I've learned that not all chalk is created equal. The chalk we got on vacation stained Leah's swimsuit. She really liked it, though, so we invested in some *washable* chalk upon our return. Sassy loves to draw and makes many requests of things for Mama to draw including: MoMo, Grover, Ernie, Ducks, Kitty, Roo Roo, sun, and flowers.
After returning from the OBX, Sassy was quick to remind me that she needed a pedicure session--"More Pink, Mama!" she said while pointing to her toes. This time we opted for a bright pink. Lili did a great job waiting for her toes to dry. She only touched them once! She kept busy playing with blocks while I painted my own toes.
Play silly games like bump your head on the door while holding "two Eeeerrrrrrnnnniieess!"
Make banana bread
"Helppa da Mama!" 
I was looking through Sassy's fall clothes to see what she still needed, and I came across the Halloween costume I bought her at the end of the season last year for this year. Leah was really excited to see the "bug" costume, and had fun modeling it. She even wanted to wear it to Meijer last night.
Last week we were going through a Halloween catalog, and we came across a very girlie Elmo costume. Lili was very interested. It had an Elmo hat that she was very fixated on. Hopefully she won't have a problem being a bug, though.
Eventually we made our way to the pigs. They were all sleeping, but once they saw we were willing to feel them carrots (pretty sure this was against the rules), they all came out to the pen, peed, and eagerily made their way over to us. Sassy was not amused. Chris and I joked that it was like "Pigeon Wants a Puppy" (a favorite book of ours). Even though Leah was overwhelmed with the small goats, minuture horses, and calfs, she was still sure she was going to pet a pig. As we made our way over to the pig pen, she was repeating, "petta pig!". The second they came out she was like, "the smell! the size! the overall yuckiness! I want a walrus!"
Leah backed up to the fence, and pointed at the pigs, but that is about as close as she wanted to be.
Leah was also very interested in the birds. Here she is at the bird pen right before a bird took a giant dump which splattered on all of us (mainly Sassy unfortunatly). We left shortly after this. Leah and Daddy argued the entire way home about whether or not she had to take a bath when she got home. Point-Daddy, she did. Point-Sassy, she cried the entire time.
The bunnies were her favorite. 
Sassy's winter wear came in on Saturday from Gap. She insisted on putting on her new clothes, though thought it was crazy to wear both the snow pants and jacket at the same time. I love how she has her hand in the pocket of the snow pants. Such a fashion model!
Last week Leah kept asking, "play home?". I wasn't sure what she meant--play in her playhouse? Reminding me that we play in the house a lot--maybe she needed an outing? I asked her to show me and she led me to the van. She sat inside and played for close to 40 minutes. It was the happiest she was all day. She keeps asking to do it again, but it was really hot. Maybe on a cooler day....
Oh my god, the beach photography session was AWFUL. Leah (and Daddy) were so unhappy. I think that's what happens when you wake your baby (and husband) up 2 hours before their vacation wake up time. The above picture is seriously the best one we have. My favorite one is the one the photographer took with my mom and dad and the grandkids. Everyone is smiling, except for Leah who is in the middle of a full out scream, keeled over reaching for Mama. Poor baby.
We had our second annual summer birthday celebration while in Corolla. Nicole, Chantal, my dad, Barclay, Lucia, and Sassy all have birthdays between June and August. Dinner time in the OBX wasn't particularly enjoyable for Miss Leah. The large crowd of people upstairs mainly overwhelmed her. She preferred to eat her dinner away from the group (but still with Mama and Dada, of course!). However, on this day, she was more than willing to be a part of the celebration. Once she heard that there was cake, she was jumping up and down. As she rode down in the elevator with us she was talking the entire time about her cake. As Auntie Renee cut the cake, Leah ran over and hugged her legs tight. Sassy didn't particularly care for the singing, she turned around and hugged me tight. However, she was all over the cake (she got the first slice!).
Below is Daddy's new favorite picture of Leah. She is in her cake "Homer Simpson" half coma. This girl loves cake!
"No, baby, NO! Go away!" Poor Lucia couldn't get within 5 feet of Leah's cake. We promise to work on Sassy's attitude before the next trip.
She kept trying to drink the pool water, which really grossed out Daddy. She had her mouth open the entire week!
Daddy told Leah that "girls have to wear hats in the pool". She seemed to buy it! 
Leah liked Lucia's floatie better than her own. Doesn't it always happen like that?
Leah was excited to combine two of her favorite things, drawing and swimming! 
One of the new Elmo's World DVD's Sassy got is called Reach for the Sky! In this DVD, they talk all about the sun and moon. Sassy was really into the moon this trip. She pointed it out to us every evening. Here she is pointing to the moon.
Look at this little Baywatch girlie running to the water. What a cutie! 
Mexican Dice Night. Chris and I were the last players standing at the end of the first two games. We both ended up rolling the dreaded "C" which meant we had to give everyone their money back. We finally won the third game! We made enough money to pay for the tolls on the way back!
Renee bought "Wish Balloons" for each family. Chris and I wrote several wishes on our balloon. Leah had fun playing on the beach at night while we all released our balloons.
We also had our second annual balloon toss. Lili and I cheered on Daddy from the sidelines. Nicole and Hannah were defeated, and Jim and Trevor won the toss. They were very excited!
