Splish, Splash!

At last!  The post you have (more than likely) been waiting for.  I can hear you all the way out here in Denver:  "Geez, Shannon, this blog isn't about YOU, it's about the pictures of your kids.  So post them already!"

Seeing as most of May and June boasted relatively cool temps and icky weather, we definitely didn't get to play outside as much as we (the girls) would've liked. However, we are making up for it in July!  As the title implies, this post is all about our girls splishing and splashing around Denver - most notably in our backyard and at Civic Green Park in Highlands Ranch.  First, the former:

Our Backyard!

Every year, pulling out the good ol' inflatable pool becomes a bit more exciting (and a bit more demanded :) 

Tanner LOVES the pool.

I'm a cute little almost-4-year-old, hammin' it up in the pool :)

Ellery SOMETIMES likes the pool:

I'm a cute little almost 18-month-old, hammin' it up in the pool :)

...and I can be pretty good if I have a cup to play with.

Tanner's enthusiasm for playing in the pool doesn't always spread to her little sister (our first pool day, Ellery literally yelled "NO NO NO!" at me when I tried to put her swimsuit on!  :)  When that happens, Ellery has a few outside-the-pool water activities that she enjoys:

Nothing says "I'm a stylin' sunbather" like a big, fat water-logged diaper.
(See the wave?  I think she might be winking, too.  AwwwwYaaaa)

Skin Cancer:  Good enough for the young and old.
(I swear I didn't set this shot up - they just both layed down on their towels.  It's as if sunbathing is in their DNA :)

When sunbathing gets too hot, I like to play with the spigot.
If I can have my cup at the spigot, it is a REALLY good time.

I know, your heart is melting from looking at pure and utter cuteness.
I apologize for any medical conditions exacerbated by such adorableness.

I had to put this picture in here to show you
that neither of them do things independantly.
They both *act* like they'd like to be solitary,
but the truth is where one goes, the other is.

And sometimes you just gotta go relax in the yard:

I think this picture looks like she's belting out a heartfelt tune.
Probably a Blues Ballad, like....
"No one loves me, I'm just out here sittin' on my fat, fat, fat diaper pickin' dandylions..."

Having our pool up full-time in the backyard (well...on the porch.  Daddy doesn't want it to mess up his grass! :) is definitely a lot of fun.  We go out to "the pool" almost every day!  And the exposure is helping Ellery get used to the water - she did really well at her first swim lessons!

Civic Green Park!

In addition to all the summer fun in our backyard, on July 3rd we went to our church's "Summerfest" picnic at Civic Green Park in Highlands Ranch.  It was a big, fun park with a two fountain-play-areas the girls enjoyed.

Daddy & his girls prepare for an afternoon of fun!

Daddy takes his girls on a "dip" through the smaller fountains.

You Flora folks might recognize this gal and her little cutie :)

Ellery eyes the bigger play-fountains from afar.

Hmmm....I wonder what happens if I stand close to these things???

AAAAAACK!  THIS!!!

Ellery was very timid but curious at the fountains.  Tanner, on the other hand, loved it.  First, she would stand over the fountian and wait:

Waiting......waiting....

When the water started, she would stand ready...

Just a bit of water!  I can block it with my toes!

Then, as it started to spray, she would run back to me, giggling the whole way:

She must have played that game 857 times.  All the while, Ellery watched her big sister and played her game of timid curiosity (which entailed a lot of watching from the sidelines :)

Big Sass, you are SO funny!

Sometimes just splashing in the puddles was fun, too:

Puddle hunters, on the prowl.

Splish, Splash!

When the playing is all done, there's no better way to cool down than sharing an icee with someone you love:

I still can't get the sour apple green Icee out of their swimsuits!

After playing in the fountains, the girls found someone else's toys and decided to give it a go:

Baseball Ballerinas :)

Baseball Ballerinas, Take 2 - I couldn't decide which one I liked better!

A swing and a hit!

Ellery wants to play!

We all play ball!

Although this post is *supposed* to just be about splishing and splashing, I thought I would include these other cute pics from Civic Green Park (I didn't figure y'all'd complain too much :)

So there ya have it!  Lots of pics of the girls without my prattling on.  Enjoy!