July Fun!

For whatever reason, I'm having a really hard time keeping up with the blog this year! So I'm going to cram the whole month of July into one post. We've been keeping very busy...as you can see from the pictures below!

Laura's Gigi (great-grandma) came to visit for a few weeks at the beginning of the month. We had a great time...especially at the lake for the 4th of July.

We participated in the July 4th parade...well at least we tried to! We had the date wrong so we ended up walking around the neighborhood by ourselves singing patriotic songs. Laura looked at us like we were crazy half the time -- but we still had a lot of fun!We all went out on the boat to watch the fireworks over the lake. The big display was beautiful -- and one of the most fun parts was watching all the smaller, individual fireworks displays all around the lake as we rode home. Laura said her favorite were the pink ones!

The last highlight of Gigi's visit was taking her for a ride on the jet ski (Laura just sat on the ski for the picture). She had never been on it before and really enjoyed it, I think:) We always get a 4 generations picture when Gigi is in town, and decided the jet ski would be a great place to do it this time!

Another big development in July is that Laura has finally (kinda!) learned how to ride her tricycle! We have been working on this for almost a year! She is thrilled and very proud of herself and told me after we went inside that she wants a "big-girl" bicycle now. I think we need to master the tricycle first!!
We have also spent the better part of the month at the pool. We joined the same pool as 3 of Laura's best friends and we have had a blast. Laura is a fish! And I have enjoyed chatting with my friends while the kids play.

Laura's swimming (or "fimming" as she calls it) was getting so good, we decided to enroll her in a week of swim lessons. She learned to swim underwater, get rings from the bottom of the pool, and started learning how to breath while swimming (using a kickboard). She was so excited to go every day and was very disappointed when the week was over.

As you can see...we've had a very busy month and August started out with a bang! Shawn's whole family (16 of us in all!!) came out to the lake for a family reunion. I'll blog about that in the next few days...hopefully:)

Tiny Dancer

Last week Laura and her good friend Madi started a ballet class for 3 year olds. We weren't sure how much she would like it, but decided a 10 week summer session would be a great start. She was very hesitant when we arrived and didn't want to let go of my leg to join her classmates in the studio...but after I peeled her off and ran out, she had a great time. The girls learned to do some spins, arch their arms over their heads, and cross their legs (being demonstrated in the bottom picture). They also learned a short little dance they performed for the moms at the end of the class. I think it is great that she has a friend in the class...everything is more fun with a girlfriend!

Laura's hair had to be in a bun for the class, and let me tell you, that was the most challenging part of the class! Laura's hair is pretty short and grows forward. It took 3 rubber bands, 4 barrettes, and a TON of hairspray to achieve something that resembled a bun! I guess we won't be getting any more hair cuts for a while!!

Birthday and Lake Fun!

For Memorial Day Weekend, we all went to the lake to have Laura's last birthday celebration and to enjoy the unofficial start to summer. Enjoy the pictures!

Laura, Nana, and Granddad blowing out the candles on Laura's "Dora da Efflorer (exlporer)" cake.
Opening Laura's present from Nana and Granddad...a really cool new bike.

Trying out the new bike...she got the hang of it really quickly and has had a blast on it!

Nana and Laura posing on the boat.

Visiting Goat Island. There is a random island in the middle of the lake with 5 goats on it. It is a highlight of every boat trip for Laura when she spots the goats. She can even identify the island now from pretty far away.

Laura helping Granddad drive the boat...this is moments before she climbed in Nana's lap and took a 2 hour nap. Doesn't she look exhausted!?!

Nana and Laura feeding the fish at the marina. If you look closely, you can see the shadows of the fish in the water. They are huge!!

We had a great weekend and have been down several times since. Laura is absolutely loving the water this year. We even joined a pool so that she could get more time learning to swim. Check back tomorrow for pictures of Laura and her friend at their first ballet class!

Happy 3rd Birthday Laura!

Yesterday was Laura's birthday...I can't believe that she is 3 already. Time is just flying! We had her party last Saturday for her friends and we are having her family party this weekend at the lake. I'll post those pictures when we get back. For now, though, here are the first party pictures:

Her party was at the Children's Museum and we chose a princess theme. I decided to make her a castle cake, and I must say, it turned out way better than I thought it would!
The museum did a great job with the party...there were crafts, a big floor puzzle to work on, games like Simon Says and Musical Chairs, playing with a big parachute, and Laura's favorite...Ring Around the Rosy!
She had a good time at her party (but you wouldn't have really been able to tell because she was very somber the whole time)! When I asked her what her favorite part was, she replied "My Fweinds!!!" And her fwiends got her lots of great presents!

After the party was over, all the kids were able to go play in the museum...and boy did they all have fun! This is Laura and one her of her best buddies, Madi, driving the fruit and vegetable truck. Laura and Madi are going to be taking ballet together this summer and they are both VERY excited!

Here are Laura and Zain playing in the grocery store...always a fun part of the museum!
Laura and Ashlyn posing on the small slide...not sure why Laura is making such a funny face!
Once we got home (and after Laura took her nap), we pulled out all the toys and played. She had a great time and especially loved the Play-Doh Ice Cream Shop and her new jewelry. She made tons of "ice freem cones" for me and Shawn!
We got Laura a basketball hoop (an unusual choice from a girl wanting a princess party!), and she has had a blast shooting hoops on the deck. I think we have a little athlete in the making!
Overall, Laura has had a great birthday week...party with friends, party at school, and soon to have a party with family. And we are having a great time watching our little Laura grow and learn new things every day!