I was sure that my next post would be about our California adventure, but I am only 1/3 done and I don't want to wait reporting the latest events. Thus here it is.

Sunday. We were having dinner at the Dyers. Erin was so excited to be visiting aunt Theresa that she did not want to eat and preferred to run around and explore. Playing the grand piano is one of her favorite things to do, so while we ate Pooky provided background music . She was in one room and we were in another. Eventually we noticed that the music stopped and my heart dropped. Silence meant trouble! We discovered Erin inside the grand piano where the strings are. What can I say, she is a curious child. On the way into the Piano guts she knocked down a pretty sculpture. Sigh! But at least she did not knock down the support for the lid, 'cause that lid landing on her would send us to the ER or worse. Fortunately Erin's angel watches over her when her mama does not.

Monday. I was folding laundry and Erin was nearby trying to turn the vacuum on. Little did she know that (ha ha!) it was not plugged in! Next moment I realized that Pooky has left the vacuum alone and I was hearing huffing and puffing coming from the office. Huffing and puffing was interrupted by chanting "Pen, pen, pen". I smelled trouble! I also saw it as soon as I made it into the office. Our baby pushed the office chair against the bookshelf and was balancing on its back trying to reach the pens on top of the 6 ft tall bookshelf, not anchored to the wall. Again her angel watched over her! I had enough sense not to scream at the top of my lungs. I snatched her up first and than screamed. Erin was not sure what all the fuss was about plus she still needed that pen. The office is going to be locked from now on unless I am in there with her.

What will Tuesday bring our way?

Erin running in puddles

It rained and we loved it! Despite it being cold and muddy Erin kept running back and forth in the backyard until I dragged her inside to wash her feet. ( At least this time it was real mud and not Sandy's pooh. The dog pooh was just gross. The grossest part was me having to clean it. Sandy is our neighbour's dog.)

She is so cute! By the way Pook poured juice and milk into that pot on the left and this is why that poor strawberry plant died. Well, it was kinda dieing on its own, but Erin style gardening did not help.)

Yeah, I know! She needs a haircut. If you are wondering about the scratch above her lip than I have no idea where it came from.

I can't believe that it is almost middle of August. July flew by without much happening. It was one hot month! Let's see... since I posted last we had only a couple major events. 1) Gemma and Papa came to visit us and we had a fun weekend with them. 2) Erin was diagnosed with eczema. Poor thing will have it for the rest of her life, but there are much worse things out there. By the way, the dermatologist we saw informed us that a number of studies established that kids with eczema have a higher IQ comparing to the kids without it , hehe. 3) Dr. Payne pulled Andrew's last two wisdom teeth. 4) After all we will have homegrown tomatoes this season and maaaaany cucumbers.
I have been enjoying having our little back yard. I wish it were fenced, but oh well. Sometimes Erin will play in her sandbox or draw with chalk on the deck while I cook or clean inside. I can still keep an eye on her and Erin gets her outside time. She loooves being outside!
She also loves her tomato soup, thus two spoons. Erin can eat a can of it by herself.
My baby is into cooking. Erin loves to help in the kitchen. She stirs, mixes, tenderizes, mashes, adds spices ( though I do not trust her with salt) and does anything that does not involve sharp blades or hot oil.
She loves making smoothies. I add ingredients into blender and she operates the buttons. The best part of it is Erin drinking what she makes. Fruit is back on the menu!