The Daintys

One of the best parts of the summer (so far) has been having time to do some fun arts and crafts with Leah. This project from the other day was a smashing success, and will surely be repeated. Step 1: Cover table in some leftover bubble wrap. Step 2: Paint all over the bubble tape. (Ok, and smush some bubbles just for fun.) Step 3: Gently press some cardstock onto the paper. Or smash it. Either one works. Step 4: Show off your work to your adoring fans. Step 5: Clean up the huge mess that was made during the project... Step 6: Let dry, and use as stationary! p.s. Leah put her own headband on, and rocked the Richard Simmons look alllll morning. Cute, huh? :)

Ryan's baseball team had an awesome season this year. They made it all the way to the state championship game in Indianapolis this last weekend. Sadly, they didn't win that game, but we had fun anyway! Well, Leah and I did anyway. We went down to Indy the day before the game and spent an exhausting and fun-filled day at the Indianapolis Zoo. We painted our nails bright blue to cheer on the team. (Well, that was the plan anyway until Leah backed out and opted for sparkly-pink-glitter-princess-explosion instead.) The pictures are actually from the semi-finals, which they won...I forgot to take pictures at the game in Indy. And here are some pictures from our zoo adventure... Again, here's Leah making friends with a tiger ....she loves them!

We went to visit Grandma and Uncle Max and Uncle Gus this weekend because Max will soon be moving to HAWAII! We are going to miss him! I love this picture of him playing guitar with Leah. (Leah is actually playing a Ukulele but it looks like a guitar on her...)

Leah enjoying some of the first mint harvest! Sometimes, there's just nothing like getting your hands dirty. Back in March Leah and I planted seeds over spring break. We have been faithfully watering them and watching them grow. This week we let the seedlings harden off outside and have finally transplanted them to our new garden box that Ryan and I built. First some pictures of the seed planting in March... (Seems like so long ago!) Here's our herb garden on the deck....most of these we bought as seedlings instead of starting from seeds. In our potted herb garden we have parsley, cilantro, mint, thyme, and something else that I can't remember. (I guess I have to wait until it's big enough to smell!) Leah walks over here to pick some mint whenever we go outside. We're planning on having a homemade tea party with her one of these days with mint tea... And here's our new raised garden bed. We're growing tomatos, peppers, eggplant, zucchini, cucumber, l...

The "sprinkle" - or sprinkler - is the best $12 I have spent at Target in the last year. (And I have spent a lot of money at Target over the past year...) We have been breaking out "the sprinkle" on a daily basis, because summer has finally arrived. Yeeeeeeeeessssssssssss. Both Ryan and I are done with our school year, and we have several months of family fun ahead. So excited!

We got to see the whole Rutecki clan at the baptism of my cousin's little one this past Memorial Day Weekend. Leah just fell in love with her second cousin Maddy. She also had lots of fun playing with her Aunt and Uncles.