Elizabeth's Bday Weekend

We enjoyed a visit from S&E's Grandma and Grandpa, their aunt Rachel, and Team Walsh for the weekend. It rained on my birthday but that did not deter us from taking a short hike. Evelyn and Leah (6 months) enjoyed the sound of rain falling on their protective plastic bubble (so much so that they both caved). We had a lot of fun in the backyard the next day when the weather turned nice again and tested the capacity of our small inflatable pool.

The view from our car to the next car at the park. Thankfully it only rained like this for the second part of the hike!

All of the kids were good sports in the lousy weather

Aunt Rachel became a professional pusher and the swings were put to good use

The best part about the "fortress" is that you don't need to wait your turn - you can just climb up the other side!

Although Sydney is going through a bit of an over-smiling phase, she LOVES her friend Maddie - so it's very possible this one is genuine over-the-top enthusiasm which is what she experiences before and during a visit with Maddie.

See what I mean?

Evelyn got a nice cozy coupe ride from her Grandma

The pool started with two...

Then a different two...

Then three...

Then four!...

Back to two...

With one rather large ham!

Dance party before the Walshes departed

Evelyn charming Leah

Leah's reaction

Quality time with Grandpa before they headed out

Sleightsburg Park

We have been doing at least a hike a week during our home stretch. Today we did a short one in Sleightsburg Park which is one of the Scenic Hudson hikes. Last week we did Huckleberry Point (and neglected to remember to put the memory card in the camera...which is a shame because we saw a bear on our return trip from our car...it was on top of a parked car on the side of a mountain road...unbelievable!)

Around the House

Here are some images from what we've been up to around the house in June.

the girls in matching tie dye

Evelyn is a girl of many looks - from 80's workout wonder...

to the girl from Napolean Dynamite...

and back to Princess Leah!

Figuring out how to get the corn off the cob...

and subsequently mastering the art of brushing teeth!

Daddy's little helper well equipped with any tool she might need!

Looking up to Daddy

The home improvement trio

Kaaterskill Falls

We did a short hike to Kaaterskill Falls which is the highest waterfall in the Catskills.

Dress Up Fun

We inherited some new dress up clothes from a colleague of mine and Sydney and Evelyn had a great time checking them out.

Sydney the over-smiling mermaid!

Princess Sydney

Ballerina Evelyn doing some push-ups as part of her training

I'd like to say she is practicing second position with her legs and third position with her arms but in reality she is trying to take out her barrette!

Tutu and a shawl!

Mets shorts and shiny skirts...together at last!

Ashokan Reservoir

We went for a stroll along the Ashokan Reservoir which is where NYC gets its water.

The Man, The Myth, The Legend

As a follow-up to our "Joshua the Builder" post, here is the finished product and the hi-jinx that led to the finishing touches! Absolutely unbelievable!!

I told Joshua the roof reminds me a little bit of a mullet (business on the outside and party on the inside)!

Sadie admiring the finished product (or perhaps a little jealous reflecting on the size of her own house).