Play Time

Check out those admiring eyes looking up at sister!

Water wonders!

Sparklers! and Whistling!

Violetta and Carla's Birthday Party at Uncle Bob's

Violetta let Carla take the spotlight ... she's pretty shy :~ It was the perfect day - beautiful! and sandwiched between their birthdays on the 11th and 13th :)

Happy first birthday Carla!

Carla's first birthday present!

This was just the right present for Carla! Thank you Uncle Michael and Aunt Ashley!

Check out that pose!

We think of you each week Aunt Ashley (our star ballerina!)!

Happy 4th of July!

I think I lost a pound (of hair)!

I was surprised about two things: a) ten inches of hair sure doesn't look like much, and b) that pony tail was actually pretty heavy!

Carla is so proud of her drawing!

Broccoli buddies!

Last day of ballet!

Thank you Miss Nancy for such a darling experience! Thank you too Gramma! After Anna's last class we were off to visit with some great aunts at Malley's! Anna and Carla will forever remember you, Aunt Denise, as the aunt that gives them sweets! Aunt Maribeth and Gramma were just loving it too! And check out Gramma's beautiful garden!

Whirlwind of a Day!

First a quick 16 miles (just me!), then off to Coventry for an early lunch, and we met Hacina - what a joy!! Then we were all off to the Museum of Natural History. Lots of fun inside and then out! We got to pet some city horses and the stayed and played by the huge outdoor triceratops for quite a while. It was a beautiful day! Then we got pizza and ended the day at Preston Hope Park. So fun to see you, Fine and Ward families!! Dear Wards, we should do this more often since we are both in town!

Daddy and his LOVELY Mini-Me

Splish splashing fun!

Carla did a lot of standing (and not falling) too, but I guess a lot of the action in the video was "the falling", oh well. It was such a nice and relaxing visit to the pool. Certainly, no major accidents resulting everyone evacuating the pool!!!

Sitting together

So cute to see them there together like that :)

PS - I hope you can tell that Anna dressed herself today :)

Anna's Debut as a Ballerina!

I have to say I had photo-flashbacks of when I took ballet (only class ever, so far) at age 3 or 4, and I had red tights and a black leotard and everyone else was in pink...look familiar?

Strawberry Picking and Sprinkler Playing

Happy Father's Day!

We enjoyed the squirrel and firefly trails in the Metroparks after a nice lunch with Grandma J and Uncle Bob :)

Father Raco and Watermelon

...were Carla's favorite parts of our Geneva celebration! It was great to have a chance to visit with Father Raco, and enjoy what turned out to be a great picnic! The weather threatened, but we stayed tough and won! Nothing could stop Carla from having fun eating! She was splashing away at the puddles forming on her high chair tray. She was happy to finally meet Father Raco too!

Dinosaur class!

Today Anna and Carla learned about the Celophysis, one of the earliest (and probably smallest) dinosaurs known. The photo below is of actual fossils (mostly). Cool huh?! Then we went around the museum with Maggie and Sarah. Anna and Maggie made friends with that turtle -- check out its bright gold head :) Also, a few baby ducklings and a huge dragonfly!



Then we went for a walk to the pool and park for our first swim this summer in Highland Heights -- so fun! Videos to come!

Anna caught a fish with Gramma!

Can you spot it? ...it's a little small :) We were thrilled that she caught something quickly because a minute or so after she started, she asked "Am I done fishing?"

Then we all headed home, sad to end vacation, and HAPPY to get back to Daddy!!!

Enjoying the perfect weather!

Carla is really moving well! Also, she has been doing this funny kneeling pose, so cute.

Yikes! Snakes! Anna (and Mommy!) were brave!

The last time Anna was holding the snake...it pooped! I was afraid she squeezed its guts out, but luckily that wasn't the case :) After the nature center, we went for a swim, and then Anna and Carla both fell asleep just before we tried some yummy lobster bisque!

Happy 7th Anniversary to us!

We took a bike ride (Mike pulled the girls behind him) to go play put-put! Thank you Wagner family for the cart! Gramma M and Uncle Nick each got a hole-in-one (Nick got two or three!)! Anna had a ball playing, and Carla enjoyed cheering everybody on! Next, Mike and I got to have a nice, romantic lunch on the water, and then a visit at the Chocolate Museum (jt was one room!) and then enjoyed some ice cream! Finally, we had to see Mike off on the ferry. We miss him already!

Just chillin'!

Carla climbed up on the coffee table and since she was right in front of the TV, we added some props! Aunt Michelle did Anna's nails! Then we went swimming, and Anna asked if her polish was "water proof"! Too funny :)

Crystal Cave and Heineman's Winery

We toured the winery and cave (it's the world's largest geode!) and did some taste-testing afterward!

Put-in-Bay here we come!

Mike did really well jamming everything and everyone into and on top of the car! We had fun riding a ferry over to the island, and by the way, since we took two cars, I (Colleen) drove the whole way!

Climbing buddies

Our cutie in cute little tennies

Carla started walking today!

Carla has been taking one step at a time for a month or so, and I think with the help of seeing all those little Fiscus people running around, she finally got the courage to take off! She walked from the couch to a chair, about two feet! So exciting! We were all watching!

Also, today, Mike put in our screen door, so Anna was helping with some washing, and Carla was enjoying watching!

Fiscus Family Visit!

Thank you so much for such a wonderful visit Jenny! We all had a ball! I didn't get too many photos, but here is a glimpse at our fun time! So nice to meet you Luke Alan! Anna is sure missing all you guys (like me!) and can't stop talking about you guys!

PS-Thanks for the AWESOME run Jenny! Wish we could do it together all the time!

Happy 30th Birthday Uncle Billy!

Thanks for coming to visit Aunt Sara :)

Grandma J came to visit!

Grandma J came to visit, and Mike and I had a chance to attack our messy basement! Also, we all got to go for a walk in the Metroparks yesterday and learn about baby animals, and today we went to the zoo! It was cool seeing that large turtle in zoo school and also checking out the new dinosaur exhibit!

Zoo School ~ Animal Locomotion

Look, Carla has some hair! Sometimes it's really curly, other days it's poker straight - I guess today is a combo. We all petted an armadillo today at the zoo! Funky little things! Last week, we met a blue-tongued lizard from Australia!

Bathtime fun!

They both have so much fun in the bath and the shower! Carla is very daring - standing and plopping down, and dipping her face in over and over. Maybe Anna will follow her lead!

Museum of Natural History

Actually, today we barely spent any time in the museum. Everyone was hungry shortly after we arrived, and since it was so nice, we decided to picnic outside, and the girls just ended up running around outside for the rest of our visit!

Cleveland Half Marathon!

What a perfect day for a race!
Yeah Mommy!

Back to Geneva!

Giuseppe lost a tooth!, Giuseppe and Carla dancing, Carla and Grandma playing, and Violetta and Anna with strawberry rings!