Time for another haircut!

Sydney has had two haircuts over the course of the last few months, and she is due for another one! Clearly, you can make this assumption on your own by the desperate measure I've attempted with her hair.

Water Baby

We've had a busy few days. Earlier in the week, Jude, Erin & I took a 24 vacation from the rest of the family to celebrate Erin & Jude's birthdays. We stayed at a beautiful spa/resort that overlooks the Oregon Garden. It was a brief vacation, but we all enjoyed the break.

For 4th of July, we walked with other kids in the neighborhood in the 2nd Annual Neighborhood Parade. The Murray's drove down to join us, and Lane & Jude were spectators. Following the parade, in true American fashion, we had burgers, fries & watermelon for lunch.

Today we took Sydney to our neighborhood pool for the first time this summer. I think I took her last year, and in fact, I have done swimming lessons with her over the past year (sporadically). But up until today, Sydney has been more interested in getting OUT of the pool than enjoying being IN the pool. Today she was like a different kid. Kicking her legs, laying on her back, blowing bubbles...the works. She didn't want to leave! So, looks like we have another fun hot day activity to amuse ourselves. However, I was thankful it was a two-parent event, cause frankly, she zips around so fast now, it can be hard to keep up with her. Especially around a pool, where water & concrete abound!

I'm beginning to wonder if anyone even bothers to check my blog anymore, since I update it so infrequently! It's terrible, but I feel like I really have little time to sit down at the computer and type out a newsy email or post. When Sydney naps these days, I either am catching up on stuff around the house, or outside catching up on the yard work.

We spend alot of time outside these days. We frequent playgrounds, particularly enjoying the parks with a water feature. Sydney loves the water, more than once I have been caught completely off guard and unprepared as she runs instantly through a fountain, thus ending up soaking wet with no change of clothes!

Let's see what else have we been up to..."We" picked strawberries last weekend, and made freezer jam; celebrated Father's Day by accompanying Steve to the climbing gym where Sydney had a fun time (for once!) in the gym's childcare; Sydney received an early birthday presente from Nana (see above), which provides lots of entertainment; we helped Lane & Jude pack up and move to their new home and lots of other odds and ends that would bore you to read about :)

Upcoming events include the annual neighborhood 4th of July parade (stay posted for pictures) and a trip to visit family in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. We are looking forward to seeing family, especially Nana (Steve's mom).

Our sweet little gal

Next Generation

We had our weekly visit with the Murray boys, Auntie Erin & Oma...I think this may be the first time that all three kids were sitting at the same place, at the same time. And, all three were eating the same meal!

The things you do when you have a daughter...

Who knew Fairy Festivals existed? I didn't, until Sydney & I were invited by a friend & her daughter to accompany them to a local Fairy Festival. We had a good time...Both girls wore their tutus and we tried to interest them in some of the activities. I made Sydney a lovely pair of fairy wings, which (after I was covered with glue-stick), she promptly refused to wear. She also got to choose pieces (a glittery rock, a green feather & a fairy scroll (?) for an 'amulet' bag. Unfortunately, this item was also a no-wear. But, we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless. Sydney had fun running around with her friend Ella, and we only coerced them to do silly things for part of the time (see picture above). After all, we had to get our $4 worth out of it!!

Vacation Time

We just returned from 6 lovely days in Palm Springs, CA...where the weather was 80 degrees and sunny blue skies every single day! This is a HUGE deal to us Northwesterners...We haven't seen the light of day since October, I swear. We had a great time hanging out by the pool, working on our tans, taking walks & exploring the area. Sydney enjoyed spending most of her days outside (she's a nature lover at heart!), Steve soaked up sun by the pool, and I was able to read my trashy magazines, do crossword puzzles & take quick walks to Starbucks to my hearts content.

We took a hike in Joshua Tree National Park, but after lugging our backpack/carrier all the way there, it didn't get much use. A certain someone only lasts about 45 minutes before she wants to get down & run around. And, believe me when I say she really lets you know when she wants to get down. The plaintive moaning one small child can emit can drive the person carrying her in said pack to the brink of insanity, and the noise puts a kibosh on stimulating conversation! The landscape there was interesting, unlike other desert areas I've seen. Very dry, lots of rocks & fields of crazy shaped cacti and other scraggly bushes.

It was hard to leave the sun, but in many ways it's nice to be home & back to our routine. Sydney missed her cousins desperately, and is looking forward to an Easter egg hunt with them on Sunday (courtesy of Opa).