Gardening.

We have been planning on doing something with our backyard for a long time.  This week we started digging up the area around our porch for plants and mulch.  We have added wine barrels from Molly and Neil's wedding onto our porch and planted tomato and basil plants.  Charlie loves to "help" so we have been spending a lot of time in the backyard.

Little Mates Cove.

My mom came down on Tuesday to visit for a few days.  We tried out a few new places to eat and Paul and I even had a date night.  On Wednesday we went to Little Mates Cove.  It is a water park for younger children.  We had been once before at the beginning of summer.  Charlie liked everything a lot better this time.  She went down slides, found toys to play with and was better about getting wet.  She still hates getting splashed, especially if any water gets on her face.  It was a nice couple of days with lots of girl time.

Home, Hy-Vee, Stephens Lake Park.

Some more from Sturgis...

Charlie breaking into the wine room at Montage.

New boyfriend??  At the parade.

TGIF.

Today was the first day this week that I didn't have to go into work.  We started the day off with a trip to the mall.  We went to Barnes and Noble and played with the legos.  Charlie can play with them for hours.  We went to Target and looked at all the toys.  She ran up to the Diet Coke display, pointed, and yelled,"Mommy".  I think she is already too smart.  Lately it seems like she keeps surprising me with words she knows and things she knows how to do.  

Charlie has gotten into the habit of pushing the stroller/shopping cart/etc for me.  She also insists on carrying bags when we get something.  She waved by to everybody when we left the store.   We played in the middle of the mall at the children's park.  They have a slide, tunnel, and lots of things to climb on.  

Her new favorite game outside is to sit  in the car in the drivers seat and push all of the buttons.  She usually likes to have a snack in there with her.  She will say,"Bye, bye" over and over again until I shut the door.  It ended up being one of those nice days where we didn't have anywhere to go or anything to do.

Omoxicillin.

Paul and I have been worrying for the last 2 weeks that our sweet little girl was starting her Terrible Twos.  She had a cold and cough but developed a rash on Sunday.  I took her into the doctor on Monday and found out that she had double ear infections.  Once we got her on medicine she started acting differently.  She started eating and sleeping normally again.  I feel bad that we didn't take her in earlier.  Next time we will definitely have a better idea of when she has an ear infection.

Today was wonderful hanging out with my sweet Charlie again.  She was full of kisses and giggles.  When Charlie acts out we joke that she is being Charlotte Ann.  We are very happy to have Charlie back with us again.

Charlie waves at every car, motorcycle, person, and dog that passes by our house.  

4th of July.

We went down to Stockton, Missouri for the 4th of July.  Paul's uncles and their families were all there.  It was a quick day trip but we went boating and hung out with family.  It was Charlie's first time on a boat and bouncing on a trampoline.  Paul had to work on Friday so we drove back that night.