Summer is Here!

We have been so incredibly busy and on the move this week we've hardly been home enough to water plants before the sun has gone down some days.  We planted flower and herb seeds outside last week and are struggling to keep them wet enough with these hot, dry days.  We badly need rain here!  Hoping to get our garden finished up this weekend in time for some forecasted rain to hopefully come our way.

Last Friday, Ezri and I joined our friends Sarah and West for some Strawberry picking at Beard's.  With the crazy spring, picking there has been a short season and we were already pushing it by waiting that long.  We were able to get some really nice berries that day, but it was hot picking already at 10:30m  Ezri helped pick about 4 berries then she was concerned with taking the berries I had picked and putting them in her basket so it was full :)  Soon, that was boring and she was on to playing with the flags that mark rows, poking berries with them and what not.  The berries were delicious, but I could not get Ezri to try one :(

 Our little model was sporting her glasses that day and being too cute for sure!  Alora just went along for the ride, sleeping in the car and in the wrap as I wore her while we picked.  Alora is quite the trooper, just going with the flow.

 Alora is developing some new skills, one of which is the realization that she has feet and that they are fun to put in her mouth!  It is so fun to watch her grab at her feet and play :)  She thinks she's pretty big stuff too!

 After that busy weekend, she was wore out and ready for a nap anywhere she could get one...  Tucker was right there protecting her and napping as well :)

We certainly had some dirty little girls come Saturday night, so into the tub they went together.  Ezri thinks it is a blast to have her sister in the tub with her and likes to help wash and hold her.

 Alora now tolerates baths quite well, beginning to splash and play a little even, but no complaints anymore.

Get the girls all cleaned up and ready for bed and then Ezri deems it play time and runs the house like a crazy girl!  She thinks it is fun to race around the dining room table with her stroller back and forth.  Tucker and Tobi have learned long ago to stay out of open areas as they become mostly un-intentional targets.

 We had a bit of  a scare with Tucker this week.  Wednesday as we were preparing for lunch, he went out for a potty break.  Upon his return to the house, he was not willing to walk up the stairs and once carried in had a very arched back and stiff back legs, limping, barely able to walk and immediately laying down on his side.  We ran him to Allegan as our vet was closed and were told he likely had a pinched nerve, given a steroid injection and sent home.  Unfortunately, things did not improve at all and that night was miserable for everyone.  So, Thursday I brought him to our vet and she took an x-ray to find he has several discs on his spine inflamed and looking troubled.  She gave him a larger dose of steroid and a course of anti-inflammatory meds for a few weeks.  Gratefully this has worked, almost immediately, and he is back to walking normally, running a bit...  Still, we are being cautious with jumping and other back straining activities for him for some time to allow things to heal.  At nearly 13 years old, he's such a tough little dog!

We got in some Grandpa and Grandma time this week before they headed out on a bike trip and also some Opa and Oma time as well as a trip to the farm to see Great Grandma and some animals.  We also squeezed in some grocery shopping (the girls and I) and we are tired!  Thankfully, the girls have been making up for lost sleep by sleeping in and we are getting by with just a few tantrums from a tired toddler.  She still insists almost daily that I allow her to hold Alora and take their picture:)

 Alora has also spent this week developing her tongue muscles now that she has discovered she has one.  We constantly catch her with her tongue out and it is a constant cause for laughter here!

We are looking ahead to a day at the pool, hoping to get our garden work completed and really desiring some quiet home time together...  It is good to be busy, but too much is putting us on the edge of break down for the girls and us.  Loving life and all the experiences it brings to our Country Castle!!!