Memorial Day

Nothing says summer like this...

Pap and Aunt Georgia are both recuperating from foot injuries and on crutches. 
Here they are racing a turtle.  'cause that's just how Blauch family parties are :)

Cousin Ben LOVES his bubbles.  Ain't he a cutie?

Jillian refusing to give up the secret ingredient in the homemade ice cream.  She's scary good at keeping secrets.  UGH.

Awesome Aunt Crickett brought an art project... fabric markers and tshirts.  The girls LOVED it.

Snapshots of a Sunday

Daddy and Natalie curled up with the comics

Jillian perched in her usual spot on Mommy and Daddy's bed, working on some sort of an art project.

A fun Saturday

Daddy was helping out with a Relay for Life yard sale, so the girls found some adventures to keep them busy!

After Market, we wandered around finding six more of the pianos

Stopped in Binns Park to be amazed by the 'jumping' water fountains

Made our way to Oregon Dairy for groceries and found a fun tire swing

and rode in a fire truck!  There was a car show and fire safety exhibit at the Dairy this morning too.

What fun!

Welcome Summer!

We've missed you!

The proceeding picture was brought to you by the hard work of Daddy, who rigged up an awesome solar panel for Nonna & TOF's pool. 

Oh, and the sun too.  It helped.  Just a little!

Fun in the yard

What do you think the girls are watching?
a captivating movie?
a gorgeous sunset?

Ummm.. not quite.

They are actualy enjoying a front row view of Daddy working in the yard!

Market

On our Saturday morning ritual trip to Central Market, we ran across our first piano!  Just this week the city installed 20 pianos all over the city for the summer, kind of like the decorated cows they did in Harrisburg a couple years ago, but more musical!  We might make it a challenge to visit all of them!

Mommy is no pianist, but did show off the very little she was able to absorb when her childhood neighbor took lessons!

Jill's thank you card on display at our favorite produce stand at Market.

Jillian ATTACKING her first ear of corn of the summer!

Misc.

Jillian's desk at Artist & Authors night at school.

Yes, an iPad has landed at our home, albeit temporarily.  And yes, it is as awesome as we'd feared.  :) There will certainly be some withdrawal problems when we have to take it back to school!

And finally, some three-and-a-half year old cuteness!

Sleeping Beauties

Gymnastics

We were invited to another birthday party at the gymnastics place and this time Mommy brought her camera!  What fun!

Jill was a daredevil on the jumper!  She sailed almost to the ceiling. 

Play date

Friday, Jill had field day at school.  Since there was no aftercare or buses that day, Mommy left work early and supervised a play date with her friend Kate!  They played Barbies, ate pudding and had a great time together... but when Mommy tried to take some pictures...

the sillies came out!  They kept turning their heads at the last second and giggling hysterically.

 Finally though, Mommy caught them!

Our Budding Stylist

Mommy took the girls shopping for clothes yesterday, clothes for Mommy, that is.  Jillian takes on the role of stylist to the stars.  She's whipping through the aisles, pulling items from the rack holding them up to Mommy, alternately shaking or nodding her head.  As Mommy steers her away from the strapless dresses and casual tees to more work friendly fare, Mom finds a perfect shirt.  While waiting in line at checkout, Miss Jillian brings up a bracelet.  "Here.  It needs this."  And, well, it matched perfectly so we had to buy it!

ZooAmerica

All Mommy really wanted for her birthday was a daytrip with her family.  Daddy thought and thought and we decided a trip to ZooAmerica (and of course, the singing cows at ChocolateWorld!) was just the thing...

Who can resist this adorable face???

Family visit

Uncle Barry, Katie and Dan came into town for a few days!  We took Katie and Dan to our favorite Saturday morning places... market and Oregon Dairy.  And in between they were treated to a Seussical recital by our favorite performers...  That they evening we met up with the 'adults' for a cookout at Nonna & TOF's house.

Old friends

We had another party Friday night!  This time it was Daddy's old high school friends and their families.  What fun!  It was a beautiful night with great company.

The kids took control of the camera and took most of these photos!