Skating Queen

Isabella had been asking for roller skates for weeks, but I hadn't gotten around to buying her any, so a few nights ago, I was working at the computer and she was playing in the office. She got two pieces of paper, put them on the floor, stood on them and slid her feet back and forth. She said, "Mommy, look! I'm roller skating!"

Although I was impressed by her ingenuity, I felt guilty and promptly went out and bought her a pair of proper roller skates. She, of course, couldn't stand up in them without us holding her hands. But, yesterday, I wanted to take her picture in them, so I sat her down on the driveway to take her picture. I was taking it, she managed to stand up, BY HERSELF, and take a few steps.







She was, rightfully, quite proud of herself.

Viva L'Italia!

E vai! Italy won the World Cup!

These pictures of Andrea are actually from Tuesday, when Italy defeated Germany.

Smiley the Clown

Isabella's Grandma is a real clown! Isabella calls her Grandma Clown. The first time she saw her in costume she was scared, but now she loves it.



Hmmm... Clown makeup tastes funny!

Isabella & Aunt Denise

Isabella loves her Aunt Denise. Denise carried her in the sling when she got tired of walking on our hike at Turkey Run.

Hiking at Turkey Run

My mom has a little place down at Raccoon Lake where she spends most weekends during the summer. It's just a few miles from Turkey Run State Park, where I love to go hiking. Denise, Isabella, Carla, & I spent the night last Friday at my mom's and went hiking all day Saturday at Turkey Run. It was a lot of fun.

Metamora

Metamora is a tiny historic tourist town in Indiana with horse-drawn carriages, a covered bridge, a working grist mill powered by a water wheel, and lots of kitschy little shops. Isabella loved it. Especially the horse-drawn carriage ride with a horse named Bob.

Isabella's Princess Tattoo

Isabella is delighted with her princess tattoo that her daddy just gave her. She got these tattoos at a friend's birthday party a few weeks ago. Somehow, she loves princesses. I'm still not sure how she discovered them. She even has an imaginary friend named Princess Lullaby who lives in a castle upstairs in our house.