Anna and the Play-doh.

I've been trying to add a video of Anna for a while now, and the Blogger website recently made it a whole lot easier. So, here it is: We start with Anna singing one of her favorite songs (Twinkle, Twinkle) which she quickly looses interest in and fades out. Then she has a little melt down, but soon recovers. Finally, we talk about her play-doh jewelry mentioned in my last posting. It's not great quality, but enjoy!

Play-Doh!!!

Anna is turning into such a girly-girl. Ethan and I pride ourselves in how well rounded Anna is. She loves cars and trucks and balls and babies and jewelry and dresses. However, about a month ago Anna has started to only request dresses if we ask her what she wants to wear. She then tells everyone she sees that day, "Anna, pretty dress." Anna is always talking about pink things and wants to wear pink. We were playing with play-doh the other day and the only thing she wanted us to make was jewelry. Good grief. She still likes the other stuff, but this girly side is beginning to take over. Part of me thinks its adorable, and part of me hopes it's just a phase.

Anna Turns TWO!!!

It took me a while to get Anna's birthday pictures up...in case you didn't notice. I know, I know, I've been slacking. Anna had a bug themed birthday party with a few of her friends this year. We chose bugs because she's been super interested in them since this past spring.  I still tried to make the bug theme cute and girly.  :)  Anna loved having a birthday...a little too much. Yeah, this year it went to her head a bit. Ethan's birthday is 5 days after Anna's, and she just could not comprehend how it could be anyone elses birthday besides her own... now that she'd experienced the full glory of having a birthday.  Ha. 

I don't really consider myself a crafty, 'cutesy' kind of person, but sometimes I try (and I LOVE the "planning" part of it).  I really think Anna's party turned out so adorable, if I do say so myself. hehe.  :)  I loved how it all came together.  Although, I don't think I'll do another "kid party" for a while. OK, there was bug themed food, gift bags (home made and personalized :), decorations (home made), a bug book I read, bug games and music. It's not in any of these pictures, but the kids put on little antennas I made for them and played a Bee game...adorable.  It involved a song and "stinging" the person that rhymed in.  :)  I had hid bugs around the yard and in the sand box before the party, and the "find the bugs" game was a big hit.  It was too cute!  It was just so much fun; I loved planning it for and with Anna! 

So happy birthday to my precious, little Anna! I love her so much and cannot imagine my life without her. Anna is so sweet, funny, kind, outgoing, quirky, serious, smart, beautiful, EVERYTHING! I say this about every stage that she's in, but I love, LOVE, having a two year old. It is hilarious, fun, draining, and rewarding. Being a mom is the best! I am so blessed to have Anna as my daughter.

Ethan's Triathlon

Ethan competed in the Copperman Trithlon for the second year in a row. I got to go watch him this year and I was seriously impressed. A sprint triathlon can vary slightly, but this was a 1/2 mile swim, a 19 mile bike ride, and a 5 mile run. Whew! Good job baby!!! He improved his time from last year and beat his friend Ian Blotter, the other shirtless kid. The first picture is Ethan modeling the time chip ankle bracelet, and looking a little nervous as he tries to work out some pre-race jitters. The last picture is us on a little hike to look at some scenic rapids on the way home. Not so rapidy though. (The water level is way down this year.) I'm really glad I got to go support Ethan...and have a fun little overnight get away.

Beach Babe

Anna loves going to the beach. She just can't get enough of it, so we try to go a few times a week. It's been so hot and sticky lately...perfect beach weather. Anna always wants to invite her friend Jackson along (pictured above). The more the merrier. This time there were little waves and Anna had soooo much fun. She kept yelling, "Watch out!" and "More waves!" Man, she is growing up too fast. I think that first picture of her looks so independent...what the heck is happening!?!

Independence Day

We had a fantastic 4th! There was beautiful weather, fun with friends and family, and yummy food. Ethan and I had a BBQ at our house with some friends and then walked down to the parade. Anna absolutely LOVED the parade. For days she would tell anyone who would listen, " 'Palade', candy!" She just could not believe person after person came by throwing candy at her. Anna didn't even care about eating it either; she was just excited to hold it in her little hands.

We went to our friend's house for sparklers that night. Ethan and Brian started a game of 'snap-it' baseball. (Snap-its are the little white things you throw on the ground and they pop.) If you enlarge the picture above, you can actually see the snap-it Eth is about to hit. I gave it a try and it was way fun. The snap-its were an easier target than I imagined.

Fireworks over Lake Superior were beautiful this year. Anna was pretty nervous, but she liked talking about the colors. The top picture is of Anna leaning against Gramma Melissa. She fell asleep towards the end - definitely something she picked up from Ethan. I would NEVER be able to sleep through the stuff he can. As you can see, it cooled off that evening. It was refreshing since we'd been having 80 - 90 degree days. I think it's funny, and probably a bit unique, to have pictures of the family all bundled up in sweatshirts and blankets to watch fireworks on the 4th of July. I love Marquette!!!