Cold Summer?

I think this picture of Riley pretty much sums up how the weather has been most of this summer...what in the world is going on?? Lets just hope it's not a preview of how this winter is going to be!

Growth Charts

I have kept a growth chart for both kids because I think it interesting to see where our kids fall within the ranges compared to other kids their ages.

Here is their weight chart:

I few things I notice in their charts is that at about 6 months they both even out and by 12 months they either are or are almost off the charts for their weight. On Lincoln's chart I can completely tell when he started to get ear infections (6 months) because he stop gaining as much weight as he previously did. Although, starting at such a big baby there was no way he would have kept in the 95 percentile.

Here is their height chart:

Blueberry Picking

I'm a huge fan of picking fruit in the summer. I mean, why not? We live in Michigan and have access to do so. Our playgroup decided that we had so much fun picking strawberries that we'd try our hand at picking blueberries this time around. We drove to Fritz's Blueberries (Brookside Farms) in Paw Paw, MI and their farm was big and beautiful. SO MANY trees--or are they bushes?--to pick from. I was so disappointed that I realized after we already got there that I had my camera but forgot to put the memory card in from the night before, so I couldn't take any pictures. I felt naked without my camera, but thanks to Mandy we have some good ones!

Riley was so excited at the beginning, but if you know Riley you also know that she has a ZERO attention span. Picking the blueberries lasted a whole 5 minutes, she picked until the bottom of her bucket was covered, then it was on to playing in the dirt (really it was mud because it had rained the night before). She was taking her shoes off, throwing the sand in her hair and eating blueberries, all at the same time. I didn't realize how many blueberries she had eaten until I went to combine our buckets in the end and noticed that she didn't have one single blueberry in her bucket. She had eaten every one of them and then some...we got home and she kept saying she had a tummy ache (I wonder why).

I left Lincoln at home with my mom and am thankful that I did because Riley was enough of a handful without him being there too. I literally looked away for 5 seconds and she was at the complete end of the field wanting to play in their "sprinklers" (the HUGE things that spray out water to water the plants...what are those called??). She was a mess and her shoes, feet and legs were covered in dirt. (Good shoes too, she only has 1 pair of closed toe shoes that fit her now. She'll be in a 9/10 this winter HOLY COW). Oh my, this girl gives me a run for my money. When is she going to slow down?? We got a whopping 5.5 lbs, all picked by yours truly. I was hoping for more like 15 lbs because I like to freeze them and make muffins, etc. So, I told Ty that we'll have to do it again before the season is over!

Here's my favorite Blueberry Muffin recipe: (makes 8 muffins)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners. 2. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.
3. To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.
4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.

So excited to share...

My sister, Kasey and her husband, Corey, are expecting their first baby sometime this coming March!! I am SO thrilled to have a niece or nephew and Riley and Lincoln can't wait to have a cousin! Now we just have to convince them to move MUCH closer to us...

CONGRATULATIONS Kasey and Corey! Welcome to parenthood, you're going to love it!

R-E-B-E-L-I-O-U-S

That's the one word that sums up Riley. We told her she MUST stay in her room when she goes to sleep, but she will NEVER fall asleep in her bed. Oh no. That would mean that she's actually obeying us. Instead she takes her pillow and blanket and falls asleep on her rug, on the floor. Usually. However, it was a new thing this evening. She threw EVERY single piece of clothing out of her drawers, climbed in and made herself comfortable. A rebel she is. But I love her nonetheless!

Poor Boots

About a week ago we went down to visit Ty's family on the farm and Riley, to say the least, was THRILLED. She kept saying "Riley see Grandma on the farm" (that's how she distinguishes which Grandma we're talking about) and "Riley see am-in-als". She was sleeping when we pulled in, but it's like she knew we were at the farm and she woke up ready to get dirty!! We also got to see Ty's Grandma, Mom, sister and Dad. We hung out with them the whole day. It's great to be outside and just let the kids run free. (Man, how I wish we had a backyard) Lincoln wasn't a happy camper most of the afternoon, but after his nap he perked up and had fun too. Ty's Grandma said Lincoln wasn't himself and I completely agreed! He cried for what seemed like hours! He wasn't as thrilled to see the animals as Riley was although, he didn't really mind either.

Theron, Lincoln and Ty!

Lincoln eating lunch on the counter. The booster doesn't fit very well on their seat, so we improvise! Blueberries and leftovers from home.

Have I ever mention that Lincoln throws MAJOR fits right now? Well, if not here's proof!

Petting the puppy!

Lincoln and his Great Grandma...did I mention that Lincoln was crabby yet??

A while ago Ri was deathly afraid of the animals, but lately she LOVES them. Almost to the point where I have to tell her to leave them alone. She was petting the dogs then she found this poor kitten. I say "poor" because I felt bad for the thing. Riley wouldn't leave it alone! She carried "Boots" around everywhere she went, even carrying it around in Grandma's old stroller! I couldn't believe how much she enjoyed playing on the farm! I'm glad they've got animals because we never will!!

Belly shot :)!

What a good kitten, she only scratched Riley once and it didn't even phase her!

Princess and Superhero Day in the Park

I just love living where we do right now because there are so many things for me to take the kids to do. Sure, it would be so much easier to stay home and not do much, but I just love getting them out, seeing and exploring new things around them! Last week we went to the "Princess and Superhero Day" in the park. It was so much fun and Riley was thrilled to wear her princess dress out of the house for once. Ty was excited because Lincoln got to wear his "HULK" shirt that he bought for him!

We went to the park with what seemed like hundreds of other little ones dressed up and we watched the reenactment of Beauty and the Beast put on by The Center Stage (I think that's what it was called). They also got to have story time with Belle. Riley kept calling her "Riley Belle". She'd say "Mommy, look, they're Riley Belle :)". (Belle is Riley's middle name) Guess she doesn't quite understand yet. I was a little hesitant on how she would do sitting still the whole time, but she did wonderfully. It also helps that one of her best buds was there too. Kaitlyn is 6 and just adores Riley. She also loves bossing her around and mothering her. To be honest, I LOVE it! I know that wherever Riley goes Kaitlyn is following and vise versa. Riley just LOVES Kaitlyn and so I worry a little less when she's there :).

Gaston and some of the other characters from the play.

The three babies: Lincoln, Lydia and Luke.

Story time with Belle.

My little Superhero, the Hulk, and princess, Snow White!

Lincoln doing what he does best! Eating!!

Riley and Kaitlyn kept holding onto this stick and dancing when they were playing music and singing.

The cast did a wonderful job and the kids all loved it.

Our friends!