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!

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!

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!! :)

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"

Grandma & Arlene's Visit to VA

Grandma Paulette and Aunt Arlene came to Virginia!!

We had a fabulous week together, filled with different (mostly hot) activities. The weather was scorching during their visit (90-110!!!), but it all worked out. We had lots of pool time to cool off! We visited the beach, the Virginia Childrens Museum, Norfolk Botanical Gardens, and the park! Oh, and no trip here is complete without a drive around the naval base! Here are many of my pictures from our time together. I should note....Arlene was gone for 4 days while she spent time at a friend's place in North Carolina, so she is missing in many photos! 

Virginia Childrens Museum

 Our little fire fighter

 Clearing the dishes

 Abby testing her strength. This section was FULL of fun science tools to learn levers, pulleys, and heat & weight effects!

 Heavier than an elephant??

 This red ball does not come out of the hole, but Maddy was determined to try.....to no avail!

 Norfolk Botanical Gardens:

 

 Military Beach:

 Aunt Arlene brought the girls these adorable matching REI swim sets with rashguard and shorts! Perfect for our summer sun fun!

 Abby & Arlene checking out the waves

 Maddy still isn't a big beach fan, but she found a few happy moments to play in the sand.

Dinner out at "Chicks Beach Oyster Bar" on the Chesapeake Bay

(We ate outside to avoid a wait, and were sweating our way through dinner. Still tasty!!)

Closest shot to us all looking in the same direction.....2 out of 4 isn't bad, right?

 Local Park near our house:

 Grandma....Great-Grandma......LOVE & FAMILY!

 

POOL TIME:

 Silly Aunt Arlene, monkeying around in the pool! Abby loved swimming with Arlene & Grandma!

They even swam this morning before heading to the airport!