The most wonderful time of the year

It is indeed the most wonderful time of the year - SUMMER VACATION!! Today was the first full day where I did not have to report to work, and I will not be reporting back there until after Labor Day. Too bad the weather today was cold and rainy; I was able to celebrate by going back to the doctor for my leg recheck who gave me the green light to begin (slowly) running again. Emerson will still be going to daycare twice a week to play with her friends and she will be taking two classes - "swimming" and tumblekids. So, we will be busy with our little bundle of energy.
Since the last post, with no pictures, I've included lots of them this time so you know what we've (or mostly Emerson) been up to.

She's been ecstatically running around the deck. This time while enjoying a Fig Newton from daddy.

She's been getting out the necessities for summer. For some reason, a requirement while wearing these sunglasses is to keep your mouth open as if in awe of something.

She has gotten her toenails ready for sandal season. Karie asked if it would be okay if Jackie painted Emerson's toenails as a rainy day activity this past week and I gave the green light. I'm surprised she was able to actually able to get her to be still enough - apparently the secret is to do it while she is eating lunch in the high chair.

Simply looking cute & mischievous.

The tongue is always out. Always.

Gearing up for some trouble......

Such as unearthing some potted flowers.

Really enjoying a strawberry, which is her favorite.

Showing her beebo.

And reading daddy a story.

Relaxing on the kitchen rug.

The elusive naked Mohawk girl awaiting bath time.

Working on the proper use of a spoon and proper destination for pudding. She has been refusing to keep a bib on, which just makes her one giant mess at the end of the day, so we end up with the previous picture again.

Out.

Enjoying some summer sun.

Our task this spring was to tear out our old deck and build a new one, which Ryan did with help from my dad & Bill.

*You can't miss the regal specimen of a dog in the pictures above. She was perfectly fine lying down elsewhere until I started taking pictures and then she planted herself right in the middle of the frame, pretending to be a fine specimen of a weimaraner. I'm going to tell a story called "bunny roundup" that is not for animal lovers or those faint of heart. Ryan & I were talking last night at the table when we heard a pitiful little squeak that sounded as though it came from one of Grace's squeaker toys. Not so, we saw Grace prancing around the front window with something in her mouth. The something was certainly not a squeaker toy, but some thing small and furry instead - a wee bunny. We got Grace to drop it and the poor little bunny died right in our driveway. This behavior is so atypical of Grace - she is lazy and has about as much hunting skill as I do. So, Grace is completely crazy in our yard, squeezing under bushes and running all over. We're assuming there is a nest somewhere and I was hopeful of saving any remaining bunnies. No such luck; we found the nest, no bunnies (they were elsewhere in our yard). We ventured into the back yard and found two more deceased bunnies and yet another one tonight. Four dead bunnies by the jaws of Grace. What on Earth?!

The finished product - we still have to stain it, but it is a huge improvement from the previous deck.

Again, our regal dog probably looking to murder some more innocent bunnies. Grace is a jerk.