Griffin Updates: Mother of a blog post!

MY-OH-MY is summer busy with two little munchkins!! So where were we?! Still fun things to report from when Grammy was here...starting on Thursday, June 14th with Hadley's first private swim lesson. Because Hadley is such a fish, I wanted to make sure she got a couple of private lessons in before throwing her into group lessons. I did this mainly because if she were judged purely on her age and size, they'd put her in the beginner class. 2 lessons down and I've been advised that she should be in the advanced class. That's what I thought ;)

Sweet Taylor's first test for Hadley: "Can you show me how to blow some bubbles?" Mommy, Grammy, and Harper just giggled from the sidelines.

This is more like it...and how she'd try to spend the rest of the lesson: under water. Even when introduced to a kick board for the first time since Mommy-and-Me class, she held on to it but swam across the pool with her head UNDER it :)

Perfecting her float

And then over at the baby pool the McCart twins arrived and Harper was on them FAST!

That was the day I realized that sunscreen can't hold a candle to genetics. So much for my Irish skin...Harper takes after her Daddy 100%!

"You're not going to post these pictures on the internet, right?"

On Saturday, while Grammy stayed home and let out all the hems on the pajamas she brought Harper on her last visit, we headed over to Reagan's house for her Dora-themed 4th birthday party. I actually considered having Harper skip this because it was smack dab in the middle of her now once-a-day nap, but how could I deprive her of a party based around her favorite cartoon character?!

Warming up together on the swing set before getting social with the other kids

And then came the farm animals! Notice Hadley staying safely in the wagon as the goat is ushered into the back yard.

Harper, on the other hand, was not in need of a wagon.

Making friends with a freshly shorn alpaca

And a miniature horse

Hadley cautiously eyeing the piglet that would later literally chase her around the back yard, much to the amusement of all of the adults! This of course was the closest thing to a near death experience Hadley had ever encountered, but it was REALLY funny! Nipping at her heels and everything. Not sure who was squealing louder!

No translation needed for what she is so desperately trying to communicate to Mommy telepathically.

Not so much interested in the chicken though.

Harper bought in on the white bunny quickly as well.

Although I kinda liked the GIGANTIC bunny that outweighed both girls.

The tender moment before Harper strangled the chicken

Hadley taking her smelly new friend for a walk

"Hello piglet! What's with attacking my big sister?! You don't look so tough now!"

"Aarg!"

Don't let the dress and sparkly shoes fool you. This girl can scale a wall!

Gratuitous thigh shot

Initially I thought it would be a little traumatic for Harper to ask her to take a bat to her idol's face. I was proven wrong.

And for the 1st time in Reagan birthday party history, Hadley was brave enough to step up to the plate herself! Thank you, Harper.

This was a moment I would like to freeze in time. When the pinata finally burst, all of the big kids rushed to grab the booty. Harper and Daddy tried to grab some things that had flown far away, until Hadley came up to show that she had grabbed two of everything. One for her, and one for Harper. Mommy was tearing up behind the camera.

Who says she only likes girlie stuff?! Getting into the spirit for Charles's birthday party the following weekend. We bought an Incredible Hulk doll for his gift.

No clue who this guy is, but she pulls it off with a little sass, which is nice.

Iron"woman"

Father's Day!!

Aron got to sleep in because it was his big day...but he came downstairs about 2 hours earlier than Mommy did on her recent birthday, because that's the kind of Daddy he is. The girls were so excited for him to go on a scavenger hunt for all of his gifts!

Reading Harper's Father's Day card that she made at art class

Fab vest from Gigi and Papa as part of his fun Vineyard Vines gift!

Hadley describing all of her decorations on the picture frame she made

And she made a mug too...the teeniest mug for the teeniest cup of coffee.

Father's Day brunch

Let me summarize what's happening here:

Aron: "Ok girls, let's keep on walking."

Hadley: "Isn't this a BEAUTIFUL castle, Grammy?!"

Grammy: "Who makes this? What's it called exactly?"

Layton: "Nancy, don't even think about it!!"

Perfect

After Grammy left, the clouds settled in and ruined our routine of lazing the afternoons away at the pool. But she left us some fun new bubble toys, so we took that opportunity to bust them out. Harper refused ANY aid whatsoever in managing hers. The wand was JUST a bit too long for her little arms to stretch out far enough to navigate in and out of the bubble tube. But she wouldn't listen...

Hadley, on the other hand, went right to work and was quite good at it!

Meanwhile.

Hadley dazzling us with her bubble skills, while Harper, now with just a tube full of tap water since I refused to refill it with bubbles after she spilled it 6 times, still works on mastering her new toy.

Livi and Hads under attack from Brent.

This day we got invited to Mama Karen's pool for a nice change of scenery.

I don't want to know what's going on here, but I will be bringing this out the night of her rehearsal dinner.

And the best parts about spending the summer at the pool: 1) No need for daily baths, 2) How the happy kids scarf down SO MUCH food at dinner, and 3) How they go right to bed!!