Cutie pies

I can't believe they're 8 months now, then I look at pictures of them when they were born. They're so huge now! Crawling everywhere, thank goodness, and into everything.

Playdough and playing together

This is one of those moments that looks unremarkable at a glance but the story just warms a mother's heart. The girls were sitting opposite of each other and were in direct competition for resources: playdough, tools, mats, etc. I was thinking they would end up losing the activity within a quarter hour. Instead, Avy came up with a game of making "food" for the whole family, then invited Ellie to sit next to her and help. They continued at this for an hour and a half, until we told them we had to clear the table for dinner. The focus and the teamwork! I loved it :)

They're getting a little jaded

We have blueberries growing in our front yard, strawberries along our walkway, raspberries in pots by the street and blackberries in the side yard. At the first of summer the girls spent all their time hunched over the assorted plants, picking and eating - I'd have to swat them away from the no-where-near-ripe berries. Now there's so many ripe berries that they don't even pretend to eat them all; this is what was leftover at the end of the day (banana for scale). Dessert for me and Dave!

Beans and carrots are from our wonderful neighbors across the street. They also bring us fresh fish regularly and have planted a gorgeous Dahlia plant just for the girls to pick from.

Closing out July

It's been a busy month! August will continue to be so with Daddy on vacation and summer in full swing.

Random weekend family shots

We're getting into dressup play heavily now. Avy likes to throw on an assortment of tutus, ponchos, medals, and cowboy hats and proclaim she's an "Astronaut Princess Doctor's Office". Good to have goals dear!

Ellie doesn't have a preference yet, but she likes anything that allows her to "twirl like a queen". I'm in the kitchen and I hear my name being called. Ellie: "Momma, take my picture! I'm SUPER cute!"

And behold.

Speaking of super cute....

Daddy's home on vacation this week. The kids are delighted. I left him like this. I'm not ashamed in the slightest ;)

Making breakfast

I follow the blog How We Montessori for ideas on activities, chores, peace making, etc. It's a great one in general, and I love how the mother promotes independence in her sons' daily lives. Case in point: making their own meals. She's had them chopping fruits and veggies and cooking over hot plates at a way earlier age than my girls, so I finally caved in and got a cheap little portable stove. The girls made eggs for themselves and the babies and it was a huge success.

What I especially like about this, besides the intense focus they give the task, is the patience they suddenly have at meal time. Breakfast typically is hectic for me - I give the babies their bottles, get the girls up, pottied and dressed, make food for everyone because everyone is now telling me they're starving, clean up while everyone eats then feed the babies another bottle because after all that they're still starving.

But now? The girls actively help with the making of breakfast which means they appreciate the time that goes into the process. The babies don't yet of course, but they're slower to chase me down ;)

Beach day

I don't brave the beach by myself - too many places for my attention to be - but a friend asked if she and her older kids could accompany us. Day at the beach with help? Yes please!