Twins & a Tea Party

When we built our home, Patrick and I stopped giving each other gifts. Not because we didn't care, but because the money was better spent towards something 'housey'. Then came the kids and traditions needed to be made. So, we're back to buying gifts because the kids expect us to open things. Which is silly, because anyone with kids knows that you'll never open a gift again - the kids do it for you.

Patrick's Father's Day gift was tickets to a MN Twins game, something the four of us could attend together.

We had seats along the third base line.

But it was a hot gift. Literally, it was so, so, so hot. 90 degrees, sunny, high humidity and an even higher dew point. The tears of discomfort started before the game. Hadley's reaction when she learned we had to sit here for 3+ hours.

Oh the attitude of a three-year old.

15 rows behind our seats was a section in the shade. Patrick asked security if we could sit there. There were literally rows and rows of empty shaded seats. Security said it was fine and if the ticket holders showed up, we'd have to move. We took our chances, because we were sweaty messes. I took apart one of Finley's Rainbow Loom bracelets to use as a ponytail holder.

Fortunately the ticket holders never showed up. The kids had fun at the cost of $100 in concessions and multiple bathroom trips. But eh, we were together right?!

After all the heat, it was a very quiet ride home.

Hadley had her three-year check-up with Dr. Myhre. She's a big girl 34 lbs (78%) and 3 ft 2 in (70%), by comparison Finley was 31 lbs and 3ft tall. We talked about potty training, or lack of, Dr. Myhre said to encourage but not pressure or I'll only end up frustrated. So, I'll continue to encourage her (sigh, eye roll) and wait and wait and wait. Hadley is completely healthy and the sass is 100% normal.

The same day she visited the dentist. No picture because I was lying on the chair underneath her. But she opened her mouth and even had her teeth cleaned, victory.  With her goodie bag in the parking lot.

Victory #2...ballet class!  No goggles, 100% participation and she loved it! She looks for us in the window and smiles.  (There are no ghosts in the dance studio, parents watch from behind a window, thus you can see images reflecting)

We can't hear the music, but the opening song must've been about brushing your teeth and going to sleep - the ballerinas were stretching, yawning and closing their eyes, hilariously cute.

My personal favorite is when they go back/forth across the floor doing various walks, skips and leaps.

There's nothing graceful about it, just cuteness.

Speaking of not-graceful, all little girl ballerinas like to pull their skirts up.

They closed with free-dancing. Maybe this was the cutest part? The picture doesn't do it justice, but the girls were getting down. I'm actually looking forward to next week, she's into it...but I'll continue to keep the goggles hidden in our diaper bag just in case.

Finley & Grandma took his lemonade stand money to the pet store and purchased pill pockets for the dogs at Bob's House....

...then with a GIGANTIC smile, they went to Bob's House to drop off his donation. Here's my favorite part... Finley has had three lemonade stands for Bob's House, he's never once asked for a single penny of his sales. He received a $5 tip from a family friend to keep for himself, I worried a teeny that might make him money hungry.  To my happy surprise, it hasn't. Good work Finley!

Our neighbors gave Finley a remote-controlled helicopter - he loves it. I can't believe how high it goes (higher than our house!).

We met up with Rachel, Carter, & Owen at Carson Park.

Hadley isn't ready for the tube slides yet. Mom! Mom come get me!

Exploring the trails was more fun than the toys. 

A giant kick! 

Hadley was invited to Elle's Fairy Garden Tea Party. If ever there was a girly event, this was it. It was everything and more little girls would want. It was absolutely precious. 

The cuteness.

Each guest created her own Fairy Garden to take home.

They wrote letters to their Fairy and heard a cute story.

Presents and cupcakes!

Girls are SO different than boys. They do things like hold hands....

...and hug.

I can't stand the sweetness.  

But I'm not totally fooled, there is spitfire in them too ;) 

I might've had to chase Hadley when it was time to leave.

Happy 4th Birthday Elle!

For his entire kid-life, Finley has wanted neighbor kids. We have awesome neighbors that spoil our kids (see airplane above) and allow us to visit, walk their dogs, plan Easter Egg Hunts and make Rainbow Loom bracelets for them. But we recently had a family with three kids move in behind us. He listens for the kids outside, they come to our door and ask Finley to play. He's in heaven. Friday night they invited him over for movie night, he happily accepted and walked over in his jammies.

Cousins from Nashville were in town visiting - Lenny, Maria & Geoffery.

A Yes? We walked to the bottom of a giant water tower.