You know it’s summer time when . . .

your child looks like this:

My favorite things about Isla right now:

• The way she starts every sentence with “oh” (i.e. Oh Mama, Oh Daddy, Oh Papa, Oh Hanky, Oh Blankey).
• That her favorite book to read right now is “Frosty the Snowman” (mind you it is almost 100 degrees outside today).
• Her endless hugs. She will give a hug just about every time you ask her and they are the best. I hope they never stop coming.
• Her dancing. I think she got her Mom’s awesome dance moves. I so wish I could capture it on video to share with you all – maybe someday.
• Her wonderful sleeping habits. Because in about three months I won’t be getting any sleep.
• Her love of the outdoors. As longs as she is outside doing whatever (which is mostly playing in the dirt or writing with her sidewalk chalk) she is one happy little girl.
• Her daily updates from daycare ("Mason in trouble, Mason timeout. Morgan timeout"). Funny how her name never comes up when she gives us the daily timeout list.

We love you Miss Isla Bean and thank you so much for all the joy you bring into our lives!

Mariner Game, Showers & Father’s Day

Friday afternoon Isla and I jetted off to Seattle for a weekend full of non-stop fun. First on the list was going to the Mariner game with GiGi and Papa. Papa was determined to get Isla a Mariner hat and I kindly told him that she probably wouldn’t wear it so he shouldn’t waste his money. In true Papa form he ignored me and purchased the hat – but I’m so glad he did because Isla wore it the entire weekend! She absolutely loved the Mariner game. She couldn’t get enough of the fountain, the trains, and she kept asking me if she could “go play” out on the field with the other players. She also saw the Mariner Moose (and surprisingly didn’t break out in tears) and learned how to cheer on “eee chi row” with the fans. We also timed our trip just right and got a free Ichiro and Ken Griffey Jr. bobble head at the game:

After the game Isla happily went with my parents to the Bjarnson’s while I went over to my friend Holly’s house to hang out with the college girlfriends and meet the newest member of our “family”, Callahan Hare. Callahan is such a cutie and unfortunately I don’t have many pictures of him because I was too busy holding him whenever I could. I was trying to get all the practice I could holding a newborn before Baby Boy Skene arrives in three months (yeah you read that right – only three more months, yikes!). On Saturday we had a day full of showers. First off we headed to Holly’s baby shower at her sister’s house:

The beautiful Mom to be:

After Holly’s shower we went back to Holly’s house and got ready for Sara’s bridal shower. Isla and my parents came over for Sara’s shower and Isla got to hang out with the Holly’s sister’s kiddos. They had so much fun running around the house and jumping on bubble wrap from the gifts.

Sara and Rob:

Opening their gifts:

Isla meeting Callahan:

Having fun with the bubble wrap:

Saturday night we stayed at my Aunt Margot’s house and then got up bright and early on Sunday morning (thank you Isla) and celebrated Father’s day with Papa and also got to have short visit with Grandaddy. Poor Isla was sooo tired from her whirlwind of a weekend that she crashed when we got home to Boise on Sunday afternoon. Thankfully she woke up three hours later and was able to spend time with the most important man in her life on Father’s Day. Happy Father's Day Ryan!

Summer is Here . . . Finally

I almost forgot what a weekend without rain was like! Summer finally came to Boise this weekend and with it came a visit from Grandma Connie and a last minute get together with the Bordner clan.

Isla hanging out with Grandma Connie:

The whole crew on Saturday night:

Isla really enjoyed having Ryder and Payton over to play at her house. These three had so much fun together! We got some great shots of them at towards the end of the evening:

You can tell how much fun Isla had by the next picture - she was absolutely filthy by the end of the night:

Grandma Connie brought down some of Ryan's old baby clothes for the baby boy. She also gave us Ryan's first pair of running shoes. They are the cutest things ever:

I can't wait to put them on the baby boy! Thanks Grandma Connie.

Well I'm hoping this beautiful weather greets us in Seattle next weekend. Isla and I are off for a weekend of fun, including a Mariner game, visiting with Papa and GrandmaGiGi, a baby shower, and a wedding shower.

Rain, rain go away . . .

. . . come again some other day. We found ourselves singing this little tune a lot over Memorial Day weekend in Bellingham. Boy the weather was ugly! The only bright spot was visiting with my parents and getting to see their new house. We have been planning this trip to Bellingham for quite a while thinking my parents would have been settled in to their new home. It didn't really work out that way since they moved in the day before we came. The house was about 95% done, but we made the most of it. I unfortunately didn't get many pictures of the place as there was moving stuff everywhere. I did manage to get a picture of the kitchen - you can see that they still need cabinet doors, their fridge door and the island isn't quite finished:

I was also able to get a shot of the pantry/wine cellar that the kids played in for hours:

GrandmaGiGi also got Isla some rain boots so she could go down to the beach and throw rocks into the ocean:She liked to wear them to go outside and see the train (there are train tracks that go right below my parents house). She spent the whole weekend saying "Bye train" and waving as it went by.

Isla and Anna out in the front yard:

Papa also put up a swing for Isla, which she got to swing in when it wasn't raining. She absolutely loved swinging in it (you can't really tell from the picture so just take my word for it):
My parents house is absolutely beautiful and we can' t wait to get back there to check it out when everything is complete. Way to go Papa and GrandmaGiGi!