Summer Heat

We're now in the middle of summer and realized it's been a while since we posted on the blog. I got the chance to go and help at Karina's Pre-K for the school's Field Day. I don't remember ever doing that when I was a kid, but the whole school was outside running around and playing at various activities. Here is Karina doing a sack race and having fun with it.  Other activities that Karina participated in included golf, knocking balls off of cones, egg races, and parachutes.

Lydia had her birthday party and turned 3. She had a big cookie cake and obviously enjoyed the frosting, which was in her favorite color - purple.

Karina wanted to help pick out a birthday present for Lydia. Tanja took them to the toy store and was suggesting several things that failed to excite Karina. Karina was fixated on this toy dog that waddled while it walked, since her friends apparently have a similar one. She probably figured that she would get a lot of chances to play with it. Of course, Lydia loved it. Or at least until her hair got wound up and stuck in the dog's legs for the second or third time (and yes, the toy's instruction manual had a warning to keep it away from your hair).

One of Lydia's birthday presents was a backpack for when she starts preschool in the fall. The backpack was originally going to be a Christmas present from last year, but she took so long opening all her gifts (because she was only interested in playing with the new train set) that we never got around to that one. She was excited to be a big girl ready for school.

These roller skates were fun for her too. Happy birthday, Lydia!

Both of our girls enjoy helping in the kitchen. Here's Lydia helping make a stir fry for dinner.

Building with Legos is always a hit.

We've tried to overcome summertime boredom by doing day trips every week or two. One of the trips was to Hanover, PA, to visit an Utz potato chip factory. It was actually kind of interesting, and even the girls had fun looking down onto the factory floor from the observation windows. They were probably most excited about getting samples and buying some snacks at the factory store. We also tried to go to a pretzel factory, but it was closed (though we did get to try some samples there too).

We have pretty cute kids (though it is obviously difficult to get them all to cooperate when it is picture time).

Derek has started playing a little in his Jump-a-roo. He likes having something right at mouth level to suck on, and it keeps him entertained for a little bit. It's hard as he is at a stage where he refuses to be put down on the floor, since he only wants to be carried. The Jump-a-roo gives us a chance to give our arms a break. This picture is from his first time in it - now we are at the point where he smiles and is excited for some independent time using it.

We went to Fort Meade for some pre-Independence Day festivities. The girls loved running around and playing in the bouncy castles. Here they are coming down a slide after running through an inflatable "Black Ops" obstacle course.

Derek did pretty well that day for the few hours that we hung around before heading home.

Karina liked playing bean bag toss/corn hole at a set-up that a radio station had there.

Then on the actual 4th, we went to the church for the traditional pancake breakfast that they do out here, along with a bike parade for the kids. Lydia had fun zooming around the parking lot on her truck. We've been practicing with Karina on her bike, but she isn't confident enough yet to ride it regularly, so she was still on her tricycle.  We went as a family to a local fireworks show (the 4th was rainy, so the show was rained out and postponed to the 5th).  The girls were impressed until they got too tired - it was a late night for them.

Derek still enjoys his swing occasionally, especially if he is entertained by his sisters.

Karina likes going outside and playing baseball or soccer with a big bouncy ball we have. Derek comes sometimes too, and he got into a big giggle fit every time Karina would hit the ball. I think we got some good pictures of him here.

We got Derek and Lydia new 50's-era maple dressers that we found on Craigslist. Tanja has been painting and staining them, and Karina was a good helper. She was very methodical and detail oriented making sure that she got complete coverage of the drawers as she was painting them.  She also helped sand and stain the other dresser.

Snoopy went to the vet recently to have a mole removed from his back and to have his teeth cleaned. His missing patch of hair where they shaved him so they could remove the mole and stitch him back up will eventually grow back, but right now, he looks pretty pathetic.

The girls having fun with tummy time, with Derek suffering through it.

We went to a playground by the airport this week. Even though it was so hot, the girls had fun for a while watching the planes land every three minutes or so.

And just for our own record keeping, after their most recent doctor appointments, here are Lydia and Derek's statistics:

Lydia 3 year stats:

Height: 40.0 inches (97th%)

Weight: 36 lbs 0 oz (89th%)

BMI: 15.8 (53rd%)

Derek 4 month stats:

Height: 26.5 inches (95th%)

Weight:16 lbs 4 oz (67th%)

Head Circumference: 43.0 cm (87th%)

Additionally, Derek got his first tooth - the bottom right central incisor - earlier this week.  We think he has the other bottom central incisor coming as well.  No pictures yet, as it is usually covered by his tongue or fingers, but he has chomped on my finger, so I can personally attest that it is there.