... and a third children's museum post.

Can you spot Ellie and Wes in this picture?

I'd look that scared too if my dentist was four years old.

Sadie driving the John Deere

Waiting to go into the butterfly exhibit. Ellie was very excited.

I see butterflies!!!
It was a fun exhibit. We could just sit still and they'd flutter all around us, even landing on people so we could get up-close views.

Watching butterflies

...more kid's museum...

The music room.

This is a little trickier when you can only crawl from square to square.

I've got rhythm.

Remember when filling a car up with gas seemed like an impossibly cool grown-up activity?

Did I shrink or did these legos get bigger?

The firetruck was a huge hit. They even had kid-sized gear to try on.

Waiting her turn.

Sadie checking it out.

Finally! A chance in the driver's seat!

"Are you in there Ellie?" ... "Are you out there Sadie?"

EdVenture!

In August, Wes' schedule opened up a little. We took several day trips closer to home. Here we are at a nearby children's museum....

Wow - that is one really BIG boy! I wonder what Sadie is thinking here.

Inside the big boy.
Ellie wasn't too sure about the whole checking out inside his organs thing...

There were a few little play areas specially set up for Sadies.
Yay!

Daddy's taking a breather after lots of climbing in the big boy.

Ellie womanning the shrimp boat.

Budding musician

The walls are green because they were being filmed

Hmmm... there seems to be a random arm holding me.

Here Ellie is moving a severe weather system away from us. Thanks Ellie!

And here she is on TV. Future meteorologist?

Misc Photos from July

On school days, Sadie and I drop Ellie off at school and on the way home stop by for a quick leg-stretcher loop around the lake. She loves the lake.

Here she is pointing and giggling and talking furiously. It took me a while to realize that she knew exactly what she was saying: "Duck! Duck! Duck!"
I didn't even know she knew that word!

Here we are visiting Daddy in the campus organic garden. During the summer Wes and his students helped out in the early mornings before heading out to do their field work.

Sadie loves the beans. Mmmmmm yummy!

But basil, not so much. Here she's pushing it away. Ick! No thanks Mommy!

A couple more swim class pics. Ellie with her two swim buddies.

Fearless!

Another field trip!

This was my favorite field trip so far. We went to a local state park and let the kids loose in the lake. It was perfect for them! The water was waist high in the kids' swimming area so they didn't have to compete for who could swim without floaties.

The field trip happened while Ellie was in the middle of taking swim classes
so she was eager to test out her new-found talent.

Is this an otter or is it Ellie???

Ellie and a friend tested each other to see who was bravest going under water.

The children had a chance to take canoe rides

Lunch time!