TIGF

I am happy for giggles and laughter today. Riley makes me laugh every day, but today was a really good day because we went to the Children's Museum with my parents and when I told her where we were going today she said "That's AMAZING!" So when the day starts out like that, it can only get better! Riley has been to the museum before, but this was the first time she was old enough to really appreciate it. But I kept saying, I'm not sure who was having more fun - Roo or my dad:)

Note: My dad holds his breath when he does anything! (Pitching a softball, digging a hole in the ground...apparently even blowing bubbles!) And Mom has a song for everything. She and Riley are sitting on a pretend city bus, and my mom's hands are in mid "The wheels on the bus")

How You Feelin'? Hot, Hot, Hot!

It was crazy warm yesterday and the day before (Heat Index at or above 100F). Today was a bit cooler, but still hot enough to run through the sprinklers! We invited my sisters over to play in the water (Katie and the kids had yoga in the morning so they couldn't make it:( bummer!!) This was Adrienne's first time in a sprinkler! She was timid at first but then she was trying to drink it by sticking her tongue out in the "splish-splash."

Riley is an old pro at this and showed Adee what to do. Roo also got a huge kick out of making footprints on the driveway!

Auntie Katie, we will try this again another day! I want Zacky to come play in the sprinklers!!!

Mommy's off to Work

On the nights I work, Josh takes Riley on all kinds of Daddy adventures. Last night while I was at work, he took her to the park (they had lots of ice water with them since it was soooo hot and muggy last night) While at the park, Daddy was practicing his photography skills. He is doing so much better;) Of course every time he uses my camera I have to change all my settings back, but he has taken some pretty nice shots lately!

Happy Father's Day Part 2

Here are the pics I promised of the dads! Father's Day at our place is always Hawaiian-Style! And Riley made both Grandpa's do flips with her until they were all tired out!

Teddy Bear Twist

Teddy Bear Band

This weekend, we took a little break from cleaning for the Father's Day festivities to bring Riley up to the Teddy Bear Band in Arbor Lakes. Auntie Meggie was bored so she and Adrienne joined us. (Katie and Darin are up North for a wedding this weekend.)

Happy Father's Day!

Riley wanted to wish her Daddy a Happy Father's Day! I will add photos later today...after our Father's Day luau...of the Grandpa's and Great-Grandpa whom we also wish a very Happy Day, but I didn't want to re-post old photos. We love you Dad's!

Last of the Arboretum

My mom hates to have her picture taken, but I love to make her try:) We took a rest by this beautiful rose bush on Thursday and made Grandma pose for a few pics. The second picture is one of my mom's favorite roses. She likes the bi-colored blooms! The last rose is the "purple heart" rose. It looks more purple up close, but I had to post this picture. My grandpa Don would have liked this one!

TIGF- More for the Arboretum!

These pictures are for my dad! He always takes pictures when he goes to the Arboretum and sends them to me:) Today I am grateful for the Father Figures in our life. Especially my dad who is THE BEST! He was my coach and will always be my "Coach" and my Papa Panda! I love you Dad! And Riley loves her "Papa"!

I am also thankful for my Grandpa who just celebrated a birthday last week and now we celebrate as part of Father's Day! We have been very lucky with our grandpa's nine lives, he had a bad health summer last year, and I'm thankful we can celebrate all that he has done for us kids!

My Father-In-Law also had a bad heath summer last year, but he will be back in his happy place at Back to the 5o's this Father's Day weekend. We celebrate Josh's dad and Riley's Grandpa Mark too!

And last, but certainly not least, Riley and I celebrate our very own "Daddy" this weekend...Or as Riley will tell you, "My mommy calls Daddy, Josh!" He has been an amazing daddy and I love watching him play at the park, read stories and tickle his little girl! One of Riley's favorite stories only Daddy is allowed to read to her..."Puppies Are Like That" was Daddy's favorite book when he was a little boy, and now he reads it to Roo!

Happy Father's Day Dad's!

A Riley Rose by any other name...

Today we decided it must have been Riley Day at the Arboretum. The Riley's tour bus was in the parking lot when we arrived and the bumper sticker was on a car as we were leaving. My mom, Riley and I went for an "adventure" to see the pretty flowers and we had a BEAUTIFUL time...literally! The rose gardens are looking stunning right now and some of the peony and iris are still hanging in there! Riley liked the coy ponds too (didn't take pics of the fish...darn it!)! I will have a few more posts on our fun day...stay tuned!

Quick Green Read

I was listening to the radio a few days ago and I heard about a web site called LiveGreenTwinCities.com and they mentioned an article about all-natural, environmentally safe sunscreen. I have tried some in the past (Burt's Bees is not good for sunscreen, love the chapstick!) and not liked them. This article ranks some of the top performers based on UVA/UVB blocking and other criteria. Thought it was an interesting read for those of you looking for a safer sunscreen for you or your kids!

(in case it doesn't appear "clickable" click on "safe sunscreen" to be directed to the article.)

Last of the Zoo

Here's the rest of the aquarium shots. Riley thought the "ginormous" fish were the best:)

Zoo Part 2

The kids love the tank where you can pet the fish down by the dolphin exhibit, but Riley would only put one hand in quickly and that was it. Noah loved splashing! Besides all the water exhibits (fish, dolphins, sharks, etc.) I think the Kimodo Dragon was also one of Riley's faves! Riley was a little concerned about the sharks because she knows sharks bite. But she thought they were cool anyway!

Minnesota Zoo in Review

This is going to take more than one post. As always, when we go to the zoo I took a lot of pictures:) Today we went to the MN Zoo with my teacher friend Jess (college roomie, senior year) and her son Noah and Meg and Adrienne (Meg roomed with Jess junior year). The only reason it's relevant that Jess is a teacher is that she's now free to play this summer!! (And it's funny going to the zoo with a teacher because everything is a lesson!) We had a great time and I got to try out my "aquarium" setting on my camera! (Sorry for all the exclamation points today...I love zoos!!!)

At the MN Zoo you can now get really close to the giraffes, you can even pay to feed them. We didn't do that, but it was really cool to see them so close. However the kids got just as much of a kick out of the chipmunk!

Even More Dirty!

So, I thought Riley got pretty darn dirty on Saturday night, but she proved ever more capable on Sunday night at Josh's softball games. There's nothing like taking mommy's empty juice bottle and filling it with softball dirt to make a girl happy (and messy) for hours! Here are the before and after shots...and the before is even kinda messy because my kid knows how to make oreo cookie drool!

The worst part about this is we had to go to a restaurant after the games! Thank God someone had lots of paper towel and the drinking fountain was working so we could wipe her down before we left!

Now that we're all caught up...

Now these are pictures that actually happened this weekend. Josh and I host Father's Day every year (since we bought the house, not in the townhouse) so we started trying to make the back yard up to standard for hosting the event next weekend. We worked most of the morning and afternoon and decided not to go grocery shopping, but invite some people over to sit by the bonfire we had already started to burn off some of the sticks our yard accumulates. Long story short, Riley and Ashley played and Riley got DIRTY! It was a nice relaxing evening with friends. Thanks guys!