Summer is here!

Okay, summer my not have officially arrived, but school is over for Gianna and we've busted out the pool, so it's summer at our house.

Gianna loves her new bathing suit.

Mark loves wearing his "suit" too. And he likes pouring water on my feet, or shorts and chair if he forgets himself.

But sometimes we have to beat the heat inside and make projects. When Mark's not eating the crafts, he loves to draw. 

Cousins!

Last month we visited Doug's brother and sister-in-law and their kids. I'm so glad they live close enough that we can see them on the weekends. The kids definitely love seeing each other. It was great to catch up and let the kids do a lot of playing.

The boys waiting for the bubble fun to begin.

Isabella gazing at the bubbles. I think her face is so precious in this picture!

The girls goofing around.

Mark and Jack enjoying a meal.

When some other friends came over, the children were enamored with baby Annabelle. So cute! I hope Mark doesn't always greet new lady friends without pants on.

Conversations with Gianna and Beans

Here are a few of Gianna's latest funnies:

(Doug walks in the house with a 2 liter bottle of soda)

Gianna: Whoa Daddy! That's a big chunk of beer!

(One day at the park (i.e. no bathrooms) Gianna really had to pee so I took her to a nearby bush.)

The next time at the park, she says, "Is that where I peed like a dog?"

(Mark puts on a toy necklace.)

Gianna: Mark, you look like a grown up girl! Big girl, big girl!

And, so we don't leave Mark out. Here he is. He likes black beans.

Mother's Day

My Mother's Day celebration started on Thursday with a fun snack at Gianna's school. The kids made us brownies and presented each of us with gifts they had made. It was very sweet. Though it ended with tears when Gianna was sad that they didn't get to sing songs to the mommies. (Turns out the songs they've been practicing are for the last day of school, not Mother's Day as Gianna thought.)

On actual Mother's Day, a truly gorgeous day, we went to the local, annual Azalea Festival with Grandma and Grandpa who had come to visit. Gianna loved all the inflatables!

But I think both the kids enjoyed this fountain most of all. I think they could have stayed there all day. 

I love this picture of Mark. It sums him up!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

I don't have any pictures of Doug on his birthday, just of the kids enjoying his cake. We didn't do much to celebrate, what with it being a Wednesday and Doug's 3rd day at a new job. But Gianna enjoyed making presents, cards, and cake. And Mark enjoyed eating cake, not surprising. Happy Birthday, Daddy; we love you!

Being outside

Spring has finally sprung around here and it's awesome. Now, if I could just bottle these temperatures and bring them out when it's stinking hot this summer. In any case, these kids are just loving being outside and I love how independent they are when we're out there. I can sit with a book while the kids chase balls, collect tree sap, and stare/bark at neighborhood dogs. I put down my book when it's time for chasing and ring-around-the-rosie. Mark nearly hyperventilates from excitement over those activities. I'll try to get a video sometime; it's too cute.


A boy and his ball; still his #1 obsession

Gianna loves playing ball too

Posing in a tree

I love this picture of her. It's very Gianna

Easter

We went to Virginia to see Nonna and Pop-pop for Easter and to return Julia to her family. The kids enjoyed playing with Julia's brothers and really loved egg hunts!

Gianna loved sliding with Rocco

The one name Mark could say, "Joe"

In LOVE with her new Tangled DVD

And she had to start playing with the Tangled "guys" right away

Hanging out with Nonna

Egg hunt! "There's one!"

She loved it!

"Hey! How did she get so many?"

And here's quite a long video of our egg hunt. Don't feel like you have to watch the whole thing :)