Category Archives: Uncategorized

Pennsylvania Fun…for Two Weeks!

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I don’t know if we are up for another two week long adventure any time soon, but we sure had fun while we were in Pennsylvania.  There was so much playing, visiting, partying, woods-walking and tractor riding, it was hard to say goodbye.  It was hard to get enough sleep. 🙂  Both kids were troopers, though and we had a great time (even though it rained an awful lot and was super hot–until it wasn’t and then it was cold!)  Hopefully, it won’t be very long (fingers-crossed) until we return.  Nearly every single day we traveled to a new place.  Ollie isn’t too fond of his carseat since we got back home.  Perhaps there was too much running around?!?  

Lily showed great empathy towards the groundhog Gramma Hurley tried to capture.  When the small one was trapped, in the barn, after eating many carrots and much peanut butter, Lily told everyone that it was going to join its family down by the river and that it was a little sad to be in a cage.  Every morning and night the trap was checked and there were many different things caught (raccoon, feral cat)…none of them the grand groundhog. As of this writing, the thing is still alluding Mom.  <sigh>
Ollie at French Creek playground

He always looks like he is having the very best time, doesn’t he? 

Gramma/Great-Gramma celebrated her 89th birthday!  

We went to Becky’s… 
where Anna and Lily disappeared 
only to appear dressed a little differently than we expected. 
Robeson Elementary playground 
Can you feel the Love?

Cuckoo Cuckoo

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Some nights it feels like crazy o’clock before everything finds it way to being “done”.  Even though we have a routine, there is time built in for just being cuckoo.  On this particular evening, Oliver was in bed, the kitchen was clean, and the only thing left to do was tuck Lily in and read some books.  I was attempting to hustle her upstairs {QUIETLY!} because O sometimes wakes at the slightest noise, it seems to me, but as I came down the hall, what did I happen upon but a big girl up the stairs…

Lily,


You amaze me with your ever expanding fearlessness.  For a girl who used to sit back and observe, you sure have grown into a Girl Adventure.  I love it.  It is fun watching you get into situations that are new and need figuring out.  In this case, coming back down was not as easy as going up.  I’m happy you still need my help 🙂 


                 xoxox Momma

We Love Uncles

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Around here we are big fans of uncles.  We are big fans of uncles that throw us in the air, give us candy and treats, take lots of pictures and share their cameras, take us swimming and generally give us attention and cuddles. Since we’ve got FOUR, we don’t go long between visits from one of them.  Uncle Brent stopped by one night before we set off on our travels and played.  Ollie has discovered technology and like any Apple product-lover, gets pretty upset if he has it in his grasp and you attempt to take it away.  And you thought he was always a happy guy.  (He is really crying in the last photo!)

If You’re Happy and You Know It

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Lily is enjoying preschool.   Ollie and I have gotten a glimpse into her day.  On her first day of school, she came home and asked us to get in a line (not sure how I feel about this…).  After her second day, a day she had music class, we received instruction on our favorite song.  
Here’s our rendition:
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!
If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet!
If you’re happy and you know it, shout Hooray!

(Another) First Day of Preschool

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Outside school for the first day!

Well, today was the day!  Lily’s first day back at preschool!  Just like Meet the Teacher day on Tuesday, she was so excited that she was out in the car, buckled, ready for her day 25 minutes before we actually had to leave.  This gave us plenty of time to take pictures to record the momentous day.

Last year she was the oldest in her class…since she started school in January, I guess they thought she would need time to acclimate and catch onto the routines of a school day.  She enjoyed her classmates and loved her teachers, but my observations told me she was a little more mature and independent.  No Busy Bees for Lily…this year she is a:

LITTLE BEAR
with
{Teacher Ana and Teacher Katie}

{First packed lunch}
Ham and Cheese Sandwich
Carrot Sticks
Animal Crackers
Veggie Sticks
Banana
Lemonade 

{First Outfit of the School Year}
Pink Dress
Polka Dot Sweater
Cowgirl Boots
Blue Ribbon in Hair

After going into her classroom, putting her things in the cubby, and sitting down to get into the playdoh, she cheerfully said goodbye and assured me she would have a Great Day!  xxoxo.  Love that girl!


Ready to Go! 
Lily just wanted to get inside…no more pictures, Momma 

Our Little Bear 
Busy in her new classroom

Another gymnast?

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This is what Sam hopes.  We are very excited about our kids being involved in some sort of team sport (not in an insane way–traveling teams and whatever at 4) but in a “learning to work with others in a competitive endeavor” sort of way.  West Point?  Berks Gymnastics?  Hello!  Lily looks like she is on her way-she’s got the moves and look down already!  She told us she was Chelsea somebody from a competition she watched with her Dada.  She even let me brush, pull back, spray her hair and tie a ribbon in it.

The Boy and The Trike

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Oliver continues to be a sturdy and steady little pre-walker.  I know, I know, I reported earlier that he was “walking” but he was really is (and continues) just taking steps.  But individual steps lead to combined steps and that means walking!  But he really wants to keep up with whatever his big sister is doing so while Lily rides her trike outside (one day she just got the hang of it with Sam’s help!  Yay Lily!) this is what Ollie does:

 Lily pedals to the bank, the store and also to get gas.  (Obviously we run a lot of errands together:-).  Ollie keeps up in any way he can.  Right now he favors the all 4’s walk–not a crawl, more like a monkey, up on both his hands and feet.  He is incredibly speedy.

The Many Faces of Lillian Hughes

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I am surrounded by characters here in this house.  Certainly Lily got both the love of costumes from Sam and need for dance/movement/performance from me.  It is quite a combination.  It is quite a mess sometimes.  Here are just a few of her many looks over the past week or two:

Left alone with markers and a gel pen in the playroom

Showing me how the magic happens 
After getting into my makeup bag which is supposed to be out of reach

Give us a pout, girl.  Oy vey.  Help me.

This next one, however, is the one that makes me laugh out loud.  I can’t even post the real pictures of this her latest and greatest mess to date.

I know it doesn’t look like much…until you understand that:
1.  She had watched a gymnastic competition with Sam in the morning of this day.
2.  She was left alone outside while I worked on dishes.
3.  Her easel with paint was set up.
4.  Nearly each day she ends up playing naked in one form or another.
So what you get a glimpse of in this photograph is a nude Lily who painted in her gymnastics leotard, complete with long sleeves and also tights.  She did a little routine for us as we snapped pictures.  I’m really glad photos don’t need to be developed any longer at a photo shop or we may well be arrested.

Last of Summertime…

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I really feel like summer is coming to an end.  I’m getting anxious about the beginning of school, our new schedule, the time we will be able to devote strictly to playing and seeing friends….so we are making the most of our summer and taking advantage of all the cool things there are to do nearby.

For fun we went to see some friends at the “splash playground” in Palo Alto-also known as Mitchell Park-yesterday.  There was less water play than we usually have and much more running around with friends on the playground.  Lewa Drew was there, a willing and able partner in exploring the sand pit and various climbing opportunities.  It is so great to have an extra set of hands and eyes along–Sam came with us!

And then we went to Happy Hollow this morning to celebrate the first of the new batch of babies in our group turning 1.  I’m kind of shocked that I don’t have any anxiety about that milestone but I/we have SO enjoyed our first year as a family of 4; just looking forward to seeing how these two develop a relationship beyond taking toys away from one another. 🙂

Lily was much more interested in the playground and petting zoo than the rides.  We tried only two rides–the Dragon Train, of course, and the carousel.  She had ambitions of going on the roller coaster but changed her mind while standing in line.  There’s always next time, Lily!

The first of many two rides 

Snacking before moving onto the playground

We were told that if our child was on the playground, he would need to have shoes.
Sadly, Ollie owns no shoes.
Poor baby.

This is as close as she wanted to be to the roller coaster.