August 18, 2016
The air quality is just like pea soup right now... Fresno County has some of the worst air quality in the state, and we are feeling it. Our lungs are feeling it; I've had a burning throat, the girls have been coughing and Dad has a headache. It has taken a bite out of my running. Truly just in motivation. All that being said we still get the kids out and make an effort to enjoy our area as best as we know how to.
Sierra is getting so much older in her personality and her appearance. She starts preschool twice a week for three hours/class next week. We still play a lot of pretend with her "little people" and dolls, but we also build with Duplos and magnatiles and play-doh inside too.
We take silly pictures to send to Auntie Lyn.
Eve has shortened her naps. Still taking two most of the time but about 1-1.5 hours. We've also have had her weaned for about two weeks now, which has been an emotional trip for both her and I.
We have been making an effort to get to Shaver Lake once a week, for extended time outside and fun times in the sand and water.
Another part of our daily routine now is swinging on the saucer swing that Pop-pop sent the girls as a birthday gift. Speaking of birthday gifts, we recently had our mail stolen for the final time... it has happened before we were pretty sure but couldn't confirm it until recently. A check got stolen and forged; which gave us solid proof we needed a PO Box.
She may seem cute and innocent, but don't be fooled she threw my phone in the recycling and it was lost for good!
I was able to finish a painting for the first time in a long time!
When I can get out on a run with the girls we now stop and play in the sand and be sure to have plenty of carrots for the donkey and horses.
Eve is always concerned about safety.
And eating hummus. This is what happens when dad goes on a camping/canoeing/fishing trip with his buddy!
Auntie Lyn came and watched the girls for 1 night and 1 day!!! We celebrated our anniversary mountain biking and hanging out at China Peak.
Sending goofy pictures is a must when we're gone. We went swimming in the lake after we finished. It was so fun to boulder around on partially submerged rocks.
Gus jumped into Shaver on our way up to China Peak.
Anne and Jerry are continuing to watch the girls twice a week when I go to work and we have started having Thursday night family dinners. Lyndsey and Grammy have helped a lot with watching them so that Gus and I could finish up our living room reno. It has been essential to getting it finished up.
Pictures for Daddy when he's at work. Even though we are getting many opportunities to go visit him while he's at work.
We met up with some friends who live in Shaver, Huntington and Auberry one Wednesday. The kids seemed to like all piling into our friend's kayak.
Oso likes to find mud pits of sludge to cool him off on our runs where the temperature typically gets into the 100's.
Sierra and Eve have quite the sandbox in our neighborhood.
Sierra thought Keta wanted me to take her picture.
I had a mommy weekend where I went to go see my friends who live in Monterey. We have been friends back when I went to graduate school. I got out mountain biking, ate great meals, had great conversations, laughed a ton, caught up, drank some beers, saw fireworks, went to a party of one of the clients at Ashley's salon. It also helped initiate weaning Eve.
Eve seems to enjoy balls quite a bit. We visited Huntington Lake where we have friends and Eve wouldn't be satisfied without a ball.
Sierra likes to send pictures to Dad at work.
Eve was showing off her cowgirl boots that Auntie got for her.
The girls can both participate in more arts and crafts now, and Eve isn't eating the supplies nearly as much.
The cat at the nursery Gus works at is a primary attraction for our visits.
We still get out in the neighborhood common area before temps climb and air quality drops.
Oso often accompanies us and the girls are learning when and how to pet him without him always running off.
We went to a first birthday party at Shaver that was a lot of fun Anne and Auntie Lyn were asked to share some of their artistic talents! Anne made a beautiful crown and Auntie made a fantastic mobile of maps.
I look back at all of these pictures and I almost can't believe how quickly it goes or how much really gets done even when it feels like I'm not doing anything.
