A Few Of My Favorites

I snaped a few photos of the girls during lunch today.  We had a picnic outside, and they were being goofy, but asked that I take their picture which never happens!  Enjoy!

Looking Out For Me

My girls are so sweet to look out for me.  In light of my inability to see unless it it right in front of me, my girls have taken to letting me know when certain things are in my way.  Since our new mode of transportation with the jogging stroller, they are more aware of what is going on and our surroundings.  Every time we are out walking they let me know "hey mommy watch out for the car in front of us"!  I love it...I see the car, but they always let me know that they see the car too.  I love that they are looking out for me~

I can do wit..

Brecken lately really wants to do things on her own.  She wants to put on her own shoes, climb in and out of her crib, go potty by herself, get into the bathtub by herself, buckle herself into her car seat and stroller...and now get herself dressed..

Everything was inside out, backwards..if she would have shoes on, those would be on the wrong feet!  She was so proud of herself!

We got home from the pool last night, and I asked her to go get her clothes, and we'd change into them..she wanted to do it herself, so I let her...this is how she looked when she came down the stairs...I just shook my head and smiled!  These are the things I would have missed if I were still working..I love it!

I'm pretty sure her panties were one backwards as well...

Swim Lessons and Visits

These last two weeks have been filled with swimming lessons in the morning for both girls, and they are doing great.  Brecken is mostly getting introduced to the water and becoming more comfortable with it.  She loves the water so there is no real issue there.  She doesn't cry at all which some of the kiddos do in her group, and she's doing much better than Parker did at this age.

Here she is goofing off, while it's someone else's turn

 
Parker is doing awesome in her lessons.  She's the smallest in her group but keeps up pretty good with the rest of them.  She can now bob up and down, pick a toy up from the bottom of the pool, with a little assistance pushing her down, and the most fun part is discovering that she can touch the bottom of the shallow end with her toes, and keep her head above water.  Her favorite part about swimming lessons is the "choo choo" train they do with the swim noodles, and getting to jump off the diving board, which they started doing yesterday.  I think by the end of the summer she will hopefully be able to move on up to the next level! 

We also had a fun visit this week from Grandpa Craig and Grandma Nancy!  The girls LOVED seeing them and playing with them yesterday, and mom loved the break from cooking dinner, and getting to eat out with them and Aunt Patty and Uncle Don!   Yesterday Parker got to play in the basement during quiet time, and they wore her out.  I went down about 15 minutes later to get Parker to play a computer game she had been requesting, and I found her sound asleep.  We're on an every other day nap schedule, and she obviously decided that she was tired enough, that she found a comfy spot and took a little rest.  It was too cute.  She finally got up at around 5.  So much for the pool yesterday afternoon...I love the lazy days of summer that don't require too much structure, and the ability to go with the flow!

My New Wheels

After a couple of weeks of hauling the girls in the wagon, I got a new set of wheels.  At the end of week two, I noticed that the wagon had a few missing bolts to it..nothing that can't be fixed or replaced, but I knew that it was going to be a long summer with that wagon.  Several friends suggested a double jogging stroller, at first I dismissed it as my initial search online yielded very expensive prices on one, and I wasn't ready to broach that subject with my husband after finally getting a home computer weeks before.  A few more searches online, and I found an almost brand new one on craigslist.  On Sunday I traded emails with the gal and by 8:30 that night I was dragging Chris to check it out..as you can see we got it!  It rides like a dream..or at least it pushes like one:)  I LOVE it, and its so much easier to take the girls around in, and both kids can ride in it all the time, instead of Parker having to get out like I was making her do with the wagon, she was just to darn heavy for it!  Anyway, the girls love it, I love it, so everyone is happy! I'm looking forward to many walks and more adventures with the stroller, and I have a new found confidence in going out with the girls and being safe!  Life is good!

Gone Fishing

Chris loves to fish and would go more often if he had the time.  Both girls have fishing poles, and have been talking about going fishing for a few weeks now....well mostly Parker but Brecken goes along with what Parker says a lot these days! Tonight we headed out to the pond at Eastminster and Chris and the girls had a great time.  I confirmed that I can't fish well at all...I kept trying to cast the fishing line, and each time it would get tangled within itself..so I gave up...I started taking pictures instead!  Both girls caught a fish..with daddy's help of course!  They both had a great time, and it was a great way to spend the evening together.  I now have a fishing licence for a year which is something I never thought would happen to me!  I guess more fishing outings/picture opportunities are in my future:)  Maybe by the end of the year I'll actually get the hang of it, who knows!

Brecken was enjoying bringing in the line

Parker showing off her fishing skills

Daddy and Parker with her Sun Fish

Daddy and Brecken with her little Bass Fish..Chris asked her if she could hold her fish, and she said yes..but wouldn't take her eyes off of it to smile..she wasn't sure about holding it!  When asked if she wanted to touch the worms she replied "NO"..Parker on the other hand was digging in the box for them!

Week 2

So the first week went well, and week 2 is going pretty good.  We've had a few rainy days which have made things a bit interesting trying to entertain inside all day, and I have to admit that those days were long!  I was ready to get out of the house Monday night for bible study social night, and really enjoyed my glass of wine!  Swimming lessons started this week and both girls are doing well.  We've been to the pool everyday for the last two weeks with the exception of Monday because of the rain, and we skipped out yesterday so we could run a few errands.  Today we'll be back at it.  Chris was out of town for 2 days and just got back very late last night.  The girls were ready to see him this morning.  As I was putting Brecken to bed last night, she just looked at me and said "I want my daddy"...it was too sweet! 

I don't have pictures of Sunday night, but it was definitely a highlight, and I wish I would have remembered my camera.  We took the girls to the airport to meet their new cousins from Africa! The girls were darling, and my girls LOVED meeting them, and playing with them for a short while in the airport.  Brecken is their age, and it was so neat to watch them interact.  We can't wait for more time with those girls once they've adjusted to life in Kansas!

I've included pictures of the girls helping daddy wash his car on Saturday afternoon and the girls on their first day of swimming lessons. 

1st Day

Well today was my first day at my new job!  All in all it went well.  Plenty of time outdoors this morning, lunch, naps and then the pool this afternoon.  I so wasn't sure how I would feel going into today, but after my emotional last day of work, Chris and I headed out of town to Georgia for a wedding.  It was perfect timing for a get away right before staying home with the girls.  It was wonderful to relax by the pool, reading a book for 2 days straight, with fantastic meals and friends old and new to spend the time with.  We got home very late on Sunday evening, which allowed us family time on Memorial Day, and then into swing of things today.  It was very hard to leave my job at the Club, everyone was so sweet to me and it was a day of tears, laughter, and at the end was very rewarding and draining at the same time.  I'm really going to miss everyone and the Job itself.  As I left, it was more of a see you later rather than goodbye, which seemed perfect.  Now for the next chapter in my life story!  Here are some pictures from the day below!.

This is Parker's Octopus...I thought it was her sunshine, but I was quickly corrected..

The girls thought it would be fun to have snacks on the drivway like a picnic..

Parker's coloful flower, signed by the artist..

I pulled both girls home from the pool in the wagon..On the way there Parker walked..I liked that route much better..those girls are heavy..Maybe I'll lose a few pounds by the end of the summer just by lugging them around the neighborhood in the wagon..They loved it as you can see!