No glorious smiles in the water, or sunning beauties on lawn chairs, just the after effects of very tired girls--who REALLY did have a blast at the pool ;) We headed over on Sunday to check it out--and they had SO much fun. We tossed them, threw a ball, they jumped in--and I even thought Amara might go off the diving board, but she said maybe next time. At around :45 minutes, I could tell we were getting close to overstaying our welcome, so we toweled off, and headed to the adjacent Patriot park.
Just a little playground, but enough to slide and play for a few, then in the car to head home.
We stopped for a quick yogurt at OH-YO, but VERY quick, because tempers were even quicker. Everyone smelled like the pool, but we skipped baths and got the girlies in bed. I hope we can go often, because seeing them laughing and having a blast was so very fun for E and I :)
My birthday fell on a Friday this year, one where we actually had a wedding that night, so we delayed our celebration a bit :) 
We had fun opening presents together and daddy got me a certificate for Beanie and I to go get manicures together, so sweet!! I'm so very thankful for my family and love any reason to celebrate with everyone ;) Thanks guys!
Last week was cousin Coulter's big first birthday and Saturday was his even BIGGER first birthday PARTY! 
The girls got to play with Matt and Steph's other nieces, Emma and Morgan (4.5 and 2) and Coulter too! 
Cora took in plenty of the scenery--it was hot, hey, she wasn't going to over-exert herself if she didn't have to.
The kids all got to take a stab at the pinata. It was a fiesta theme, so it fit right in. All the little kids got to swing the little bat...
Then the bat turned into a larger pole--and ultimately with Coulter's uncle Chip pummeling the thing till the candy fell out (notice no photos due to said hilarity).
(This is SO Cora)
The kids all jumped in to open presents--note Coulter, lower left, while the 4 bigger kids help Aunt Steph and Uncle Matt with the presents, so typical!
We decided to try some outdoor summer swim lessons this year so we could actually enjoy the summer and not be cooped up inside. We headed to the pool at my work last weekend, so we thought we'd try a lesson or two there. Our lesson was at 5:30, so Amara had no issues with getting right in. She was a little apprehensive about Sally, the teacher, but after a few mintues, they were playing and bonding like old pals.
Sally let the lesson even go a little long, just so Amara could jump in to her, and the two played toss and fetch in the water for a long time. She also liked using the kickboard to swim across the width of the pool and tossing the ball to the other lifeguards who were observing. Finally after 6 as we were wrapping up, Beanie started protesting--and I had to promise we could come back, which we will. Too much fun NOT to!
I heard about a super cute little event at our local Connell's flower shop and Amara was excited to sign up for it. It's part of their kids club, and it was cleverly based around a canned food drive. We signed up, grabbed a few cans from the pantry, and headed out for some mommy-bean time on Saturday morning.
When we got there, our buddy Melissa got us started right away! She gave Amara a can to use as a vase, put some floral foam in, water, and gave Amara some clippers. (she did surprisingly well, but those things are S H A R P, so I held my breath with each snip!) She picked out a lovely variety of bright colors, cut them in varying lengths and jammed them right in without hesitation. 
On the way to check out, she spotted some stuffed animals, where she picked out 2 small bears, one for her and one for sis--who can refuse that?? 
Friday June 22nd this year wasn't just a Friday, or my birthday, but a fun family wedding too! It was in Grove City, at Grand Oaks, a new event center--and our cousin Johnny (and now wife Heather) were getting married. It was warm, and the wedding was at 6:30 outside, so we got the girls cleaned up and headed over after a quick bite. 
They were pretty squirmy, but grandpa did his best to entertain the girls--Garhett and Jackson were there too and that helped. Heather was beautiful and Amara enjoyed seeing her sparkly dress and jewels...and bacon. They had water chestnuts wrapped in bacon and I KNOW that kid at 10 of them if she ate one. The funniest was that she couldn't' get Jackson or Garhett to even eat ONE and she was stalking the server like it was her job.
The reception was a bit overwhelming, all the sitting, and salads, then the toasts, etc. but once the announcements ended, she started enjoying herself. She partnered up with a little friend named Daisy, who was 5, and they had fun.
Cora danced herself right into the steps that lead up to the brides table, so she got herself a little bruise right away--but look how handsome daddy looks holding his baby girl!!
Amara kept taking my hand to the tower of cupcakes...funny enough, when it was time to dig in, she DIDN'T go for the blue ones! I guess they weren't big enough? Kidding.
I mean LOOK how big these things are--they are muffin size for sure ;) After cake, dancing, etc. we headed to the photo booth and got some silly photos taken, she loved that and I think wanted to jump in on anyone's photos who would let her--lucky enough we got to bring some home, so I'll always have that goofy photo booth smile to remind me of the night.
This image melts my heart, pun intended. Amara tries to mommy Cora a LOT lately and sometimes (if it involves food) Cora allows it ;)
As usual, I over-planned a *teensy* bit for our Father's day weekend o'celebrations :) Hey, my heart is in the right place though!!
We started off at an awesome splash pad in Circleville, where of all people we ran into Beanie's teacher, Ms. Cannon!! Turns out she lives in Ashville and spotted Amara from across the splash pad.
Sunday we got up and tried a
new doughnut place in the Lil' Doughnut factory and loved it! We had so
much fun there, and Eric said he had was was probably his most favorite
doughnut ever, in the Maple Bacon doughnut!
Amara LOVES to eat inside restaurants, so the fact it's small and we were the only ones there was a special treat--and she loved propping up to the bar with daddy.
He was clearly surprised and everyone got in on the action of unpacking and assembling it.
The inaugural ride was brief--Eric said he needed to get his
fitness endurance back up before heading too far out 'dragging' an extra
70 pounds :)...but they loved it anyway.
Amara was invited to her pal Irelyn's party from school and we were all
so excited for her! This was really the first non-family,
non-friends-of-mom-and-dad party she had been invited to, so Eric and I
scrambled a bit.
Eric decided to stay home with Cora--since it was on the later side
anyway, and Amara and I got to go shopping. She picked out a baby for
Irelyn and we got it home and wrapped it in pretty pink princess paper.
The party was at Recreations Outlet up in Powell (where we got our
trampoline) so we knew we'd have a blast. She played with Irelyn,
Landon, Alex, Olivia and Claire, all from her school! The kids all
played their hearts out running from swing set to trampoline, sliding and
racing for 2 hours. They only took a quick break for food and cake and
ice cream and then back out to play.
We certainly have 2 very silly girlies on our hands, most days! Cora, in particular, loves being upside down whenever she can, for some reason.
Amara is starting to get into hair, she's letting me braid hers even, sometimes~
Cora is a silly giggler and has started putting her hands to her mouth when she laughs, which makes it even more exaggerated and hilarious!
She also loves any kinds of purses or bags she can put on her shoulder or carry/drag around.
Beanie has one of the best smiles I've seen--
especially if we can catch it before it goes into her forced "cheese" smile.
Did I mention, Cora also inherited the Eric stare--a personal favorite of mine :)
I call this post Cora's many faces, because I don't think I've ever seen a more expressive 15 month old. As I'm rocking her, I tell her it's ok if she has wrinkles, if it's from smiling ;)
Daddy grabbed the camera the other night and snapped these in the course of probably a minute, no exaggeration. She is hot and cold, happy and frowning, quicker than the most trained of supermodels. (NOT THAT I'm heading in that direction, no thanks)
I have no idea what is going through her head here. Have I mentioned she is a ham?
Still hamming it up for daddy, but making sure her needs are met.
Somehow reminds me of Cam from Modern Family.
Tired of all this work?
Natural smile. I hope she never loses it--Amara went through a very forced smile phase and I'm happy it's (almost) passed. This girl make me smile with hers, that is for sure.