"red solo cup; I fill you up. Let's have a playdate!"

... as Maklin has adjusted the lyrics.

Kacey, Cameron, Raylee, and Mak thought the hammock was awesome!

foreshadowing?  Cameron & Raylee were awfully cozy!!  lol

"then & now" [Devon Days 2012]

I'm not sure what was more entertaining:  the parade, or Mak's confusion as to why the heck people kept throwing candy from the floats, and even more so, why other kids were so excited to pick it up.  Mak scrunches up his face and says, "I don't like candy!" if you mention it.  This was in no way fed ... other than that we never really give him candy.  He decided this all on his own!  He did take something away though ... after watching the cheerleaders he quickly adopted, "Go [Mama], Go [Mama] ... go! go! go [Mama]!" or (my favorite variation), "Go John, Go John ... go! go! go John Deere!"  lol

As for fair rides / games ... not his thing.  He makes his Daddy proud.

sept mois

Another month.  Another handful of milestones.

slap chop

Mak's abilities to help out in the kitchen have moved to a new level.  So long as he's careful and keeps both hands on the chopper - Mak can cut veggies for me!  (there's only been blood once, and it was just a tiny scrape really ...)

So ... now we eat our carrots as medallions instead of in sticks.  :)

as is the gardener, so is the garden

Justin built raised-bed planters in our backyard.  We have room to expand and get serious; but even still we have a decent garden planted, and even started some seedlings inside.  Hopefully we haven't bitten off more than we can chew.

Grow little seeds!!!

garden fun and toddler activity:  we made seedling trays out of
toilet paper rolls!

one of our square foot garden planting templates - makes for quick and accurate planting!

first up:  the radishes!

hittin' the beach

A little afternoon beach volley-ball action with the Ewashkiws.  Trina & Tracy vs Justin & Kelsey.

Mak had to get in there occasionally too.  Biggest.  Sandbox.  Ever.

daddy's little helper

Mae couldn't sleep one evening.  So - she hung out in the workshop with Dad instead.

chicklets

"ah ... hey Mama!!"

I was sorting Mae's clothes (again!!) with Mae hanging out in her crib.  I had my back to her as she was happily jabbering away.  All of a sudden there was a different tone.  Something about what she was saying implied, "ah ... hey Mama ... check me out!"

Indeed!  And why shouldn't she have, at six months, pulled herself up to a standing position (and then proceed to stay there VERY proud of herself) for several minutes. Long enough for me to run to the dining room, get my camera, change the lens, and take several pics.

And then she did it again.  And ... one more time.

Crazy summer - here we come!!

boxes never get old

camping trial run

First time out camping with the new trailer.

First time out camping with two kids.

And unfortunately ... first time camping with a toddler with a fever!

Thankfully, we were camping in the Devon Lions Park, so it took us ~10 minutes to get from our house to our campsite.  :)

Anita -- we had a great time!  Thanks for putting up with scheduling around naptimes, nursing times, snack times, etc.  I'm not sure we would have faired so well with only the two us parenting!  :)

A highlight for Maklin was going for a bike ride with Anita.  They went for a long one:

heading out.

getting tired on the way back -- had to walk the bikes.

tuckered.  Mak could barely walk; Anita pushed both bikes home.