boat ride

   We took a quick boat ride in the bay during our visit to Panama City.  Since Vivi is still a little young for a smaller boat, she stayed with Grandma Jane and Grandpa Bill.  Emma Jane has been for boat rides before, but it's been a long time.  She wasn't sure what to think at first, but she was NOT about to admit that she was a little nervous.  She quickly gained her confidence and shouted, "Wheeee!" the rest of the ride.  We rode out to the point that used to be the Panama City Airport.  While walking on the shore of the point, we saw hundreds of fiddler crabs.  Paul also took Emma Jane out for a swim in the bay and she loved every minute of it.  These are the waters Paul grew up in, so he loved showing his big girl all the cool things the bay has to offer.

weeble wobbles wobble...but they won't fall down!

Emma Jane has been compiling her birthday list for a few months now.  It's been a great way to tame the tantrums at the store when she insists she needs something.  We've just reminded her to add it to her birthday list and, surprisingly, she has been okay with that.

This soon-to-be-three-year-old has been pretty specific about what she would like for her birthday...

1.  a cash register (pronounced cass rangester)

2.  weeble wobble treehouse (pronounced wiggle woggle)

3.  a drum with drumsticks

4.  a trumpet

5.  cymbals

6.  a saxophone

7.  race cars

8.  a trampoline (ummm, not gonna happen!)

Notice the theme of  items 3-6.  We may have a budding musician on our hands....or just a little girl who likes to make a lot of noise!

While  visiting Florida this past weekend, Emma Jane got an early birthday present from Grandma Di and Grandpa Ron.  She was thrilled to get the weeble wobble treehouse! 

Vivi has also enjoyed the weeble wobbles.  She loves to hold them and eat them and watch them wobble all around her.  They have boosted her crawling skills since they wobble right away from her on the hard wood floors and she has to go get them.

I remember playing with weeble wobbles when I was a kid, too.  It's nice to see the girls having fun with such a simple toy that doesn't "do" anything but wobble around!



muddy puddles

   Emma Jane frequently asks if she can go outside and jump in "muddy puddles" after a rainstorm.  When we haven't had any rain, she asks if she can make her own muddy puddles!  On this particular day, she woke up from her nap and headed straight for her raincoat and rainboots....a girl on a mission!  She didn't even bother putting on her shirt and shorts, but that meant less laundry for me.  It had been storming during her nap, so she just knew there would be lots of puddles waiting in our backyard.  When she couldn't find any puddles big enough to make a good splash, Paul handed her the hose to let her make her own.

a simple white dress

    I took the girls to the botanical gardens for a walk earlier this week.  Of course, you can't go to the gardens without taking a few pictures!  I dressed Vivian in a simple white dress, but decided to let Emma Jane choose her own attire.  I did NOT let her know that I was planning to take pictures because she is not a fan of the camera these days.  When I asked Emma Jane what she would like to wear, she quickly eyed Vivi and then, without hesitation, chose a simple white dress, too.  I thought it was so cute that she wanted to be dressed like her sister (without my suggestion) and what a sweet pair they made in these photos! 

happy birthday, america!

   On the morning of July 4th, we had a true taste of small town America with our first visit to the Peach Festival in Gilbert, South Carolina.  We enjoyed the parade under a small tree that provided us much-needed shade.  Emma Jane devoured the cotton candy we purchased from a street vendor.  We had to try something "peachy" so we got peach slushies.  Emma Jane wasn't too sure about it at first, but she seemed to like it after a sip or two.  After walking around for a short while, the heat proved to be a little too much for us, so we headed home for the pool!

As always, this happy girl was along for the ride...

 Looking for the perfect parade watching spot...

This shady spot was perfect! 

 

Yes, that is a camel walking down the street!

Cotton candy consuming

 

Just happy to be there...

Leaf collecting became more interesting than parade watching.

Not sure about this strange concoction...

Gave it a try...

Loved it!

Finger chewing occupied Vivi.

Emma Jane did a little dancing.

A quick hello hug for Lily.



two for the red, white, and blue

   Of course, this was our first Fourth of July with two kiddos.  The girls were precious in their red, white, and blue.  The Sadlers invited us to their neighborhood celebration on Sunday night.  Paul and Emma Jane swam in the pool while Vivi and I hung out by the river.  We knew the fireworks would be too late and too loud for little Viv, so Paul took her home and Emma Jane and I stayed for the show.  The fireworks were pretty spectacular and, yes, they were LOUD!  At first, Emma Jane was a little overwhelmed by it all, but she finally decided it was pretty cool.  It was the perfect ending to a fun-filled night.

I had to add this last photo as a reminder that we celebrated Emma Jane's 1st birthday on our first July 4th in Columbia.  My how she has changed!