Parks #14-18 (Ashley Heights Park, Olympic Heights, Eagles View, Arnold Heights & Bowling Lake)

Ashley Heights Park
rating:  5

They DID have their clothes changed from yesterday.  They went swimming this afternoon and Clairvaux was sleeping in the room where all the clothes are located so they pulled their dirty clothes from last night out of the laundry and put them on.  GROSS, but then I figured we were going to the parks in a few hours anyway so we might just get them extra dirty.

 I thought it was sweet how Dominic was walking with Damaris.

Olympic Heights Park

rating:  5

Often, they just sit quietly in the sand digging, tunneling, and swirling the sand around.

 I FINALLY got it.  The Chinese Cheese smile.  She squints her eyes so tight that we joke she can't see anything.  We get this smile a lot and comment each time how we know she can't see.

 Then, Rebellious wouldn't get in the car.

Eagles View Park

rating:  4

Arnold Heights Park
rating:  ZERO but bonus points for beauty which the enclosed picture is tad-bit deceiving.

 This park looked promising so John ran to the top to scope it out. He only saw an open field.

 Bowling Lake Park
rating:  a peaceful 8
This was a perfect ending.  We will be heading back out to this lake.  The sun was setting, toads were croaking, and the walking path beautifully wrapped itself around several small bodies of water.  The kids didn't want to leave.

 The perfect stair step...and Clair's face is awesome.

 Bowling.

It was almost 9:45 PM and baby was tired from going to five parks this evening.  Little legs couldn't keep up.  John and I love how when she is tired she tucks her arms in and scrunches her buns up.

Their Happy Lives

Baby's newest trick is stacking and lining different objects up. Today, it was rubber ducks lined up everywhere.  Yesterday, it was the wooden saints.  Why is this cute?  I don't know, but I certainly enjoy watching fat, chubby hands working hard.  Be still my heart.

Her other new trick is climbing and standing on the edge of the table.  Why the edge?  I know she needs to learn, but why the edge????  Why the very, tippy edge like she is Greg Louganis ready to take a dive.  Now, we just put the chairs on top of the table.

My other favorite sites:  Them playing together and hearing their chatter.

My favorite picture to-date for 2013.  

We found a turtle crossing the road the other day on our way back from the farm while we were out getting milk.  We snatched up the turtle and brought him home.  The kids named him Roady Holy Boever.  The turtle love is intense around here especially by our resident animal/reptile/anything found outside lover, Lillie.  Today, she thought Roady would like to read about himself.  Isn't this precious!  She propped up a book for him to look at about himself.

Parks 11, 12, & 13 (Trendwood, Seacrest, and Holmes)

Trendwood Park 
Rating: always a 10

She is trying so hard to talk and show us everything with her finger pointed.

Cheeseballs for President.  (With a great teeth shot)

Seacrest Park
Rating: 0
It was just an big, open field.

Thirsty baby.

Holmes Lake Park

Rating: 10

We ran into some of our close friends, the Scheve Family, so of course this park was a major hit.  Erica can bake like no other and she just happened to have Strawberry Rhubarb Bars with her.  Man, I wish I was like her.  We closed down the park and didn't realize how late and dark it had gotten.  Yet another reason why I love this adventure, running into great friends on awesome summer nights.

Parks #8,9 & 10 (Marlene, Vavrina, and Densmore)

I wonder if this will get old.  I, along with everybody else, am really enjoying this adventure.  It is exciting to map out our route and to come upon each park.  They have continued to squeal at each one.

Marlene Park
Rating: the older kids gave it a 5
Vianney gave it a 100.

 Vianney learned to swing this summer compliments of Lillie.

 Vavrina Meadows
Rating: to be determined

 Col. Densmore Park
Rating: 10+

Upcoming Attractions

I am really glad I was given a preview of what Damaris is going to be like when the new baby comes as it would have come as a major shock if I hadn't experienced it beforehand.  She has developed into a very sweet, easy going, self-entertained baby.  She didn't fuss much during the day and really wasn't into anything.  WELL, her cousin Esther came this weekend and we have a whole new Damaris.  She was a big bad bully all week.  She tried to dominate her younger cousin by 9 weeks anytime she could.  She was EXTRA wild, EXTRA into EVERYTHING, threw some awesome fits, and John and I really can't figure out who she is trying to be.  She started saying a bunch of new words, showing off for aunts and uncles, and pulled out lots of new tricks.  Several of them I am not too fond of.

I really mean it that I am grateful as I would have been expecting her to act out a little when the baby arrives, but not this CRAZY.  I plan to LOWER my expectations about 172 notches as to prepare myself for the fun battles that will ensue in September.  My temperament is one that would rather be prepped beforehand as I struggle with the element of surprise when it comes to these types of gigs.

The best part is that Damaris thinks I haven't experienced this with others before.  She doesn't realize I've got several tricks of my sleeve also.