2 Going on 10

Grace loves hanging with the "girls" next door.  She used to shyly wait for them to acknowledge her and ask her to play, but now, more times than not, she runs across the yard and gets right in on what ever's going on.  Usually there's a lot of jumping on the trampoline and swinging.  Last night it was playing dress-up inside with the girls.  Haley's skirt became a dress for Grace, and they even styled her hair.

 Just one of the girls...

From a Distance

I Heart Faces is one of the photography blogs that I follow daily, as do many other people. Each week they have a theme where you can enter a photo for a chance to win.  This week's theme is "from a distance."  Right away I thought of this photo of my Mom on the beach with Grace in Florida.  It's one of my favorites of the two of them together.

I'm always humbled by the photo entries they receive and find myself questioning why I'm even bothering with this whole "photography thing".  But it is inspiring to see other people's work and try to learn something new and improve every day.  So, what the heck, here's my entry...

The New Pool

On our recent ninety-something degree day, I was motivated to buy an inflatable pool at Target.  It's been a great way for me to get things done in the backyard while Grace fills up the tub and splashes and plays. 

This afternoon Graceyn came over to play and before I knew it, both girls were stripped down to their birthday suits and in the pool.  I'm all for whatever will keep them in one place for more than thirty seconds at a time!

Little Surprises

We've had a fun and fairly relaxing Memorial Day Weekend.  Yesterday cousins Kellie and Anna visited with Aunt Deb.  While we were giving them a tour of our house, we discovered a family of toads and a baby garder snake living in the area outside of our egress window in the basement.  It was like a little reptilian terrarium down there.

Dave and Grace have since set our little friends free to finish out the rest of their days on ground level.  But before they released them into the woods, Grace spent some time holding the toads and even the garder snake (cringe).  

Then, last night, we grilled brats and drank margaritas with our neighbors, Krista and Mike, while Graceyn and Grace played.  I realized, once again, that I really should have learned to play eucre long, long ago.  I think I am the only person on earth that does not know, and can't ever seem to learn, how to play.  I just don't get it... 



This afternoon we purchased some plants for my raised vegetable bed that my Dad built for me.  Tomorrow will be a day full of planting...it should be fun!

Grace and Anna on the swings

Mr Toad in the "terrarium" 

Not afraid

Freedom

 The Mama snake that resides under our front porch