Baby words

Audrey has been talking more and more. Every day she comes up with a new word! Granted, she's not so big on consonant sounds yet, but with a little patience you can usually tell what she means. A few examples:
Ow-ee: This is what she calls cats. She loves Sadie, and snuggles Sadie, and it eventually ends in a bite or scratch, hence the name.
Ah-oh: Apple
Eesh: Shoe(s)
Dee-dee: Sister Haven, or I'm thirsty.
Da-da: Kaia. I think that the word 'puppy' sounds a lot like 'papa' and that's why she calls the dog 'da-da.' Wm thinks she's trying to say 'doggie.' She has very recently, as in the last few days, actually started saying 'papa.'
Bah: This can mean any word that starts with the letter B. Bird, ball, boat, boot and bus to name a few. The appropriate vowel sounds are slowly forming behind the B.
Mama: She is finally starting to articulate between M and N! Which means I am no longer 'nana,' but can officially be called Mama. This could also have something to do with weaning, as 'nana' also meant breastmilk.
She also says 'Ummmmmmm.....' when you ask her a question, or when she's talking on the phone, and also 'ah-uhhhhh' like big sister when she's disappointed that you've told her no about something.

At home with Audrey

Mama and babes camping trip; Lopez Island

Our first night: the sunset was beautiful!

The campsite: right on the beach!

Little buddies.

Evan got buried. Don't let his face fool you, he INSISTED.


Haven and Evan

Feelin' groovy with no clothes on.

The crew!

Waiting to catch the ferry home. Haven always wants to hold the dog, but the idea works out less than fabulously in practice.

New Trick

Hey Mama, look at our new trick!!!! Haven is training for the circus!

Makeup

Mama and Papa have decided that Haven is much too young to wear makeup on a regular basis, but she does everything she can to get into it as much as possible. This is what happens when we let them play 'makeover.'

Grammy and Grampy's visit

Grammy and Grampy came for a short visit this month, just a few days. While they were here we went to the fair! I really appreciate how willing my parents are to take over the kids while they are around. The kids really appreciate all the attention and treats. We love you Grammy and Grampy!

This kid is HILarious

Yesterday we were driving to Haggen down Barkley boulevard. Haven looked out across a vast empty field and said:
"I can see Haggen from here!"
Me: "Good eye Haven! And do you see all those construction machines? Did you know that they are going to build a movie theater right there?"
Haven: "No I didn't know that!"
Me: "Do you know what Alora's papa does for work?"
Haven: "He works in an office."
Me: "That's right. And the office Alora's papa works in makes designs for buildings. He's an architect. And he's working on designing our new movie theater! Isn't that cool?"
Haven: "Yeah!"
Me: "Alora's papa has a pretty cool job, just like your papa has a pretty cool job."
Haven: "Yeah, but that's not as cool as if your job was FIGHTING A GIANT!"

Subdued Stringband Jamboree

It starts with a bus ride!

Ari got a bath in a packing tub...

Haven made fast friends with the girl camping beside us, Zoe.

Mama and Papa silly time. We had a blast!

Oh you pesky toddler!

The slanted stage and the circus contraption.
There is just something about this event that is so wonderful. Everyone is so peaceful and excellent and laid back. The food vendors are awesome, the music is amazing and who doesn't love a good circus sideshow? Bar Tabac accompanying the aerialists was a high point. Haven loved being in the kids parade and doing the kids crafts. Nicole enjoyed a singing workshop and we also sang old school gospel on Sunday morning. The quote of the weekend was delivered by Tal to Nicole: "I had four more beers after we stopped drinking last night! Hangover quotient: high." I already can't wait until next year.
www.stringbandjamboree.com
P.S. Kroms, I dream of you someday joining us for this. You guys would LOVE this. After the stage music ends, everyone sits around the campfire strumming and singing into the night. I can't get Michael off my mind, and how much he would love this! when we are there!

This years jam

Last Thursday morning we went out into the county to Boxx Berry Farm and picked many pounds of raspberries. That afternoon I brewed them all up into delicious jam. It was kind of a crapshoot- I found a pectin-free recipe online and decided to tweak it a little to suit my needs. Halfway through the first batch I got a little nervous and called my canning lifeline, my mom. She told me I wasn't supposed to double the recipe, jam is to be made in small batches so you don't have to cook the bejesus out of the fruit! Uh oh. Luckily, with the help of a little lemon juice, I was able to get the jam to jell without cooking it to oblivion. The last two times I tried this I ended up with syrup. Third times a charm I guess! The jam is super yummy and I have some happy pb&j eaters around here.

Reggie

This is our frog Reggie. I claim possessiveness rather loosely... We found him living in a potted tree on our front porch. Haven was so excited we caught him in a jar and fed him bugs (spiders are actually his favorite) for a few weeks. Then when we left for Michigan for a week we decided to let him go so he wouldn't die. About a week after we got home I found him again, this time in another pot on our front steps. I convinced Haven to let him go, and we haven't seen him since. I'm pretty sure he's lurking around on our porch somewhere!

Michigan in the summer

This summer marks the Papa's 20 year high school reunion, so we had the rare opportunity to enjoy Michigan in the summertime.

At the airport, waiting for Nana to pick us up. Even though we'd only slept a few scant hours on the plane, Audrey was in an ecstatic mood.

Tiny dancer.

Haven was also glad to be off the airplane.

Haven got a hobo lunch at Greenfield Village. Greenfield Village is a historical town put together by Henry Ford, and was a highlight of our trip.

Haven gets her hails done by Judi, Nana's longtime friend and manicurist.

Cousins.

The girlies had a good time together!

Brother and sister, can you tell?

Chillaxin' in the front yard.

Fireflies! We loved chasing them around each night. This one was caught by Haven and Papa and met its end under a glass in the bedroom. The white part is where it lights up!

Time for your bath princess!

I'm sad and I want my Papa

Faces of July

Making work calls. Just another day on the job...

Love your fashion baby!


Naptime with puppy

Two papas dressed the same at a work party.

Zoey, Alora and Haven

Audrey and Mathilda