This is perhaps the final summer of diapers for our clan, a momentous yet underwhelming celebration. In the meantime, our youngest pair endures the rigorous training (and our oldest pair is enrolled in a continuing education program). We are most thankful for the warm weather of summer, minimizing fabrics that impede doo diligence and absorb odors. For it is now, most of all, that we discover the whole world has gone to potty. Two big potties in the bathrooms, one little potty in the living room, a sleeve of single-use overnight potties in the closet, a stack of fresh potties in the drawers, a pile of used potties over the utility sink, and one big potty in the back yard.
Lately we have been making spectacular use of nature. Upon Aunt Courtney's visit in April, we had terrific weather for a Gorge Metro hike, bike ride to West Park, rendezvous at Farmer Sally McSusie's Marvelous Mystical Alpaca farm, and a long long long long long run that broke Daddy's legs. All darling Josephs love Auntie's trips.
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Smiles? Eye contact? 7-peep selfie? Check check check.
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| Which one is the stuffed animal? |
Early summer also granted two visits to Mimi's Magical Musical Mansion, for Easter and again around Memorial Day (with extra Mimi time while Mom and Dad visited college friends in Chambersburg). There were puzzles, I Spy, the Aladdin Magic Carpet TV game, American Ninja Warrior, and numerous readings of What Do You Do With a Kangaroo? Fun times with Luke and Lily, as always, thanks in part to the bonding powers of picnic food and sand tables.
The spring family adventure this year was softball, where our older girls joined the iron-clad band of sluggers in North Canton's 8 and Under league. They learned how to swing a bat, how to open a Gatorade, not to mention the lyrics to numerous dugout chants. Ezra and Summy were big fans, namely of the playgrounds, bleachers, and uninterrupted time with Mom and/or Dad playing catch/fetch. When they escaped our sights, we'd often find them benchwarming with the the team. Will we revisit the tiny diamonds? Stay tuned for next season!
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| Both girls had a 1.000 swinging average |
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| Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dim |
And now that public schools have declared that it's time to stop learning and start forgetting, we've had a myriad of camps and activities start up. The girls took swim lessons one week, enrolled in VBS another, and will soon take part in Parkside's basketball camp (Elia) and art camp (Sophia). Holding on to weekends for dear life, we made time for the church camping trip at Salt Fork Lake State Park, braving the two-night stay with all 6 plus a pack and play. Turned out to be great fun with many other close church families. Ample time at the beach and hiking, plus campfires and s'mores (which are pretty much synonymous in Sophia's book) each evening.
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| Someone threw us out of our house! |
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| So we had to live here. |
Then later, backpacking again with some friends at Mohican State Forest in June, which we plan to make at least an annual tradition. Elia proved her merit hiking a strong 4-5 miles and playing in the creek more than most of the frogs.
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| The Marshmallow Chef |
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| Beautiful campsite! |
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| Erin says Addison (right) was photoshopped in from the 80's |
Summer: what a doll. Her hair is still finding its way in this world, as she continues to find hers. As inspired by her sisters, she loves dressing up and playing with dolls and Duplos. And liquids--milk to drink, water to drink, pools to jellyfish around in. She is most proud of her pottying self...seems we have a little more work to do yet, but great progress. Dimmy is always singing Twinkle Twinkle, Wheels on the Bus, and similar battle cries. She lives for going outside or on trips in the car. When she smushed her finger in a door jamb recently, a quick jaunt in the van turned that frown upside down (and later some Tylenol helped too). Her restless spirit is still held captive in the high chair and crib, and will be for as long as possible.
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| This... |
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| Plus this... |
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| Plus this... |
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| Equals this |
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| Yay no pants! |
Ezra Meets World. He certainly didn't make the cut for "older kids" so he's cementing his spot at the front of the "little kids" line. This means goofing with babies during softball practice, excavating with trucks during art hours, listening to Nemo or DT during Daddy reading hours, and generally testing every toy and surface for its mettle and durability (thank you for the superglue stocking stuffer). He likes things to be a certain way, doesn't just go with the flow (e.g. the tucking-in process, the broken banana dilemma) but shows improvement. Ezra still loves buses, trucks, front-loaders, excavators, tractors...we have since learned that his love of "yellow" at an early age was just a place holder for these words he couldn't yet identify. He'll be returning to pre-school and speech therapy in the fall, still a ways to go before getting to sports and camps.
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| When your left ear wants to hear what your right ear is saying |
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| When you try to give horseback rides to Little Miss Dumplings |
Bay plays one of the older kids, eating all her food, completing chores, acting responsibly, taking on activities, and reading! But still with the golden heart of a little kid, Sweet Tooth So relayed a lifetime's worth of excitement when telling us this morning that she would be having an ice cream sandwich for snack at VBS today. She and Ez are the most frequent visitors to the woodshop, knowing just where we hang the ear protection and how to climb the narrow stool. Sophia looks forward to backpacking trips next year (mostly for the mallows) but is working on her endurance capacity until then. Perhaps more dance or gymnastics in the fall. She can maybe ride a bike with training wheels?
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| A tenuous friendship |
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| Rain at the splashpad, so unnecessary |
Elia the Conqueror earns more merit badges every year, now for swimming, reading, baking, sweeping, mulching, and goat lover. She likes time off school to do exciting new things everyday, and has obsessed over the new dry erase schedule that we have posted on the wall (not unlike her parents). Alexa and Dry Erase board help every morning to start her day right, coffee soon to follow. She turned seven in March, and now we're back to a bunch of odd children. Elia spends most of her free time doing arts and crafts while listening to Whatever After and knock-off Disney audiobooks. Loves the outdoors, always finishes her food first, knows every fact about living creatures, and can't wait to visit Mimi and Grandpap's beach house.
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