Pasta Trains

Pink Grandma came to visit this morning.

She played a matching game with Daniel, colored with Joy, . . .

. . . and helped Anna try on a fancy hat. 

Then we made necklaces with painted pasta.

Mmmm . . . Daniel likes pasta.  Um, I don't think painted noodles are FDA approved, Buddy.

The necklaces made excellent trains, though. :)

Anna and the Girls

Anna loves . . .

. . . sailing with Red Grandma, . . . 

 . . . playing with Pink Grandma, . . .

. . . taking walks with Mama, . . . 

. . . and hanging out with Big Sister (most of the time).

Gone Swimmin' For My Birthday

It's my birthday this week, and we went to my parents' home to celebrate.

The kids really wanted to get in the pool.

Daniel is really comfortable swimming with his water wings . . .

  . . . and Uncle Sean helped Joy learn to swim without anything to help her float.  She was doing pretty well by the end.  Funny--I have spent months working up the nerve to try professional swim lessons for her again, but all I really needed to do was turn her over to Uncle Sean, who taught her for free and is more fun than any teacher I've ever met. 

Patriotic Pops

I recently found a recipe for Martha Stewart's "Firecracker Ice Pops" through Pinterest.  They looked simple, healthy, tasty, and fun--what's not to love?  Besides, I'm always a fan of celebrating major (or even minor) holidays with food.

A few days ago I pureed strawberries and blueberries with some sugar, sweetened some plain yogurt, then layered them in our ice pop molds. 

The kids and I sampled them this morning, and they were pretty good.  We all agreed that we liked the strawberry and yogurt parts better than the blueberry, though.  Next time I think I'll omit it or mix some strawberry in so the blueberry flavor isn't so strong.  I definitely plan to make some variation of them again.  Thanks, Martha. :)

Floating Freely

We spent most of Independence Day relaxing on the lake.

Daniel loved having Aunt Heather squirt him . . . 

. . . while the rest of us hung out in the shade.  All of us, that is, except Uncle Sean who fell asleep in the bow and got a wicked sunburn.  It was rather patriotic of him, really--his front was red, his back was white, and his mood was blue because aloe vera only helps so much.  Poor guy.

Treasure and Cupcakes

Joy found a little surprise at Papa's cabin today.

On closer examination, it turned out to be a pirate map, showing where treasure was buried on a nearby island.

Everyone dressed appropriately, then headed out to find the treasure (which turned out to be treats, stickers, and toys--those pirates had good taste).

Red Grandma and Joy also decorated cupcakes today, because no pirate adventure would be complete without sugary baked goods.

Portraits, Schmortraits

 The kids and I went for a walk this afternoon, and I took some pictures . . . 

. . . of two sweet sisters . . .

. . . and Daniel rocking out.

Joy wanted to snap a few pictures, too.

She took some candid shots . . .

. . . and a few portraits.

Anna says, "I'm so over this."

Queen Joy

 

All hail Queen Joy ('cuz who wants to be a lowly princess further down the totem pole?).

Queen Joy loves her daughter, Princess Mary, . . . 

. . . and treats her subjects with a firm but gentle hand.  Noblesse oblige.