Cary Lazy Days

A few weeks ago our town put on an arts festival with the streets lined with booths of all sorts of fantastic creations.  I took the girls and had a blast. We mostly enjoyed the kids section.  Cambers liked the blow up stuff (as long as no one else was in there jumping around...), and Vienna was dying to get in.

I love her noodle legs

Throwing snakes in the buckets

Throwing bean bags at the frogs

Vienna was cheerfully screaming at Cambers and trying to climb up to join her. Vienna's enthusiasm makes Cambry more likely to try things, or do them longer than she initially wanted to. Although we've been several places where blow up toys were available, this was the first time Cambry actually went in them.  Thanks for your encouragement Vienna

Cambry sharing her loot with her sister.  Cambry's favorite color is blue, so she picked those blasted blue suckers that turn EVERYTHING blue. 

Cambry decided that she wanted an Itsy Bitsy Spider on her face. Nice.

She was super pleased with it.

Veena got a sweet snake on her leg.

I guess Cambers LOVES butter popcorn because she was not sharing with anyone.  She had the firmest grip on that bag!!

There was this band that was playing rocked out kids songs.  Although the noise scared Cambers, she still got out there and danced her little heart out.

Oh. My. Gosh. Vienna was strapped on to my back, so the pic doesn't do it justice. She was screaming her happy scream, kicking her legs, flapping her arms and bouncing up and down to the beat.  She absolutely loved the noise, energy, and shaking her thing with everyone else.  

My Trip to Wiscy

I went to Wisconsin to present at a little of my research at a conference. It was my first try at this and wasn't sure what to expect. It was located at a resort on a beautiful lake. I only got one picture, then my little camera wigged out out on me. So, here it is the little harbor that the resort was next to.

I learned a lot and got a better perspective on my research. On the day of my presentation, I was very nervous. During the presentation before mine, I was closing in on a full out anxiety attack. I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer. Just after the prayer, Joslyn's face popped into my mind, then Cambry's, then Vienna's. This cycle repeated a few times. This had an immense calming effect on me. It also gave me perspective on my presentation. While my presentation was important, it wasn't the end of world if I blew it because my life consist of much more than a few power-point slides.

When it was my time to present, my nerves were under control and I was able to utter intelligible words with a firm voice. Which was a great blessing considering a few minutes before, I was only capable of speaking gibberish in a quavering tone.

A few of my favorite things

Last week we started potty training Cambry.  She's doing better than I expected.  The girls and I stay home all day every day, which I thought would be really hard for all three of us, but I was quite enlightened by Cambry.  One morning we had to drive 2 minutes to drop Devin off at the bus station since it was raining too hard the night before for him to ride his bike home.  After Devin got out of the car, Cambers said, "Go home? Go home?" I realized that all the day activities we go on aren't that important to them when they have my undivided attention. I didn't even realize that lots of times I'm distracted with something else as we're playing.  This past week I was so focused on my girls, I missed most phone calls, didn't get on the internet or turn on the TV, and had exactly 0 play dates.  I staggered their naps too since Vienna wasn't happy about so much attention devoted to her sister and not her. I grew such a deeper love for my girls, I wanted to document a few things I love about them:

Cambry:

• When she thinks she did something good- whether it be sharing with Vienna or jumping really high- she says to herself, "Good girl! Get a sticker" She walks over to the where I keep the stickers and tells herself, "Pick one... Alright! Nice." She's hilarious.  You'd think I use stickers as rewards, but she picked that up all on her own. 
• She loves doing pubbles (puzzles) and is really great at figuring out where the pieces go. 
• She loves "helping" me.  I'm always trying to figure out safe and sanitary ways she can help me do things like cutting up vegetables and cleaning the bathroom. 
• She says Ham for hands.  It is the cutest thing when she says, "Wash my hams" or "Hold hams." I will hold her ham any time she'll let me. She recently started mixing up the "d" at ends of words and substitutes a "b". "Night night. Time for beb" for example.

Vienna:

• She is so interested in the new adventure of exploring her surroundings on her feet and is close to walking on her own.  I think her cousin jump started her interest when he was here a couple weeks ago. She takes several steps to me or Devin, open mouth, arms outstretched and happily panting and squealing. Afterwards she throws her head back and giggles and claps for herself.
• She waves and smiles at lots of strangers.  She picks and chooses her favorites, although I haven't found any sort of pattern in her choices.
• She has the attitude, "If I want something, I'll find a way to get it" She climbs, persists, seeks the aid of her sister, uses furniture, toys, or books until she gets it. She is not easily deterred. 
• At meal time she is our little puppy.  I cut the straps out of our high chair with Cambry (der! She never tried to get out and they just got covered in mashed food) so Veena stays in her high chair about 2 minutes, and then is climbing out.  So I set her on the floor and she crawls from me, Devin, and Cambry, climbs up into standing position at our chairs and squawks at us until we give her something off our plates.

Our little climber.

Cambry helping with emptying the dishwasher...

...and washing the table.

First attempt at putting on her own panties.

Here's some cute vids:

Cambry and Vienna Playing

Some of Veena's first steps.

Rowe Day 3: Beach Day

Day 3, To the BEACH!!  It was supposed to rain all day, but we decided to brave it anyway.  It was a beautifully perfect day, with a little bit bigger waves than normal.  And this is a bad thing??

At a potty break, we stopped in front of this deliciously old house, but I couldn't get a good pic out of Cambers, the goof.  

Setting up Camp

The tide pools were perfect for crawling cousins... 

and treasure hunters. These 2 were such great pals.

Sand Castle construction workers (and demolition crew- Will and Veena)

We took turns on the boogie board.  Somehow Lily and I were the only ones that were captured on camera. Oh it was so much fun to play in the ocean.  It never gets old.

 A break from the waves.

Will taking a break from eating sand

My spouse is a handsome man. Those sunscreen patches are so endearing.

Veena on a mission

Cambers loved the ride.  It created happy little giggles and squeals the whole time up and down the beach.

Veena... not so much.  She couldn't get past letting go of my hands, and kept trying to stand up.  

The whole Crew.  This was such a fun and relaxing day!

Cute little Will getting hosed down.

The next morning, we all had to say goodbye.  We were so sad to see them go, but we were so grateful they came out! It was a much needed family time!

Cambry brought a few toys to help her wave goodbye.  

Rowe Day 2: Hanging Out

After the Zoo, the Rowes got settled into our house. We ate some dinner and bathed the kids. The girls all piled onto the couch to watch some "Tangled." We made cookies and popcorn and the adults had a good chat.

Lily was really good at making really round balls of cookie dough.

The next day, we took it easy (like the zoo was a lot of work!) We all went to the park while Devin had to go to school.

Will and Vienna trying out the plane at the park.

I love Ava's supermodel face in this photo.

After we sat for a minute and watched the kids play in the sand, Cory says, "So, this is what moms do all day?" Ya, pretty much.

Devin came home early afternoon and we went for a little hike in a REAL forest- not like those fake ones in Utah that only have a dozen trees total ;) We found this awesome really old grave yard along the way.

Love Ava's theatrical performance

I hope this dead couple doesn't find it offensive that Cambers chose this moment to point out all the letters and numbers on their head stone. Way to seize the moment Cambers.

The ladies' gander.  Sidenote, Devin ran into exactly 2 trees while trying to capture this. Bless him.

This skirt is a little big on her, so I'm always pulling it back up on her.  She decided to take matters into her own hands.

Lily being the grumpy old troll on the bridge. She told us a riddle, and we couldn't figure it out.  Thankfully the grumpy old troll showed some mercy and let us pass anyway.

Big Cory and Little Cory

Big Jos and Little Devin

Little family photo time.  Lily and Ava were smiling just fine until Devin said, "Ok, Smile" haha

Everyone looking at the camera!! miracles do still happen!

We had lots of fun splashing, throwing rocks, and wading in this shallow river.  Will loves his rocks

Successful attempts on the balance beam.  This is right after Lily's back handspring ariel ;)

What a happy girl she is.  Eating leaves and drinking in nature.  Can life get any better?

After our little hike, we went to some Southern cooking at Danny's BBQ where the Rowes were introduced to fried okra, collard greens, vinegar based BBQ sauce,  and banana pudding. No pictures of it!

The girls had a great time in the bath.  Of course this is the time Vienna decides to poop in the tub!! Haha Honestly child!  Cambry and Ava were quite happy to run around nude for a few minutes while I got everything cleaned and sanitized