one last conneaut post

This is my first full week of being "back to work."

While the start up to the school year is generally pretty gradual, it is still a bit of a shock ...  So, I find that my mind is constantly wandering back to the lake.

Much like Pearl did every day that we were there ...

Bathing suit: Osh Kosh B'gosh (thrifted for $1.50)

She and the small "beach" were inseparable.

I wish (my) summer didn't have to end so soon!

baby bear (gets bigger)

Last summer at the lake, I took a photo of Pearl in a white beach hoodie.

As luck would have it, she ended up with another white beach hoodie this year ...

My little cub is growing up! 

the rock collector

I don't know if it is all three (almost four)-year-old boys or just mine, but Malcolm is very big into gathering and "collecting" things right now.

Whether we are hanging around the house, or talking a walk around the block (or doing any other benign activity), he will inevitably gather up a group of items and declare them his "collection."

Last week, while we were at Conneaut Lake with my family, Malcolm got to it right away ...

Down at the beach one sunny morning, he and the husband were milling around on the shore, looking for rocks to throw into the clear water, when Malcolm found one that he liked ... 

So he hung on to it.

He then proceeded to find dozens more and declared them all his collection.

"Come see my collection, Mom!" he excitedly called to me when I made my way down to the lake that morning.

The "collection" wasn't hard to spot.

There they were, lots and lots of rocks, lined up carefully along one of the neighbors' docks.

It's good I snapped the above picture because, every day since we've returned from the lake, Malcolm has asked to look at his collection ...  Better an image on a computer screen (and eventually a tangible 4x6 print) than a box full of rocks in our living room!

Now if only I could get him interested in collecting something that will grow in value and help to subsidize his (eventual) college education!

girl on a mission

Our vacation at Conneaut Lake was a bit busier this year ...   

(Having two active children to chase around is no joke!)

From the moment we climbed out of our van, Pearl wanted to do everything that her brother was doing.

She wanted to run down the lane.

To walk out onto the dock.

To throw rocks into the water.

To feed the fish and the ducks.

To explore every room of the cottage.

To roam the backyard.

To climb on anything that was on her level.

Shirt: Miniwear (thrifted for $0.50)

Shorts: Healthtex (gift)

She definitely got into a lot this year, but, as always, it is so fun to watch her grow into a little girl right in front of my eyes.

wishful thinking

We just got back and I'm already wishing that we were back at the lake ...

I can't wait for next year.

exploring the planet trail

Before the ridiculous heat wave last week (which sucked out my motivation for anything other than sitting around and doing absolutely nothing), we took a little family hike in the Cleveland Metroparks.

Our trail of choice is usually the "Planet Trail" (which is within the Rocky River Reservation for any local readers who may want to check it out) for a couple of reasons ...

First is Malcolm's (and, let's be honest, my) nerdy love of the solar system. I personally enjoy that the planet plaques are not just posted willy nilly, but rather positioned to scale, as if they were really floating out in space ...  It's crazy how large some of the distances between the planets are!

Tee shirt: Circo ($4.00)

Shorts: Jumping Beans (hand-me-down)

Socks: Unknown brand (hand-me-down)

Shoes: Sperry (thrifted for $2.00)

 

Second, not far from the walking trail is a little playground and "decorative" fountain that also provide lots of entertainment for our kiddos.

As long as we come prepared (with extra clothes and beach towels), we always leave with two, exhausted kids ...

Which ultimately makes for two happy parents!

on writing and growing

I'm not sure why, but I just haven't been in a writing mood, lately ...  Even though there is plenty to talk about as our summer has already been filled with parades, fireworks, trips to the zoo, and the first of two family vacations.

Part of me is torn and wants to diligently keep up with the "obligation" I have set for myself with this blog, and the other part is completely content with just living life and ignoring the computer altogether.

Even so, as Thursday rolls around, I feel compelled to get a post up (and show off some Pearl cuteness from the zoo last week) ...

 Tee-shirt: Old Navy (thrifted for $0.50)

Shorts: Carter's (hand-me-down)

Shoes: Stride Rite (hand-me-down)

 
In all of the summer activities that we have busied ourselves with, both the husband and myself have noticed that Pearl doesn't act the slightest bit like a baby anymore.

Her attitude is all toddler ...  Wanting to explore and get into everything (and mimic her brother's every move).

Her legs seem longer and stronger, and she has become quite the expert climber ...  Scaling stairs, furniture, and even the toilet when we aren't paying close enough attention.

It's nearly impossible to believe that, last summer at this time, she was just starting to show a bit of spunkiness.

She's come such a long way (in such a short time) and I love being able to experience every moment!

dino-mite duds (for the fourth)

Whenever I can create an outfit for Pearl that is just girly enough without being obnoxiously so, I am a happy mom ...  And, as I've said many times before, she doesn't have to be pink and glitter encrusted in order to look cute.

So, I was especially excited when the little dinosaur shoes I purchased long ago (for her) finally started to fit!

Yes, they came out of the boy aisle, but what science teacher's daughter can't appreciate a good dinosaur?

Especially when they pull together a whole outfit ...

Ruffled tank top: Old Navy ($1.00)

Shorts: Circo ($0.75)

Shoes: Circo ($6.50)

She definitely has the spunk to pull it off!

bubbly

I may be biased, but there's nothing cuter than a spunky, (sort of) pig-tailed one-year-old in a bubble onesie ...

Bubble onesie: Carter's (thrifted for $0.50)

And, to think, I didn't want any daughters!

batgirl

Pearl is fifteen months old (as of this past Saturday) and is certainly coming into her own ...  

Even if she ends up wearing a combination of her own clothes, and those that used to belong to her brother on most days.

Long-sleeved tee-shirt: Old Navy (gift)

Pants: Carter's (thrifted for $0.50)

But who says girls can't look cute in superhero gear (and some rainbow pants to soften things up)?

dad of the year

After an unexpected week away from this blog (for no real reason other than I just didn't feel like writing much of anything), I'm jumping back in with a quick post for the husband ...

Happy (belated) Father's Day to one of the best dads I know ...

A dad who (even in the midst of an uncooperative three-year-old) makes it look easy and is loved so incredibly much every day of the year!

bridging the gap

With school currently in wind-down mode, I feel like we are stuck in some weird limbo between spring and summer ...  And the cooler weather as of late isn't helping (although I'm loving it)!

Still, we are taking advantage of as many outdoor (and way from the computer) moments as possible.

 

Tee-shirt: Garanimals (thrifted for $0.50)

Long-sleeved onesie: Gerber ($8.00 for pack of three)

Sweat pants: Garanimals (thrifted for $0.50)

Summer, we are waiting for you!

baby's first wedding

The kids and I attended the wedding of a family friend over the long weekend ...  So, it was a nice excuse for us all to get dressed up!

You may not be able to tell from the photos, but my kiddos (the one in the middle isn't mine) coordinated quite nicely.

Cotton dress: Cherokee ($6.00)

Sweater: Old Navy (thrifted for $1.00)

Shoes: Keds (thrifted for $1.50)

As I've mentioned in the past, it's a lot of fun shopping for Pearl ...

While it is a challenge just to find a decent selection of boys' clothes, finding something for my girl that is cute, but isn't too pink or prissy, is a whole different animal! 

Luckily, my second born is adorable in whatever she ends up wearing!

daddy's girl

It's hard to be annoyed that she only says "Dada" (and not "Mama") when I am witness to sweet moments like this ...

The title of "Daddy's Girl" certainly fits for this little sweetie!

bruiser

When I gave birth to a girl, my mind immediately jumped to all the stereotypical "girl" things I'd have to endure ...

Pink!

Princesses!

Prissiness!

And, yet, my girl (as sweet as she can be) doesn't currently fit that mold.

In comparison to her older brother, she is far more inquisitive (getting into and destroying everything) and spunky than he ever was at her age.

And she's got the battle scars to prove it ...

Lady love is currently sporting a black eye and a shiner (on her forehead).

Tank top: Carter's (thrifted for $0.50)

Shorts: The Children's Place (thrifted for $0.50)

But, at least her bruises coordinate with the lime green in her outfit ...

She may be headed down the "tomboy" path like her mother (I hope so!), but that doesn't mean she can't look cute, too!

train wreck

We took Malcolm to a "Day Out with Thomas" event over the weekend and witnessed the (unexpected?) highs and lows of a three-year-old in the span of a half hour.

I think the following photos sum up the experience quite nicely ...

Photo #1: Too much excitement leads to an all-out kicking and screaming melt down, and some tears.

Photo #2: The train is coming back into the station?  Wait a minute ...  This is fun!

Photo #3: Being cooperative and actually posing for pictures (with Gordon, his favorite engine) ... Maybe he wants to come again next year?

 

You've got to love the roller coaster that is life with a three-year-old ... 

As much as I like to complain (commiserate?) about it, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

ninety percent

Pearl took her first steps at the end of April and hasn't looked back.

Today (less than a month later), she is walking about 90% of the time ...  Yet, it is still strange to see her ambling down the hall, or across the room on two feet!  And, although she is showing plenty of signs to the contrary, it is hard to shake the image of her being my little baby.

It feels like I brought her home from the hospital just yesterday ...  And made the adjustment from "mom of one" to "mom of two."

But time is flying by.

My baby is quickly entering the "toddler" phase.

(Seriously?!)

It is mind-boggling the difference a year can make.

chemistry cutie

It's never too early to start learning about the periodic table ...

Especially when it is in the form of a cute onesie that  was passed down from your big brother!

My girl's got beauty and brains!

everybody climb the dinosaur

The kids and I spent an afternoon at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History last week.

While Malcolm wasn't too impressed with the dinosaur bones inside of the museum (his favorite thing there was a large, coral-like chunk of calcite), he did greatly enjoy climbing the (life sized?) stegosaurus outside.

It was fun to sit back with Pearl and watch as he gained the courage to climb higher and higher ...  Starting carefully at the tail and gradually making his way up the oversized lizard's back.

Tee-shirt: Garanimals (thrifted for $1.00)

Hooded sweatshirt: Circo ($8.00)

Pants: Old Navy (hand-me-down)
Sandals: Cherokee (gift)
 

Although he isn't there yet, I know that it is only a matter of time before he is one of the "big kids."

He wants so badly to just get out there and do it ...  To break free and be like them.  And with him being preschool-bound at the end of the summer, I suppose that's a very good thing.

My little boy is growing right before my very eyes.

I wonder if I'll even recognize him in a couple of months!