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The girls went with zaide to Remlinger farms today. Allie is so excited about riding "peach" who was most definitely not scary like her horse in Mexico.

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Allie took a late nap today...late as she fell asleep late in the afternoon and late as in she didn't wake up until after 7. I have a feeling it's going to be a late night. But wow, they're in good moods right now!

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A text from kip:
We have exciting news. Her words

(whitey laid her first egg!)

And let this be a lesson in letting your children name their pets. Although with a mom trying to name her second born "fern" there probably wasn't a whole lot of hope.

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Sonja and I ran up Mt. Si today. It was hell. But I'm ready to go back and try again.

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These two were tough cookies today...

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Allie and I are laying in bed next to a sleeping Madeline. We can make as much noise as we want but the second I move to get out of bed (attempted several times this morning) she wakes up. So we are taking pictures. And she's trying to take the phone from me so I will scratch her back. It's the calm before the "both girls are up" storm.

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Amazing

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Our new chickens are dumb. They are constantly hanging out in the nesting boxes. And you know what they do? They crap. And it's gross. But chicken little here cleans it up. I'm wondering how much longer I have before it's me out there doing it.

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The chalkboard in the kitchen was the result of a mistake. A fantastic mistake. I love seeing her little creations. I don't really love the chalk dust or when the littles color the chalkboard, the appliances and the walls. I'm not naming names though.:-)

Sunset

And yes, everyone is still awake. Which should make for super fun times tomorrow.

Sunshine

Rudder is going to be a skinny minny by the end of summer. This dog has been non-stop swimming for the last week.

Maddie's face is yellow because she stopped and smelled every single flower of Nonna's on the way down to the lake.

Maddie convinced me to go on the innertube with her.

Then I convinced her to go alone.  Which was great.  Until she submarined the tube.  Which you can see starting to happen in this picture.  She was NOT happy.  So then I got to go back out with her to build up that confidence.

But then Maddie's (Sonja's) friends came over and she was totally over me.

And Allie was totally over me.

For the entire day.

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Allie: is it okay if I say...
Her new favorite game is to find out how far she can push the bad words. Oh dammit? That's out. Jesus Christ? Out. Holy cow? That's in.

And today, we let the nakedini out to roam the streets. She immediately announced that she was going to shake her booty on me.

And I ruined Maddie's game. She really wanted to play with the big kids. Having your mom follow you around taking pictures? Not okay.

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So, so, so, so sweet. Love her times infinity.

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Uncle Chris has been dying to get Maddie on the jet ski. She kept refusing to go until I went with her. And now we can't get her off.

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Bags are finally unpacked and now we are off to enjoy some sun.

a little vimeo

of our adventure. same pics as below

172-177 / JULY 4TH / LAKE CAVANAUGH

Kip: Unlimited beer, BB Guns, Dirt Bikes, Fire
Lis: 8 mile runs around the lake, wakeboarding, sailing
Maddie: Lots of treats, not a lot of naps, lots of kids, snakes, lizards, sleeping in the same room as Mama. Allie: Carbohydrates (this girl was the Pancake Queen), lots of kids, not a lot of naps
Rudder: Lots of kids to throw his ball. All. Day. Long.