Random Summer Happenings

 What went on the last summer, aside from trips?  Lots of things! Fun things!  Watching Ian grow is was one of them, but there were plenty of other fun things that happened:

SWIMMING.  We spent a lot of time at the community pool.  Even Ian liked the pool.  Gabe and Elisa are getting bigger, so it is fun to watch their confidence around the water grow.

And, along with swimming, the splash pad.  I think we only made it once this year.  It's kind of a far drive, but the kids always have fun:

While were on the subject of water, the kids really enjoy playing in the hose.  And I'm happy they're actually wearing swimsuits and not out there butt-naked like they have been in the past, way more times that I'd like to admit:

My sweet Ian has grown so much over the summer!  We love him so much!  He's my happiest, silliest baby yet!  He is so beautiful with his big blue eyes and cute button nose.  He's been called a she more than once.  

Who you callin' handsome?!

My Elisa.

Sometimes she's nice...

 ...and sometimes she's naughty

But I always love her!!

Gabe has been OBSESSED with Mario over the summer.  Can you tell?  Mario has been the subject of all of his creative endeavors.  

Gabe took this picture.  His Mario figurine on some bricks he set up.  What a silly boy1

Gabe made this out of beads.  He made other Mario characters too.  I had him re-make them on a piece of parchment paper so that I could iron the beads in hopes to melt them together.  It worked, but almost all of these creations broke fairly quickly and I couldn't fix them. 

Role-playing.  Guess what he's going to be for Halloween?

A Mario-head pillow I made for him.  He was so very excited about it!

A Mario "pillow" Gabe made using paper and duct tape.  Cute, but not savable 

 Gabe is such a creative little guy.  This here Mario is made out of sewing pins.  Who thought sewing pins could be used in this way?! So clever!  

 These kids are the best of friends, especially Gabe and Elisa.

 

 Butts.  What else can I say?
 

 Ian very very *very* first taste of solid food.  He wasn't sure what to think.

The kids found this baby bunny in the backyard.  I told them not to touch it.  The white spot on its head means it is still nursing it's mommy so it was too little to take in (not that I would have any idea how to take care of a bunny anyway).  I told the kids to leave it alone, and they did.  It went back to its mommy (it hope!).

 I have two of the most cutest boys in the world!

   

 Child slave labor.  They actually really enjoyed scrubbing the floor with a toothbrush.  I will enlist their help again next time I clean the tile grout, right after I make Ian pick up all the food he threw on the floor from his high chair.

 

I found literally a hundred of these pictures on my iPod.  Gee, I wonder who took them all??