New tricks

Here is what has been happening with us the last few weeks...

The Sheets' boys throw a mean 4th of July party.
Addison and the boys


Addison and Levi trying to figure out how to get into Duke's crate.


The Sheets' kiddos and all the Strader clan.


Trick #1. Addie hugs her stuffed animals and carries them around the house. This is her beloved Merkel, the fluffy white dog. She loves it. And it is perhaps one of the cutest things she does right now.



Trick #2: Not pictured, but you can just imagine. This girl loves books. She often goes off into her room, pulls some books off the bookshelf, and sits (legs crossed at the ankle, of course) and reads ALOUD to herself. She reads with great passion and inflection. Also, one of the cutest things she does. (Since we haven't gotten a picture of this, two pictures of Daddy reading to Addie will have to suffice for now. )



Trick #3: Pulling a pillow off the couch and laying on the floor when she is just plum tuckered out. So cute.

Trick #4: Playing peek-a-boo, by herself, with her pretty pretty scarf. Here goes.
On the head...


And let the fun begin...


almost there...


Yay! So fun! (Bonnie, notice the super-fun topsy turvy doll you sent. She loves it!)


Trick #5: CLIMBING. I think this is going to be a problem for us. Addison had walked into the living room 2 STEPS in front of me, and this is what I found. We had set out her new car seat in the living room, so we could get it ready to put in the car. She managed to crawl up in it and was so proud of herself.



Today was Addie's first time to ride in her new car seat. I think it was her first time to realize our car had air conditioning. It was a good day for all.