Ta-Dah!!

I've discovered the joy of painting furniture this summer. It is slower work that I had hoped, but little by little, I'm loving our home more and more. This was a computer hutch bought off Craig's List and painted cream with a little antiquing. No glaze this time. When reassembled, things didn't fit right, and cousin Aaron saved the day! He cut off some of the bottom doors and made them fit. Thank you!! This experience reminded me of the lesson to buy good furniture in the first place. So, although, this is a little cheap and less than perfect, I do love it and it's a big improvement from our little computer desk without doors to cover our ugly monitor =) Eric paid the best compliment when he said that it really opens up the room. Up next...the barstools!

Siblings

We have so many PB and J eating pictures. It's when they're still and happy.

Lately, we've been hearing lots of "Avery, don't be sad! Be happy!" yelled by Tate. Usually when she's crying in the car, is when he'll angrily yell that at her, practically crying himself. Now, he's branched out to, "Avery! Don't be silly! Be happy!" Poor girl won't know what she's allowed to feel!

Last week, I held out Tate's shorts and Aves stepped right into them. I was surprised that they stayed up. He happens to have another pair just like the first, so they were twinners =) I chased them around with the camera for a few minutes and this is the best I got.

I said, "Give Avery a hug." He proceeded to hug/tackle and say, "I love you, Avery!" She totally didn't appreciate it.

Last Tuesday, I took Tate to Monkey Dooz, a special kid's haircut and party place. He got to sit in a jeep and watch Toy Story while the hair dresser cut his hair. Compared to his usual wails when we cut his hair, this was better. However, there was still crying and sad whimperings of "I don't like scissors!" while she patiently tried to give him a cut. But, he got a helium balloon at the end, so all is well. (Except when he lost it while coming into the house, and then it was the saddest moment of our lives. He's smiling with Avery's balloon in this picture.)

Summer Swimming (lotsa pics)

Here's a giant run of pictures in backwards order of today's lazing at the pool.




I like her cool shout-out to somebody here.



I had to include a picture of me to show that I was here, too. I'm just not a fan of pictures of myself , so it's faceless=) It could be any ole mama at the pool, really!
This made me laugh. Tiny little tutu-ed Avery just goes to the top of the slide and yells at the other kids, no matter how big they are. She didn't even go down the slide.
But she did pat the duck. For good luck?







This is my favorite picture (above).




Tate said, "I like my turtle". I'm glad.





We've come to Pendleton about once a week to visit grandma and pa, grandma-great, and to swim. This week we came twice since Bre and Lane were up from Portland. I've decided that August is the best time to swim here. The weather is hot enough, the pool has been heated from the sun for a couple months, and it seems like many people are traveling because the aquatic center isn't too busy. The kids discovered round floaties and supervision has become easier as a result =) I love watching Avery lounge and watch everybody. Tate is getting more confident in the water each year. Last year he was getting comfortable on the little duck and frog slides. This year he's backed off of them, perhaps he doesn't like the splash in his face at the end. But he still likes to send toys down them.

Today mom brought along her camera so we have lots of pictures! I find I don't do much with them unless I blog them while at her home and then they will eventually make it into the blog book and be had forever and ever =) So, that's my explanation for the onslaught of photos today. Seriously, there's about 30, so fun for me, but readers be warned...maybe boring for you =) But you should appreciate how well Avery's swim tutu holds up in the water. I'm impressed.

Cousin Laners

Here's Lane at 9 months and Aunt Bre. He's so perfectly round and squishy with a deep loud voice. He's a speedy army crawler, too!