Still summer 'round here....

Most folks in these parts began school today.  We have three more weeks until Gianna begins Kindergarten, so it's still summer 'round here. (Well, it'll still be summer for a few more months - temperature wise.)
 

 Catching a quick glimpse of  Daniel Tiger (isn't that the sweetest show?) during a play date...

 Making an animal train....

 Monkeying around...

Heading to the movies...

 Poppin' out of a groovy sun-roof....

 An occasional puppet show...

 Tried a really sour candy...

 Charlie McCarthy is one of Gianna's favorite old toys.  Let me say that it is a bit disconcerting to find your child sleeping with this freaky little guy during a middle-of-the-night  child check...

 Riding a golf-cart to a friend's neighborhood pool.  Quite a bit fancier than we are used to!

 Making tents just doesn't get old...

 Chilling in the doll bed...

  I posted this next pic on FB one night.  I told Gianna to get ready for bed, and this is how she appeared moments later...

Someone is developing her own creative fashion sense...

 Don't ask...

100 degrees outside and she insists on wearing cowboy boots...

This is how she appeared outside to play with sidewalk chalk...

Funny girl...

 

Funny girl and favorite friend...

 

Prissy posing is apparently inherent...

 Been swimming A LOT.

She decided to perform while on her "stage"....

  

And here's my super-swimmer...

Parenting Challenges

I could write a book on this topic.  Most parents could.  I wish I was in that space where I could sit down and pour my thoughts into some sort of coherent blog post.  My parenting challenges have been on steroids as of late.  REALLY hard stuff. The best I can do right now it is pass along a link from a wonderful mom blogger who wrote a wonderful post recently.  Here ya go - http://www.shortstopblog.com/2013/08/to-moms-of-one-or-two-children.html.  Enjoy.