Isn't Anna cute?

Hint: there is only one right answer to this question

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Botanical Garden

We made a family trip down to the Botanical Gardens (right by the Capitol) this morning. There are inside an outside portions. I had been inside during the winter but hadn't been to the outside gardens before. So we made the trek downtown. The inside jungle area has a very high ceiling, with a walkway near the top. So Caroline and I went around while Jack stayed with Anna. Caroline was particularly impressed with the large leaves on the tropical plants. We then went outside and enjoyed the rose garden on a particularly lovely day where it was only about 85 degrees out. Hooray for being able to be outside without needing a shower 2 minutes after you step outside!

(As an aside, Caroline does have eyes under that hair. She has decided that she is tired of bangs so we are growing them out. She's in the hard--I can't get them to stay back because they are too short but they are too long to see stage).

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Peach picking

We went out west yesterday for a fun time with our friends the Robertsons. We went peach picking (and blackberries, squash and tomatoes). We now have all sorts of peach recipes all over the kitchen. The girls ran all over the peach orchard and pulled down a good number of peaches themselves. (Caroline bruised the ones she had in her own little bag beyond recognition but she had fun). We had a picnic afterwards overlooking the Blue Ridge. The kids got in the red wagon. The girls ran around. All in all it was a great time.

Of course, we got home late and no one had naps. So things devolved a bit at our house in the evening. But the hilarious part was when Caroline hit her head (no, that isn't the funny part) while I was trying to fill the baby bathtub in the bathroom upstairs. I turned off the water (I thought) and urged downstairs to apply frozen peas to the bump. Imagine my surprise when I heard a squish, squish when I walked into the bathroom later when the peas had remedied the bump. Yep, water not totally off. Baby bath overflowing all over. That's right--1/4 inch of water all over the floor. On the bright side, I used a soapy cloth to get the last of it up. Our bathroom floor is now REALLY clean.

All in all a fun day.

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Couldn't take all the excitement

Anna, after realizing she could reach the playmat friends with her feet went on a kicking spree. (We will teach her not to kick her friends later--after she learns to sit up, eat food and, all importantly, how to control her appendages). After all that excitement she passed out but continued to occasionally wave an arm or leg in the general direction of the elephant and lion in her sleep.

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Story Time

The girls sure do like their Daddy (and what's not to like?). He is perfecting the art of dual story time here.

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Saturday

This picture reminds me of Saturdays when I was little...time with Daddy outside "working". I think Caroline is actually getting more done than I ever did. She hasn't taken 18 breaks or tried to hide a book outside so she can read it when she is supposed to be working. :)

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VBS

This week was VBS week for our church. Caroline has had a blast. They have been learning all about God's promises, like He cares for us or He saves. The theme was an island one (Promise on Adventure Island). So I contributed by making the slightly off center life preservers at the top of this picture. (I thought of Scott because making them involved covering things with colored duct tape). I also helped iron the transfers onto the shirts. Caroline confirmed that they were "pretty." She has also learned that friends can lower people with Hirt legs down from a hole in the roof. That story required a little clarification at home that it is only appropriate when Jesus is on the first floor. (Baby dolls at our house have had some seriously hurt legs subsequently). She had a great week and is very upset to lean that fun "church school" won't happen every day.

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Olympics

Caroline and I decided to start our Olympic watching run by inviting over some friends. I got blankets out on the floor and the three little girls all laid out and watched. They didn't make it all the way through, but it was fun through the "C" countries. The next morning Caroline and I had a rather unorthodox breakfast of popcorn and mango pie while watching more Olympics. I think this is going to be a fun time!

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One month

Anna is now one month old and got her one month check up. She's grown from 6 lbs 10 oz to 8 lbs 6 oz. the kid knows how to eat! We got cupcakes to celebrate. Caroline kindly ate her sister's. :)

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Sisters

Caroline has proven very helpful and sweet with her sister. She was overjoyed to hold her this evening after she helped give Anna a bath. Her joy at helping and holding Anna was simply adorable.

Jack is out of town with friends from
high school this weekend so we girls spent the day together. You can see the after bath/pj picture first. But this morning we went to the Air and Space museum. Caroline is clearly her papa's granddaughter. She had a blast. She actually wanted to know all about how an engine worked, what the different dials on the dash of an airplane did (I did my best Papa), and why an airplane can go in the air. She insisted we go inside every plane we could. You an see her here "flying" a Cessna. Anna was less impressed, but was a good trooper. It was my first outing with the two of them together without Daddy. (It was raining all day so we HAD to do something out of the house). It was a blast. There were no tears and I didn't leave either of them anywhere accidentally. Overall a success. :)

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