ZOO

It was nice to have some family time last Saturday. With me back to teaching and Kevin's fire schedule, it's kinda rare when we have a day with the three of us and nothing on our to-do list. So we headed to visit Harper's friends at the Tulsa Zoo. 

This trip, we told her we were going to the zoo and she started to yelled "Sh-oooo" as soon as we exited the highway. She knew what 'Zoo' meant. She was really tired because her nap had been almost non-exsistent that day. But she was a trooper. 

She loves the petting zoo, so we started there. She likes to get right beside the sheep and goats, barely touch them and then tell them what sound they  make. 

Next, she had some stroller time through the rest of the kiddie zoo and the rainforest exhibit. 

Notice how both Kevin and Harper are searching for animals. She really got his love of animals. I, sure as heck, didn't give it to her! {my family knows that for sure}

Next, it was time for a little playground break. Until two crazy big kids came and jumped all over the little kids toy, mom and dad got nervous, scooped her right up, and moved on. With a whisper to each other "Note to self: in 10 years, we will not let our kids play on the baby toys."

Harper was totally into the penguin carvings. As some of you know, she walks like a penguin on command, so to her, it felt like seeing family. 

Next, she had to wave at the zebra's.

Then clap for the zebras. 

We love the platform at the giraffe's exhibit!

Kevin can never get me to look at the camera. It really frustrates Harper. 

Now you can see the lack-o-nap really taking it's toll. 

She needed to be out of the stroller and get those legs moving. So what better option than to run from Daddy. 

Look! An elephant just her size! Loved it so much, she planted a kiss on his nose. 

Whoa now, that one is a little too real! She'll head back to the baby one. 

Just love this picture! What a great day with our little family. 

After that, we HAD to go to Bass Pro. You know, you can't go south of 76th street north and NOT go to to Bass Pro....I mean you've made it this close. 

But Harper doesn't mind the drive. She has plenty to entertain her....

~

Wee!

Harper got a playset...

It's BIG

She doesn't realize it's big. The kids has no fear. She climbs, she slides, she swings: no fear. I don't have any pictures of her on the playset, because I must have both hands available to be her "spotter"

She loves it! She looks out the window yelling 

"Wee! Wee! Wee!.....MOM Wee?"

Thanks Daddy, we're glad that you have no fear either. Otherwise we wouldn't have this wonderful monstrosity to play on.



~

Cousins!

All of Harper's cousins were together last weekend. This is rare...three different families, one in OKC, two in college, one in high school, four with jobs, two of those with jobs have two jobs....RARE. 

So of course, we make them take pictures. 

We were hoping it would turn out looking something like this:

Harper didn't want it too look like that....

In fact, she didn't want to be in pictures at all....

But she did want to play with her 5 year old cousin Avery. And luckily, Avery likes to play with her too!

How sweet!

Harper did a good amount of smothering!

This here is the reason we were all together. Happy Birthday Rylee! 

She hit the double digits this week. Such a good girl!

Love these kiddos {even the not kiddos anymore}

Nummy Nummy

Harper says "Nummy Nummy" for anything sweet {and bad for her}. 

She stands & points to the cake stand and says "Mom-Mom nummy nummy?", then when I say no, she turns and yells "Daddy nummy nummy?". 

When Kevin was asking her the other day what people say: What does mama say? What does Harper say? etc, she didn't say much until he asked what Papa says, and she replied "Nummy!". That would be because my dad usually has a box of doughnuts for her to choose from. 

Bottom line, she likes sugar!

Today she had her first ice cream sandwich...well part of an ice cream sandwich. 

Nummy Nummy for sure!

~

BEEEE-lated!

Sooooo, Kevin had a birthday. Like....a month ago. OOPs!

But here's the good news, I didn't actually forget his birthday, I just forgot to blog about it. BIG difference, right?

~

A long, long time ago, Kevin had a birthday. August 10th to be exact. 

He opened presents. Harper helped.

Apparently, Harper didn't like them. 

We bought him The Brick Bible. Its a bible that is told through Lego figurines. It's awesome. 

He spent a lot of time shooting his bow. Then breaking it. Then fixing it. Then shooting it again. 

He had not one, but TWO, ice cream cakes this year. Harper helped again. 

Harper also helped me make cupcakes for Daddy. This is how she helps: by making a mess and eating cookies, while watching me do all the work. What's up with that?

Finished!

She was a really big helper when it came time to eat them:

Such a good cupcake eater!

"I don't care if it's your birthday Dad....back off my cupcake!"

We love that Daddy of ours and we'll take any chance we get to make him feel special. =)

~

Fancy

Harper is into accessorizing these days. {As we've seen with the rubber snake and pearls}

So I put together a little dress-up tub. She loves it!

She can get quite snazzy....

She loves to look at herself in the mirror....and apparently she's a Chapstick thief.

This little face CRACKS ME UP! So sly.

But all that looking good can really wear a girl out...

Sometimes, even the fabulous need a rest.

~

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Kevin's birthday is today. 

And Harper knows how to celebrate a birthday in style!

Stirring the Pot

I noticed Harper hasn't been playing her toy basket as much as usual. So I thought I would renew her interest in it's contents. It was a pretty simple process, actually:

Step 1: Dump it over

There ya have it: my secret to entertaining Harper. If this process seems to challenging for you, take it slow, you will get there. The key is to not give up.

Ok, enough being a nerd. As you will see, getting to the "bottom of the barrel" was very entertaining

She really got in there! Took her job very seriously. 

She found all sorts of treasures!

Look at her trying to put that top back together...smartie pants!

And each piece had to be examined and talked about:

And I hope you noticed her {daily} uniform of pearls and rubber snakes. She is all about the accessories these days. Oh my! We have our work cut out for us.

August 3rd

Happy Birthday to my niece Ashleigh! She moved to OKC, started her first year of teaching this week,  and is just growing right up! We are very proud of her.

And for her birthday, I am featuring her crazy dog Annie on the blog. I have never done this before. But for her birthday, and only for her birthday, I will admit: Annie is growing on me. 

I {you can do it Cara, just say it!} like her.

Happy Birthday Ash 

Bringin' the outdoors IN

It is HOT. It makes me tired and sad to think about how hot it has been. 

But I am trying not to let it make Harper tired and sad also. 

So this week, we brought the OUTdoors INdoors. I brought her picnic table and swimming pool in the house and we had a "day at the park". Sort of. 

First she ate lunch in the living room at her picnic table. She loved it and sat there for about 30 minutes. 

Then we laid on a blanket and read books. First she just had to enjoy the blanket being on the floor.....

And then she said she was going 'night night'.

And before we could read, she had to go load up with toys. 

I am raising a hoarder! Look at that, a baby doll, a rubber snake, her daddy and harper toys, and a photo. Seriously, a hoarder in the making.

Finally she decides to read {still holding her assortment of valued collectables}.

Next, on to the swimming pool! Full of bouncy balls!

It was a great afternoon at the park!