Banana boats

For part of a Family Home Evening lesson Teddy had the kids make boats out of bananas. She cut the skins a little and they pealed it back then dug out all the banana. We mashed the bananas all up and then added cool whip and mashed up strawberries and then we stirred. That mixture became the filling for the boat. Then you could add yummy toppings we had nuts, maraschino cherries and Elsie's favorite mini chocolate chips. I am sure you could come up with more yummy things if you thought about it. It was a fun treat.

Happy birthday Grammy

Grammy had a birthday when we were visiting so we got to sing her happy birthday in person this year. We had a nice dinner and then cake and ice cream as a family, it was great. I can only assume it was all she really wanted for her birthday...plus all the cards from the grand kids!

Blueberries!!!

While in Vermont we got to sample Teddy's blueberries! I love going there in August because you are sure to get some blueberries. I found myself out there picking a lot and enjoying eating them even more.  I am not sure why Elsie is making a yucky face all I can guess is she got a sour blueberry...and yes pants in August. The weather was pretty nice but it got pretty cold at night there even though it was summer. That made the mornings cold too so it was hard to figure out what to wear each day!

Fun at the park in Vermont

We were so lucky this summer to get to visit my family in Vermont and Boston! Elsie and I went for three whole weeks which is a long time to be away form home but when you are with family it flies by. Here are some pictures of Elsie with her cousins. We played everything from hide and seek to making cards for Grammy for her birthday. We also went for a quick nature walk on the near by trail. It was wonderful to all be together and to see the kids play!

Will's Birthday

Elsie and I planned a trip in August this year so we missed WIll's real birthday but we celebrated it a few weeks early before we left. We were so sneaky about the whole thing so he would be surprised when he woke up on Saturday. We made him sugar cookies again and hid them before he came home on Friday. Then when Elsie got up that morning I told Will I would get up with her and I did. We went right out and started decorating...well we probably ate first but then we decorated cookies. We put the candles in, planed a scavenger hunt, hid all the clues and wrapped presents, and then went in and woke up Will. By then it was probably close to 10 am. Will got up reluctantly and then did the scavenger hunt and got all his presents. I forgot to mention that Elsie had been wanting to get Will flowers for his birthday and these colorful roses are the ones she picked. Then we had to light the candles and sing happy birthday to daddy. I think it was a fun morning. I really wanted to do something special for him since we were going to be gone for three weeks!

Fun friends

We love it when our KC friends come out to visit their family because they always call us and ask us to come along for a day. We miss them and it is so fun to see the girls just pick up where they left off the last time even though they see each other maybe once a year or so (yes they are twins!).

Silly sock monster

The sock monster appears at our house again...this time without any warning and without any help!

Plant

We got a potted pant from Grandpa Hemingway's funeral...but it came in a basket. To make it more permanent and give it drainage we transplanted it into a pot. Elsie had a fun time helping with this and as you can see we made quite the mess and should have done it outside! I am happy to report the plant is growing very well and is healthy.

Raspberries

Yummy! In the summer we go to the farmers market in town and get fresh food each week. Elsie's favorite thing to get it raspberries. Here she demonstrates a fun way to eat them.

Swimming lessons 2011

I put Elsie in swimming lessons again this summer for just under two weeks. It was a fun time and she got more comfortable with the water so that was good. But the recreation center does not have the man power to really focus on each kid and teach them to swim. Next summer I hope to go to a local lady who does a better job of teaching them to swim. Elsie still had a lot of fun and was close to jumping off the diving board by herself but would not go down the big slide alone as last years try still has her scared.

Free summer concert

We made it to one free concert this summer. It was a folk/bluegrass festival but we had to leave when the real good stuff was starting because it was time to get Elsie home to bed. Maybe next year we will get a baby sitter so we can hang out more? Here is the proof that we were there.

My little pirate

Elsie got to go to a cousins birthday party this summer and he had a pirate theme. So she came home with a lot of fun things to help her dress as a pirate. She was really getting into the part too.

A puppet show

This summer we were lucky enough to go to a local puppet show. Elsie's first I believe. It was fun and to top off how awesome it was Elsie got to go up and be pinky in where is Thumbkin. She was not shy at all and spoke right into the microphone when it was her turn. I can't recall what she was supposed to say maybe "pinky" or "little finger" or something. I think she liked it though.

A visit from friends

Here are a few cute shots of Elsie and one of her little friends who was visiting from another state. She loved seeing her friend and I had a great time catching up with her mom too. It is amazing how fast they grow! This particular friend has been gone for quite a while so that when I saw she could talk really well it surprised me because she could not when she had moved. Silly me she grew up and her speech improved of course!