July

We had a rocky start to the month of July.  

Evin was on medication for pink eye, the swelling was going down on the bug bite on her forehead, and then...

she woke up with this on her cheek.

She also had 2 large bites on her hand.  What in the world?!?After some investigating, we found a HUGE mosquito behind her crib in her room.  I guess it was hanging out, waiting for her to go to bed, and then feasting.  Pesky critter!!!

Speaking of feasting...this one will feast on popsicles all day long if I let her.

Lunch at McKinley's in Fort Worth is a must over the summer.

At the beginning of July Evin started swim lessons at the YMCA in Arlington.  She was excited to go "see kids in the pool!"

There were about 8 kids in the class, and we really liked her swim instructor.  She had to miss the first two days of lessons because she was getting over having pink eye, and we ended up missing the last 2 days because she got strep throat.  So for two weeks of lessons, she only ended up getting to go to half of the lessons we paid for, due to sickness. :(

E was not on board with blowing bubbles or getting her face wet, but she did get more comfortable in the water and she got much better at kicking her feet, so it wasn't a total loss!  We hope to do some type of swim "refresher" during the winter and then do lessons again next summer.

The cutest & messiest donut date!

Mitch and I crack up because Evin has started humming and singing along with the radio.  If we try to sing along she will tell us, "Stop singing!" 

Evin seemed to be getting kind of bored with toys at home (I'm not sure how because we have too many!) after we had spent so much time there with her being sick.  I bought a few craft supplies to see if I could keep her busy.

She LOVED stringing beads on pipecleaners to make bracelets for people.

Such concentration!

Mommy & me bracelets, designed by Little E, herself.

For several days after she made these, she would ask to wear hers and was constantly checking to make sure I was wearing mine.

Tub fingerpainting certainly kept her entertained, but it also closely resembles a crime scene!

She also loves to paint, but she only loves it for about 15 minutes max.  Then she starts getting crazy with the water cup and flinging paint/water...

As I mentioned before, towards the end of her second week of swim lessons, she spiked a super high fever.  When I say high, I mean it was in the high 103s.  We controlled it with Advil and Tylenol, and called the next morning to make a doctor's appointment.

High fever = sleeping in the big bed with Mommy & Daddy

While at GiGi & PawPaw's she always has to play Granny & Pa's piano.

Stuck at home, sick, but still accessorizing.

Some silly, peek-a-boo time at dinner 

(NOT on her first birthday, contrary to what her bib says)

She still has sleepy eyes, but I think her sweet smile, side eyes, and pigtails are so sweet!

My little baker helping me get ready to go to the lake.  Maybe I need to bake more often because she loved it!  Can it really be considered baking if they are place and bake cookies...?

(I like to cook but hate to bake.)

We spent 4 days at Crown Lake in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas with Mitch's family.  Separate post to come soon!

Evin is ALWAYS excited to see these two.

Swimming and lunch outside...what could be better?

Who loves wagon wheel macaroni?!?

It cracked me up to catch her with her little leg crossed like this.  We have a picture of Kyla standing just like this at almost the same age!

"Evin, what are you building?"

"A castle for Daddy."

:)

She whipped up some soup for her duck to eat for lunch.

Then she finished the pot herself!

Love is when you give your child the bottom of your ice cream cone.

She actually cooperated for a video.  Counting practice!

Some realtors paid for the Kona Ice truck to come to our neighborhood.  We happily slurped down snocones after running errands in the heat of the day.

When one cooperates, the other does not...

and vice-versa!

:)

Post-swim hair!

Marcia, Erin, Cole & Zane came for a visit and stayed at mt mom's for a few days.

The boys had a ball in the pool!

Ellis lounged in the kiddie pool most of the time.

Lane had the best time with the "big boys" and they enjoyed time with him, too!

Cute cousins

1, 2, 3, jump!

Marcia & Erin brought each of the kids a gift.  They brought Evin the book, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, and the little pig stuffed animal that goes with the book.  She LOVES it.  I don't know that the pig left her hands for the first three days after she got it.

She made it dance in the car the whole way home.

More pool fun!  All the kids enjoyed going down the little slide we pushed up to the side of the pool.

Evin became quite the daredevil and decided that not only would she get her face wet (a big change from earlier in the summer) that she would also jump off the side by herself.

She stole Lane's froggy goggles and had the best time.

Marcia and the furry houseguest, Camo!

Whee!

How cute are they?!

We were so happy that Evin got to meet the Argos/Pruitts!

I came around the corner to find her chatting with Beckham, while sitting like a lady on the floor.

Cheeeeese!

For several days Mickey & the gang plus her new Pig traveled from room to room with us.  While I showered and got ready, they ate breakfast and watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. :)

After borrowing Lane's goggles, Evin decided she needed some of her own.  GiGi bought her some pink ones, and she had to wear them IMMEDIATELY.

Evin had fun during her first Pump It Up experience.  She wasn't quite bit enough to do the big slide or obstacle courses, so I had to do those with her.  Next year, she should be ready to do it alone!

These two scarfed down on some Schlotzsky's and had fun while doing it!

Evin earned her first potty prize!

Evin is quite the helper when it comes to moving furniture. ;)

Here we are, at another doctor visit.  This time, it was a double ear infection.  Poor girl can't catch a  break!

Kyla, Tiffany and I went to the Smocked Auctions sample sale in Dallas.  Kyla and I made a few purchases, but NOTHING in comparison to many of the other shoppers.  Evidently there is a strategy to shopping the sample sale, and for many that strategy is grab everything you can that is in the size you are looking for, then park it on the ground and sort through what you want and what you don't want.  It was INSANE.  I think we will continue to choose sanity over strategy!

Trigger is ALWAYS a favorite at Mums' house.

Another favorite?  This little firecracker.  She and Evin love to be together, but they already have some little spats over things.  There is lots of "no!" and "mine!" that goes on when they are together.  This evening, they were fighting over holding Evin's shoes.  You can see who was winning the battle at the moment. ;)

I predict LOTS of cat fights in our future between these two cousins!