Iko Iko

Clicked on my favorite blog the other day, and this song was playing. If you are feeling adventurous, go ahead and push play for musical accompaniment during blog browsing. This is the version from one of my favs ... Cyndi Lauper.

Totally reminds me of summer and all that goes with it.

Picnics and play dates at the park:

Purple popsicle lips:

Spray fans:

Pool parties!

not sure what's happening on the right here ... 

huge dumping bucket that freaks all the kids out

Playtime on the back porch:



Lounging in our backyard pool:

Time for dress up!

Adventures at Wonderscope:

  

and Little Monkey Business:

Ella the elephant pulled out all the books and then decided to read them

Papa David (and Grandma Cathryn's) birthday!

who knew clothespins could be so much fun?

Time with family. Here we are at my cousin Amy's house. They turned one of their barns into an indoor skate park. So cool.

my creative cousin's jewelry making spot ...

and a place to make skateboards ...

and a chicken coop!

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It's been a wonderful summer staying home with Ella. I always get so sad this time of year, thinking of all the fun we had together and how much I am going to miss it when I go back to work. Ella's grown up a lot over the past few months.

She's learned to sing all the silly songs we've been singing to her since she was born:





She even started counting!

She gave up her naptime/nighttime binky to the "binky fairy" and in return got some new toys, including these colorful bathtub crayons (which don't come out of white grout, by the way).

She's developed a really zany personality. She loves to make us laugh, whether it be with a funny face, a silly walk, or a goofy noise. She wants to do more and more things on her own, too, which is exciting but sometimes frustrating (for her and for us). She is slightly obsessed with taking things out of something and then putting them all back in. She will spend a whole hour playing with a box of touch-and-feel flashcards (which are fabulous, by the way), dumping them out and then putting them back one by one. She may get upset (like, really upset) if one little thing is wrong, like if the velcro comes off of her box so it won't close anymore or if you read her 20 books before bed and she wants to read just one "mo-mo". She's strong-willed and feisty. She's learning to master the stairs and will clean up her toys if we wait her out long enough (and sing the clean-up song). She loves "Abby and Elmo" and Micky Mouse Clubhouse. She gives the best hugs and kisses of any kid I know. She's growing up!

We couldn't be more proud of our almost two-year-old.