A Toad's Life

.... at least when spending time with Zoe and Ella ...

Quite a few weeks ago the girls found this big guy in our neighbor's window well:

Since they were both really little Ella and Zoe have loved finding toads, frogs, caterpillars, worms, beetles, bugs and even spiders.  They hold them, study them, talk to them, talk about them and play with them, before releasing them back to their natural habitat.  There are many times where one of the girls is holding a toad while biking around the back, or has a beetle on the boogie board in the pool, or a tree frog in the trampoline.

After they took turns holding this little guy (we did find out 'he' actually was a 'he', and that when he chirped it was not because he was so happy he was singing, but because he was feeling anxious) ....

.... they gave him the royal treatment, Ella and Zoe style.

He took a ride on a motorcycle,

went for a drive in a red convertible,

and went horseback riding.

He relaxed while waiting patiently ....

.... for his after play time snack .....

.... and then relaxed some more while listening to some music.

After he checked out the toilet,

he took a bath ....

.... and even posed for some photos with a blue flower accessory.

Before bedtime Ella got thinking about how some frogs are actually a prince, and wondered if the same is true with toads .....

She was really, really .....

..... really curious,
but decided to blow him a kiss instead .....

.... and then it was time for Toadie to go to bed.

keeping busy inside

creating cities with blocks, little animals, little people and fairy dolls has kept the girls busy INSIDE when it's been too hot to be outside ....

more backyard fun .....

..... washing their bikes .....

.....  and every other plastic vehicle we have (cars, scooters, big wheels, lawn mower and wagon).

Then taking a dip in the pool .....

..... and painting in the treehouse.  Lots of fun stuff to keep two five-year olds busy!!

Ted's Birthday

We celebrated family friend Ted's Birthday last night.  This is the art Ella made that greeted him at the door, I did the writing:

Zoe and Ella love Ted and think he is so funny.  They had a lot of ideas for celebrating his birthday, and having him do a Birthday Treasure Hunt was at the top of the list.

Clue One:  (art by Zoe)

Ted reading his clue ....

.... and using the clue to find his second one:

Clue Two: (also made by Zoe)

Finding the next clue .....

.....  Clue Three:  (which was made by Ella)

Reading that clue .....

..... and off to find the final clue, with help from Zoe .....

Clue Four:  (created by Ella)

The final clue where Ted found his Birthday Hat .... 

.... and handmade birthday cards.

The Birthday Boy with Ella, Grampa, Grama and Zoe ....

.... and with me!!  (Tom was at work).

The girls also thought Ted would like a pineapple-upside-cake, which he did (we all did actually).  We forgot to buy new candles so we found 6 old ones and put them on the cake, counted by 10's, and then added a number 5 candle, which gave us the total of 65 --- Ted's new age!!

Ted making a birthday wish ....

..... and blowing out the candles!

 The fun didn't stop there --- Ella and Zoe also thought Ted should have some birthday tattoos, which turned out to be his FIRST tattoos!  They chose two hearts for him -- I was the tattoo artist : )

And the grand finale of the evening --- jumping on the trampoline!!  Ted wasn't too sure about this idea, and actually didn't want to do it, but he grudgingly went along with the plan and then stayed in this position the whole time ....

.... even when we jumped tiny jumps around him : )

He was a good sport and the party was a success!!

Happy Birthday, Ted!  We love you!!

Backyard Fun ~

Last weekend was busy for the girls.  In between taking care of our baby bird visitor, they kept busy on their new pony swing, taking turns twisting it around ....

.... and around and around .....

.... and then letting it go so it would spin around really, really fast ....

When they would get too hot they'd cool down by either sliding into their pool and floating around, or running around the big ball of water ....

.... and work on their chalk city for a bit ....

Then they would go back to their pony and swing some more, hang upside down ....

.... climb and dangle ....

....  and let me be me, their crazy mom taking their pictures ....