Keeping up with our busy Navy lives....wherever we live :)

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Fujimoto Visit- Part 2 @ The Beach

Family Fun Beach Day
They had to experience the East coast beaches, and we all had a great time.
The weather was perfect, about 85, partly cloudy which saved us from the direct sun.
 I love this profile picture of Abby, just wish I hadn't cut her head off (one of my learning curves)
 A little washed out, but cute. She and Brenda did a lot of digging
 All three girls playing in the sand
 Brenda & Craig
 Our little beach setup. Just perfect!
 Caught Sheila doing some sand cartwheels! Multi-talented!!
 Abby being hoisted above the crashing waves! She loved all the attention!!
 Maddy on the move! This was her first trip to the beach where she did more playing than crying!
Its a start......because our beach vacation is in 4 weeks, she'd better get used to it!
 Two versions of this photo:
Top- Brenda & Maddy are in focus
Bottom- Waves are in focus
 Last but not least, what would a day at the beach be without burying someone's feet??!!!
Abby had them packed nice and tight!

Fujimoto Visit- August 2011 Part 1

My Aunt Brenda, Uncle Craig & Cousin Sheila came to visit for the first time last week!
The girls had a blast playing and swimming with Sheila, and would have liked them to stay longer.
The weather was perfect for their visit, and we spent a lot of time outdoors and in the pool.
Here are some of our photo memories......
 Sheila & Abby playing ball indoors
 Sheila is quite the fish......Abby could lean a lot from her, and likely did!!
 They played everyday in the toy room together
 On our last night together we went out to try a new frozen custard store.
And the result was.......it is AMAZING!!!!!! Why the heck hadn't I tried this sooner??!!!
We all got "Gelati's", which have a small amount of custard at the bottom of the cup, then topped to the top of the cup with frozen italian ice (your choice of flavors), then finished on with a mountain of custard on top too! The custard was so thick and creamy (served out of soft-serve machines).
 Even Maddy got her bites!
 Sheila and the girls.......We miss you already! We had a wonderful visit

Glow Stick Fun

Mike bought Abby a glow stick the other day. Here is the fun they had in a dark room.
Capturing the movement using shutter speed adjustments.




Maddy in a BOX!

 Of course, as the saying goes, kids don't need toys, just the boxes they come in!!! 
Maddy fit just right into her build-a-bear box. I helped her in, but she enjoyed it!! And could get out on her own! 

Red Crayon.....when its NOT on the paper

Well, it had to happen eventually I suppose, and I'm sure it won't be the last time.
Maddy surprised us with red crayon all over the entryway doors and walls last Sunday morning.
Thats EXACTLY what I like cleaning up while I'm sipping my coffee and reading the Sunday ads!
NOT!!!!!!!!
But I can remember at this exact age when Abby did it. Of course Maddy would have the sponge in her mouth too! Whats new....


Zoo.....photo skills, take 1

 Last weekend's trip to the zoo. Mike fooled around with the camera (we are making a point to NOT have it in auto mode anymore, and use it for what its worth....(cost!!!!). There is a LOT to learn.
So FYI, going forward a lot of pictures will be tests.....and hopefully successes!
  Hmmm....Zebra B&W or color??


 Finally I am in front of the camera! With the girls, even better!! And everyone is smiling and looking forward for the most part. That's practically a miracle.
 Just "monkeying around"! The big one seemed angry!


  Sisters holding hands. Maddy is taking to hand holding.....when she feels like it! 
She is the boss these days.....although we are going to have to end that soon.
Maddy holding up the walls....she's so strong!
 LOVE this picture Mike took of her touching both fountains!

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Build-A-Bear!!!

WOW! Who knew "creating" your own stuffed animal could be so much fun!!
BIG thanks to Aunt Amy, who sent the girls gift cards. So we took a trip to the mall, and actually stopped at the store we usually avoid when we walk by the stores (to keep the kids from asking to go in!!). This was their first time, and they loved it.
They got to pick out their bear/animal, help put the stuffing inside, pick a sound box to add to it, and then choose a cute outfit and shoes, groom their bear, and TA-DA...your very own bear to take home and LOVE!!!! 

 Abby placing the heart into her green friendship bear
 The girl was telling Abby & Maddy to rub and kiss their bear hearts before they placed them inside the body
 Abby helped fill both their animals with fluffy stuffing by pressing on the foot pedal
 Watching the white fluffy stuff go round and round!!
 Maddy LOVED grooming her bear! She ran and got a grooming brush and just kept brushing
 Hugging her new white kitty cat!
 Daddy helping Abby dress her bear (silver shoes, and a Rapunzel princess dress and crown)
 Abby doing some last minute grooming
 Abby's princess bear creation; Her bear makes giggle noises when you squeeze its paw
 Maddy's sassy white kitty creation; Her kitty says "I love you" when you squeeze its paw
THANK YOU Auntie Amy!!!!!!!
 Proudly leaving the store with their animals in their boxes (cages).......THE END!

Friday, August 5, 2011

Abby the fish!

Here are two short and not to clear videos I took of Abby in the pool last night. The quality is not 100%, and my neighbor is mowing his lawn (hence all the background noise), but its good enough.
I'll post better ones when I take them during the day with the real video camera!!

Video 1- Swimming from under the diving board to the side


Video 2- Jumping off the diving board to swim to the side


Maddy didn't swim until the very end last night, so I didn't get her on video, but I did get her swinging!
(CAUTION: a bit wobbly and may cause nausea!! :)

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Maddy.....LOVES TO SLEEP!!!

Maddy is a sleepyhead. She is consistently sleeping 13 hours at night, after I put her down between 7/7:30pm. This morning I needed to go to the gym before we picked Mike up from the airport, so I was on a schedule, and had to go wake her up at 8:15 and found her like this!
Her lovey by her side, and blanket over her head! Love this kid!!
And with all this sleep she still naps 3 hours most days! She must be growing!! 
Now if only she'd start talking.
New words for her lately....."HOT", "HAT", "JUICE", "TEETH"

Mike, Allison, Abby and Maddy Smith

Living life in beautiful........well, everywhere......US NAVY!!!