Note to self: Do not wait until the end of the month to blog if you can help it. There's way too much to cover! Oh well, I guess you're getting the short version of June. Otherwise, I'll be here for days trying to catch up.
Hazel had her half-birthday on June 1st. Four and a half! We went out for ice cream with her neighbor friends Eva and Esther, and had a burgers and movie pajama party that night.
Gemma got cuter. Is that possible? I wouldn't have thought so, but it's true. She's five months old now and just irresistible.
She's now at the play-on-a-blanket-on-the-floor-at-church stage. How fun!
I let her chomp on watermelon rinds and she loved it! We haven't started any solid foods yet, but I'm going to have to get my rear in gear, because she is definitely interested.
Hazel's started organizing elaborate set-ups for play. It's fun to see. She had a tea party for all her stuffed animals. I love how she found something for each of them to use as a chair.
The neighbor kids still love our trampoline! Hazel's been hosting quite a few backyard parties, many of which involved swimsuits and the hose. I have to wonder if these kids (ages 7-9) would bother coming over if we didn't have a tramp and hand out popsicles, but hey, I'll take it so Hazel has friends this year!
Look at those legs! Such succulent chub.
Gemma's legs are always churning, so I pulled out the doorway jumper. She loved it!
Jack has shown an increased interest in dress-ups. He's at that age. I think I ought to invest in some more masculine choices...
Hazel made Gemma a card. It reads: "To Gemma Love Hazel. You are too cute for me to stand." She asked me how to spell each word, then later slipped it under Gemma's bedroom door while I was putting her down for a nap. Adorable! Hazel frequently whispers in Gemma's ear, "Remember, your favorite color is pink. You love cheetahs, just like me!" Nothing like a little subliminal message to secure your sisterly bonds!
A swallow built its nest on our front porch. Hazel was fascinated. It's cool, except when I'm trying to read in peace on the porch after I've put the kids to bed, and it won't stop swooping by all territorial-like. Excuse me, but this is my home, too!
Can you blame me for wanting to enjoy this view?
We had most of my siblings up for my brother Chris's birthday/Father's Day. We had dinner in the canyon. I love having this time to be close to family!
Gemma's started belly surfing, arms and legs in the air.
She's also mysteriously moving when I'm not watching. I'm not sure if she's scootching, or if it's multiple rolls getting her where she's going. I put her down directly in front of those toys...
We went back up to the canyon later in the month for my mom's birthday. The kids spent most of their time chucking rocks into the river.
I love how Hazel put her arms around Jack and actually smiled for the camera. She's growing up! Usually if I ask her to hold still for a picture, she increases her speed by two.
Jack follows Hazel around everywhere and copies everything she says and does. It reminds me a lot of my younger sister Emily - sibling worship without cause.
Jack had a bad dream about a bad guy coming to get him. He woke up screaming for me. For the next several nights, he would not sleep in his bed. He was literally afraid of the bad guy being in there. One night he fell asleep in Hazel's bed, the next he started in his but ended up in mine, the next he asked to sleep on the floor...
Finally, I gave Jack a huge stuffed gorilla that Todd has held onto from his childhood. I made up this elaborate story about how the gorilla wants to sleep with him and if any bad guys come in the room, they'll be scared of the gorilla and run away. I had the gorilla sing him his bedtime song and had Jack hold his hand. Ever since then, Jack's slept fine. But he often mentions that the gorilla is in his bed, keeping him safe. That was one bad dream!
Hazel and Jack are becoming the best of friends. They know how to fight like the dickens, but most of the time, they play together really happily. Hazel frequently says that Jack is her best friend, that she loves him, that she wishes she could marry him because she wants to live with him forever, that he's the sweetest boy she knows. When they fight, their meanest name they call each other is "meano stinko." Ah, the innocence of children! But they've both been sent to time out for calling ME meano stinko. It's hard to keep a straight face while telling Jack he can't call me that because I'm his mom.
I blinked, and Jack had taken his diaper off! He made a great naked frog!
Hazel set up an outdoor classroom so we could play school. She wanted to practice writing her name and numbers, and was mildly annoyed that I made her take a two-minute recess break to jump on the tramp.
Gemma sat in a swing for her first time. Is she really old enough for this already?!
I have a picture just like this of Hazel and Jack, Superman pose and all. I tried hard to find it tonight. So fun.
There it is! Crazy. Time flies.
We got another bum tenant in our rental house. I had to ask him to move out. Last time Todd was in Afghanistan, I had to evict our tenant and take him to court to try to recover lost rent (won the court case, but never did get paid). He left the place a mess. Behold:
Who does that? Seriously. Anyway, I turned the place over to a property manager last week. I can't wait to pay somebody else to clean the place up and get it rented out, hopefully to someone normal. Todd keeps assuring me that we are making money on this place and it's worth it, but it seems like nothing but a pain in the neck to me. I'm no landlord.
We spent a few days visiting Todd's sister Missy last week. I took a grand total of ONE picture that turned out: Hazel driving a bumper car.
We went to Seven Peaks, did laser tag and bumper cars, a trampoline park, etc. etc. We are taking advantage of living close to family, and making sure the kids bond with their cousins! It was a ton of fun. We're heading down to see Laura's kids later in July.
While everyone else was napping today, Hazel set up this "birthday party" for us. Streamers on the lights, party bags filled with pretzels and teddy bear crackers, and a piece of candy all wrapped up in construction paper for Jack's present. I love how she pulled out the swim towels to make the table festive. She's always creating.
