Nebraska Capitol Building

On Tuesday we toured the capitol building.  The man was really good at gearing it to the children.  I set our camera on the railing and took our picture together outside the building.  At the top of the building the girls were trying to find our car and our church.  I ended up taking a picture and then pointing at it on the camera and then they could see it out the window.  I felt brilliant in that moment!  After the capitol we stopped at church for my paycheck and then went to Dairy Queen since the girls had coupons for free cones.  We arrived just at lunch time and decided to buy lunch instead.  We went back to DQ on July 3rd and used the coupons.

Folsom Children's Zoo

On Monday we went to the zoo in the morning.  Their favorite part was the train ride at the end.  In the first picture of the girls on the caterpillar, the girl in the back right is chewing out her brother for getting in the picture that I was taking!  He scooted back to her so fast that by the time I took the picture he was with his sister.

Children's Museum

We went to the Children's Museum on Sunday afternoon.  Maggie's favorite station is the face paint which she declared she'd do "by myself!!"  She was so proud of herself when she was done.  Mena did most of her face paint herself, too.  I just did the hearts on her cheeks for her and then she wanted to add a costume and put on a show.  She also enjoyed dressing up and climbing on the police motorcycle.  Dress up seemed the theme of the day for my girls!

Maggie -- Imagination Station Camp

Maggie enjoyed this art camp, also.  She pulled most of the pieces out of her clay creature on the drive home.  By the end of the week she was testing Breanna and pushing the boundaries.  I wasn't surprised when she fell asleep on the way home on the last day.  She worked hard all week on a variety of art projects each day.

Mena -- Imagination Station Camp

Mena made a ton of projects in this art camp.  These are just the ones that were 3D or somehow just didn't save easily in the scrapbook.  She had a lot of fun and later was able to point out a mosaic piece of art since Breanna had taught her what mosaic meant.

Jessica's Wedding

We got a picture of all my cousins, minus my sister Beth because she had to take Peyton to the ER!  He's ok or will be ok after the staff infection heals.  The girls missed him tonight.  Maggie was cute; she thought all the people up front in the wedding party were getting married; I explained that only Jess and John were getting married.  Maggie also kept asking when we get the birthday cake.  That was the most important part to her.  Mena was pretty calm through it all.  She seemed to enjoy herself and was so busy coloring she didn't want to leave.

Pirate Camp

Mena's ship held 8 pennies before it sank.  Here are a couple of the pictures she made.  She also made a treasure chest that she took to her dad's.  She was very disappointed that he wouldn't let her dig a hole in the backyard to bury her treasure.  She told us that she already had a plan and a map for Holly and Maggie to follow to find the treasure.  I tried to talk about how sometimes we have to make new plans but she really didn't want to hear anything Gene or I had to say.  On the last day they wore all their projects from earlier in the week so they could look like a pirate.  Everybody say, "Arr."

Girls' First Pedicure

 

For my mom's birthday I said I'd take her to get a pedicure before my cousin Jessica's wedding.  We went on an afternoon when the girls were with me.  At first the girls sat petrified in the chairs but then they relaxed and enjoyed it.  They want to go again!

Mena's First Jump into the Deep End

It was so thrilling to watch Mena jump into the deep end.  At our apartment complex pool, Mena's been jumping into the 3 ft end over and over and over!

Making Cookies

We had an evening at home so we made a batch of chocolate no-bake cookies.  The girls love scraping the pan/bowl clean when we bake together; what kid doesn't?!

Swimming Lessons

My pictures of the girls at swimming lessons are turning out better since I figured out which settings are working better.  Mena spends a lot of time waving at me and blowing kisses.  Maggie enjoys playing in the water.  Maggie will count to 3 and then stand on the edge of the pool while she continues to build her courage to jump in.