Killing the AZ Summer

So, as most of you know, we are using AZ as a launching ground before setting off on European Adventure 2.0.  We left Portland behind a couple of months ago and have been staying with Grandma and Grandpa while we've been getting ready to move to Barcelona.  Here's some of how we've been avoiding the heat and having fun this summer. : )

We constructed quite the drum-set using things found around the kitchen and the boxes from Grandma's 'things-that-go' shopping spree.

There's a lot of ham with that "cheese." ; )

Lovin' her sister  even while she's bangin' the "drums."

Turns out this box is a great thing to jump on, too -- well, at least until Mom and Dad say, "Stop."

 Art projects galore, as usual.

Our pretty, pretty princesses.

 We visited a great little, local kids aquarium.  Great concept, the girls had a blast in large part because things were super kid accessible.

Aoife was beyond excited to find so many Puffer fish, her absolute favorite.  Well, that and Anglers -- too funny.

In the bubble.  Such a neat way to observer the sea life.  Aine LOVED it, I think she could have stayed for hours.

Cute girls having fun.

Aoife gets in on the action

So, for a while there we were actually happily playing at the park(s) during the first part of the day -- especially those with "splash pads."  It's still not too bad sometimes, like after a storm, considering the Stuhan Family is up at 5:25 more mornings than not ; ).

Cute as can be an getting to be a pretty darn good climber.

My gorgeous daredevil.  (Not that this slide represents that but because of the previous picture I was just thinking that she is often the one to climb first, slide first, dive in and then big sissy follows.  They're so darn wonderful!)

Bath time.  Always fun for a half hour or 45 minutes!

We've been doing a lot of pretending.  Riding trains and planes to fantastic destinations is one of our favorite varieties.

We're mermaids -- more pretend.

 And of course we've been swimming, swimming, swimming.  As the summer progresses the girls get more and more adventurous swimming out on their own (with minor float aides/kick boards) and jumping from the waterfall are some of their more favorite activities.  Getting in the water and playing around never gets old, even when the pool is a swamp like 90 degrees, like today.  Yikes!

It's a water train.  What can we say, we like riding trains anywhere!

Ah, the SUN!

My darling little family!  WOW!

Aoife also attended a Spanish immersion summer camp.  She went every day for nine weeks and absolutely loved it.  She thrived and her Spanish grew by leaps and bounds.  Aine has been attending a gym class at a great local gym.  She is so athletic and physically inclined, we'll have to keep this up one way or another.  Mommy and Daddy keep plugging away at the normal stuff, working, cooking and cleaning, and running and reading, watching good movies and drinking nice wine ; ). 

We'll be back soon with news about our big move, so stay tuned.

XO