Molon Adventures: June 2011

Stone Zoo

We spent the afternoon with friends at the Stone Zoo! And despite the heat, we had so much fun seeing all of the animals and playing with our friends!

All ready to go see some animals!

All of the kids watching the bear pace. It was so cute, every time the bear would come their way, Madi (pink hat near the back) would scream and run away.

Anna, Thomas (Hannah's tour guide for the day), Hannah, and Elsie. Hannah just loves Thomas and followed him around all day asking him all sorts of questions about the animals!

Taking a break for a snack. Jake, Hannah, and Sophie.

Emme and Elsie.

Watching the flying bird show! Emme and Amelia! So adorable!

Thomas and the bald eagle.

And an ice cream treat... Emme, Madi, and Thomas.

Jake, Hannah, and Sophie.

Even Amelia joined the kids table and had her own treat (for the very first time!). I think she liked it!

How many kids can you fit on a carousel (going nowhere as none of the moms would put in any coins). They had fun nonetheless.

Thomas helping Amelia get in on the action.

And after a super fun, long day, this is exactly what I expected.

This I did not!

Hiking at Habitat

After 4 days of rain, we took advantage of the first nice day and went for a hike at Habitat.

The girls exploring ahead of us! (I should also note, the mosquitoes took full advantage of the first nice day and oddly did not mind the bug spray that we all had on)

Posing for pictures...

Finally...both looking and both smiling.

Daddy and his girls.

This was Emme's first hike on her own (in the past she's been in a backpack carrier). She did great for most of the hour long hike and only at the end went on Joe's shoulders.

Emme's first bike!

Buddy Joe (my Grandpa) always gets the great grandkids their first bike and Emme was no exception! As she always wants to ride Hannah's bike, we decided it was time so we surprised her with a new bike! A prebike - no pedals..

Hannah was just as excited as Emme for Emme's new bike!

Super excited to try it out!

And not to leave Hannah out, she got some "new to her" roller skates!

Already getting the hang of it!

Emme wanted to try her bike outside. I tried to get a picture of her, but she really wanted my help in riding the bike. Hannah to the photo rescue...except Emme won't really cooperate!

No photos please! (her now common "other" pose)

Alright fine, but I'm not smiling!

Thank you Buddy Joe!

Father's Day weekend

This weekend was all about celebrating Daddy! But first I thought I'd include a picture of a sweet father/daughter moment this past week...Emme helping Joe mow the lawn.

Back to this past weekend. Saturday was Cheri and Frank's annual Father's Day golf/bbq. We woke up at 515a to make the hour + long trek to NH to the golf course so Daddy could play golf. The girls and I (still in jammies) went to Auntie's house to hang out until the bbq.

A rare sighting of Hannah at the bbq (she had so much fun playing with all of the kids!). With Mikayla on the hammock.

And then there was Emme who rarely left our side (there were a lot of people there). In a bathing suit, but never got wet.

Father's Day morning, the girls and I made waffles. Hannah at some point found the camera and wanted to take a self portrait of her and Emme.

Then on to strawberry picking! Hannah's an old pro.

Mommy trying to help Emme out.

Our sweet girls!

Just like Hannah at this age, Emme ate the strawberries the entire time and did not get any into the basket.

A happy father!

For dinner...lobsters. They were out of chicken lobsters at the store and so I got 2 of the big ones (and the guy gave them to me at the chicken lobster price!). This one was particularly big!! Look at that claw!! Hannah's a little nervous as they are still alive at this point.

Emme doing her now common pose.

The claw was as big as Joe's hand!

And for dessert, homemade strawberry shortcake with our fresh picked strawberries! Joe's terrific idea...my execution. Delicious!

Happy Father's Day!

New bike

Hannah on her new bike!

Adoption Day

Yesterday was the 5 yr "hannahversary" of our adoption of Hannah Alina! It is a very special day for us to celebrate in our family as it is the day we became a family...one of the best days of our lives!!

Hannah realized yesterday that she is very special indeed as she is the only one in our family that has an adoption day and also an outie belly button! (gotta love kids)

For her adoption day, Hannah asked for a trophy! Not sure why, but how could we not, so that is what she got along with a treasure hunt clue to her next present!

Still searching for her clues around the house!

And the last clue led her to the....bathtub!

A new bicycle!

The bike seemed a little too big for her and she was a little (a lot) wobbly to start, but she soon got the hang of it! Emme wanted to take a picture of Hannah on her new bike!

And then Hannah wanted to take a picture of her bike. Emme was "helping" hold the bike, but apparently did not want a picture taken of herself.

In the afternoon, Hannah spent the hot day cooling off in the sprinkler between riding her bike.

To be followed by a hoodsie (ice cream), usually only an occasional weekend treat, but a special day deserves special treats!

And for dinner, Hannah gets to pick where we go out to eat! Her choice...Bisuteki (a Japanese steak house) or where Hannah calls "the place where they cook in front of you."

Our chef!

The girls loved the show!

One of the very most special days of the year!

Song from moving up

Here's the video of Hannah's class singing their song at the moving up ceremony. Listen for the loudest singer...that would be Hannah. (video taken with my camera so not the best)

Hannah's Moving Up

Today was Hannah's last day of preschool and Moving Up Ceremony!

Joe surprised her by taking the day off from work to be there. She was so excited to see him!