Our little adventurers...

For an early birthday present in July, Alex received a red motorized jeep.  I can't remember if I've already written about him on it.  He's brave and adventurous for sure.  It amazes us how quickly he learned to "drive" and is now on turbo mode.  He drives in/out of the garage (where he parks it and recharges it)... and as soon as he exits the garage, it's on turbo power mode!  Before we switched over to the turbo mode- his wheels would get stuck on the gravel and grass and spin like crazy, with him going nowhere.  Now, turbo power solved that problem and Alexander is quite the driver.  He always wears a helmet 'just in case'.  It's a blast to watch him in action!

Sierra, our other little adventurer, is in her helmet now.  We've been up to the Hanger office a few times, and now... we think we have a perfect fit.  The issues were when we'd take it off, there were red marks that didn't go away for a few hours and a little rubbing on her neck from crawling.  Tonight, when I removed Sierra's helmet, her head looked pressure point free.  Hooray!  That means we will progress to wearing it for 8 hours on, and one hour off... eventually graduating in three days to hear wearing it 23 hours on and 1 off per day.  She doesn't mind it a bit... that's awesome.

We were originally going to send her helmet to a woman in California who paints for children with cranial helmets.  But, I have been finding super cute stickers at Target... and think I will change them out for the next few months.  By the time I was to send the helmet via overnight, and reship it back, and pay the artist, it would cost over three hundred for the artwork.  I'm not sure I want to pay that yet.  So for now, stickers it will be!  I think they're pretty cute! 

This morning we all went out and ended up picking blackberries along the property lines and in the what was once to be a burn pile (it is now a big blackberry patch with a path running through it that Steve created with the tractor.)

We've been picking berries for at least three weeks... they are huge and tasty!  Every time I go out to the bushes, I think to myself 'there won't be any left'.  HA!  That is not the case at all.  We have barely even made a dent in those patches.  I am religious about gathering them each morning... because that's what makes our little girl 'move'.  She eats a lot of cheese and loves her sweet potatoes... and needs berries to get things going (if you know what I mean.)  We also combined the berries with the plums on our trees to make fruit leather.  Oh so tasty!  Again, I fill one paper grocery bag about 3/4 full... and that made a little dent in the orchard.  So far, we have five one-gallon ziploc bags filled with the plums in our freezer.  Later this week I hope to pick more.  Am just waiting for Uncle Jon to come visit before doing so.

 The deer have left us a few apples and three pears

We have so many plums that the branches 

are hanging low from their weight!

 Alex has a new thing he loves doing... 

getting out and reading the blog books we had printed up.  So precious...

It's also fun to go down the slide backwards!

 Titus is wondering where his Daddy was this afternoon

Titus is such a soulful and sweet dog.  I love him so much!  What an adjustment you've made with having two little ones around.  I promise, as soon as the weather cools, you will be able to join us on more off property adventures.

 Alexander was cracking himself up as he talked about how he is going to spray Gramma with his back deck sprayer (hose and nozzle) when she comes to visit!  
He was hilarious!  You better get ready Gramma!!!!  
Look at his laughter!

 Titus... relaxing

 Steve watched the kids on Saturday morning while I was at a meeting.  I ended up bringing our dear friend and neighbor home from the hospital too.  She was hit by a drunk driver and thankfully is okay and recovering now.  Steve was beyond tired by the time I got home.  This past week, he walked in my shoes during the weekdays as he took a staycation at home.  We loved having quality Daddy time.

 This is what I dream of doing every afternoon, but as of late, it doesn't happen.  Perhaps when Gramma retires she will come visit and I can nap and we can all go play too!  Hmmm.

 And look who likes to play with cars... 
and she loves Alexander's fireman house too!