Today's Thomas Take: July 2015

FRI - 7.31

This picture is the result of a couple hours of painting the deck tonight. When we first moved into this house four years ago we said we would complete this project right away. I am happy to say we have finally found the time to do it but, after being out until past 10 tonight, we are quickly learning that it is going to take much more time than we anticipated. Is anyone surprised by the difference in our hands? :)

THURS - 7.30

We love playdates with our wonderful neighbors! Mara and Flynn are so cute together. Here she is pretending to feed him using one of the forks from her picnic basket toy. We are so lucky to have such great friends so close!

WED - 7.29

She loved it when I put these up last summer to play with but it didn't hold her attention much this summer. She did enjoy using different items from around the house (her favorite was a play fork from her tea set) to make different designs in the paint. And...yes...those are fairy wings that she is wearing. I love having a little girl!

TUES - 7.28

Love this girl!

MON - 7.27

This diagram makes me scared to go outside in my own yard! I was assured that we should be poison ivy free in just 10 days!!!

SUN - 7.26

Adventures on the lake at Grandma and Grandpa's house! Mara was brave enough to be pulled behind the jet ski for the first time today. She was not the biggest fan of the wave created by other boats but we couldn't have been more proud of her!

SAT - 7.25

Celebrating the July birthdays in the family. Here Julianne is turning 8 and Daddy is turning 31. Mara loved the fairy themed party that Julianne picked!

FRI - 7.24

These pictures were just too silly not to post! Mara is really into making silly faces for the camera now (probably due to the fact that she is sick of Mom and Dad taking so many photos). These are the lovely pictures Daddy got when they went for a bike ride tonight.

THURS - 7.23

Another playdate with Colin and Miss Julie. Mara loved playing with him in the trampoline.

WED - 7.22

The first paper copy of this blog arrived in the mail tonight. This blog has been bittersweet. I love being able to look back at each of the posts and seeing a snapshot of what was happening that day. It is such a great reminder of all of the things we have done as a family of three. However, I often find myself weeks (or months...eek!) behind. I had to make a decision recently whether or not to continue to put my time and energy into keeping this blog. I personally love having paper copies of things as well and was able to find a website that does all of the heavy lifting for me. All I had to do was enter the starting and ending dates that I wanted included in the book and the website did the rest of the work for me. I would like the photos to be larger in the book but the overall I am quite happy with the result. The blog lives on!

TUES - 7.21

Tonight was the first night Mara slept in her new twin bed and WITHOUT A DIAPER! We had to wait for this until we could get the twin mattresses back from some friends. I love the idea of Mara using the same furniture I had as a young girl. I also can't believe she is sleeping without a diaper!!! We are a diaper free house (at least for a couple months)! :)

MON - 7.20

This is Mara's new cabinet for her dishes. The new kitchen gives us some new options for kid dishware/bottles. This cabinet is at the lower level and is about as tall as Mara. She loves the freedom of being able to choose which dishes she uses each meal and the grown up responsibility of putting her clean dishes away when unloading the dishwasher.

SUN - 7.19

Tonight I had tears in my eyes as I watched these two dance the night away. Mara could not have been more happy to be dancing and twirling with her Daddy (and Mama for some of the the time too!)! She is such a sweetie and we can't get enough of her.

SAT - 7.18

Someone wanted a snack before heading to bed tonight. This has been a common occurrence for the past couple of weeks. This girl still loves her steamed broccoli.

FRI - 7.17

The mind of a toddler never ceases to amaze me!

THURS - 7.16

Sampling some of the first local blueberries of the year! I think she is a fan! One of the many reasons I love living where we do. Fresh blueberries are delicious!

WED - 7.15

This is where we spent our time before lunch most Wednesday's this summer. Mara loved all of the singing, dancing, and wonderful stories at the library. I can't tell you how much I have read to her this summer! We always read before our nap and at bedtime, but I get asked to read books all day long! I hope this love of reading never goes away!

TUES - 7.14

We were able to have a lunch date with Daddy today. I was giggling the whole time these two were making these faces at each other. I love watching the special bond between them. Mara and I get a lot of special time together during the summer which sometimes makes her daddy quite jealous. But I can promise you that these two goofballs hold a very special place in each other's hearts.

MON - 7.13

This girl's obsession with turtles is still alive!

SUN - 7.12

These girls are so much in love with each other. All three of them talk about each other constantly when they know they are going to see each other soon. Having awesome cousins is the best!

SAT - 7.11

Today we went to the Critter Barn for the first time. It is a local farm that allows people to come and visit free of charge. We didn't know what were were getting into but we all LOVED it! We couldn't get Mara to look at the camera with all of the animals around. I think her favorite were the bunnies but mom loved feeding the young calfs a bottle the best. We will definitely be going back! What a great adventure we have so close!

FRI - 7.10

Grandwich 2015 with the Brunners. We were quite disappointed with the sandwiches this year but we still had a great time.

THURS - 7.9

Having the time of our life at a nearby park!

WED - 7.8

I swear we can't get out of the mall without her seeing the carousel and requesting a ride. She is lucky she is cute! Heading to the mall is going to be quite expensive when Little Sis arrives and wants to ride as well!

TUES - 7.7

And just like that our beautiful (and sometimes messy) willow trees are gone. It was necessary but I still hated to see them go. They will be missed.

MON - 7.6

This is just a foreshadowing of what it is going to be like when these two girls are teenagers. Miss Mara and Miss Emma are sitting together on the bench across the way from us moms. I think this is as far as they were able to get away from us. We just had to giggle at the thought of it!

SUN - 7.5

Happy Birthday to the best daddy in the world! Today Mara and daddy drove the boat around the lake in search of some hungry ducks.

SAT - 7.4

Happy Fourth of July! Mara had fun holding her first sparkler and staying up late to watch fireworks for the first time. We went on a ride on the boat around the lake to see everything up close. She liked it when the fireworks were far off but wasn't the biggest fan when they went off almost over our heads. I will always cherish the memory of the three (or four!) of us snuggled under a blanket in the back of the boat together.