Miss Sand

Impromptu dinner picnic with Miss Anne.

My kids renamed Anne "Miss Sand", which she loved.

This was the night they stopped being afraid of the ocean. So fun to jump with them; so sad to see that phase end tho :)

Pops on the porch

This is where you can find us nearly every summer evening.

Unless we're at the ice cream shop.

Or making s'mores in the driveway. 

Or having dinner by the pool.

But most nights, we end up having pops on the porch. 

Redneck toddler

Quinny cracked us up in this getup. 

She loves clomping around upstairs in my heels. 

A family selfie

This was proceeded by a portrait of daddy with his "wives" and "babies". Sounds like a show for TLC...

IPad Brain

I've kept the girls home this summer. Some days they are with me; some days they are with Miss Courtney (Cora's preschool teacher last year;she works some days, but is also applying for jobs so she can't work everyday). Some days they go to Miss Aimee's.

Or to "Aimeeeee's HOUSE" as Quinny says.

When they are home with me, I've tried really hard to have no technology. No TV in morning. No IPad.

Two conversations this week.

Cora: Can we have a movie?
Me: No bug.
Cora: But why?
Me: Because it just isn't the best thing for you to do. You should play with your toys instead?
Cora: Why? Because God told us so?

Technically, "No TV" isn't one of the Ten Commandments, but I bet there's many a mother who wishes it were...

Then, today.
Cora: Can I have the IPad during Quinny's nap?
Me: No.
Cora: But sometimes Miss Courtney lets me [BTW - I'm not sure how true this is]
Me: But mommy really cares about your brain, and it isn't good for your brain.
Cora: Well, if I work really hard to get my brain better, can I have the IPad?

Instead of watching cartoons in the morning today, the girls colored on the porch while they waited for the garbage truck to come. It's the little things, folks. 

Btw: dive rings make great crowns for swimming princesses.

Eat my dust, runner

Cora, quinn, and I were on a bike ride around the block tonight while daddy grilled steaks.

Quinn in the back of my tricycle; Cora on her own bike on the sidewalk. We were almost home when we heard a runner coming behind us.

Me: Cora, we have a runner coming. (He was on the street with me)

Cora: ( glanced over her shoulder just as he was almost beside her, with him on the street, challenged) I can go faster than you!

It was awesome. She hunkered down on that bike and pedaled as hard as she can. Her competitive side kicked in so much that I saw him kick-up his own pace in return.

It was awesome. 

She's so spicey.

Polishing the Pearly Whites

Cora's first trip to the dentist. 

She was a but hesitant at first...

But hygienist Sara was perfect, trained her how to use all the tools, and then coaxed her into the chair-ride.

  

She was the perfect patient.

It didn't hurt that Dr. Mandy (Presley's mom) was the dentist :)

We're having cupcakes for Foster's birthday after work today. That'll get all the clean off outlets teeth!