The highlight of the week was probably a trip to the zoo despite the rain. The night before I told Samantha we were going and she was thrilled beyond belief. After laying in bed a few minutes she sat up and said, "1, 2, 3, 4, 5 hours" and she meant until the zoo. Unfortunately I had to tell her it was a bit longer. She loved the monkeys, red pandas, snow leopards, snakes and turtles. She also enjoyed going with Maddie and Patrick who made the trip much more fun. Blake got to go along too but didn't see much from his car seat in the stroller.

We've been spending several hours outside every day. Samantha still asks to go out constantly. I have found that I need to get my work done in the mornings to keep myself sane and then take the kids out after naps until supper and then again after supper until bath time if possible. Samantha loves jumping on the trampoline or playing in her sandbox. She's going through a phase now where she loves to swing. Please don't ask her if she needs help getting on the swing because she'll say, "me do it.". She asks to be pushed and pushed and loves to go high. Blake enjoys the outside also and tags along with whatever sister is doing.

Sabbath was a special day-we skipped all church services and went for a walk along the river followed by a picnic lunch. Our good friends Tracy and Cheryl joined us for the adventure. We carried both kids in front and backpacks while walking. Samantha did get a bit of a sunburn but hasn't acted like it's affected her one bit. She enjoyed the picnic and of course, the playground.

It seems lately that Blake is more awake one day and then the next day he sleeps a lot, trying to catch up. I am determined to pay more attention to his schedule or lack there of and try to get him on one of sorts or at least notice more when he's sleepy, etc. There have been several nights when he is so sleepy he just doesn't know what to do with himself except scream. He is such a good sleeper at night though I'm not sure how much he actually needs during the day.

Here is a video of Samantha counting. Apparently the number seven isn't important because she always misses it...


We tried Blake in the Bumbo chair this week. He isn't quite ready for it yet without bit of help...


You'd never believe we put him in here straight...


Here he fell asleep right after a bottle and being burped...


Being silly at breakfast...


Feeding the birds...


I "tucked" Samantha in one night and she thought it was great. Now I have to do it every night...



Our Sabbath...