• Last weekend we flew to KC to spend some time with my Ems and her family.  She had all the good pics, so check out the wrap up of the weekend here.  The kids are adorable!
• I have been staying up way too late this week watching the Olympics.  I am addicted.  The summer Olympics are by far my favorite.  And I managed to avoid all news sources for two days until I had time to watch the Women's All Around.  Go USA!  I think my new favorite to watch though is volleyball.  I've watched it in the past, but I'm really in to it this year.
• Despite my late nights, I'm not lacking any sleep because Harper has been sleeping in like a teenager.  I think she might be smack in the middle of a growth spurt.  One morning she slept til 9am.  That is unheard of.  Not that I'm complaining.
• There's some major drama going on in my family right now and I'm having a hard time not going crazy about it.  Ultimately there's nothing I can do to change the situation, but I wish there was.  I just don't want the situation to end up badly.  I feel so bad for some of the people involved, and I have to spend a lot of time biting my tongue...I might actually bite it off at some point.
• Summer is almost over.  Two more weeks til I have to go back to school.  I am really sad about it.  I have been having way too much fun with Harper this summer.  I mean who wouldn't love hanging out with this cutie.

Holding Hands with a Lego Man who apparently needs a magnifying glass for his special place????

State Fair

Wednesday was the first day of the Ohio State Fair.  The weather was beautiful, so I was excited to take Harper to her first fair experience.  She LOVED.IT.  To say the least.  I mean, it's animals, fried food, and crazy things to look at...all toddler favorites.

Hanging out with the sheep.  She was sad there weren't amy pigs at the fair yet, but loved all the other animals

Her first fair corn dog.  Passing the tradition on to the next generation

Feeding the pygme goats at the petting zoo.  I was proud of brave she was going right up to the animals to give them carrots.

Talking Two Year Old

As Harper's vocabulary continues to grow, I am constantly amazed at the conversations we have.  Here are a few gems:
1. (Background - she loves to close all the doors upstairs every morning.  Also she watches Dora the Explorer as much as I'll let her.)
       Me: Harper, Mommy needs you to open her door
       Harper: No.
       Me: Please open the door.
       Harper: No mommy, you have to say abre (open in Spanish)

2. While making silly faces and noises at lunch....
      Harper:  What's Harper doing?
      Me: I don't know
      Harper:  I don't know either
followed by 2 minutes of hysterical laughing.  Seriously, when did she learn "either" and how to use it correctly?

3.  Harper:  I want to watch T.V.
     Me: Why?
     Harper: Because I have to.
Maybe we need to do some lessons on have to versus want to?!

Some days I think I'm conversing with a 14 year old.  I can only imagine what's to come.

Swimming

On Monday I saw the Olympic trials were going to be on, so I tuned in while we were giving Harper her bath and getting her ready for bed.  Who knew she would love it so much.  Every night since she asks to "watch whimming?"  And she even rushed through her bath so she can maximize her swim watching time.  During every race she shouts "Go Guys, GO!"

Looks like we have another Summer Olympics fan in the house.

Camping

We took Harper camping last weekend for the first time.  I turns out she loves camping.  She loves playing in the tent, being outdoors, and all the other components of camping.  Here's a photo trip through our weekend.

Getting to eat chips in her camp chair

Gathering wood for the fire

Roasting Hot Dogs

Tossing rocks in the river with dad

Staying up late to sit by the fire

Having a blast hanging out with our friend Chris, or "Tis" as she calls him

Weekend with Daddy

A couple of weekends ago Joe took Harper to Cincinnati for a daddy daughter weekend.  They went to the Children's Museum and the aquarium.  The left Saturday early afternoon and came back late Sunday afternoon.  It sounds like they had an amazing time.

What did this momma do with her free time?  

1. Went for a run without worrying about getting home at a certain time
2. Took as long of a shower as I wanted
3. Read my kindle in my bathrobe while drinking a cup of coffee
4. Went out with some girl friends from work
5. Had one too many shots
6. Ate breakfast and read the paper at a coffee shop at a very leisurely pace
7. Took a nap

It was a great weekend!

Watching the trains go round

Sitting on the real size train

Fish Face

Posing next to a giant alligator

I've often wondered...

• How I would react if I got pulled over for speeding.  Would I cry and try to get out of it?  Would I feign ignorance.  As it turns out, I just say sorry and take my lumps.  I got my first speeding ticket ever on Monday.  Lame way to start the summer.
• How I would handle when my kid hit the why phase.  Would I say "Because I said so?"  Would I answer all her questions without fail?  Turns out I answer her questions until there is just no way to answer any more and I try a diversionary tactic to get her to stop.
• What would happen if I weren't religious about seeing my dentist every six months.  Apparently I have to have a wicked tartar cleaning, sit through a patronizing lesson on how to properly brush and floss, and oh yeah...I have my first every cavity and have to get a filling. 

Let's just say it's been a crazy first week of summer.  I've loved every minute of hanging out with Harper, but some of the extraneous stuff I could definitely do without.