Day with Woods

When it is over 100 degrees, you put the baby in the pool. In these photographs, he is up and looking for the Cicadas which he can hear in the nearby trees. It is terrible the drought has relegated his discoveries to the exoskeletons of cicadas instead of actual insects.

It was a great day, and he told us 'minute', and 'be right back' a lot. He would head around the corner, but not be able to conjure a mission to complete. So cute.

He carried his bucket of plastic bugs everywhere.

Just do it!

Just had to show you that the first layer of her regal finery is one of my Nike tops! (Would Brant give permission to send this to Nike? We must think of how to raise college funds.)

Blakeley

Blakeley spent a good while arranging the Caribbean shell and coral collection onto a tray. She picked up each piece and categorized it in her own way. At lunch, she reached to the tray and placed a piece of 'brain'

coral onto her forehead. So smart.

Blakeley

Blakeley and Woods

Happy mayhem ensued as we celebrated Blakeley's half birthday with the Marrakesh tent and accompanying cupcake on Suzani plate. You did us a great favor preparing her for her 'first time to sleep at your house' event. Woods was comfortable as always in his crib. One of the cutest things he did was at naptime. He stood up and held on to the crib, pretending to sneeze and saying 'bless you', repeatedly.

Precious, precious babies.

Blakeley's unreal balancing skills

An hour after she told Brant she was not going to be a good rester.

Celebrating Daddy's return to town!

Blakeley's (unassisted) photo of her Grandad

Wearing the necklace which belonged to the wife of the Ambassador to Monaco

"That's what little boys are made of!"

Woods, wearing one of Daddy's shortalls

Love the way his hair flips up around his ear. Gorgeous baby.

Baking with Blakeley

Blakeley and I had a wonderful time, and she flew solo through the entire recipe with two exceptions; the grating of 12 zucchini and the cracking of 6 eggs. Every cup was poured, every ingredient added and stirred (and stirred) by Blakeley. As she has just learned a bit about baseball ('spaceball') she questioned the term 'batter'. The oven light remained on during the hour plus time to cook her loaves, and she enjoyed riding her trike to the oven to peek through the glass and monitor the progress. I never expected her to maintain interest for the period of time it took to prepare the bread! Wait til we try to explain the phrase 'bon appétit'!

(Thank you for taking the pics, Steve.)