Harper's birthday weekend

 For Harper's 2nd birthday, we headed to Ohio to celebrate with Omi and Opaw and Joe, Kelsey and Beau. Since her birthday is also on the 4th of July, we had a nice long weekend to do that!

 We hiked Friday morning at the Ledges in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It was so pretty and green!

 Nate is talented at selfless…we all fit in this one!

 Andrew was in heaven with all the nooks and crannies he got to explore.

 Flying a kite in the field afterwards.

 It was such picture perfect weather…we got out the pool and Omi had a fun fishing game.

 Sweet little Beau who is actually not so little anymore! He and Harper are about the same size!

 Uncle Joe helping Drew line up all his cars…these were Nate's when he was little and so it is cute to watch Andrew sort and organize them.

 The birthday girl, opening her presents…she got some cooking utensils, a new baby doll, a vacuum cleaner (a hit!) and a new sleeping bag.

 Her birthday cupcake!

 She was so excited everyone was singing to her.

 And she all but inhaled her cupcake (they were pretty good…I do admit:)

 Saturday morning, (another gorgeous day), Nate and I went on a long bike ride, just the 2 of us, while Omi babysat the kids. We went on the Rails to Trails bike trail that runs through all sorts of small towns. It was so beautiful out…lots of rolling hills, farms, creeks, and cute towns. We stopped in Pennisula and had ice cream at Oser's (above).

 As if we didn't pack enough fun into our weekend, we got to go on a boat ride in Portage Lakes.

 Kelsey and I had a time keeping these two actually on the boat and not toppling into the water (which they attempted many times)

 DeeDee (Omi) and all her grandkiddos.

 Andrew enjoyed the few minutes he got to be captain with Opaw.

And Nate and Andrew were the only ones brave enough to suffer the cold water and take a swim! We had such a fun weekend in Ohio and are so glad we got to celebrate Harper with everyone!

More summer pictures

 If this isn't the picture of cuteness, I don't know what is!

 Andrew took swimming lessons too…we joined the pool and he is getting braver about swimming on his own!

 A fun zoo trip with friends…Andrew stole the stroller from Channing for some reason:)

More pool days!

 Lindsey and I at El Mundo before...

 Gillian Welch, David Rawling, and Willie Watson! Best show ever at the Brown!

 That weekend we headed to Lexington for Lindsey and Steven's baby shower. It was good to reconnect with old college friends!

And one last picture of the guys!

Summer days in June

  Andrew hanging out at Waterfront Wednesday.

  He and Harper danced up a storm!

  A few Saturdays ago…we went hiking in Jefferson Memorial Forest on a rare non-humid day.

 We joined the pool this year and these 2 have had a blast swimming and keeping me on my toes. Andrew is taking swim lessons and is getting more and more comfortable in the water. His latest obsession is to jump in and "go under" for a few seconds (good practice on holding his breath) and I am required to watch this feat every. single. time.  We usually all need naps when we come home!
  Biking at the Parklands of Floyds Fork. The Louisville Loop is getting better each summer with new sections opening. Can't wait to do the full 100 miles around the city in a few years:)

  After our bike ride, we played at Creekside Sprayground.

  And finished our the night with dinner at Irish Rover.

  I attempted a photo with them but Harper was obsessively pretending to blow her nose and Drew refused to smile. This is what I got!

  One cool morning (it was 55 when we woke up!) we went to Charlestown State Park in Indiana to hike and play on the playground too.

  Gina came to Louisville for a visit and we met the Speaks and their sweet little guy (who is the spitting image of Aaron) at Za's for some pizza.

  All of my high school friends and I planned a girls' weekend in Louisville a couple Saturdays ago. We ate brunch, spent the afternoon at the pool and finished the night with dinner at the Silver Dollar. It was so fun catching up!

  Andrew likes to go cut lettuce for me in the garden before dinner. I don't mind at all that he likes this job!

  Erin and Mark and the cousins stopped in Louisville last week on their way home and we spent a lot of time at the park and just hanging out. Leena and Harper are inseparable and when they see each other they say, "Ohh! Harper/Leena! Give me a hug!" Cutest thing ever.

  Amanda was in Louisville too so we had a chaotic picnic at Seneca Park.

  All the big kids!

  And this sweet baby girl is getting so big! She is the cutest!

 Eating dinner with Grandpop!

  Nate's company picnic was last Thursday at Tom Sawyer Park. It was HOT and these two were tuckered out after playing hard on the playground and then eating all the hotdogs and chips they could get their hands on. Gotta love picnic food!

On Nate's day off we went to the splash park at the zoo, which is normally wild and very crowded so I only attempt it with Nate around to help:)

And just a normal evening in our house. Watching their music video of choice (Beastie Boys for this one…don't ask. Nate felt it needed to be introduced to them). They pretend the table is their stage as they perform for us...Never a dull moment!