one time a year when I don't mind it! Back yard blackberries!