More 4th of July celebrations - splash pads, pool parties, and bubbles!

It's a long weekend full of fun celebrations for 4th of July.  We kicked off the day before with a morning trip to the splash park with our friends.  (It's so hot during the day that it's best to go in the morning.)

Maxwell and Sadie

Time to take a break and have a snack

Maxwell found a little caterpillar and actually picked it up!  (Out of character for him)

Watching the caterpillar

After the kids were done at the splash park we went to play on the playground.

Carter was there too (and Andrea and Jeff) but just not these in these pictures.

All these flags flying in the wind made me feel so patriotic!

After naps, we went to a 4th of July pool party next door.  I made an orzo salad for the first time, plus did prosciutto wrapped figs (loved them at Tida's and had to have them again).

We bought a new digital camera that's waterproof so it was fun to try it out!

Maxwell and Jared

Emmalyn loves Mr. Chris

Owen, Hayden, and Maxwell

He loves swimming SOOO much.

His skills are great and I don't have to watch him like a hawk anymore.

As a special treat, as the sun went down, Chris added in some bubbles.  It was a LOT of bubbles.

Mr. Chris has Maxwell believing that when he says the magic word "abracadabra" it turns on the pool lights.  So when it gets dark, Max will say the secret word and Mr. Chris will discretely push the button to turn on the lights.  Maxwell thinks he's doing magic. :)

Mary Ann, Melissa, and Avery

Being overtaken by bubbles

Covered in bubbles

Swimming underwater with glow sticks

Maxwell and Avery

Splash Park with Cousins

We hit the splash park with all the kids.  This was Emmalyn's first time at a splash park and she had a ton of fun.  Maxwell even had fun and played with all the different toys.

Lil' Miss Photobomb

Trying to drink the water

It's a trend!

Emmalyn at 4 months Old

Emmalyn at 4 months...

Loves her dolly, it's her favorite toy
Is pitting up a ton
Recently we've struggled to get her down at night
We work hard to get tiny giggles, and found we get more giggles when she's nearly upset
She doesn't want to suck on her binky much anymore
Has THE cutest smile (especially with her tongue)
Has pretty, blue, big eyes (I wonder if they will stay blue)
Will coo and talk like crazy on her changing table
Has a temper - screams when she isn't happy
Loves her brother and just watches him.  She looks at her dad until he acknowledges her.
Hates the act of being swaddled but then is okay when it's all done
Sleeps in the swing a lot during the day but can lay awake for a long time first
Is happy on her play mat and ok with tummy time but doesn't like to sit
Wants to be put to sleep upright, on your shoulder, while you pat her back
Loves the bath and loves to splash
Loves to be outside but not in the carseat or in the car (heaven forbid the car stops moving)
Has lots of interest in what I'm eating lately
She's still 100% breastfed and is starting to get distracted when eating
She's getting 4 oz of milk at a time when she gets a bottle
Her hair is coming in lighter
I think her digestive system is okay with me having milk in my diet now but I still try to limit it
We are moving towards 4 hours of sleep at a time at night


More pics from the last half of August 2014...

The boys playing in their fort while eating their apples

Landen and Emmalyn are buddies

Tummy time, there's that tongue

I took Maxwell to his pediatrician for his 3 year checkup. He was so excited to go.

He was a little nervous to get his blood pressure but was so brave.

The first time we were in this room he was 2 months old.  It's amazing that 3 years have past!

He did great on the developmental questionnaire - It was for 2 - 4 year olds and you are supposed to go until you get 3 "no's".  We did the whole thing and only got 2 "no's". (both were physical development focused)

Maxwell Stats:

Weight - 32.6 Lbs 60th percentile!

Height - 35.75 inches 13th percentile! (not bad)

Blood Pressure - 100/65

Heart-rate - 108 bpm

I took the kids to the neighborhood splash park and we had it all to ourselves!  I later learned that's because it was back to school night so all the kids were at school learning who their teachers were, etc.  Maxwell actually played, which was nice for a change.

Video - Maxwell at the splash park

Sneaky hands worked their way out of the swaddle when she was sleeping

Our first box from Tiffany's.   Peter got to pick something out of a Tiffany's catalog for his one year anniversary at work.  We (me) picked a pair of square candy dishes.  Because, you know, M&Ms taste better when they are in a dish from Tiffany's.

My silly kids

Emmalyn got to watch a little TV.