Liam and Maia in June

Just throwing up a lot of pictures of Liam and Maia throughout June so far.

Liam and Maia love the playground. Maia did VERY well on the swings. I had to push her, but she held on like a pro...pretty good for only a few months past 2. Sorry, no Liam...all the shots of him were video.

Liam and I had fun with some markers (heh)

Maia was being intentionally cute for this photo shoot.

I'd say Maia has a pacifier addiction...wouldn't you? 

(she was being silly in this shot...though she still insists on them for sleeping and we have to make sure she can't reach one during the day)

This is Field Day at Liam's elementary school. His class is waiting their turn (Liam is short and near the back of the line, so you can't see him here)

Liam gets his turn on the ball bounce

Later he does the parachute, which was his favorite activity

Liam and Maia were enjoying playing in Liam's room. Together, they do an awesome job of making a mess of it. Poor Liam ends up cleaning most of it.

When we were at Dawn's house, she and Liam planted Zinnia seeds. Once they started sprouting, we planted them in the front garden. They have finally started flowering, and Liam wanted to show them off. The sunflower that he started growing from a seed at school is also doing quite well, as you can see. It's almost taller than him at this point.

Liam and Maia love getting baths together. Which is great, because it makes it easier to bathe Maia.

I got my nails done at Precious Nails and when I showed them to Maia, she asked "Maia some too?" She asked so sweetly and hopefully that I gave in and painted her nails with a soft pink that I had. She was VERY patient and careful with her new nails. And she proudly showed them off for the rest of the day. My cute little girl.

We got Fisher Price roller skates for Maia to try out, but they are way too big on her. So Liam was trying them out. He was quite amused.

One morning, Maia wrapped my cardigan around her shoulders and sat in her chair and started "talking" to Liam. He starting having a conversation with her...first he asked some questions, and then she said...well...some response that made sense to her. Then he would do more talking/asking, and she would respond. It felt like we were watching a talk-show host interviewing a guest star. 

Maia got a hold of her clips and handed each one of them to me, to put into her hair. She wouldn't let me stop until ALL of them were in. (I can't believe I managed to find enough hair space for them all)

Medford Fireworks

We went to Medford's Freedom Park for their annual fireworks display. Tons of fun, with the kids playing with bubbles and outdoor toys, drawing pictures, and running around. Most of the pictures explain themselves.

Bubbles

Out little plot of land

Maia is very good at taking her shoes off and putting them on.

Maia wasn't crazy about the noisy fireworks...she solved the problem by putting fingers in her ears

Liam needed earbuds playing music and noise-cancelling headphones (sorry it's blurry)

Finished Kindergarten

I can't believe it.

It happened so fast.

Is someone speeding up time?

Somehow, my little baby boy, who is really a growing boy now...somehow...he has just completed Kindergarten! Today was his last day of school. Though he has summer camp to get through, technically he is now a first grader! A....FIRST...GRADER! Can you believe that?! His book bag folder had a list of supplies for first grade already. OMG.

I am very proud of him for getting through his first year of grade school. He had some challenges, but I think he did relatively well. But it's also bittersweet, as all milestones are for parents. I don't want him to keep growing up because he will be an adult sooner than I realize. Right now he needs me, and wants to play with me, and doesn't say that he "hates" me. Aside from the occasional annoyances, I love this time with him.

Still, most of me can't wait to see what he will be like as a first grader. MY first grader.

Rutgers Field Day

Jackie's former college, Rutgers of New Brunswick, has an annual Rutgers Field Day. She has been trying to get us to go for a few years, and this time we made it. (April 27th)

Maia and Sophia are checking each other out.

Done with that, they are ready to move on to the fun stuff.

Maia loved looking at the lambs, piglets, and kids (baby goat variety).

Liam wanted to get closer...but not TOO close. He avoided touching.

Later we looked at the pigs...HUGE pigs. That mother pig is about as big as I am. I had no idea they got that huge.

Maia wanted to ride the "horsie".

Liam liked this crazy tree...and so did I.

There was a small goldfish pond where kids could pay a dollar and scoop one up to keep. I just let the kids look...no pets for us.

When we got to the bug section, Maia was actually more amused than Liam.

Grandmom did NOT want to look at this, but I thought it was gorgeous. The picture does not do it justice...the colors on it's back were an iridescent reddish-orangeish-brown.

Maia and Aunt Jackie chill for a bit.

Liam wouldn't let us leave the grounds without a turn on the bouncy obstacle course, so after waiting in line for at least 20 minutes, he finally got his 10-seconds of fun (most of the other kids took their time going through...he shot through it. Oh well.)