Sippy crawl

Quincy really likes his new sippy cup. I'm not sure that he is actually drinking anything out of it, but he likes to bring it around with him. Here he is doing his most recent version of a crawl, bringing his sippy cup with him.

Fun in the sun

Today is a beautiful day, perfect for playing outside.

Miles playing with the hose - his favorite thing to do in the backyard this summer.

Yep, you know what he is doing!

Trying to make a water slide:

A moment later he got himself straight in the face. He's not the best aim.

And here's Quincy. He has decided he doesn't like the cold hose water of the kiddie pool too much. He has much more fun riding around and pushing around the toys in the backyard.

Swinging is another favorite thing to do for Quincy. After the first few pushes, he seems like he is bored or not having fun, but if you stop pushing and go to take him out he will scream and cry. Then be all smiles and happy again if you start pushing him in the swing again.

He loves pushing this little riding toy around. He can zoom around the living room using his walker, but the grass and ground outside gives him much more resistance, so he has to push harder. But the benefit is that he can go much further and not worry about running into many things.

Another day at the beach

We just returned from another nice day at the beach. This time it was a family trip, Mike is on vacation, so it was nice to have him join us. We made it down closer to the water, instead of staying up by the boardwalk where the play structures are, where we normally end up. The boys played in the sand, they were covered in sand. Miles got brave and went into the water a bit. He accidently went in further than he wanted when a few bigger waves got his shorts wet. But he did go back in a few times after that - feet only and very carefully. I forgot the camera, but really, how many beach pictures do we need in one summer. Mike was smart and had Miles shower off before going down for a nap. He won't have the giant pile of sand in his bed that he does when it's just me and the kids. The boys are napping now. Time for some ice cream for Mike and I!

Visit to NY

We went to visit Mike's family in New York last week. Got there on Wednesday and left yesterday. It was a great visit. We got upstate to see some extended family and friends that we hadn't seen in a while. And Mike got to spend Father's Day with his Dad. It was a nice trip, and always, a great visit. The kids loved spending time with Grandma and Grandpa. Miles got to go out to the park all by himself with his Aunt, which he loved. And, of course, the boys loved playing with their cousins. Everyone was sad to leave, but it feels good to be home again.

Quincy with Grandpa:

Miles with Grandpa:

The kids 'playing together!' (They really did play together at other times)

My sister visited!

My sister, Lisa, and her husband, Jim, and my niece, Brianna, came for a short visit last night and today. Although it was short, it was a nice visit, and wonderful to see them. Miles and Quincy had fun playing with them, and Miles was very sad they left. I didn't get too many pictures, but I do believe Lisa got enough for both of us.

Brianna reading to Miles:

Jim and Quincy playing:

Cassette tapes

Apparently, old cassette tapes ARE still good for some fun times.

No door

While watching Mickey Mouse clubhouse this morning, Mickey asked the kids at home to help them practice playing music for the big show. I asked Miles if he was going to help, he nodded yes, then asked me if I would help too. Then we had the following conversation:

Miles: "Actually, there is no door."
Me: "Where is there no door?"
Miles: "On the tv"
Me: "What does that mean that there is no door on the tv?"
Miles: "I can't get in there to help them."

Gotta love how the little mind works.

Already asleep

And Miles is already asleep on the couch.

Short nap

Both kids just woke up from their naps. Less than an hour long nap this afternoon. For both of the boys. Hmmm, yeah, they are in great moods right now.

Baby food for Rocky

Yesterday, Rocky got to a half eaten jar of baby food before I had a chance to put it up. Apparently he loved it. The label was on it when he started, but he was grasping it so hard with his paws, that he sratched the label off. He did get most of the food out before I took it away from him.

Protecting eyes

In the last few days, Miles has started wearing his police helmet while watching tv/movies. He puts the visor down over his eyes and nose, so he can, in his words, "protect his eyes" (and sometimes nose) from the scary parts of the movie. Then lifts it up for the rest of the movie.

Self-portrait

Miles' first pictures

Miles got a hold of our camera this morning and asked how to take a picture. He then proceeded to go around the living room and office clicking away. Without a care as to where the camera was pointing or if his finger was over the lens. Here are some of his better shots. He did manage to get a picture of Mike and I, without his finger in the way. But seeing as it was about 6 am and neither one of us were looking to great, there is no way I am about to let those pictures out to roam around the internet.

A corner of our couch:

Me at the computer:

And a couple of decent pics of Quincy:
He kept getting closer and closer to Quincy, there are a few shots of his belly, hand, etc.

Beach morning

The boys and I went out to the beach this morning. It has been just about a month since we last went, when Mike's parents were down visiting. I can't believe we haven't found the time to go sooner. But we made it out today and had a lovely day. It was quite foggy this morning, and we could barely see the ocean from the beach when we first got there. The sun came out and burned off all the fog and left us with beautiful weather. Miles did great when it was time to leave, this is the first time he didn't cry and throw any sort of a fit, he just asked to stay once, then said okay. He was then sad and sullen the whole ride home, but I'll take that anyday over tears and tantrums. They are both wiped out and upstairs napping now. Ahhh, I love a nice morning at the beach!

Bug catcher

Miles is now a bug catcher. And he seems to be quite good at the catching part. Not so good at finding them, he was looking in all the wrong places. But up on the landing of his slide, bugs like to hang out. He went inside and got his bug holder thingamajig, and put the bugs in there, dead and alive. He just had no problem grabbing a live bug, and holding it between his fingers for several minutes while he looked at it, showed it off and then opened the door to the bug holder to put it in there. Eww. But he was having fun. Luckily, the bugs escaped before he could bring them in the house.

Rainy evening

After dinner last night, we got a wicked thunderstorm. Some pretty strong thunder and lightning for a while, then big hail followed by a downpour of rain. We actually quite enjoyed it as we were out on the porch when it all started. Especially with the new metal roof on the porch, sitting out there playing and listening to the storm was nice.

Quincy had fun playing, for the first time, on the tricycle and bouncy toy, he enjoyed the bouncy toy so much that everytime I stopped bouncing him, he would cry and growl in protest. The tricycle I believe he would have stayed on all night if we let him.

Miles tried playing tug-of-war with both Rocky and Mike with the dogs toy, normally Rocky loves playing this with Miles, as you can see, he was less than interested last night.

So he decided to hide under the table for parts of the thunderstorm.

Sword fight

Here is a clip from the battle of the century.

Dog bath

Mike washed Rocky in the yard yesterday. Although he is part Lab, this dog just doesn't like to get wet. Here is a picture of Mike trying to rinse him off.

And is this a sad looking dog or what?!