Oliver's first visit!

Aunt Miranda and Uncle Cole wanted to bring Oliver to our zoo, so we all headed down there for a fun-filled steamy day! It was extra busy and extra hot but we made the most of our time together and enjoyed the day.

Oliver loves being up there looking down on those poor souls forced to walk. ;) He was so cute up there!


Lovely, more bugs to look at!


Miranda was able to bag a bird and was kind enough to let Addy try her hand at feeding it. No matter how many times we tell Addy that she can not pet the birds, that remains her sole goal in the budgie exhibit. I guess dreams are important to have.


Cally caught on quickly!


Addy, Cally and Jarred. Jarred was quite the gentleman and held many doors open for me and the double stroller. He also might have chased after a runaway double stroller, but I can neither confirm or deny that rumor! ;)

Just another day...

While we were outside playing with bubbles and our visiting family, (Aunt Miranda, Uncle Cole and Oliver!) Cally had other plans.

A family of four!

All present and accounted for!

Addy is 4!!!

Addy celebrated a pretty big milestone for the preschool set, she is now 4! Yippee!
We spent the morning and early afternoon at our favorite bounce house. We were joined by great friends and had a ridiculously fun time. Well, Addy had a great time building a house out of the foam blocks until this kid came and knocked it down. Addy kind of let him have it. She can be pretty forceful with her, 'no thank you!'



After our fun at the bounce house we returned home to make frosting and frost the yummy worm cake I made the day before. Addy loved the worm cake and I came to the liberating realization that it was probably the best worm cake she had ever seen! ;)


Sisterly love is still alive at 4 and 16 months!!

Turtle time!!!

We Mussertons love a good turtle time! Our good buddies Gabby and Karina were in need of turtle babysitters and Addy and I stepped right up to the plate. Well, Jiffy and Bandit also stepped up, but luckily no turtles were harmed by their inspection! ;)

Summer Camp!

This summer has flown by so far. I enrolled Addy in four week-long preschool camps and the last one ended this week. Because it was Addy's last camp we marked the occasion with a photo of Addy's wonderful teacher, Sueanne and the reptile camp helper, Mary. Addy was pretty sad when she realized there were no more camps, she asked to always go to preschool there. Too bad it is a 45 minute drive. The preschool program there is perfect for kids who love to be outdoors exploring nature.
Addy and her teachers! Addy can be shy but she is getting to be pretty good at handling new situations on her own. :)


Cally's favorite part of the morning was pick up time! She would run into the classroom, screaming "adday" and throw her arms open for her hugs. I have to say I preschool pickup time is always a favorite part for me too!

Floating in her boat!

Addy took this picture of Cally floating along the creek that runs through our kitchen. ;)

LCM for one!

Hip Hip Hurray!!!

The Super Readers, from the PBS show, Super Why, were at our local children's zoo this weekend! I took both girls and we tracked down the Super Readers!

Addy was thrilled to meet Wyatt and Wonder Red! Addy even got a hug from Red. :)


I thought Cally might be interested in posing with Alpha-Pig, but judging from the ultra-sonic scream that came out of her mouth when I set her down, I guess she wasn't! Addy, however, was very happy to meet another of her favorite characters.


We had discussed the event the day before and after I told Addy who she would meet at the zoo, she said something to me like, mom I think they are just going to be people in costumes, not the real super readers.

We also saw Princess Pea but Addy said she didn't need to meet anymore of the Super Readers, especially if it took time away from standing in the water mister!

Cally playing in the bug room.


Addy drooling over the meal worms, they were apparently very cute and cuddly! ;)


This probably seems like an odd picture, but this sign makes me laugh every time I see it. It is a sign advertising the new wonderful camel exhibit coming soon. I show the sign to Addy every time and every time I say, look there will even be a slide! Addy always replies, wow I didn't know camels can slide!

Yummy in my tummy!

We are pretty lucky to be involved in a great mom's group. One of those perks was the chance to see and taste delicious homemade ice cream as it was being made. A local ice cream store makes all their ice cream on site and uses great fresh ingredients. Even the waffle cones are made at the store. I tried the chocolate, Addy had the vanilla and Cally tried a dairy-free mango sorbet and part of a waffle cone. Well, really I tried all three flavors but after all I drove us there so I suppose I earned it! ;) After our indulgence I encouraged the girls to burn off some of that sugar at a fountain and play area nearby.

Addy was intrigued by the process! Somehow my ice cream maker does not earn the same respect as the large vats our host was using.


Addy and Cally in front of a cool train display. The girls were trying to be good sports, the sun was blinding them.


Addy played in this fountain for a long time. She swore the water was warm, I did not agree!

D-RAM-A

Play time!

We have some hot muggy days and we are pretty much inundated with mosquitoes this year. The bugs make play time outdoors miserable so we have spending time down in the playroom. Addy loves playing with her baby dolls now.

Here she is putting her baby down for the best part of the day- nap! ;)


Addy knows that she needs to take time for herself when the baby naps. She sat right down and said, now it is time for a puzzle!


After a quick puzzle, the baby woke back up. I guess Addy was lucky to get the puzzle completed, around here nap time can be very short-lived!


Addy decided the baby needed to eat. Yummy carrots!


Cally was thrilled to scale another table!

America's birthday!

Aunt Chris and Uncle James hosted a fantastic fourth of July celebration! The weather even cooperated and we enjoyed a beautiful bug-free day day! On a more serious note, David was attacked by two wandering preschoolers!



Cally's cowgirl transformation became a little more complete!


The cousins did a fantastic time playing together. Seriously, I was able to sit back and relax most of the day. I guess parents are no fun compared to cousins!


Two of my favorite people!


Addy had to get a rest in before we left.

Pretty, pretty garden!

Both girls were obsessed with this fish pond.






Addy took this picture of Cally and me. I like Cally's pensive expression.