As the Summer weather makes its way to Vermont, we have made every effort to spend our time outdoors. Over the past few weekends, Alexa, Minna, Ptah and I worked hard in the yard, planting and watering in the garden, already enjoying the fruits (or vegetables!) of our labor! A few weekends back, we found two plant sales and both were supporting local charities so we purchased some unique additions for Minna's flower gardens. It was for a good cause after all! With all of the sunshine and warm weather, Minna's flowers are blooming beautifully!

We paid a visit to Eva, well all the Colquhons, upon our retrn home from Florida. Although it was difficult to see or old home for the first time since moving, it was wonderful to see great friends and catch up. Alexa and Eva played in this giant hole that Eva had dug! I especially love to see how these girls bring out one another's silliest sides!

In recent weeks, we practiced our baseball skills and Minna even filled the pool for the first time this season! Daddy treated Alexa to her very own Bounce House too!

On Saturday afternoon (May 22nd), Alexa and I went to Eva's house to share in her 7th birthday celebration. Alexa seemed to really enjoy the opportunity to play with the older girls. They played in the backyard, built a lean-to, ate pizza and watched "The Princess and the Frog! Alexa had a great time!

Later that weekend, Alexa picked out her first tent while we were shopping. She has been eagerly awaiting her frist night "camping" in the yard! She and Minna promptly set it up and Alexa collected all of the camping essentials, two sleeping bags, pillows, a flashlight, and a bug net. She must have been excited because she didn't even give me a hard time when it came to tooth brushing! Upon my first "check-in," I found lots of giggling, but as much fun as she was having, Alexa wasn't fully ready to spend the entire night otside just yet! I carried her back inside and before I knew it, she was fast asleep in my bed!

Alexa finished the music class she's been attending with Minna on Monday, the 24th. She participated in dancing and playing some of the instruments. She now has some new favorite songs to sing! She enjoyed dancing with some of the other children and she

Alexa continues to spend two mornings a week at her daycare, or school as we call it. She has made some wonderful friends there and often comes home with a special piece of artwork for me to display!

She also continues to love all things horse! She has made the Meadowsong Barn (Minna's neighbors) a home away from home, galloping around and feeding the horses their special treats! It is not uncommon to catch Alexa in her own horse play...She's Black Beauty and her sidekick, Penny, usually played by Minna, is always getting into trouble for something! "Penny, you go in your stall, Penny!" "Penny, quiet! I'm trying to sleep, Penny!" It's all in the expressions though...she keeps us laughing!

Alexa discovered a new favorite movie...about a horse, of course! Disney's "Spirit" has been all the rage here recently.

So, once again due to computer malfunction and such, I am catching up on the past several weeks. On Tuesday, July 28th, Alexa and I enjoyed a beautiful day at the Sand Bar State Park on the islands with good friends, Ashleigh and Emma and their mommies, Heather and Sarah. Minna and Ptah also joined us for some cooling off and playing in the sand.

Ashleigh and Alexa were like little fishies in the water. Emma didn't leave without getting her little piggies wet too!

We spent a week in New Jersey, attended 2 birthday parties, visited Aunt Patty, Uncle Russ, Luanne and cousin Mya, went to the beach, the boardwalk and on rides, and finally swimming in Gramma and Aunt Chrissy's pool. We visited the Clark's just before the "Storm of '09" hit Morris Plains and had a yummy pancake breakfast with Aunt Eileen just before she headed to Vermont of all places for the week!!

We had a really nice time in NJ minus the shiner Alexa had resulting from a greedy mosquito!

Alexa has really been enjoying the discoveries in Minna's garden. Despite the very rainy weather we've endured this summer, the garden continues to produce some yummy delights. Minna and Alexa even baked a zuchinni bread! We've had fresh salads most nights and I made a pizza with fresh basil and chicken! YUMMY!

There have been several "learning moments" recently as well. For example, last night while my back was turned to open some mail, Alexa stepped up her step stool and successfully started one of the burners on the stove. Instantaneously, Alexa began to cry and exclaimed "I scared!" I settled her down and explained to her that the stove is for mommies and daddies to use. This afternoon at Minna's, with Alexa looking on, Minna started the burner. Alexa stated, "I turn. I cry." At least I know she will probably be keeping a safe distance from the stove for a while. In the meantime, I'm going out to buy whatever it is that "babyproofs" stoves/ovens!

Alexa can now tell you how old she is and uses her fingers to show you too! She uses numbers to identify items rather than simply as a exercise in counting. For example, several months ago we had a routine of counting 1-10 at bedtime each night. Now, Alexa will "read" a book and count the number of eggs, for example, on a particular page. She has the funniest way of referring to two items of similarity..."two ones." It really cute when you can actually here her say it! She has been mastering colors recently as well. Red, green and blue are down pat and we continue to work on the others while painting or reading books!