July

In between all of our comings and goings are these snapshots of our summer.

July 1: 

Baby loves blueberries.

From a slightly more disturbing angle ;)

Sunday brunch at Playa's with the misters running

July 2: 

Whirling dervishes

July 3: 

Beautiful cities

July 4: 

Baby's first "Fourth" - ready for the parade.

A little while later, slightly less excited about the parade

Nay-nay showing her patriotism.

July 5: 

Lunchtime

Clara & Meghan with the truck

July 6: 

Hanging out in the rain

July 15: 

Lunch at Foster's

Pullen Park with Daddy

    

July 16: 

Meghan "helps" me organize, Jack colors, and Clara dances to the Nutcracker. 

July 18: 

Baby's first Rubs

July 19: 

Baby in the big tub

July 20: 

At the park

July 21:

Elementary school park

Jack explores all the spinning gadgets

Back in the A/C, building the leaning tower of legos

July 22:

Chalk time

July 23:

Clara playing the part of a thunderstorm

July 26: 

Only days from her first steps

July 31:

Seconds after her very first steps

Later post-Armadillo trance

Nay-Nay, Pop-Pop, & Lucy Come to Raleigh (July 25 - 30)

First things first, Happy Birthday to Pop-pop and Annabeth!

The last weekend in July we had special visitors - Pop-pop, & Lucy came down to join Nay-nay, who'd been here since that Wednesday, and spent some time with us. 

Lunch at Foster's with Nay-nay.

Meghan's disappearing act. She was loving the spread off the ground much to Nay-nay's chagrin.

Showing off their tails

So excited to be in the big tub!

Lunch on the deck

The kids had a great time playing in the backyard pool. Even Meghan joined in the fun.

Meghan has fun splashing.

This is war!

Loading up.

Fire!

Fleeing the scene bear crawl style!

Baby Bigfoot!

Gramby & Su-su Meet Us in the Middle (July 13 -14)

While I was in Richmond with the kids the second week in July, Gramby & Su-su were in North Carolina vacationing for a few days at Wrightsville Beach. They were set to head home on Friday, as were we. In order not to simply wave to one another on opposite sides of the highway as we traveled back to our respective homes, they decided to join us in Raleigh for a brief visit.

After our long car ride and having been gone for a week, the kids were excited to get out in the back yard and play. 

Snuggles with Daddy who missed his Meghan all week.

Digging in the dirt.

Snuggles post-dirt snack

Chalky hands

Pizza dinner outside.

Playing hide & seek after dinner, foiled by Jack.

Saturday morning Meghan was enjoying some time with Su-su.

Meanwhile Jack was in the hall building houses with his blocks.

Ready to hit the road.

Before lunch we took a trip to Daddy's new office - a converted cotton mill. He hadn't mentioned the scooters! I foresee trips there this winter. "Hi guys, don't mind us. We're just going to ride our bikes while you work."

Summer Trip to Richmond (July 7 -13)

Surprise, surprise I'm backblogged again. Here's the first of many catchup posts until we're up to date!

Second week in July we headed to Richmond for our annual summer trip. It was a nice change of pace to mix up the routine. These are random snippets from our week.

Meghan prior to this video was repeating "Nay-nay" very clearly over and over. Of course as soon as the camera came on she was saying everything but.

Where's Waldo? with Luce

Got dolls?

Backyard pool at Camp Pop-pop.

Last baby swimming. As you can see from the video below, she really loved playing in the pool.

Little stinker

Big girl on the rocking horse! (Note Nay-nay's knees in the picture as she's poised to swoop in in case Meghan topples over)

Helping out in the kitchen by shucking the corn.

Naked dining at Nay-nay's?

Over the week we got to hang out a bunch with the Schaeffer clan. Clara and Luke went to the pool and had loads of fun teaching each other their tricks.

Best buds.

Later in the week we had a morning playdate followed by lunch. Meghan checked out Baby Hal in the swing.

Lunch time  = silly faces.

All six kids in one picture with no one looking at the camera, classic.

One morning we braved the heat and walked to a church park where Clara tried out their monkey bars.

Recently Clara has been very interested in climbing trees. One thing Clara was very excited about in her anticipation of this trip to Richmond was getting to try out the very climb-friendly magnolia tree in Nay-nay & Pop-pop's front yard. She wanted me to get a picture of how high she climbed. ;)

Not to be outdone by her big sis.

Jack wanted in on the fun too.

Three kids in one frame, of course no one is looking at the camera.

Meghan's Steps

Before I embark on yet another addition of blog catchup, I thought I'd get things started up again with some current events: 

Meghan has taken her first steps! She did it one week ago. She started out holding Sydney's leash, took one, then fell but got up and proceeded to take 4 more. Since then she's really only taken one or two at a time, but today something clicked, and she just took off, taking 5 or 6 at a time, multiple times. I managed to pick up the camera at the exact right moment to capture one of her first attempts.