Craft club, swimming, Cafe Rio, and beautiful hair

Here is Ramsey with a few friends at the end of a crafting session of the summer craft club for girls...how cute?!

On cloud nine!

We are doing an August pass at the local pool and having a blast.  The kids did swim lessons and thoroughly enjoyed the instructor "Mr. Matt."  He got Beck into the "big" pool at the first session, so it was a smashing success as far as I'm concerned.  Beck was resistant to doing a few things, but he really enjoyed himself and got comfortable in the pool.  Both kids now put their faces in the pool and blow bubbles.  Ramsey is really a swimmer now :)  She worked so hard at each lesson, but definitely goofed off a lot!  It made me happy :)

She loves to "ride" her horse named "Judy" all around the pool.  Vivid imagination. 

Here's Beck, showing Mr. Matt his favorite move, kicking his feet on the steps.  

Snacks at the pool are essential.

Girls' night out, saying goodbye to a friend moving to Europe.

Cafe Rio gets a lot of hype AND it is really good.  Go figure!

Here's that beautiful hair.  I think that is the most common comment I get with Ramsey and Beck--"look at that hair, so beautiful!"  It's funny because we really need serious hair cuts (adults included), but I agree their hair is pretty amazing.  

Matt's night to make dinner--delicious!  

He said his Dad used to make the same Nacho dinner for their family years ago.  

Beck did this on his own and was very proud.

Ramsey and Sarah dressing up.  They insisted on posing for the camera for each of these pics--they were very specific about positioning :)

All cleaned up and pajamaed, ready for Family Home Evening.

"I'm cold!"  Um...put on some clothes then?  Nah, they'd rather do nudity with blankets.

I realize the mask helps me deal with my least favorite job--cleaning the bathroom.  I cleaned my Grandma's house when I was 13-14 every other Saturday.  The bathrooms are most memorable, and later when I clipped her toenails when she was unable to bend down after her first stroke.  I am honestly grateful I had that bonding experience with her.

Ramsey's Scrabble ABCs.

Silly.

Sweet.

Silly.

Sweet.

Sleeping boy.  Silence!

This guy! xoxo

See what I'm dealing with?  I got this email from Matt this week--his friend Dan took this pic, and the caption is, "Matt is really enjoying Subway."  Sometimes life gets so boring--go to work, go to sleep, go to work, go to sleep.  I hardly think Subway helps alleviate boredom.  Just sayin'.

Matt with Matt Jr.  Beck is totally Matt's mini-me.  Just the other day, Matt and I were talking about some challenge we were having with Beck, and Matt said, "I think that's pretty normal,"so I said, "really?" and he said, "well, normal for my family."  I pushed because I honestly didn't know what he meant and said, "like who?" and he said, "like me!"  Duh!  Beck likes what he likes, is confident, crazy smart, and so smiley and cheerful, but stubborn.  Just like the man of the house :)  He always talk non-stop, just like the lady of the house!

Here we are at Cafe Rio-yum.  Life has been a bit grumpy for Matt lately, but he's keeping his head up.

July wrap-up

I've been riding my bike with the kids dragging behind in the bike trailer a lot lately, most days.  The kids are getting so friendly--most people we pass get a "HI!" from both of them, then the kids talk about whether the people responded or waved, and why or why not.  The other day, Beck shouted out, 

"Hi!  We're riding our bike too, just like you!" 

We generally wrap up a ride with a playground visit.  I like to change things up and visit different playgrounds, and the kids get so excited.  This "new park" is not far from the house.  We love Vienna!  There are so many playgrounds to choose from :)

They loved the tire swing.  Beck didn't want to go high, Ramsey did.  Just a few months ago Ramsey rode a tire swing with some girls a little older than her, and she didn't want to go high while they did.  Funny how things change!

More at the "new park."  Can you believe Ramsey's hair?  

Taco dinner with fresh corn on the cob.  Ramsey really made a dent in her corn, I was impressed!

Hopscotch.

Silly faces.

My book mending station.  

These books were on the counter because they needed repairs--Beck has been in a ripping phase and it is maddening.  We have been going to the library generally once a week since he was born (and before), and I have stuck with it because I knew it would be worth it eventually.  Even through nursing.  Even through getting reprimanded by the ever-cranky Patrick Henry Library librarians (Beck once got in trouble for not wearing his shoes, and yes, he was only 1-year-old, TRUE STORY).  Even through screaming and hitting.  Even through potty-training both kids.  Even through changing library hours that make no sense.  But the ripping is doing me in!  Luckily he rarely does it AT the library.  And we have officially shifted to the Oakton Library--the librarians are much nicer there.  I "like" to ride my bike there--it is a tough, 2.4 mile each way super-hilly ride, but worth it.

Dinner at Good Stuff Eatery.  Beck wanted his ketchup straight up.

The verdict: the Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake was the best!

  Yummy burgers!

Ramsey spotted this "graffiti" and thought it was hilarious to be the little girl.  She asked Matt to join in.

And he was the dad.  

I get to enjoy this fine specimen every day :)  I am one lucky lady.  He is such a character!

More bowling.  We couldn't help it.

Ramsey was determined to knock them all down.  She didn't, but she thought she did for some reason.  Who are we to argue?

Baby Panda rooting for Team Beck, Blue Doggie for Team Ramsey.

They decided to keep each other company.  Thanks Ramsey!

Book in tow, which is becoming standard.

I know it's fuzzy, but I wanted to capture how much joy bowling brings Beck.  Every time he released that bowling ball, he danced like a wild man and laughed and laughed.  He wasn't much concerned about how many pins fell.  

The score.  At stake: a massage.  Matt was thrilled to win!

Beck is pouring our homemade marinade on the steak, which turned out great.  The fish I also cooked did not turn out great unfortunately.  That's what I can't stand about cooking--that things don't turn out.  

  Dressing up.  These are costumes Mimi gave them that are from my recitals when I was dancing at Virginia Dell Studio as a kid.  I can't believe these old things are in such good shape.

The kids are dancing to the Dora station on Pandora, 

which Beck asks to do pretty much every day--"can we listen to moo-sic?"

They really love wrestling!

This was a part of Beck's dance routine--"NO MORE monkeys jumping on the bed!"  

He was dead serious.  

Capes.  Ramsey was pretty upset about Beck's blanket choice--she said it is Blue Doggie's blanket (it did come with Blue Doggie, who was really a gift for Beck from Aunt Patty and Uncle Bo 

when I was expecting Beck).  

Luckily, Blue Doggie was in a generous mood.

Here they are enjoying the stickers that were a prize for Beck using the potty.  Sharing, not sharing, etc., is a constant negotiation around here.  I generally like them to work things out on their own (pre-violence of course), and they do, but sometimes it is ENOUGH with the bickering over who gets what!