Back to the Beach

We have been sleep training LittleL.G. for the past couple weeks, and I have to say she is a much happier baby when she is rested.  And I am a much happier mommy when I am rested.  However, in order for sleep training to work, we have to be home for at least two of LittleL.G.'s nap every. single. day.  That is a huge commitment for me, and so much different from my usual schedule-less days.  But I think it's worth it.  It definitely makes outings challenging because we only have a few hours in between naps.  Yesterday we went to the beach between LittleL.G.'s morning nap and afternoon naps.  Which gave us about 90 minutes at the beach by the time we got there.  I wasn't sure if it would be worth it, but I think shorter activities are better for both girls, so the only one it isn't best for is me because I have to lug, set up, take down and bring back so much that we need for the beach.  Guess I better get used to it because both girls really love the beach.

Just Hanging Around

A Farm Field Trip

Monday we went to a farm with MiniM.E.'s school.  MiniM.E. insisted upon riding the bus, but conveniently, siblings are not allowed to ride the bus.  So we twisted Gram's arm to stay and extra day so one of us could ride with MiniM.E. and the other could drive LittleL.G.

MiniM.E. was looking forward to the farm field trip way back a month or so ago when they started the farm unit and got eggs in their classroom.  

Even though there was much too much talking for a group of 3-5 year olds and it was HOT to be at a farm with animals (so stinky), I think she had a great time (don't let these photos fool you...).  Lots of animals, lots of touching, and a really hot hayride.

Mother's Day, Downtown Saratoga and the Carousel

Sunday for Mother's Day my parents came to town so my mom could spend Mother's Day with us since my sister was working.  It was a beautiful day.  After a morning stroller ride,

We headed downtown:

The carousel opened this weekend; MiniM.E. was so excited, she rode three times!

After the carousel we did MiniM.E.'s second favorite downtown activity, throwing rocks in the stream (with A. who was downtown with her dad):

A Birthday Party, More Pool and Swinging

woah!

"Look Mom, One Leg!"

A Wrap, The Same Playground, and The Dairy Haus

Yesterday my new Mother's Day wrap came in the mail.  It's short, and now that LittleL.G. has better body control and less aversion to back carries, I think it will be my new favorite- quicker wrapping and less tail dragging.  First test, success:

We went back to West Side Rec this morning hoping for the sprayground, but still no water... it was just hot.

So hot, that ice cream was in order after school.  LittleL.G. naps on the car ride, and since we don't live far from school, ice cream was the perfect activity to let LittleL.G. sleep a bit longer.  And we weren't too sad to eat in the car since it was so toasty outside.

Ducks, Silly Faces and Pools!

LittleL.G.'s first sand box experience

and first backyard pool

A BBQ, A Playground and A Kitchen Sink

Last night we had a BBQ with our neighbors.  It is so nice to live in a quiet, kid-friendly neighborhood.  Being that we moved in almost exactly a year ago, we worked on the house a lot during the first summer and being that I was enormously pregnant and didn't want to do a lot of walking out in the mid-day heat, didn't meet a lot of neighbors before October, when LittleL.G. arrived.  And then we had THE WINTER.  These neighbors I actually did meet last summer and our girls play well together and it's nice to just walk down the street to play.  Hopefully we'll meet more neighbors this year.

the babies

 Today we went to MiniM.E.'s favorite playground, West Side Rec.  She loves it all the time, but in the summer, the sprayground opens- she loves the sprinklers (even though half the time it is too cold or there are too many kids).  It is a nice option and can definitely extend our stay.  And it is especially nice for moms that get hot at playgrounds too!  Unfortunately, they aren't open yet...

the BIG slide

After a sunscreen and dirt filled day like today, the kids needed a bath, and I wanted to try LittleL.G. in the kitchen sink because sometimes it's the easiest place... Someone else was jealous: