Grandpa Kartchner's Giant Slide

While we were in Colorado, Paige got a chance to go down Grandpa Kartchner's giant slide.  

It's a really, really tall slide.  I thought Paige would be a little too afraid to go down it by herself, but she wasn't at all.  She climbed up, didn't hesitate and slid right down.  Then she did it several more times. She was a little spooked and tried to slow herself down as she went (resulting in some awesome slide burns), but she loved it.  

For days and days afterward Paige asked to go down Grandpa's Big Blue Slide again.

Denver Zoo

While we were in Denver we went to the Denver Zoo with Grandpa Brison.  Paige loved the trip to the zoo and talked about it for days and days. 

Roaring like a tiger. RAWR!

She was a little hesitant at this Discovery Station.  She thought it was kind of cool to see the polar bear pelt, but refused to touch it.

We stopped to eat lunch.  At lunch, Grandpa ate some of Paige's string cheese.  For some reason, for months (at least 4 months and counting) whenever we talk about Grandpa she says "Grandpa ate my cheese!" And laughs and laughs.

While we were eating a little flock of geese strolled by our table.  

Paige (from the safety of my lap - she got scared and crawled over) LOVED the geese.  She thought they were really awesome and talked about them for a long time too. 

Some of Paige's other favorite animals were:

The Okapi (she cried as we left this one and we had to go back several times)

The elephants (especially the elephant with the big white ball)

The giraffes

Another one of her favorites were these monkeys.

They had a play area that extended over the path that visitors walk on.  So we watch a monkey climb up the pole...

...and over right over our heads!  Paige thought that was really awesome and talked about it for a long time.

Summertime

Paige and I have been out and about lately trying to make the best of summer.  Jake hasn't been around very much since he's been so busy studying for the bar.  He takes it in two weeks and we can't wait until it's finished. 

Paige and I have been trying to keep busy (although it's been harder lately since it's been SO HOT).  We go to parks and go swimming a lot.  

There's one really fun park about 20 minutes away from us in Alexandria.  They have a big playground: 

Right next to a fun spray park! Paige loves playing in the water and getting sprayed.  Here is Paige and Gabbi playing at one of the water tables:

We've spent a lot of time at our pool too.  I like being in the water because it takes away some of the weight of my pregnant belly and Paige just loves water in general.  Our pool has a kiddie pool and Paige likes to "swim in the little pool AND the big pool."  She was pretty freaked out by the big pool at first, but she's gotten used to it.  The other day she was even brave enough to hold her nose and go under water (which she wanted to do about a million times).

We do definitely could do with less heat and less humidity, but we do love summer!

All Done With This Part!

I was having one of those mornings, so I went to the grocery store and got myself a chocolate donut.  Paige was being whiny as we got back in the car, so I handed her a piece of the donut (mostly to quiet her down). She was quiet for quite awhile, and then she said "I'm all done with this part!"  I turned around to look and she was COVERED in chocolate frosting.  It was all over her face, arms, legs and hands.  She was holding the donut part out to me after having licked all of the chocolate off of it.  

She makes me laugh.

Goodbye, Rachel!

A few years ago when we moved out here I started working at a crepe stand at the local farmer's market and have been working there ever since.  It's been the best job.  It's only on some Saturdays and I work with the best people ever. 

Rachel, the one who originally conceived the idea for the crepe stand, recently moved to Washington so we got together for a farewell dinner.

This creepy makes us look a little creepy.... but that's ok.

Me, Rachel, Heather, Katherine, Jackie, and Emily:

Sick Day

Sometimes we just have sick days where we cuddle up on the couch and watch TV. 

Butterfly Pavilion and BUGS

We went to the National Museum of Natural History with playgroup.  We visited the insect exhibit.  Paige (not surprisingly)  LOVED the bug displayed.  She has always liked bugs, so she LOVED seeing the bug displays.  For me it was disgusting, but she loved them. 

We went inside the Butterfly Pavilion, but that totally freaked Paige out.  She didn't like the butterflies flying all around her.  She especially didn't like it when one of the butterflies landed on me.  She made me carry her around the whole time.

Gabbi and Paige had lots of fun riding the metro home together.  They are so silly together!