Smiles by surprise

Max and Kira had fun at the fire truck playground this morning.

This accidental double smile was followed by an actual double nap!

"That was awesome!" said Sadie at the pool.

"Don't forget to get my helmet," Max reminded daddy when he got his bike.  Safety first!

"I want to play this myself!" (But no one leave. Watch me play.)

Basement fun

Sunday morning face stuffing

Stars, stripes, and smiles

Kira had a blast watching Max blast pop pops on the sidewalk

It was too windy to light the sparklers, but the pre-rain wind was perfect for a kite

It rained on our parade- literally- but Max was more than happy to go back to Chibis playground.  We learned our lesson (last rainy day we went it was full), and we were the first to arrive when it opened.

These two took two snack breaks during our 1.5 hour time allotment.  Max learned how to twist open an Oreo cookie.  Daddy was quite proud.  Kira was quite jealous.

Holiday weekend concert

Max and Kira started off the long holiday weekend with some holiday tunes.  Christmas carols!

Christmas in July!

Max helped daddy break in his new smoker.  The meat was delicious; Max asked to eat the "coal part".

Someone is on a streaking streak...

Measuring up

Mommy's little seamstress assistant

If at first you don't succeed, scoot across your room 

Max earned goggles for taking his nap without a battle.  He did not want to take them off...

...even at the farm with Avery.  These two were so happy to see each other!  They really miss seeing each other everyday.

Kira gobbled up green beans for dinner, but they may have upset her tummy...

...because she just could not sleep.  But she could still smile!

Living on Easy Street

Just a couple of girls getting a couple of tons of candy and Gatorade 

Morning walk 

Kids on the move

Kira loves this car!

Max is on the go on his big wheels.  This "street" is really keeping him busy.

On the way home from camp Max asked if we could go to a random "green and white" playground in a complex we can see from the road.  After his nap [under extremely high duress], we went and had a great time.  "Mommy! Let's do the thing where you chase me again!"

En route to the pool to clean off our playground mud- "Mommy! You can't come with us, we are going in the boys locker room!"

Can never take too many photos of a girl in the most stylish swim ensemble

Bananas for mangos!

Snack/laugh time!

Kira is 8 months old!

Ever since Kira was born the months fly by!  This month it has been so fun to watch Kira's personality continue to come out through smiles, laughter, and the occasional (short lived) cry of displeasure.  Yes, it is true- Kira does cry.  But as of now she uses her tears sparingly, and for good reasons, such as- Max clocked her over the head for the tenth time and she just cannot take it anymore.  Sometimes she does not like the stroller or car seat, but after 30 seconds she is content.  Kira loves to feed herself pancakes, bites of fruit, and puffs (which of course Max has a born-again affinity for).  She also likes playing in all sorts of water- the pool, bath, fountains.  She babbles all the time and just loves strangers and anyone who will glance in her direction.  Nothing gets a bigger smile out of Kira than giving her one first. 

Eight month serenade 

Max came home from the hospital following his second lip repair surgery when he turned 8 months old.  Sadie came to visit and she squeezed this stiff/sore lip smile out of him.

Kira loved Frying Pan Park!  She stayed cool and clean in the shade, while Max  played on the muddy tractors.

Hang on tight!  Good thing this tractor goes 0.0 miles per hour.

Picnic at the farm

Max was so excited to see the pigs but he was bothered by the fact that there were so many bugs on them.

We got [goat] ears, say cheers!

The bunny rabbits were at the top of Max's farm-to-do-list, so he was rather disappointed when he found chickens in the rabbit house.  "The sign says rabbits!!!" he screamed as he pointed to the rabbit picture.  Luckily we found the relocated rabbits.

Kira's first carousel ride

Max woke up on the RIGHT side of the bed after nap!

Pawley and Theodore (Daddy's teddy)

Kira could have sat in front of the water sprays all day.  She loves it!

Kira will just be laughing in the stroller while Max scales this odd structure

Eight months of [mostly] sweet sibling snuggles