Rook's Park

Do I want to go play or not....

I think I'll just hang out with dad.

Superman!

Up on the monkey bars.

Daddy helping Miss Abrianna into the water.

Off they go.

Trucking back.

Ker-splash! See Lucas' mirror image?

Drop for 10!

What a beautiful bunch of flowers.

Sabbath morning pictures.

I have been wanting to take pictures. Just take pictures. I need to get back to the basics of what makes a good picture. Brush up. I had the time since I stayed home from church to make sure Miss Abigayle was not going to spread any remnant germs from yesterday. Here are my favorites.

Love those delicate little fingers.

Her happy smile.

Her concentration.

Getting it together.

What mom?

There goes a bird.

Put that hair thing back up there!

Like this?

That's not my penguin..

Enjoyed my quiet morning with my baby. A rarity.

From pretty and clean to a mess!

Peering carefully into the pool

Getting splashed by big brother.

Kids made a mud hole. So I took her dress off and went into the house for a minute. Came back to this.

What would summer be like without mess and mud? Hey, us Drakes have a reputation to uphold, right?

Baking bread.

Little hand squeeze, mush and pat the dough.

Soon into the pan to raise and bake. Such fun to help momma.

Swimming lessons Level 1

My goal for swimming lessons is to get my older children past their fear of water. It's working! I'm not sure if they're quite brave enough to advance to level two yet. 

I was thrilled to be able to take pictures today. I'm looking forward to when Rick can come too and I can have varied angles without a squirming/crying 14 month trying to go and join in the fun. Makes clear shots and creative angles almost non-existent.

Abrianna was a bit reluctant to do much in the water today. She refused to be dunked. Yesterday she was dunked and boy was she an upset little girl. Lucas will dip his face in the water. He's still working on full submersion. I'm hoping that will happen before the weeks out.

Mmmmm!

Tis very hard to sneak thing past your kids... Abigayle saw me eating an ice cream cone and began to insistently pester for  a bite, then another and another, exclaiming after each bite, "Mmmmm!" That little chocolate covered face was too cute to skip capturing. 

Play gone awry.

My great aunt and uncle were visiting from CA. My children have love love loved! playing with their Uncle Ernie. Abrianna and Uncle Ernie where in a playful game of tug-of-war while I was putting away our haystack beans from lunch. Happy giggles turned into pain-filled wails as she gripped her wrist!  Rick was discerning the seriousness of the injury. Glancing up and seeing her pasty face, I knew. A dislocated elbow, AGAIN! I had believed we were past that as it's been more than a year and a half since her last one.
I moved to the living room and attempted to relocate it as I have done in the past... to no avail. It WOULD NOT pop back.
I began wracking my brain as to who we might call who could fix her elbow avoiding paying $500 for an ER trip. In the mean time, Aunt Florene had taken the job of soothing Abrianna while applying a bag of frozen green beans to her elbow.
Rick disappeared into his office, while I called a client who's husband is a pediatrician. Yes, he would help us. I announced to Rick that I had a solution, to which he replied he did too. He had found a video from Youtube.com  of a doctor giving instruction on relocating a nursemaids elbow. I couldn't stomach doing it again. So I tried to stay away from the process. Alas, my avoidance attempts were to no avail.  I had to come and help hold her still. Two attempts later it was all the way back into place and she could move her arm once again. Praise God! Thank you Rick for being able to stomach the job and Youtube.com for the instructional video.

Sabbath Afternoon Water Play.

Lovin' her kitty Maryann.

Come in and play, Abigayle!

He lifted her in, but she promptly wanted back out.

Playing in the water is only on her own terms.

Even big sister couldn't entice her in.

She must have been thirsty. She found some discarded clothing and dipped it in the water for a drink...

...Then used it for a hat.

Abrianna found a lady bug, "It's saying, 'do you want to be my friend?'", she said. "Does it?" I asked. "Yes!" she replied.

Sisters...

Always has a rock in her mouth if she can...

I adore this picture. She is so difficult to photograph or maybe I'm just not fast enough of on the draw.

Sisters...

Abrianna always has had a flower in hand from her toddler days. For Abigayle her item is of choice is consistently a rock. All the better if she can get a little one and put all the way into her mouth.