The Wonders of Summer

Our summer has been absolutely amazing -- here's a little of why:

Berry Picking:

Close to explanatory of all our berry picking trips this summer; she always eats more than she actually collects and she just loves it. These were Marionberries -- we have picked rasperries, strawberries and blueberries, too. Yummy, yummy!Not quite ready for berries, yet ; )!

Some of our indoor activites, painting, of course:

I am the Incredible Hulk -- okay, so I'm way prettier than the Incredible Hulk but this look suits me, don'cha think?Aine insisted on painting, too! Mommy wasn't ready to give her more than just water. She still had fun.

BEACH!!! -- Lots of trips this summer -- the kids love it and so do we! :
Snuggling in our beach tent, post picnic!Our girls love the sand. She really didn't eat most of it -- she played but couldn't resist putting a little bit in her mouth to discover what it felt and tasted like.So it looks cheesy and posed but we were having that much fun!Reviewing our ABCs on the beach -- we wrote them out and then ran and sang, ran and sang, again and again!Someone seems to be a little confused about where you are supposed to swim ; )!Fun playing!Windy!Windy, typical Oregon beach weather.Getting ready to head down to the water.

Parks:

We go at least 4-5 times per week! Again, the kids love it...and it's free : )!

Aoife has been testing out the "big girl" swing.

Gorgeous!

Action shot!

More (random) indoor:

Sporting her mowhawk, or "peahawk" as Aoife called it for a couple of days -- she must have been thinking about peacocks, too, we've been reading about them recently ; )!

Gardening:

We love visiting our garden, watering and checking progress, daily. These plants look so little compared to what it out in the backyard now. We have pulled in quite a few tomatoes already and expect quite the harvest this year.

Aoife loves her watering can!

We will be sorry to see summer go but are looking forward to many fall festivities. Other big things going on, Aine has been scooting around for over a month and now mixes her scoot/swim with crawling. She is pulling up and bouncing, she is so busy and loves to explore and manipulate anything and everything she can get her hands on. Aoife is quitting diapers, she had her first accident free day today! Yay! We are making progress quickly and I think things are going really well.

Hope summer has been great where you all are!

We love you!

The Stuhans xxoo

After 3 months away...

....it's hard to know where to start. There is no chronology to this series. Please excuse the jumble, I had a heck of a time finishing up those last two classes and it has been quite a journey trying to help Aine learn to sleep despite reflux discomfort. Additionally, we had a brutal cold and flu season. Thank goodness it seems that summer is finally arriving! Hopefully, I can be a better blogger in the coming months but I make no promises. Just know that, even if it is three months from now, I will post!

A picture of just James and Maggie...haven't posted one of these in quite a while (years?). : ) We are starting to feel like an adult couple again in addition to being parents. We actually managed to have our first real date since Aine was born about a week ago. We're going to keep working on that!We love our family outings! This was Silver Falls fun -- I LOVE both of these pictures!

Coloring Easter Eggs with Grandma!

First hair cut -- clingy during the cut, happy as can be afterward!

We have had some eating successes with Aine recently (it's been a long road -- our poor little reflux baby). We're starting some finger foods. In the picture below she managed to get Oatie-O after Oatie-O in her mouth, okay so only like 3, but that's progress! In the other pictures, she has removed the liner from her tray table. Aoife has NEVER done this and Aine thinks it is the funniest thing in the world and does it again and again. Just another little way they are different ; )! So amazing.

Aine watching as Aoife got all ready for her first day of preschool! Aoife, totally excited about her first day, her lunch, and especially her lady-bug canteen: "I LOVE it Mommy, I love it!" The day went really well. She had a great time and is excited to return next week! (These pictures are from today.)

A day of fun out and about! The picture of Aine with the flowers is SO our baby! She is busy, busy, busy! She is always ready to jump out of our arms and onto the next thing! Maybe we had too much fun! Wow, wiped out baby!The girls got up from naps a couple of weeks ago bright, cheery and picture ready! I couldn't miss the opportunity!

Wedgits! New hit...she made this all by herself! As you can see, she is quite proud.

We LOVE our Daddy!

More tummy-time (practice)! So pretty ; )!

Baking fun and yum! Aine helps out with mostly moral support and encouragement. We got to go make ice-cream sandwiches at Ruby Jewel, a local maker -- Aofie had a great time and Aine was as pleasant and cute as ever just hanging out! More block building success!

Thanks for bearing with us! We'll keep snapping pictures and we hope you'll keep checking back!

Besos,

James, Maggie, Aoife, & Aine

5 and 23 months -- lots of pictures!

The girls are 5 and 23 months tomorrow, WOW! Where does the time go? Here are some pictures of what they have been up to lately. So, not a great picture, but some great buidlin' goin' on! Don't ya think?

So, I should rotate this...out on a hike with the babies, having fun!

She loves to be outdoors!

Our girl loves to organize! There is a system to everything : ).

Do I look ready for spring?

More painting : )!

Cuteness, and that could be her name ; )!

Blocks are the best toy ever!

Playin'.

Our weekend at the coast didn't turn out exactly as we hoped. The weather was rainy and cold but it reminded us of how glad we are to have each other!

More organizing!

Aine, doing what she does. She is just such a happy, easy-going baby! Notice the drool getting ready to drip off of her chin -- more of what she does.

...and more!


Happy spring! We love you all!

Los Stuhan