Wolcott Mills Farm

This morning we went to the farm at Wolcott Mills Metropark. You could not feed the animals, but you could watch them as they got milked - just the cows - played, honked, or ran around. Emily and Paige had a great time. Emily's favorite animals were the horses, and Paige's favorites were the chickens. Emily's least favorite part was the stinky cows - see picture below - and getting stung by a bee - although, I can no longer see the spot on her leg where she was "stung".

And, in case you were wondering - I liked the geese.

In other exciting news: THE TOOTH HAS FALLEN OUT!!!!!!

It happened this afternoon, during lunch, while Emily was eating a chocolate chip cookie...of course. We'll let you know what the tooth fairy brings........

She's so grown up

You have probably heard it a million times. You have either said it yourself, or you have heard it said about you or someone else....."They grow up so fast."

And boy do they.

I don't know if it's something in the water around here - I mean, I certainly don't feel any older - but both of my girls seemed to have grown up quite a bit over the last week. Emily is really shedding her "child" outlook, for one of a "kid". Complete with phrases like, "This is soooooo boring Mom." And, "For real?"

And, today's latest, "Mom, can Dad take my training wheels off my bike?" I know, she is probably the last almost six year old who still has her training wheels, but she's not just any ordinary almost six year old. She is my complete and total KLUTZ daughter. It is for her own safety that those training have stayed right where they were.....until this afternoon. Dad took them off.

And then there was this:

She only did a couple runs with Daddy. I thought she did pretty well. Daddy was too out of breath to really speak about it. I took her later in the evening, but stopped after one run because of WAY too many comments from the Grandparent peanut gallery.....

And this child.

She was LOVING just sitting in the car, honking the horn and turning the key. I was happy to oblige her. Paige in the car equals me not running after her.

I wish I had a picture, and maybe I will soon, but Paige's new trick for the week is to shove her index finger completely inside her nose. Lovely. Her baptism is this Sunday....I can see it now....us up on the altar....everyone watching....Paige picking her nose. Lovely.

And she has two more teeth coming in - on the top. Emily losing her teeth, Paige is getting hers.

Man, they grow up so fast.

Cold Rain

Someone needs to make a call to Mother Nature and let her know that it is SUMMER. It has been unseasonably cold around here lately. Right now it it trying so hard to get up to seventy degrees. I am sure to those of you who are roasting with temps in the nineties, and humidity at 8000 percent, seventy degrees sounds great, right? Well, true, but we have a pool to enjoy, tank tops and shorts to wear, and only a couple more months left in which to do these things.......



For the first time, the Saturday at my Aunt Joan's Farm was rained out - thunder, lightning and all. No bat ball (half an inning), no fire pit, no basketball.....but we did manage to have fun just hanging out with everyone. It wasn't a total loss. Emily enjoyed herself playing in the sand - she was SOAKED. Eric stayed home to rest. He is now on antibiotics, as his skin thing has gone bacterial. Ewww, gross.

Man, oh Man.....

Does that kid love books.....

She has this new thing, where she brings you a book, gives you this adorable little smile, turns around, and backs up right into your lap. Sometimes she misses - but then she gets up and does it again and again - until either she makes it, or I just grab her and squeeze her for being so darn cute. It's almost too much to take.

Update on Emily's tooth - it's still there, but very, very loose......

By popular demand

Seriously, only a few have actually asked to see this. Why, I ask you???

I feel like I need to add a cute picture of Paige or Emily to this post - but I am thinking this rashy post needs to stand alone. YUCK. He is feeling a little better - much less itchy.

For better or for worse, right? Love you hunny. Even when you are all red and rashy.

Hives, Backpacks and Zucchini

Remember last week when my wonderful husband gave up most of his afternoon setting up and then running the obstacle course in our backyard? Well, apparently, Eric seems to have had a really bad reaction to all that heat, humidity and sunlight. My darling husband has broken out in HIVES. Really bad ones. So bad, that when he wanted me to take a picture of it to post on this blog, I felt that I would spare all you gentle readers the ghastly sight.

He made a visit to the clinic yesterday morning, where the doctor gave him a shot - in his hind quarters - and a prescription for prednisone. I was a good wife and got him some oatmeal bath, to take care of the itching. He's feeling a lot better - much less grouchy - and even made it to his train club last evening.

While I was out picking up the oatmeal bath, with Emily, I also picked up a back pack for my soon to be Kindergartener. She only has a few more weeks of summer.....is that possible?

I tried in vain to get a few pictures of the girls together yesterday afternoon, but they were not having it - neither of them.

And this, my dear friends, is a zucchini from my next door neighbor, Julie. Apparently, her Mom has a garden the size of our backyard - and grows zucchinis just as big. Holy cadoodle! I was thinking of making zucchini Parmesan....any one ever heard of that? All I can say is, "Wow".

Routines

I was thinking the other night, as I was getting Emily ready for bed, that Emily is really, truly, a routine kind of girl. The best example of this is her bedtime routine. Without fail, you must follow all these steps, or else you will have a VERY unhappy five year old on your hands.

Step one - brush teeth and do mouthwash. Finally Emily can do these things on her own. Finally.

Step two - pajamas AND socks. Socks 365 days a year. She HAS to have them on, or else, a screaming, crying fit. Apparently, there's a sheet monster that will not attack you if you have socks on.

Set three - saying good nite to Daddy. If Daddy is not here, we are not beyond calling him on the phone. Incidentally, if Daddy is putting Emily to bed, good nites go to Mommy.

Step four - story. Sometimes two stories.

Step five - bathroom break. Not always fruitful, but you gotta try.

Step six - tucking in. First the sheet, then the little pink blanket, then the purple blanket, then the pink pooh bear blanket, then the BIG Eeyore blanket. And, don't even try to put them out of order, because she checks. Seriously.

Step seven - twinkle. And, for those of you who have been out at night with me, you KNOW I have sang it on the phone.

Step eight - kisses and hugs. She has to give you a kiss for each hug. Three kisses, three hugs.

Step nine - The final question. Always after I wish her good-night, as I get out into the hallway, I get the "Mom......". She only gets one. Sometimes.

Step ten - you MUST turn on the light in my bedroom, or else a HUGE crying fit will ensue.

Will Paige be this crazy? If she is, it'll be ten o'clock before I get both girls to bed.

We finally gave in and got the "WT" pool for the backyard. It was a little cold Friday morning when we filled it up, but it was nice and refreshing for a swim on Saturday.

On Sunday, we had a very nice visit with my old friend Brady, his wife, Meg, and their two year old son, Cullen. It has been a while since we have seen them, so it was good to catch up, and enjoy a very tasty Michigan dinner - corn on the cob, tomatoes, steak and grilled peppers - YUM.

Oh, and Paigey had her first kiss.......so cute. I told you she was trouble. Luckily, I know Cullen comes from a good family, so we are good there. :)

Also, we had these for dessert. Watermelon sugar cookies. I made them. Nauseating enough for you Julie? :) They were yummy. I may have to make some more to take to the farm next weekend......