... and the summer continues....

Summertime means that we have more time to do things that the blur of our typical workdays doesn't allow.  For example, it means that Erik gets to do a lot more cooking and baking.  While a dutch baby may not be all that abnormal during the school year, homemade blueberry muffins are!  Summer also means that we get to enjoy a large variety of yummy fruits... many of which are hand picked with love.

Dutch baby (and I don't mean Cairo :o)

A reward for Cairo's good behavior was to help make- and eat- chocolate cupcakes.  As soon as she heard that we were going to be baking she ran back into her room, put on an apron, her cooking hat, and her baking glove and came out ready to go.  One must ALWAYS accessorize and Cairo has it down to an art.

She looks a lot like her Ba-Chan in this picture.

Jonah is a little-man on the move.  Though he isn't quite walking yet (we're mostly there- he takes between 3 and 7 steps before plopping back down on his buns), this summer he has finally conquered crawling and uses ANYTHING he can as a walker.  It doesn't matter if it is small or has no wheels.

He's been pushing this chair around like a little old man with a walker.

One of the other really great things about the summer is that we get to spend so much of it with friends and family. Uncle Alvin visits regularly and always makes time to play.  Going to Uncle Nick and Aunt Kyoko's is a double bonus because not only are they fun, but they have the neatest park a few feet from their house.  Plus, Mommy and Daddy have lots and lots of time to cuddle and play and read books... it doesn't matter if it is the beginning, middle, or end of the day.

I am enjoying the time I get to spend with my kids.  Having a whole day together sure does beat the busy few hours I get with them once I get home from work.  Even though the kids aren't always in the best of moods...

 ... I'll take what I can get.  Time is too short to be picky and before I know it they will be off on their own.