Blake got new rain boots so they had to try them out...

Our trip to the KC Zoo...

Visiting a new play ground...

Playing at Monkey Buziness...

Ready for Sabbath School...
Enjoying watermelon...
Enjoying Sabbath School...

This is a little poem that we've learned in Blake's Sabbath School. He LOVES it and will often stop crying if we start doing it with him...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtktehd2Ahw

Here is a sampling of the animal sounds that Blake knows...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfIxaeOsfSE

Why I can't get it to embed, I'll never know:(

Since the last time I've written (ugh!) we've had a visit from BeBe and Papa, Tracy and Cheryl and Grandma Linda. We've been busy!!!

We have really enjoyed all of the company but it looks like everyone has visited us because we don't have anybody scheduled again.

BeBe and Papa arrived in the 1st of July. We were part of their vacation this year and we were so happy that they included us. This time we were all settled into our house and they could sleep at it:) It was nice to have them hear so that they could watch the kids for Travis and I because they babysat while we went out for our anniversary.

Tracy and Cheryl arrived the night of the 2nd. While everyone was here we went to a Mongolia Barbecue, visited The Legends, went to the playground, saw fireworks (the kids' first). BeBe and Papa left that Sunday but Tracy and Cheryl stayed through Monday so Tracy and Travis got a game of golf in while the girls shopped. Monday we visited the Crown Center.

This past weekend Grandma Linda came into town. She was here for a just a little over 24 hours but we enjoyed her visit. We had intended to go to the zoo but we woke up to rain so instead we visited Monkey Bizness. We all such a great time climbing, sliding and swinging. Blake would sign more after going down a slide.

Here are some highlights from the last couple of weeks:

1. BeBe and Papa introduced the kids to fire flies and they loved it.
2. Both kids survived their first fireworks. We were far enough away that the noise didn't bother them.
3. Blake is picking up words all of the time. He says rain, play, smell, choo choo, please, sky many others.
4. Blake loves trains and dogs.
5. Blake can hear a plane from a long ways away and always looks to the sky.
6. Samantha has become a car seat driver. She watches the lights for me and often tells me when I've ran a yellow light.
7. Samantha has also become interested in learning about cross walks and handicap parking.
8. Samantha has become quite polite in public, often saying "excuse me" and "sorry" when she walks in front of someone, etc.
9. Blake watches everything we do. He tries to spit in the sink like we do after we brush out teeth.
10. Samantha continues to talk like she's a big girl. She often jokes that she is 4 instead of 3. She has recently used the words "nervous" and "issues"
11. When driving by the playground the other night Blake started to yell and squirm in his chair while yelling "play!!".
12. Blake has mastered many animal sounds but loves the sounds for a sheep, monkey and horse.
13. Blake says and signs please so well and generally says it when he wants us to pick him up or if he wants to sit by our sink.
14. Samantha is trying more food all of her own. One time she said, "I learned me lesson." She's recently ate feta cheese and a spinach/strawberry/mandarin orange salad (minus dressing).

Don't expect another update on Sunday, we're headed to the zoo and I'm getting my hair done. One of these days I'll get back to regular posting!

Random shots... Playing at the playground...

Samantha playing hide-and-seek with Tracy. She hasn't quite gotten the idea of actually hiding...

Samantha made a flag in celebration of the 4th of July...

We had an impromptu picnic in our backyard one day...

At at and around the Crown Center...

The kids' first fireworks...

Celebrating our 9th anniversary...

Thanks to Tracy and Cheryl for sharing their pictures with us, quite a few of these are theirs!