Tip Tip Dig Dig

Cora with what is currently her favorite book.  We love her ways of providing emphasis :)

Addy & Kyle

Here's what we know:

* Addy loves to swim.

* Addy loves her swimming lessons.

Here's what used to be true (and may still be a little bit):

* Addy is nervous when trying things for the first time.

* Addy is particularly nervous around men.

Here's what we now suspect:

* Addy has a crush on Kyle, her swimming teacher.

Addy started her third session of swimming lessons a few weeks ago.  She has been over-the-moon excited about swimming lessons lately, and can't stop talking about Kyle.  To further illustrate, because of a well-visit for Cora and a meeting, I haven't been the one to take Addy to her lessons yet this session. Two days ago, as I'm squawking with my laryngitis, Addy says kindly, "Mom, I hope you feel better tomorrow..."  Oh, how sweet, I think to myself.  Then Addy continues "...so you don't sound funny when you meet Kyle."  Otherwise put, Mom don't embarrass me in front of my crush.

Anyway, I met Kyle today.  He's cute, and nice, and by this time this session of swimming is done, Addy's going to have some serious endurance.  Watch this of her swimming by herself - and this was taken after swimming the entire length of this pool, with the assistance of only a noodle.

Monkey Need Diaper Change

"Monkey Need Diaper Change"

That's what I heard while washing my hands after just changing Cora's diaper.  Hmmm...I'll go find out.  Here's what I found:

P.S.  I apologize for my voice.  As you can hear, I've been sick.  Sounded worse than I really was, darn laryngitis.

Fall Fun - Part II, Fresh Fork Market Potluck

I just love these pictures of Addy.  They're from a customer appreciation potluck we went to with our CSA, Fresh Fork Market.  They roasted a pig, some of the Amish farm owners/suppliers were there, it was quite the experience. 

Addy and Graham decided to take part in the egg toss game.  Real eggs, mind you!  Look how gingerly they're throwing and catching.

Well, these eggs were super strong and before long, the rows were quite far apart.  After missing a big catch, Addy decided it was too far for her and wanted me to take over.  Sure.  No need to tell you how that ended...one egg-covered mom coming up!

This was from the same day, but not from our CSA harvest - this is Addy proudly showing off one of our three small, yet cute, pumpkins growing in our backyard garden.

Fall Fun - Part I, Apple Picking

I really didn't think we were going to be able to go apple-picking this year.  Darn spring frost.  But Eddy's Fruit Farm had just a few days of open picking and we jumped at it.

Grandma Sherry helping Cora out...most of the apples were up really high in the trees.

The smiles that make my day.

Someone loves to go apple-picking, any guesses who that might be?

We also picked out our Halloween pumpkins that day.

Grandma Sherry and her girls.

P.S.  From the pictures, could you tell there was a Michigan game that day?  :)

The Lanzes in DC

So I've finally caught up and can post pictures of our most recent adventure, our trip to DC.  While the trip was officially to join the celebration for some of our friends who are expecting their first baby (congratulations, again, Amy & Chris!), we decided to bring the whole family for the weekend, showing the girls some of our favorite DC spots and spending time with our DC friends.

Despite the fact that Addy started asking if we were there yet about five minutes after we left the driveway, the girls did pretty good making the road trip there.

And once we arrived, we hit the ground running, visiting the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum.  Addy was very excited by the planes and space ships everywhere; Cora was a little nervous.

Here in front of the Wright Brothers airplane.

The girls couldn't resist riding the carousel on the National Mall.  Addy picked the horse decorated like a dragon, and Cora's was a cow.

We also managed to squeeze in some time at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, with all the animals and dinosaur skeletons.

Our hotel was quite near George Washington University, where Graham went to grad school, so the next morning as we were driving through campus, Graham decided to show the girls a "game" he and his friends devised...seeing if you can throw a coin into the mouth of the hippo.

Taking the girls to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial was next on our list but after parking we realized we were right next to the new Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial.  It was truly, truly impressive.  Particularly with the sun shining and the mall fairly empty on a Saturday morning.

The quote is hard to read in the picture, but inscribed on the side of the marble is "Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope."  Beautiful imagery.

A view of the Washington Monument from the Tidal Basin...she's strong, what can we say? :)

We tried to explain some of the meaning and importance to the things Addy was seeing as went along.  And I hope some of that will stick with her.  But even for Graham and I, who must have visited the FDR memorial 10 or more times when we lived in DC, having the girls there and seeing the way they "interacted" with the memorials and sites gave it new meaning.

Interesting juxtaposition here...Addy proudly sitting atop the marble blocks that have the statement "I hate war" inscribed.  I always took this "crumbled" display to symbolize the destruction of war, and the way it can ruin cities, buildings, landscapes, etc.  Here Addy's turned that destruction into a climbing challenge that can be overcome.

She may not know the words that are above her, but we hope that we instill in her this truth.

Posing with Eleanor.

"Uh, Mr. President, can we play with your dog?"

"Great! Thanks!"

We spent the rest of our day, and most of the next enjoying our time with dear friends.  But one more DC shot before we get to that.  Saturday evening, we took an evening stroll from our hotel to the White House.  Addy asked us if she could play with Malia and Sasha...none of our explanations as to why she  couldn't seemed to satisfy her, but she still enjoyed seeing where the President lives.

And now, to the friends.  Oh, the fun with friends!  So while Jess and I went to Amy's baby shower, Graham and Doug were in charge of the four kiddos: Addy, Cora, Finn and baby Charlie.  Charlie had quite the group fawning over him, and he deserved it, the little cutie.

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Leaf Monster.

Sunday morning we met up with David, Jolene, and their kids Emma and Joey for breakfast at the Silver Diner.  Here's Graham being a good sport as a victim of a pile-up.

Then, an afternoon playdate with Elia, Ami, Finn, Charlie, Georgia & Sophie, and all our grown-up friends before heading home.

Addy and Elia sharing a good story.

And Addy and I squeezing in a little more baby time with Charlie.

Go Shaker!

Graham took Addy to her first Shaker High football game.  She was a fan.  

What do you think...ready for the team?

Showing her sister the reigns

Addy adores Balto.  (Just see http://lifewiththelanzes.blogspot.com/2012/01/dogsled-is-go.html)

So it was pretty touching when she was showing her little sister the Balto statue at the zoo, and explaining the best way to climb on to ride Balto.

First Days of School.

Pictures say it all :)

Sitting on the school steps with Gracie...it was only four years before that they met in this very same building as babies hanging out in the playroom.

And they still know how to be goofballs...here having some after school fun.

Cora's 2nd Birthday Party

When we got back from Florida, we organized a little playground playdate to celebrate Cora's 2nd birthday.  Seeing as she's pretty much grown up on this playground, it seemed appropriate.

Birthday girl arrived in style.

Lunch with friends.  Pictured from left is Gracie & Sadie, Maddie, Sydney, Addy.  Not pictured but still there for the fun were Lizzie, Henry and Rose.  

Birthday piñata, it's a tradition.  A monkey, for our little monkey.

Hanging out with Henry in the wagon.

Addy very excited to see Maddie, after she made the big move from Vermont to Ohio with her family.

They look pretty scary in this picture, actually, but these were her monkey cupcakes.

Getting Caught Up - Florida Vacation

So with the beginning of the school year, I realize I've fallen way behind on the blog.  In an effort to get caught up so I can post pictures of what is going on now, I'm retracing our way through the end of some of our summer adventures.  In August, we took a wonderful vacation to Florida to see Grandma Carol and Grandpa Russ.  Their new house has a pool, and I think we were in the pool more than we were out of it :)

I have 173 pictures from the trip, so here are just a few of my favorites...

Addy really set to work on her swimming skills, and with a little help from Grandpa, here's what she could do by the time we left...

Grandpa also taught Cora a few tricks, too :)

From the geckos to the turtles, to the sand cranes and sea gulls, the girls loved the animal life.

Does this say Florida, or what?

We had a great day at Sea World.  I actually touched a dolphin!

Dancing on town square.

And celebrating Cora's 2nd Birthday!

Addy chose the saying for Cora's cake...nothing works quite as well as the obvious, I guess.  "Cora is now 2."