Playing the Day Away

As of late, we've had a thriving social life and not too many days of just playing at home. A few days ago, however, we had a great time playing outside, exploring, and going everywhere we weren't supposed to go!

Here we are hanging out behind the gutter on our deck. We're not really supposed to be there, but we found it to be a comfy spot to just hang out:We didn't really want to swim on this particular day, so we just played in the pool without water and with our toys. A spectacular time!

After our afternoon outside, we had a special treat for dinner: pizza! We l-o-v-e it! And we also found it to be a particularly effective exfoliating mask on our faces as well:

The look of one tired little lady who has a full tummy:

Swimming: Take Two

Okay, people. A girl's allowed to change her mind, isn't she? Let's just forget about that unfortunate little frog pool incident a while back. I am here to tell you that we have had a change of heart about swimming! Thankfully, the parents got rid of the creepy frog pool and replaced it with a run of the mill kiddie pool and we couldn't be happier! We don't ever want to stop our fun pool time! In and out of the pool, toys in, toys out...the possibilities are endless for fun!

Our Mommy had this great idea to make us a waterslide. It was a H-U-G-E hit! Weeeeee!!!!

Waaahoooo!!!

Splish, splash fun!

Taking a short break from our swimming fun, we decided to explore the yard and say hello to our neighbor (Mr. Bob) while he was mowing the lawn.

Hey, Mr. Bob! You should try our water slide, it's pretty amazing. What's that? No thanks? Okay, I guess you can try it some other time.

These swimsuit cover-ups are definitely cramping our style:

Elyse: Follow me, Felicity. Time to go in for dinner. There will be more swimming tomorrow--as long as Mom doesn't resurrect that frog pool.
Felicity: I think we're safe on that front. Mr. Froggie Pool has seen his last day at our house. Thank goodness for that!

Happy Father's Day!

We are very lucky to have such a great Daddy! Happy Father's Day! We love you!

He gives us lots of quality time:
He helps us to be brave and try new things:

He supports us in our indignation towards the over-photographing of our young lives (Mom, this means you!):

He makes us giggle and does things that make our risk-averse Mommy gasp, but us laugh:

And he is just a really awesome Daddy!

Photos 1, 4, and 5 thanks to our fabulous Fancy Photographer friend whom we definitely "heart." Be sure to check out her work!

The Charm City

Recently, we had a wonderful time exploring the Inner Harbor of Baltimore with Peter (our Mom's 2nd cousin). There is so much to see and do there! We took a walk by the harbor, but the best part of the day was when we went to the Baltimore Children's Museum called Port Discovery.

There was a really neat traveling exhibit at Port Discovery with lots of touch and explore art by Marc Chagall. We recognized his work from the many trips we've made to the National Gallery, but certainly loved the chance to see his work up close and personal! This window is one of Mommy's favorites and she's seen the real thing in the Art Institute of Chicago (and we can't wait to be big enough to go to the museum in Chicago soon too!).

Felicity: Hmmm...I wonder what this one means?Elyse: Look at me building a house just like the one in the painting:

This one had all kinds of music to play below the picture and we could've stood here all day playing the music and dancing like the people in the painting!

There was so much to explore throughout the museum. Peter read us a book in Sensation Station:

We played in the Water Works room and loved it. Maybe we should give that whole pool and water thing at home another chance... we might like it this time!

The greatest thing about our day, however, was the ball pit. We have never been in a ball pit before and boy were we missing out! It was just so much fun!!!

Ahh!! Crazy, colorful balls everywhere!

Felicity: I plan on taking these two with me. Do. Not. Touch. Thankyouverymuch!

This is so much fun! I don't ever want to leave!

Elyse: No, seriously. We are not leaving this ball pit. I must insist...

Unfortunately our fun had to come to an end, but what a great adventure of a day it was! If you ever find yourself in Baltimore, we highly recommend Port Discovery and the Inner Harbor.

Two's Company

Hmm...I wonder where my sister could be...this bench is awfully lonely without her.This bench is certainly better with two! I'm sure glad I have a sister to keep me company!

Hey, Felicity! Didn't you want me to come sit with you? This bench is awfully lonely without you here...thanks for leaving me in the dust! Geez, what's a girl gotta do to get a little respect around here!

From this vantage point, it looks like I'm going higher than Elyse. Woo hoo! I win!

Come on Daddy! Push me higher! Felicity is winning and I just don't like it!

Humph!

A Doll's House

We got a new Little People doll house and we are enjoying many hours inside the air-conditioned sanctuary of our house playing with it. In fact, we drag it all over the house setting up shop wherever Mom is!Here we are busy playing pretend with the house imaginatively intertwined with our Noah's Ark Little People set. We like to call it: "After the flood: A day-in-the-life of Noah, his family, and his many ark animals just keepin' it real in suburbia."

Noah and the doll house is very serious, people. He's gotta have a house too! Geez! You think he lived in the ark forever? Puuuhhhllease! We've got his living arrangements all set to go in a beautiful two-story pink colonial. Who wouldn't love it?

And finally, a special little pic...drumroll please...may we introduce:

Our Mommy and her new camera! Here's the woman who insists that she is documenting our lives one snappy photo at a time! And for that, we are grateful (or so she tells us we will be someday). :0)

P.S. Our Mommy also wanted us to tell you that you get extra coolness points if you can name the author of the literary reference in this post.

High-Flying Summer Adventures

Last week we had an AWFUL week with a nasty sickness and just felt miserable, but this week, we are finally able to enjoy the summer (that is, if it's not raining outside!).

Relaxing with Daddy in the hammock is all we have the energy to do sometimes in the crazy humidity! We know that our new hammock will get tons of use this summer:This tent and tunnel system is fun inside and out! We like to crawl inside the tent and hide from each other. It's such a fun game!

Don't be fooled! Mom's not actually sleeping...sleep? Who needs sleep when we're busy entertaining her? And as for me, I'm busy pondering my new investment strategy here:

Another fun thing we're enjoying this summer is going with one of our mommy groups and their littles to different parks in the area. This week the park we visited was H-U-G-E! In fact, we were a bit overwhelmed, but did have a great time flying this cool plane with our friend K at the helm:

Elyse: Crimey! I've been jimmy-jacked here!
Guess I'll just have to be the solo Ace Amelia Erhardt of this jetplane!
(a little shout out to the "Night at the Museum 2" movie)

TOP SECRET: Cardboard Twin Brigade

Thanks to our cool Grandma who sent our mom a gift, we have had hours of fun in the shipping box. Mom tells us that she just can't bring herself to throw it away because we're having such a grand ol' time! Here's to keeping our box alive another week...Yes, Mom? Can you leave us alone please? We're trying to have a top-secret meeting in here!

Shhhhhh Felicity! Don't let Mom hear our secret knock!

Nothing to see here, Mom, nothing at all. Just keep on moving...okay Felicity, here's the secret knock...tap, tap, ratatat tap...top-secret meeting about to begin!

Whew! Elyse and all of her top-secret protocols and thingamajings can wear a girl out!