Reds Game

Brett and I took C to her first Reds game and it was so HOT. A 4pm game sounded perfect as we planned her first baseball experience--not middle of the day in the awful heat and not in the evening which would end way too late. It all turned out okay, but it was the St. Louis series and also the day Barry Larkin's number got retired. That equals sold out. Perfect had it been just Brett and I: enjoy the pre-game celebration and a fun rivalry to cheer. However, the only seats we were able to get (weeks in advance) were in the sun (up high). We realized very quickly with sweat pouring off of our bodies and C's entire face red as a beet that we would need to find some seats in the shade. Afterall, we only lasted about 30 minutes in our ticketed seats. So we headed to the first base side to hunt for some seats, also at the top. There were none. Or close to none. We found some and got booted from seats not once, but twice. Ugh. Plan B actually turned out to be a winner though. We found the Kids Zone and Corinne enjoyed some fun in the shade. Inflateables, a play area, and a mock baseball game for kids to play in. I'm not sure what inning was our last, afterall we only really watched a few! But we called it a day and went to Zip's for dinner. The Reds did win--hooray! And we had ourselves a little adventure...it really was a good time, just a few things to laugh about and tweak for the next time.

Festival

We went to a festival recently and the girls played a few games and won a few too many silly toys. You know the kind: the ones that you have no idea where to store or what to do with them. For instance: a tiny "magnifying glass", a bendy monkey, a tiny plastic dinosaur, and more. They were okay with the games, but the girls kept their eyes on the rides the entire time and C begged us to ride the cars. Ellen and Sophie of course decided they wanted to do it since C was. I had my doubts, but E & S seemed just fine with it sitting up there together all buckled in. And then the ride started with a jolt and they were all riding! Funny how the ride suddenly looked SO fast now that our kids were riding it. And then the tears began. Ellen and Sophie were crying...hard! For the rest of the ride. Brett and I felt so badly. There was nothing we could do but reassure them as they came around each time. I wanted to ask the guy to stop the ride for my sweet little girls who were stuck on this horrible ride. But realized I couldn't do that--not fair to all the other kids who were having fun. It was heart-breaking though. We hope we didn't traumatize E & S for life.

Recently

Performer

Here is a short video of Corinne at dance camp. Her excitement comes through loud and clear!

Dance

Corinne participated in a ballet "dance camp" last week and LOVED it. She did it with one of her cousins and her friend, Gwyn. The girls did a great job on the last day when they got to show off what they learned in a mini performance for the parents! It was a lot of fun to watch Corinne perform so confidently. Now she is looking forward to taking a ballet class in the fall!

Surprise!

Success! I am so happy to say that I was able to pull off a surprise dinner party for Brett's 40th birthday. A huge thank you to all of our friends and family who helped to make the evening possible, both with the gift of your presence and/or in helping with the details and in keeping it quiet. Brett felt so celebrated and that was my biggest goal. It was a really fun evening for us-- and hopefully for our guests, too! We are blessed.

Over.The.Hill.

Brett turned 40! It was a really busy week and his actual birthday was no exception--all of us going in different directions it seemed. But we squeezed in a family dinner complete with some of his favorite cupcakes...peanut butter & chocolate! And I think he felt our love. The girls and I sure do adore him!

Ellen and Sophie Say Two Thumbs Up

The best five bucks I've spent at Target in a while was the movie "Milo & Otis" starring a real cat (Milo) and dog (Otis). The girls watched it for first time on the way to Hilton Head and--Wow! It was a huge hit. We could not believe how hard the girls were laughing all throughout the movie. I got this video of them watching it...just be sure to stick with it to the end.

Whoa!

At one point in the car ride driving home this is how Ellen chose to amuse herself. I had been engrossed in a book I was reading -- for one too many minutes apparently -- and I looked back to find this face! The magenta marker definitely startled me when I turned around to check on E & S. Yikes. Brett and I were so thankful for washable markers!

The Beach

 Corinne in the foreground along with two of her cousins--all three close in age--ready to jump the waves!

 

Brett holding Ellen

                                                                      Me holding Sophie

                                               Ellen in the foreground with Sophie digging in the sand behind her

Some Faces from the Week

Our week included a birthday party, walks to the beach, making sandcastles, jumping waves in the ocean, collecting seashells, having dinner all together each night, playing games, dance parties, ice cream at the "cow shop", making bracelets/barrettes/rings, swimming, more swimming, and lots of time spent laughing and reading and playing and eating together. What a great time!