are frustrating.  Rory has been a challenge this weekend.  I think she’s been bored, but still.  Mommy was about to go crazy tonight.  After what seemed like the eighth major tantrum just this evening, we sat down to read books.  When we got to this one (which is super cute, by the way), it seemed these words were so fitting…

I love you being nice, and when you’re cranky, too.  I love you without liking the naughty things you do.

I hardly got my camera out all weekend.  We went to another wedding on Saturday, and today all I felt like doing was lying around, which is a shame since it was so nice today.  I did get a couple snapshots of Rory taking pictures with her camera (aka daddy’s old camera).

“Take your pitcher mommy?  CHEESE!”

Checking to make sure it’s a good one! )

(After saving these for the web, it’s making her shirt look funny, but I guess I don’t care enough right now to fix it.  You should only be looking at her cute face, anyway!)

Last night, we were up to our usual sit around and play before bedtime routine, when Rory put her hands on her hips, started wiggling and dancing around, singing at the top of her lungs…"SHAKE YOUR BODIES!  OH BABY!"  Over and over again.  Seriously, I've never laughed so hard.  Where did she learn that?

Yesterday Rory and I spent the morning at the zoo with all of her friends from daycare.  After walking around the zoo for a bit, we had a picnic lunch in the park.  Rory loved playing on the playground equipment, especially the swings.  I didn't get many good photos while we were there.  Josey didn't come with, and she was crawling on everything, so I was more worried about keeping my eye on her than anything else.  That and the lighting was all over the place, and the photos I did get were not that great because of it.  Here is one cute one of her on the swing.  I tested out the rounded corners action Lyndsay shared.  Kinda fancy; huh?

After we left the park, she yawned in the car and said, "I more tired.  Take nap now."  I was worn out, too.  I think the heat is what did it for us.  It was a fun day, though.

We spent yesterday afternoon on the boat.  Rory wasn't quite sure what to think of it at first, mostly because I don't think she liked the life jacket.  As soon as we stopped, and let her get in the water she was fine, though.

Driving the boat is serious business.

She hopped right in this crab floaty thing (nice technical term there), and didn't want us helping her, touching her…she would have floated to the other side of the river if we'd let her.  She walked in until she couldn't touch anymore, and floated around as happy as can be.  I cannot believe how brave she is in the water.  We might as well have tied her up to the back of the boat and let her ride that way!

We ended the day with a stop for ice cream, and a bath because Rory said she had, "sand in my butt."

This weekend, it definitely felt like summer.  With temperatures in the 80's, we found ourselves wanting to grill hamburgers and spend as much time outside as possible.  On Friday afternoon, as soon as I walked in the house I got Rory ready to head outside to play in her pool.  This kid is part fish, seriously.  She was a little hesitant to dive in at first because the water was a little cold, but soon enough she slipped and fell in and it was all splashes from there.

I cropped this one quite a bit because I loved those eyelashes.

My uncle, aunt, and cousins were in town to visit.  They came over early Saturday morning for breakfast, although they were a little late thanks to someone…I won't name names. )  We visited for awhile, shopped until I could barely walk anymore, and then we headed over to the Rip-Roarin' Rib Fest to sweat, I mean eat.  Seriously, it was hot out there.  And the lines for food were long, but I am told the food was good and once Rory and I got under a tent we were much better.  They had a bunch of those inflatable games for the kids.  Check out these two goof balls!

 After the rib fest we headed to the hotel for some swimming.  Once again, Rory had a blast in the water.  She had her floaties on her arms, which made her think she didn't need her mother's help in the pool.  Yeah, right.  After swimming, we stopped at the grocery store on the way home, and Rory kept telling me that she wanted to, "go home.  take bath.  nigh night.  see tomorrow."  haha!  She had a long day, and she was such a trooper, but I guess she was pooped.  We ended the night with a nice fire in the backyard.  It really did feel like the perfect summer day.

We went boating this afternoon, so stay tuned for some more photos of my little fish!

We got Rory this trike for her birthday.  That was not quite a month ago, and her legs were just not long enough to reach the peddles yet.  I let her try it out again a couple nights ago, and she can reach the peddles now, just not quite enough to be able to peddle really well.  I'd probably give her a couple more weeks, and she'll be riding it all over the place.  This just goes to show how fast she really grows.  Although she couldn't go far, she still thought it was great to climb up on it, and roll down the driveway!

Here's some more.  The more I look at them, the less I like them.  I don't know.  I think I will print them to send to family and friends, so if you have a request as to which one you get, let me know.

We had a little photo shoot with Rory last night to try to get some official "two-years old" shots.  Good greif, is it hard to get my own kid to look at me!  I need a new subject.  Anyway, I think I got a few good ones, but I got a lot of fake smiles, too.  I only had time to proof a couple, so I'm sharing one today.  She's still cute, fake smile and all…

Happy Father's Day to Josey!  You are a great daddy and a great husband.  Rory and I love you very much!  Yesterday, we made daddy one of his favorite treats for his special day.  I'm not sure who enjoyed it more, Josey or Rory!

We don't have anything too exciting planned for the day.  I wish we could go boating or even just outside, but it is freezing today.  Darn wind.  We went to church, out to eat, and now Rory's down for a nap.  I'm hoping to get a nap in myself.  Here's a cute photo from last night.  It was a beautiful evening, so we all went out and sat on the deck.

Okay, I have no idea what's going on with photos in typepad now that they changed things, but all my photos look funny when they're sized down.  I guess I'll play with it a bit, but if they look wonky, you may have to click on them to see the better version.  That is, if you even care…maybe it's just me :o)

Sorry for the lack of posts and photos this week.  I have been exhausted all week after the long weekend.  I do have some very exciting news to report today, though.  My husband passed his Professional Engineering exam!  Yay!  Yesterday when I got home, it took all the willpower I had to not open the letter.  I will admit to holding it up to the window to see if I could read the letter through the envelope, though.

I'm so proud of him!  He was doing a lot at home during the time he took the test…working on the basement, and taking care of everything after I had my knee surgery, and I know he was under a lot of stress.  I love you, Josey!  I wanted to take a photo of him holding his letter to put on the blog, but he refused.  Party pooper!

I am definitely going to get my camera out this weekend, and find something to photograph because I am dying to try out a few things I learned at the photography workshop.