summer is here

Well, it looks (and feels - hello 90 and 100 degrees I did not miss you) like summer is finally here to stay in our neck of the woods.

Want to see what we've been up to?

We've been busy eating sweet corn.

I cut some off the cob for Karina thinking she probably wouldn't go for the cob. Boy was I wrong. She loves her some corn-on-the-cob.

We moved Karina to a booster seat at the table instead of her high chair. We never did that with the twins but I am liking it with her. I haven't brought myself to actually super clean the high chair and store it in the basement yet; I can't believe how fast she's transitioned from baby to big girl and I think I'm a little in denial to be honest. 

Addyson can enjoy some corn too - she likes to call it cob-on-the-corn. :)

And Daddy and Braden are fans too. Yum!

Addyson and Braden took their first swimming lessons.

Braden was so nervous and he tried to conquer his fears. 

Some days went well and others not so much. 

But I'm proud of him for facing his fears - I know it's not easy. Miss Addyson was freezing most days and looked terrified in the water but once we were home she talked about Miss Amy all day and about how much fun she had. 

Well, we do not have any swimmers at our house yet but let's just say it was a learning experience. We're thankful for patient teachers!  And we're trying to work on some of the things they learned at Grammy and Papa's pool. It's a little interesting with 2 adults and 3 non-swimmers.

So besides the heat (we'd really rather be in our parkas enjoying a Russian winter honestly) we're also getting used to the crazy wind. And playing with the dogs who I'm certain would really rather be in Russia too. Poor Chloe gets so hot.

Karina's been busy getting herself into all kinds of trouble. If there was any doubt, we now know that she can climb on the table and help herself to anything she wants.

She grabbed the pudding off the very center of the table, plopped herself in the chair and when I caught her she was cramming fists full of chocolate pudding into her mouth. Oh my, the things she can do in 30 seconds never cease to amaze me. Just in the last couple days she has started pulling chairs up to the kitchen counter like Addyson does, so now I am sure that nothing is safe. Oh well, it's taken me three kids but I've finally realized sometimes you just have to grab the camera and laugh. It's a better option than crying or screaming from frustration, although unfortunately at times those seem like pretty good options.

And the final hint that summer is in full swing?

Wheat harvest is days (or hours???) away. Finally. What a crazy weather year!