More Adventures...

Another week has quickly passed, but not without us enjoying the fun and freedom that summer brings!  Last week we enjoyed playdates with friends, making cookies, and a road trip to Iowa along with other adventures.  Here are some pictures from our week:  

Despite Brian's distaste for licking the beaters when making cookies/brownies/cakes, Anna still gets to partake in this very important childhood activity.  Sister loves to lick the beaters...and make sure she gets it all over her face!

Our big adventure of the week was our trip to Iowa.  Brian and I both remembered how stressful our first trip was with Anna so we were a little hesitant/scared- out-of-our-minds about our first trip with both girls.  However, we were pleasantly surprised.  It helped that we planned it out well, knew where we were going to be and when, and we also had done it before.  Really the last part (we've done this before) seems to make everything a lot easier this time around...

Anna dressed herself Saturday morning and grabbed her polka dots for the road trip.  (This was a 90+ degree day and she did choose to wear long pants, shirt and BOOTS!)

Saturday we spent the day with Grandpa Dave, Grandma Lynn, Aunt Kate and Uncle James.  It was a fun day for all!  

Anna got to go with Uncle James and Aunt Kate to pick sweet corn for supper!

Anna and her ear of corn.

Anna had to help Papa Dave clean the corn....looks to me as though Papa Dave did most of the cleaning.

Papa getting some cuddle time with Claire.

Wiggling.

Uncle James and his nieces.  This was his first time meeting Claire.

Sibling love.

All the kids and grandkids!

Grandpa and Grandma with their granddaughters.

Auntie Kate and Claire.

Saturday night, Mommy and Claire having a discussion about how it would be really great it she slept through the night!  (Side note:  Claire is an excellent sleeper for a 5 week old.  We usually only get up once a night around 2:30 or 3:00.  Then she sleeps again until 7 or 8.  We really can't complain!)

Sunday we spent the day with Papa Randy and Grandma Lori and family.  Claire had not yet met her Aunt Amy, Uncle Jason, Cousin Will or her Great Grandparents, so this was a very exciting day for all!

Anna and Will love playing together!

...and causing trouble jumping on the bed!

Meeting and getting cuddles from Aunt Amy!

Meeting Uncle Jason.  

Meeting Great Papa and Great Grandma.  They adored her, of course!

Great-Grandparents with 3 of their great-grandchildren.

Everyone!  Four generations are represented here. 

Anna loves to sit near Claire to make sure she's well entertained.  She's an excellent big sister!

Playing with Cousin Will.

 Silly!

The journey back home was fairly uneventful.  We did have to stop for a little supper and to feed some hungry girls, but overall, it was nothing like our first trip with Anna.  We apparently have learned a few things since then!  She's trained us well.  

This week we've had some playdates already!  Friends William and Kate came to our house Monday to play and today we headed to the library and then met Mommy's friend Jessica and her son Evan at the park.  Friends Brecken and Madianna are coming to play later this week and on Saturday we get to go meet new baby Lillian and see Anna's friends Aaron and Simon!  Lots of fun all around; and lots of opportunities to keep practicing our sharing skills (which are still a little rusty)!  

Claire Update:

Claire has grown a lot in the past week and is really working on holding up her head.  She's going to be a professional soon!  She's a great sleeper, as I mentioned.  As long as she is swaddled we can get a 3-4 hour nap out of her and her longest stretch at night has been 7 hours (too bad that night I didn't go to bed until 3 hours after she did!).  She's a good little eater and as long as her belly is full, she is happy.  She loves to snuggle and when we go out and about her preferred method of transportation is via the Baby Bjorn.  She doesn't like to be stuck in her carseat, so we "bjorn" whenever we are at the store; it makes for a very peaceful shopping experience for all.  

Anna Update:  

Anna gets taller daily....at least that's what it feels like.  She's very well-spoken (in my opinion) for a three year old and usually polite.  She catches onto everything and you have to answer the question "Why?" about 250 times a day (that's not an exaggeration!).  She's trying to figure out how everything works in this world.  She's very excited to visit her new school on Monday and meet her teacher and new friends.  She loves to play outside and at the park or go to the library.  Her favorite games right now are Memory and Candy Land.  She's also got Chutes and Ladders, but that's a tricky game to figure out right now.