Slappy Tandem Jumps

The Leonhardt family brought over dinner - beginning with a guac and chips appetizer. Lilly being a very tolerant big sister, let Maddie slam chip after chip into her mouth, much to Maddie's delight.Then to the backyard, where Steve served up grilled lemon shrimp, chicken, and roasted potatoes.Delicious.

Dinner finished with an ice cream cake with a "6" candle on it. Why - because tomorrow Sam and Jess celebrate their 6-year anniversary!

Then to burn off of some of those delicious calories, a little father-daughter workout.

Slappy Emulates Britney

With her friend, ELF, in their low riding jeans and off the shoulder tanks. (Matching outfits not planned, but pretty cute).

Slappy Enjoys New Food Experiences

The past 2 weeks, Maddie has shown an interest in utensils, for example, pizza on a fork.

She is also enjoying fruits in their original form, not cut into bite-size pieces.Victorious over a plum (and a little spaghetti).In her coup de grace, a later meal of a whole plum, spaghetti, and blueberry yogurt.She served herself the yogurt with a spoon, until it was removed when in excitement, she shook the spoon all around - for the third time. Tears and yogurt on the walls were the end result.

Slappy Knows A Couch Potato

Although Jess is on bed rest, she can still manage a few household tasks - feeding Maddie in the exersaucer, bottle breaks before naps, and folding laundry. She has also taught Maddie a valuable skill. After watching her mom for 2 weeks on the sofa, Maddie now knows that one should take the remote control, point it at the tv, and press some buttons to get interesting changes. Jess couldn't be much prouder.

Slappy Tests The New Ride

Sam headed out to Wildwood Canyon Park with Maddie in tow behind him.

She loved it - saying "Hi" to her Dad, playing with his ears and hair, and helping him make it up the hills with rousing, "Up, up, ups."

Once at the top, Maddie got out to participate in one of her favorite activities.

Playing in the dirt.

Even the fire hydrants in mountains have Hollywood style, having recently been painted purple to show they are now issuing reclaimed water.

It was a hard, satisfying hike.

Slappy Preps For The Scrapper

And a little for herself, by helping Dad in the playroom.

And then by testing out The Scrapper's crib in the soon-to-be kid's bedroom.Not bad.

Slappy Dances In The Rain

And splashes in the puddles with Mimi.

She also enjoyed Mimi's great idea - a giant wand of bubbles, which led not only to making bubbles with the wand, but also bubbles in the soap dish and bubbles in the puddles.

Slappy Has A New Ride

What the?

It's a hot, new hiking backpack, recommended by Uncle David. So far, Maddie seemed confused as to why she was in this thing walking around the backyard with Dad. Sam hopes for better success in the Burbank mountains.

Slappy Is In The Wild

Peering suspiciously out over bushes.

Not wanting her exploring and romping through the backyard sprinklers to be halted.

Slappy Hangs With The Master

The one in the middle of Jess and Auntie Jamie - Holly graduated this Saturday.

And many came out to celebrate, including Eric, John and Alex.

Alex was shocked to find out that Jess was at home on bed rest instead of out tearing it up.

Kathleen, Liza Mae, and Erin were sad.

But then they blew up Jess' phone with some hot text messaging so that she could party from the couch in the living room.Holly also sent Sam back with some fine cheesecake desserts, and earlier in the day, Tim, Shanna and Edith stopped over with some homemade cinnamon buns (some still un-baked so that the house could fill with yummy goodness - an old Chadwick trick).

Slappy Celebrates The Win

Of the Stanley Cup by the Pittsburgh Penguins, under the tutelage of the other half of the Jessi. Yinz did it!

Slappy Has A Tea Party

With her Dad, who showed her how civilized people drink their tea.

Pinkies up.

And make sure that you always offer your guests lemon in their tea.

Slappy Has Birthday Pizza

Homemade by the birthday boy, Brian.

And then there were birthday brownies, and if you look closely, that is a giant lavender birthday candle sitting on top of a napkin, on top of the brownies, for the festivities. We did it up right.

Slappy Likes Slides And Older Brothers

Dedo strolled Maddie to the park for some fun.

He played her favorite game, and was envied by another little playground go-er, whose mom said, "Look at that little girl! She's playing with her grandfather!" Dedo appeared shocked, and replied, "I'm her older brother." He received a confused look in return.After working up an appetite, we then headed out for a trip to Señor Fish for lunch. And yes, that is a giant welt on Maddie's head - that's what some intense toddling on concrete can get you.
(Jess is 33 weeks pregnant).

Slappy Sees An Emergence

Of her and the Scrapper's playroom. But first, a lunch in the backyard.

Then inside to help Dad set up the new bookshelves and desk.

Dedo was called in for help with the set-up as well.

The evening ended with an urban camping expedition. The neighbors across the street had set up a 12-person tent in their front yard to spend the night. Our next door neighbors brought over their firepit for a campfire. We brought s'mores.

Slappy Gets Some Extra Support

From her Dedo, who came in from NJ for a visit (and pizza).

And that extra support was sorely needed to watch the Penguins struggle against the Red Wings - final score 0 to 5. Luckily, there was more pizza to be had.

Maddie did manage to find some joy in a bed game of hide and seek with friend, Lilly.

Slappy Enjoys A Good Bottle

During the playoffs, just like her Dad. This was for a tense Game 3, again the Pittsburgh Penguins battling it out with the dirty, dirty Detroit Red Wings.

For Game 4, Tano and Holly Rose came in Steelers regalia - Holly brandishing some extra special mojo with her black and gold graduation motarboard (June 13, Holly gets her Masters in Library and Information Science from UCLA - Yay, Holly Rose!!).

Ellie kept her mom and Suzanne in the kitchen per Sam's "no chit-chatting over the game" policy. The Penguins did tie up the series 2-2, and somewhere out by the Great Lakes, a Great Uncle Bob began to sweat.

And speaking of graduation - Uncle Wills graduated from St. Peter's Prep last weekend. Please note, the 4! medals of smartness he recieved along with that diploma.