Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?

As we were loading the car up for our trip to Lake Powell, we got a phone call from my dad informing us that the houseboat was having some mechanical issues and we would not be able to stay on it when we got there. They would be camping. We decided that three days in the heat, three nights in a tent, and 12 hours of driving just wasn't what we had in mind for our summer vacation. So, we stayed at home and tried to do think of things to do in the summertime, when all the world is green, or when the prickly-pears are in bloom. We were bummed, to say the least. But, there is always next year!

I was trying to get a good shot of Olivia in her little predicament, and Aislee was saying "Cheese". I had to take a picture of her sweet smile!

Olivia's predicament. She did it to herself, I promise!

Poor, unfortunate soul!

We read a lot during our days at home.

The twins really like to "count" the ducks, the flowers, the turtles, and whatever else there is more than one of in a book.

We played in the water table too. I tried to get a shot of their diapers so everyone could see how much Huggies really can hold! Oh my goodness! They can hold a lot. There is a limit, and we discovered it, but, boy, they can hold a lot!

Olivia wanted to take a bath.

Buddies! It's amazing that they can both fit in their!

Ewan is standing up pretty well. He loves to bang on the music table.

We also colored a lot! The table got a new set of colors every time Olivia got a crayon.

He's just so happy to be more mobile. Oh, can't wait for him to walk!

Olivia, "Cheese!"

Olivia refused to get out of the pool. Daddy was close by to make sure she didn't move from the steps while I got kids in the stroller.

We swam in the pool to keep ourselves cool.

Aislee

Paul plays the "shark"

We drove to Mesa on Saturday. I have a friend up there who was willing to watch the kids while Paul and I went to the Temple together. We are very grateful to Kamber and her fiance, Shane for giving us an opportunity to spend some time together. Congratulations Kamber (Porter) and Shane!

Ewan's a pretty good traveler.

We purchased the Heffalump movie for our trip to the Lake. It came in handy for the drive to Mesa.

We played on the couch and tried to get away from the baby. Olivia runs away from Ewan saying, "He bite you! He get you!" I should probably stop telling her that he's gonna get her and bite her little toes. I've also told them that the water in the water table has dirt and bugs so they won't drink it, and that ants/bugs on the sidewalk are going to bite their little toes off if they touch them. I'm a liar, I know! Boogers also have dirt and bugs, but I'm pretty sure that ones true!

We went to the park to swing. (or swing in the tree up high!)

Aislee

The girls swinging

Olivia

I was cleaning the kitchen after breakfast and before I got them dressed for the day. Aislee decided to change the dolls diaper.

Ewan's such a good little sitter, and he's so handsome!

We did some more driving around town to look at stuff we may purchase someday (something with a yard and a few more sq. feet!). Olivia wanted to hold Aislee's hand 'cause Paul and I hold hands in the car.

Get ready! Get set! GO!

We're getting ready to go to Lake Powell! We're all very excited! My family has been going to Lake Powell since the beginning of time (30+ years). It's our favorite vacation. My grandparents have a house boat, and we've always gone. Paul and I have never gone together. Our first summer married, we were in Oklahoma City for Paul's internship and were unable to go. Our second summer, I was pregnant with the twins and due in September. The doctor said NO BOATS and absolutely NO water skiing. Last summer, I was pregnant with Ewan and having some heart issues and a little preterm labor scare. SO...we're not expecting this summer. We're off to Lake Powell to enjoy the sun (not like we don't get enough of it...!), enjoy the food, and more importantly enjoy family! We (me) cannot wait! We're not going the whole week, but Thursday to the end of the trip! We've been preparing a little bit. We've also been enjoying some pool time with our buddy Amelia, and her little brother RE. Ewan and RE like to play on the floor while Lisa and I talk and the girls play.

Playing at Amelia's in her pool.

They loved splashing and laughing at each other. Aislee thinks Amelia is hilarious!

Cooling off

Aislee practicing her backstroke.

Olivia practicing how she will fall asleep in her life jacket (probably more than once) this week

Aislee

Thanks to Amelia, we've learned to smile when somebody says CHEESE!

Paul and I have been doing a little resistance training when he gets home from work. He's so good to help me with my training! I really like working out with him. I wish we could work out a way to run together. We put Little Eistein's on for the kids so they're not crawling all over us. It's the only time they get to watch it, so they get pretty enthralled!

Ewan walks around the table all day long. He's learning that it's very dangerous to let go!

Sitting at the table. Aislee's my little mother. She keeps him safe. Olivia is very good to unplug the fans when Ewan crawls too close.

Olivia's bruise is healing nicely.

Aislee loves to show Ewan how to play with toys.

We do a lot of playing. I don't really know how to have structured time when they don't really get what I'm trying to do. Maybe when they're a little more past 2.

He's my kid!

He loves to crawl into the pantry when the eating chairs are set up. As long as the sisters don't shut him in their, he's a happy camper!

Sleep? I never heard such a thing!

The learning curve of being a parent can be somewhat...I dunno! Paul and I have been trying to figure out how to get the twins to stay in their bed and go to sleep. We have tried everything! We have now come to conclusion that twins feed off of each others energy! One will be utterly exhausted and the other will want to play. Guess who wins? The one who wants to play. They would be up all night long, talking and playing in their room if it were upto them! After staying up from 2am to 8am Sunday, we are tired! We're tying to make bedtime not such a horrible thing with stories and songs and a lot of hugs and kisses. Nap time (some may say that they don't need a nap, but they do...we've tried the no nap thing), has become a little nicer with more books, songs, and me just laying with them. I've learned that Aislee will go to sleep by herself if Olivia's not there to play with. Olivia absolutely has to have the stuffed dog (Mendenhall) or sleep will never occur. Other than Paul and I being totally and completely exhausted, life is good. Ewan is getting bigger and pulling himself up onto everything. He wishes he could walk, and most days I wish he could walk too! He's getting to be such a kid! He just wants to play with the sisters, eat what they eat, drink what they drink...it's a good thing he doesn't want to wear what they wear! We've also spent some time up Mt. Lemmon to cool off. It's 15 degrees cooler up there and has a lot more shade! Maybe next weekend, we'll go for a picnic. We're getting ready for Lake Powell next week. We've gotten life-jackets for the kids. They don't seem too terribly comfortable, but they'll learn that it's just the way we roll at the Lake.

Ewan likes broccoli. I know Paul hates to hear it, but his kids like their vegetables.

Why did I buy new toys?

Olivia's goose egg. Yes, it's HUGE! Paul scared her a bit, and she ran right into the corner of a door. It was just the right spot. It's getting better.

Best friends. Hopefully they can continue being friendly, and maybe a little more friendly.

Aislee's angry face. I think Paul asked for the phone.

Ewan is just happy to sip on some cold water.

Playing in the forest.

My happy kid.

Aislee and Olivia were happy to wander. We're looking forward to having a yard that they can wander around.

Trying to get some family pictures.

It's hard to get them to sit still long enough to do anything!

Daddy and Ewan

It's nice when they realize they need help. Olivia saying, "hand".

Mt. Lemmon doesn't really feel like the desert.

Olivia walking with Paul.

Aislee didn't want to wait for me.

Isn't he such a kid?!? He's such a good little guy. I think he kinda looks like me in this picture, a much more handsome-boyish me.

Ewan tries to eat their food. Before he could eat it, they were always trying to share. Now that he can eat some of it, they get kinda bugged at him when he tries. Sisters!