Clip on Ear Bobs

 Viola found some of Evie's (my grandmother) clip on earrings and has been asking to wear them for days.  I took the opportunity to insist that if one is going to wear dangley earrings then one must have one's hair brushed and put up.  It worked,  very little complaining, and an up-do later she proudly sported some little swimming fish.

 They really tied the outfit together.

 And Charlie has discovered crab apples, he tries to eat them all day and throws them when I catch him.

Viola Today

 This morning she made a lamp to go next to her baby's bed.

 She packed a diaper bag for our outing and had to stop for a diaper change before she could get in the car and again after we got home. 

 She got to paint with Elise.

 Those are Viola's markers mixed amongst Elise's paints.

 Elise was very generous with her table space and her paint brushes.

It was a good day.

Afternoon with Ethel

 I'm doing a photography portrait series that involves visiting some pretty cool old people and spending time in their homes and learning about their lives.  And the kids got candy so they loved it.

 Charlie really liked the garden raccoons.  But really who could resist those precious faces.

 Viola found a tiny door.

 Ethel loved Charlie.

Apple Opportunist

After gobbling up his lunch Charlie spotted Viola's apple core on the table and signaled that he wanted it with a "please" sign.  He ate all of it!  Stem, seeds and all.

Pardon the blurry place over his eye, somebody got apple on the lens.

Sunflowers and a Train Behind Papa's Work

After an early morning run to the store for benedryl (Viola woke up with a swollen foot from some kind of bite) we popped by Brian's work because we heard that there were sunflowers to pick. Morning glories too.

All that I had with me was my phone, not the best quality photo but it will do in a pinch.

Dapper Dan Man

 Well not actually, Charlie does not use a pomade for his hair but if he did it would certainly be Dapper Dan.

 Viola insisted on ties for the men yesterday so Papa and Charlie both donned their neck ties (and sneakers)  They both looked very handsome but since I did not get the camera out until well into the afternoon, after church and nap time (Charlie slept in his tie) Papa was no longer in his tie.

Saturday Morning Ride

 We hit the river trail for a ride this morning.  Viola on balance bike (she chose it over her pedal bike), Brian on skate board, and Charlie on me.

 The two on wheels were hard to keep up with.

 Charlie enjoyed his ride.

 When we got to the river shoes had to be removed for some wadeing.

 Even Charlie Behr got his toes wet.

 Charlie's fly new kicks.

 Viola discovered a new dinosaur egg.

 See the tiny cyclist.

 Rolly Polly!

 Then as a fun treat, every one rode their chosen choice of transportation to a coffee shop for some liquid refreshment.  Charlie really wanted some of Viola's water (the juice was gone in 23 seconds and the bottle was refilled).  She finally consented to share.

 Fortunately the patio was empty.

Good times!

Fresh Squeezed, Pineapple-Strawberry Infused, Western Slope Honey Sweetened, Garden Fresh Orange Mint Lemonade For Sale

 Viola finally had her first lemonade stand today.  We had fun all day making signs and squeezing lemons in preparations for the main event.

Fresh squeezing is hard work!

 But licking lemons is a pretty sweet pay-off.

 Open for business. 

 Drinking up all of the profits.

 FYI: this is a no smoking lemonade stand as indicated by the symbol in the orange circle.

 We waited for what seemed like a while for a customer.  Viola tried many advertising tactics including waving a branch at passing cars.

 She made up this sign which means "come get some lemonade" and did that for passing cars in case there were hearing impaired passers by.

 First customer victory dance.

 Charlie was a very patient little brother.

 Some cereal helped his disposition to remain calm.

 I'm not sure how much lemonade Viola drank over the course of the afternoon but to say that she frequented the lavatory this evening would be an understatement.