WOOoooOOOoooOOOooo!

Adam's been working on his fire engine noise for a while now and has become increasingly interested in the trucks we've seen on the road. Little did he know that he is related to a REAL fire fighter! Unco Matty recently became a member of the Lakeville Fire Department and it's been really exciting to hear all about his hard work and accomplishments - we're so proud of him! When we were visiting MN over Labor Day, Adam got a special tour of the fire station.

Adam was so excited that he got to go IN the engines. He got to see the lights flash, but didn't really like the siren. It was pretty loud with the station doors closed up.

Unco Matty showed Adam where the fire fighters sit and how the flashlights work. We also got to see all the equipment that gets stored in the trucks. I had no idea there were so many secret doors with pretty impressive tools stored in them.

Adam thought it was all pretty awesome.

Fire Fighter Matty!

Matty's locker. I think I could be on board with being a fire fighter. Everything is SO clean and organized - I LOVE it!

Sweet.

Checking out the driver's seat.

This is in the break room, which is more like a little family room. Matty will get to sign the hose up on top there after he finishes his probationary period (I forget when that is). It's pretty cool.

Matty showed us how to roll a hose. He has skills!

Adam loved playing peek-a-boo in the engine windows.

One lucky and happy little boy!

Thanks SO much Unco Matty for such a special time. We loved it!

Seven Months (Well...more like 7.5 months)

Once again, I am very behind on blogging. Here is Clara at nearly seven-and-a-half months old! She is really becoming a little lady.

She continues to want to be right in the action and is very interested in everything her brother does. Now that she is more mobile, Adam has a little shadow more often than not.

Still no teeth, but plenty of drool. She's been doing great with solids. Her favorite is sweet potatoes, but she also enjoys green beans and, surprisingly, peas. Not too big on fruit, but we're working on it.

This is when I knew she had outgrown the bouncy seat.

She wanted to GO, and began to get upset at her limited mobility...soon to be remedied.

Up on all fours. This has been confusing to Adam. When Daddy and Mama get in this position, it is fair game for a horsey ride. He has tried this with Clara a couple of times and it hasn't gone well. Now, he just points at Clara and says "horse."

I thought she was no where near sitting up when she was six months old, but all of a sudden she had a burst of development (as little ones often do).
Just hangin' out on her belly.

Next, she was sitting with support.

Before we knew it, she was sitting all by herself like a big girl (still fascinated by the camera). She's been full out crawling for about two weeks now and babbling away. She's become quite the conversationalist.

Showin' off her baby blues.

Catching up with a Sneak Peek

Wow, haven't posted in a while. We've been busy traveling and living life, so we've got lots to share with you. Several posts will be coming, but here is a sneak peek of what's been going on - just to build the anticipation!

Just a note: I left the good camera at home so I was using my parents' point-and-shoot.

We went back to MN and spent Labor Day up at the lake. Adam couldn't be bothered to go inside to put his swimsuit on. He wanted to watch his daddy windsurfing!

Clara turned 7 months and is becoming a very big girl.

Adam got to go visit Unco Matty at the fire station! He had a special hands-on tour of all the trucks and the entire station. Mama enjoyed it too!

Clara also enjoyed her Unco Matty and Aunt Jessie. Here is our side of the table. What are we laughing at?

The other side of the table! (another photo I couldn't turn)

We had a visit from Aaron, Kitty, Eleanor, and new baby Elise. This was our best attempt at a photo of all the kids. Not terrible considering we have two babies and two almost-three-year-olds! Wish I would have had my good camera for this one especially, though. This doesn't do justice to all the cuteness.

Clara and Adam both had some wonderful time with Grandpa and Grandma L.
Clara chillin' with Grandpa.

Catching up on her reading with Grandma.

Much more to come!

Six Months for Clara

We can't believe Clara is half-way to ONE!
She's a beauty, isn't she?

She's been trying different foods and doing pretty well with it - very excited about sweet potatoes in particular. She loves having frozen watermelon in her mesh feeder.

Leaves a bit of a mess, but oh well.

Mom and Dad are OK, but she LOVES her brother. She watches him all the time and laughs any time he comes close to her. She is especially a fan of his dancing and jumping. It's been so fun to watch them become more aware of each other and even see a bit of a friendship starting to form.

Sometimes, I still can't believe they're mine...so cute!

Not the most flattering shot - it was SO hot this day, but I wanted to show them in the stroller together. It's funny, every so often Adam will just reach over and pat Clara on the head.

She got to have her first big-girl-bath with her brother. Super fun!
"Hmmm...I wonder what this is for."

"Yeah, probably this."

Havin' fun.

Some fun facts:

1.Still loves her paci and putting everything in her mouth. No teeth yet. Sophie is her best friend.
2. She watches everything her brother does and thinks he's hilarious.
3. Has been very receptive to food.
4. Isn't sitting alone yet. She does tuck her legs under herself while on her tummy like she wants to crawl, but hasn't raised to all fours yet like Adam had done by this age. Funny how they develop so differently.

5. She and Adam both love going to the gym with Mama. Adam knows right where to go as soon as we get in the door. When I come pick them up, he "helps" me find Clara so we can go.

Mount Vernon

Phil and the kids took me to Mount Vernon for Mother's Day and it was the most perfect day I could have imagined. It is absolutely gorgeous there - I don't know how Washington ever got anything done! Unfortunately, I left the memory chip out of my camera that day - oops! So no photos. However, my mom and sister were out a few weeks ago, so we went back and this time I got some pictures. We had record heat that day, so it was an abbreviated visit and I definitely had sweat stinging my eyes by the time we got back to the car, but we still got to see quite a bit.

Adam's favorite part is the sheep. Luckily there are many around Washington's estate, so Adam usually occupies himself by running around looking for them.

My sister and a VERY big tree. There are little plaques on many of the trees that say what year Washington himself planted the tree. Gives you an idea of how old they are.

Doesn't this look like a senior portrait?

A shot of the tree looking up. Again, I can't figure out when this one won't turn.

All the buildings and the grounds are so beautiful. This is the green house in the center and slave quarters off to each side.

Some of the gardens.

Usually the front of the mansion is absolutely stunning, and I was so disappointed that they were doing some maintenance work on it! They were giving it a new paint job. Don't worry, they keep it authentic - I'm not sure exactly how this is accomplished, but Washington used a method of painting that makes it look like stone from a distance, and the modern day painters are doing just that to accurately preserve the mansion's look.

View of the mansion from the backyard.

Views of the Potomac from Washington's backyard.

We also went to see Washington's burial site. There is much more to see, though, so we'll probably go back when it is cooler and when my dad is here as well.