Double Family Birthday Party Fun!

 Earlier this month we had a double family birthday party for the girls. Leah's birthday was about 2 weeks away, and although Juliet had a friend party in May, we never had a family party for her. It's nice to have them together. The girls are both excited, and there isn't arguing about who should get what they want. It's also nice to have the party when my mom and dad and sister and their cousins are in town. 

 These girls love being "matchy matchy". Leah insisted on a twirly dress, and Juliet would have agreed to wear a paper sack if it meant she got to match Leah. We got a bounce house, too. Juliet is 55% sure that she likes bounce houses. Haha. She claims to like them, but is easily freaked out. Luckily she has a good Daddy who often gets in and bounces around with her. 

 The kid table. Unfortunately, it started to rain, which meant we had to come inside. I like being able to be outside so much more. The kids thought it was pretty great that they got their own table, though.

 The cakes! I decided to be adventurous and make their cakes. Leah picked out a mint chocolate chip cake, and Juliet picked out a chocolaty peanut butter cake. I was supposed to start them the night before the party. I ended up going to the opening of the new Hanna Andersson store, and that experience took much longer than I imagined, so we didn't get back until past 9. I called Chris, and he started the cakes without me. I came home and he had both girls helping him make 2 cakes. It was awesome! I put the finishing touches on them before the party, and they both ended up being delicious. 

 Leah got a ton of gift cards to American Girl. She really wanted Lea's (this year's Girl of the Year) treehouse, which at $400, was more than we were willing to spend on her for her birthday. We gave her $100 towards it, and along with all the cards she got and selling a few dresses, she had enough. She was so excited!

 A few weeks ago we were in Target and we saw a Target doll named Juliet. Juliet desperately wanted it. She could not understand why I wouldn't just buy her a doll because it had her name when Leah has a doll named Lea. I ended up telling her the hair would get ratty and fall out to get her to let it go. The week before the party, my sister asked what she should get Juliet. The doll Juliet came right to mind. She ended up getting it for her, and Juliet opened it and was SO excited. After about 3 minutes of excitement, a cloudy look came over her face and she started crying, "Her hair is going to fall out! It's going to get all ratty!" I had to tell her I was just telling tales at Target so Aunt Renee could get her the doll later. It took a few minutes to calm her down. Then, she was super excited again running around and kissing the doll and jumping up and down. A few times since then, I've tried to calm her down about some of the random things she worries about. Sometimes she says, "I don't believe you. You lied to me before about the Juliet doll". I don't think she will ever forgive me. 

Random Summer Pictures

 This is how Leah rolls. All the books at all times. She loves to read, and frequently comes into our room at night to ask for more time to finish her book/chapter. We've been going to the library weekly over the summer and Leah typically checks out 5-8 books. She usually has read them all within a day or two. Her favorites are Rainbow Magic Fairies and the Magic Treehouse books. She's coming close to having read the entire series of both, so I've been trying to increase her interests in different series. She started Nancy Clancy mystery books and seems to enjoy them. It's hard to find books that provide her with some challenge, but don't have more grown up content than I would like her reading. I don't want her reading about crushes, mean girls, or characters that think their parents are annoying and are sassy.

 Juliet on her bike. She got a build a bear for finishing her chart at the start of the summer. Now she is working for cash to buy herself a Wellie Wisher in Chicago. 

 Juliet and this boy. Ollie is the best dog ever. I am so glad he is our dog. 

 We tried to make fudge (twice) both times it didn't turn out. At least my attempt left them chocolate they could eat. Chris burned his (but called it taffy like). No more fudge for us. 

 Playing in our neighbors bounce house. They still freak Juliet out. She finally played for a few minutes after a lot of hand holding and reassuring. Then she was ready to get out.  

 We celebrated Harry Potter's birthday by making a cake and watching the movies on TV. Leah read the second book, and really likes the first 2 movies. After that, they both get really annoying and just constantly ask questions about what is going on. We were watching Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince yesterday, and I seriously thought about putting duct tape over Juliet's mouth (I never would have, of course). 

I think we need to read the books together, and then see the movies. 

Real Life Farm and Princess Camp

 I am way behind. These camps were actually the first week of summer. Better late than never!

 Leah really wanted to attend Real Life Farm camp this summer. She had gone to the preschool summer camp for 3 summers, but I always felt like the "big" camp was a chaotic mess. It seemed a little too "free range" for me. However, Leah had 4 close friends attending the camp this summer and begged to go, too. I signed her up for 9 days, which seemed like a good compromise. She LOVES it. They do arts and crafts, horse back riding, swimming, and a TON of animal play. On Fridays they can grill s'mores themselves (still not totally sure how that works--and I have a feeling she is not telling me the entire story about how the marshmallow gets grilled in fear that I will no longer send marshmallows). She has been having a lot of fun and comes home hungry, dirty, and tired. On "Farm" days, I know she will go to sleep quickly. 

 Juliet completed her second year of princess camp. She LOVED it, and was SO happy Mrs. Tammy was back (her Stay and Play teacher). Mrs. Tammy was on vacation during our session last year. Mrs. Tammy promised me that she upped the quality of the crafts, and she was right. Juliet came home with amazing crafts every afternoon. She loved the camp, and is glad she gets to go for one more year. 

 Leah was always a little bitter that just Juliet and I went out to lunch once a week during the school year, so one day while Juliet was at Princess Camp, we went out to breakfast, just the two of us. It was really nice. I love just "talking" with Leah. She is getting so insightful and always asks the cutest questions. 

 Leah's favorite part of camp is bringing home kittens. We've had some good one and some duds. Juliet likes to push them around in strollers and shopping carts. She gets really annoyed when they dare try to escape. 

 One day Leah wanted to bring home a "lamb". It really looks like a goat, no?! Apparently it is a lamb from Barbados. It was really loud and we ended up bringing it back to the farm around 8 because the idea of listening to that thing cry all night was more than I could handle. Farmer Don's daughter was on the phone with Farmer Don when we returned it. He wanted to know why we were bringing it back. When I tried to nicely explain that I thought she would be happier (and quieter) with her friends on the farm, Farmer Don replied that they were working on her "issues". 

 This day was also one of the most chaotic days of summer. Leah got home from camp and we played outside with the goat for an hour. We came in to get dinner ready. I kept the goat on the wood floor and was trying to prep dinner. Leah wanted to play outside and Juliet followed her; Leah accidentally slammed Juliet's fingers in the door. Juliet was totally panicked and hysterical. Leah was also hysterical and felt so bad that she hurt Juliet. The goat got loose and peed all over our playroom. Chris came home to a total mess. It was so bad it was (almost) funny. Luckily the ice cream truck drove by and the day was saved with a Bratz ice cream that made both girls feel better. 

 The final day of Princess Camp! They had a tea party and sang a song. It was wonderful! 

 Juliet was crowned an official princess. Leah was insanely jealous by this and kept insisting that Juliet WAS NOT a real princess. Juliet just laughed and laughed and told her she was already crowned. 

 Juliet and her BFF. 

 Another day, another cat. The one on the left was way better than the one of the right that we had this weekend. He had runny eyes and a runny butt all weekend. 

Life Around Here

This picture pretty well sums up our summer mornings. The girls wake up (between 8-10 praise God!), cuddle, eat breakfast, watch two Netflix shows, and get to work destroying the house. There are lots of forts and tents and parties and sleepovers to prepare for. They play so well together and it's nice that they can play independently. It's annoying that they hate cleaning up their mess and I need to be a total task master to make sure it's done (it usually involves me holding an activity that they want to do in the afternoon over their head). 

They actually had their first ever sleep over in Leah's room last week. Juliet got a new sleeping bag, and was dying to try it out. After making Juliet promise that Leah could pick the first show every day for a month, she agreed to let Juliet sleep over in her room. According to Leah, the sleepover started off "amazing", but then Juliet got scared and it started to not be as much fun. Leah called me in around 11. Juliet was out of the sleeping bag and in Leah's bed. I laid in the bed for about 1/2 hour until Leah was asleep and Juliet was close (she is a total night owl when she naps). I left and was woken up by Leah at 4:30 who hinted that she should probably sleep in bed with us because Juliet was taking up the entire bed. I told her to go sleep in Juliet's room, and she just went back and shoved Juliet over and went back to sleep in her own bed. I had to rescue Juliet around 8 because she started to wake up and began "beeping" Leah. All in all, Leah says that they can sleep over together once a month. 

They've been playing on their own a lot over the past few weeks because I came down with the worst virus ever where I seriously felt worse than I did when I had mono. Then I came down with an ear infection which I didn't even know was possible for someone my age. It was awful and I was in a ton of pain. Luckily, these girls were awesome about playing a little more independently for a week or so, and Chris took over for me every evening/weekend. 

In the middle of this all, I interviewed for a position at Leah's school. I got it, and am very excited to be at Leah and (future) Juliet's school. It's full time which kinda really scares me after FIVE years of half-time (which I loved and vowed to never stop), but I have reminded myself several times that it is a full time teacher schedule, which is 7 hours a day, in a school that is less than a mile from my house. This school was the school that originally hired me 6 years ago. It is an AMAZING school, and the only school I would have ever considered returning full time for. I can go home or run errands on my lunch. Leah is thrilled and is already planning monthly lunches for us. Juliet was very excited to pick out the aforementioned sleeping bag for naps at Real Life Farm. We went and "checked out" her new class one day last week after dropping Leah off at the farm. Juliet was thrilled that her teachers already knew her (from when Leah attended) and were so nice. She walked right into the class and started playing with the kids. She talks about going back every day. We took pictures afterward (just like we did with Leah) and I cannot believe how big she looks. 

Leah Bean

 Leah brought home this amazing self-portrait her last day of school. Chris and I agreed that it was one of her best pieces. We had it framed, and Leah really enjoyed helping select the frame and matting. It's hanging in her room now, but I have visions of having a finished basement with lots of framed art in the future. 

 We also decided that it was time for her training wheels to come off. One of the wheels was totally shredded, and it was becoming obvious that she didn't need them anymore. She was a mixture of excited and reluctant to take the wheels off. 

 But look at this, one little push and she was off. No wobbling or extra support needed. Daddy is the family bike expert. He runs along side and offers support, encouragement, and tips. 

 I love this picture! Look at that look of excitement! 

 She's making turns, too! 

 We are so proud of her. In the week since we started Leah has mastered riding and turning. She just needs to be steadied to start riding. She sometimes needs a reminder to use the brakes instead of just putting her feet down. Her and Chris did an entire bike ride together yesterday. Pretty awesome! 

 There might have been a little spill or two the first day. Luckily she was well protected. 

 Ollie was a good watch dog and made sure she stayed safe. 

4th of July

 C's firm bought tickets to the fireworks at Greenfield Village this year. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra preformed and there were fireworks timed to the music at the end. I don't know if I've ever been to Greenfield Village, and if I have, not since I was a kid. It was really cool. Next time we will plan on coming a little earlier to explore.

The event was really nice. I thought it could maybe become a tradition. 

 I did manage to get a few quick pictures before the sun went down. Juliet Renee, refusing to look at the camera.  

 The girls liked the music, and had fun dancing and making friends with random kids. 

 Juliet seemed to sense that Daddy didn't want to put her in her place in front of his bosses, so she took full advantage of using Chris like a jungle gym. There was lots of climbing and flopping. 

 Getting pictures of fireworks is hard. This is the best I got. There were cannons that went off, too, that were super loud and made us all jump.