the other aunties

It is a rare and wonderful occassion when my three best friends from college and I are in the same place at the same time, let alone in my town! Via, Katy & Meghan all got to meet Mac this weekend and spend some quality time with Lola. I love how much fun Lola has with them, and feel so lucky to have friends that adore my kids so much. Now if I can just convince them to move back to Spokane so we can do this more often :)

Via gave Mac some "Pee Pee Tee-Pees" which Lola thought were cute little hats and put them on her toy mouse, along with Mac.

 The beginning of the backyard tricks...

 Meghan decided to give airplane rides in the lawn. Loewy was laughing too hard to make it work, and Lola was very entertained.

 Adam took home the trophy for best form.

Meghan, Lola & Katy

Mac and all of the girls!

Father's Day

Dan and I do a great job staying busy with work, projects and chores around the house, running errands, etc. and are finding that we have to make sure we are also scheduling in fun things to do as a family in our house and around town. So for Father's Day this year, I told Dan to pick a place to go for a walk or hike and that's how we would spend our morning. We drove out to Minnehaha park and walked along the Centennial Trail. It's really refreshing to do something together that is outside, free, ten minutes from our home, that we enjoy so much.

Jack, Linda & Andrew came into town that afternoon and we had a great BBQ in my Nana & Bub's backyard. On the menu: Beers, brats, & baked beans ("Man food") Happy Father's Day!

 Taking a walk along the river and collecting some rocks to bring home to paint (thanks for the idea for Story Stones, Toni & girls!)

 Three generations.

 Lola & Mac with their dad and grandpas. Happy Father's Day!

 My dad has had Papa's ice cream maker for a few years and this was the first time he finally broke it our and made our most loved flavor, Maple Nut. Lola was probably the most excited for the ice cream unveiling!

 Mac, in his "I'm dad's best friend" onesie

One last hug for her favorite Daddio.

Aunties

This past weekend, we were incredibly lucky and were visited by both Auntie Beca, and Auntie Rach. They got to meet Mac, and have some time playing with Lola too. I'm sure Mac will grow up adoring his aunts as much as Lola does. They definitely adore him already!

Auntie Rach meets Mac.

 Auntie Beca and Mac, matching in their brown stripes.

Erin & Goldie came over to meet Mac, and play with Lola & Beca. Lola was so sweet with Goldie and taught her how to roll the ball back and forth.

 James got a chance to hold Mac as well!

Rachael brought a kit with wooden blocks and paint so Lola could decorate her own set of blocks. She worked on a few of them with James and Rach, but we have a lot more that she and I get to paint together now! Great idea Rach!

Come back soon aunties!

We Are Family

Having family in town to meet Mac has also meant Lola getting extra family time, and loving it! In the last week, we had a visit from Uncle Andrew and then Grandma Linda, and spent a lot of time at Nana & Bub's. We are so lucky to have our family close by!

Lola and Uncle Andrew, swinging together.

 Andrew; feeling very comfortable with his nephew and taking a nap together.

 Nana & Bub with their grandkids, swinging on Great Grandma Lola's porch swing in the back yard.

 A little blurry, but I love her expression. Bub and Lola made up a dance together on the patio and performed for us.

 Another great dance move: the twirl.

 As Andrew put it, they were having a "musical conversation"

 Grandma Linda and her grandkids.

Mac with his eyes open; a rare occurrence for our sleeper and eater. He is such a sweet boy.