...and summer hangs on...

We've been having quite the mix of summer and fall weather up here recently. As the title indicates, we are still enjoying some summer like weather -- YAY! So, a mix of pictures follows...enjoy : )!Somebody already looks up to her big sister. With good reason. (Oh, and aren't those curls awesome. Aine is starting to get little ones in the back, too!)

We had another great beach day. I love these pictures!

My cuties -- this one will be printed and put up on the wall somewhere : )!

Meet "Stan" the spider. Aoife and I have been doing little projects and activites after she wakes up in the afternoon while Aine is still napping. Just some special time for our big girl.

She insisted that "Stan" needed her own web. Yes, "Stan" is a girl.

Our first bug, "Caterpillar" the caterpillar : ). We also have a ladybug, a bee, and have yet to make our butterfly. During one of our more fall like weeks someone enjoyed her first cup of hot cocoa...

...very much! YUMMY!

Someone else totally dug her first plum : ). Can we get another: YUM!

We are healthy and happy! Working hard, still, but doing really well overall.

Thanks for keeping up with us!

We love you all!

Abrazos,

Los Stuhan

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