Memorial Day '11 - Monday PM.

Does the long, lovely weekend have to end?! I wish not.  But we couldn't let ourselves mourn the ending of such a wonderful weekend.  No, we had to go out with a bang.  And so we had our dear friends the J. family over (Mama R., Papa P., Toddler J. and due-on-Oct. 15-baby J.!) along with brother R. for a rousing evening of lego-playing, puzzle solving, barbecue-eating, and watermelon (the fruit and cake variety)-indulging.  FUN.

P. is an engineer (think rocket scientist. Like, a real one. I don't think I'm lying) and impressively demonstrated his ingenuity when it comes to legos.  I was seriously impressed.  He made parts spin using the lego flowers.  WAY COOL.  Can't wait to try it!

J. was interested in baby E., especially since he'll have his own little brother or sister come this Fall.  Watching him watch E. was endearing, very sweet.  It was clear that he will make a very good, caring big brother.

J. and A. played beautifully together.  They have so many similarities.  At times, with my back turned, I would hear one of them utter expressions that the other also uses so often.   

Then there was dessert.  Watermelon the fruit and watermelon the cake (awesome cake from brother R.).  Oh, yum.  

E. didn't have watermelon (well, maybe later she technically did).  But she did allow Uncle R. to feed her a bit with a bottle - but not a lot; she was tired and opted for sleep instead of finishing her *dessert*. I'm expressing milk now and then to introduce a bottle to E. every second or third day.  M. and I have a wedding in Minneapolis this Fall and the goal is to leave the kiddos with my parents, which will require E. to have a bottle.  Fingers crossed this works!

Yes, summer has officially started.  I mean, isn't *summer* written all over these kiddos' watermelon faces?

So, the weekend may be over, but the fun has only just begun.  I can't wait to enjoy the summer:  to barbecue, swim, play, VACATION (scheduled for the end of August, barring no hurricanes this year!), a very-near-in-the-future trip to Michigan, visits from friends and family.  Hello, Summer '11!!!! We're so glad to see you!