Mall-walking

Kate has continued to have many riveting, stimulating playdates with her "BFF" Charlotte. These two really just can't get enough of each other! Their newest favorite activity has been mall walking, which we moms can't really argue with. I'm really enjoying the little bit of physical activity, but am starting to realize just how expensive exercise really is. They seem to charge at least a $50 cover charge just for entering the mall. Or, at least that's what it seems like on my credit card bill...

A funny story regarding Kate and Charlotte's playdates that just has to be documented. So, Whitney and I met for lunch a few days ago, and I arrived a few minutes later than she did (as usual!). As soon as I walked in, a lady (who obviously had been admiring Charlotte prior to our arrival) came up to check out Kate. Now, almost anytime we go out in public, Whit and I get a lot of comments about how neat it is that good friends had babies so close in age. So, I was expecting a similar comment. No. She immediately said, "Oh my goodness, they look exactly alike...are they twins?" Uhh...really?? Firstly, as you can see from the picture above, aside from both being babies and being on the "pleasantly plump" side, Charlotte and Kate really look very little alike. Secondly, and more importantly...they very obviously have two different mothers. Hmmm. So, I smiled and nicely said, "No...but they are close in age...just two weeks apart!" Her response? "Oh! Are they sisters?" Seriously? These people are allowed to operate motor vehicles?? Yikes...

Space cadet

For whatever reason, Anna has deemed this little felt bag to be her "space helmet", and she regularly wears it "into space" ("into her bedroom"). But, as Anna learned through all of the weather-related Shuttle delays with the previous launch, "the rocket can't launch if it rains, mommy". So, her space ventures are limited to fair weather days. Our little rocket scientist in the making!

Bubbles

Kate's newest "trick" combines her two current favorite activities--making motorboat sounds and drooling. The result? Lots and lots (and lots!) of bubbles! This picture doesn't even do it justice...this girl can create piles of bubbles like you've never seen. And, she thinks the whole thing is hilarious (as do we)...

Buddies

On Monday, one of my oldest and absolutely dearest friends, Emily, came down to visit with her mom and two kiddos. By lucky coincidence, our kids are the same ages, which is great! While Kate and Ellie did little more than just stare at each other (come on girls...let's try to be a bit more social next time!), Nick and Anna completely hit it off! They of course had met before and didn't remember it, but it took them all of about three minutes to warm up to each other and run upstairs to play together. It must be in their genes...Em and I are almost like sisters, so I guess they're pseudo-cousins...

Now if only I could convince Emily that Houston is a much better place to live than Austin...might be a tough sell...

A field trip to flip for

Anna's class had a field trip to Acrosports (a local gymnastics place) today, and had an absolute blast! Amazing how much she has grown and how much stronger she is than when we were doing Little Gym this time last year! She loved the rings and bars...loved trying to do flips. Guess its time to search for some rings for her swingset in the backyard...

She also loved the balance beam (as she has since we first did gymnastics a year ago). Having a low center-of-gravity has its benefits...

I think the most fun part of the day for Anna was being there with her friends. Its so fun to watch her play and interact with her little cronies...

We also went to Star Fire Grill for lunch...between getting lunch for both girls, lunch for myself, and trying to socialize at least a bit with the other parents and teachers, I managed to forget to take any pictures there! Oh well...if you've seen one preschooler eat a hamburger, you've seen them all...

A song for my sister

Kate was a bit fussy this evening, and Anna asked us if she could sing her a song. She then proceded to belt out this little number...

"I love my little sister everyday...
Sometimes she cries, but that's ok!"

I do wonder where she comes up with this stuff!

(Note: these pics were actually taken a few weeks ago...but, just seemed fitting to go with the sister jingle...)

Circus day

Yesterday was Anna's first "performance" at school--they put on a circus for all of the parents. It was just great! Anna's class did the trampoline act, and they each jumped on the little trampoline, and then did somersaults through the hula hoops. So cute. (My apologies for the picture quality...the lighting was terrible, and I was seriously zooming in...oh, and I'm a sub-par photographer anyway :-) )

The "grand finale" to the whole event was the best part...snow cones, popcorn, and cotton candy! I think it goes without saying that Anna enjoyed her snow cone to the fullest...

Train gang

As is tradition any time my sister's family comes to visit, we went to Kemah to ride the train. The girls (and adults!) had a blast! Grammie stayed home to keep baby Kate out of the heat (thanks Grammie!), but the rest of us enjoyed getting out for a while and seeing the bay...

Cobbler

We all thought Grammie's blackberry cobbler was a knockout...

Gone fishin'

Anna and Kate's cousins (Sydney and Natalie), Aunt Kelly, and Grammie & Grandpa came in town this weekend, and we had an absolute blast with them! Grammie and Grandpa had bought fishing poles for the girls, so we decided to venture down to the "lake" in our subdivision to try a little fishing. While it was a little too hot outside to be a very long activity, the girls did have fun while it lasted.

After the little girls lost interest, Kelly and I did a little fishing of our own. Because its illegal for us (adults) to be fishing without a license, Grandpa taught the little girls to get up and run and take our fishing poles from us and pretend they were fishing anytime he yelled "Game warden!" Teaching them deceit at such a young age...great, great...

Traditions

I think one of the very fun parts of having little ones is creating traditions with them....some carried over from both Clint and my childhood, and some new ones that we're creating on our own. I definitely think shucking corn together on July 4th will be a tradition we'll have for years and years to come!

Happy 3 months, sweet pea!

Has it really been three months since this little angel made her debut? It seems like just yesterday. Or about seven years ago. Depending on when you ask...

Its been quite an amazing three months, little Kate. You've changed so much already...going from just a tiny little "helpless" newborn, to now being able to hold your head up, "talk" to us (at least give us some serious babble), blow bubbles, make motor boat sounds, reach out and grab your toys, smile, and even give a half-giggle every now and then. You are already becoming quite an amazing little lady...

A happy Fourth

The Fourth of July really came down to two things this year for Anna: Owen and flag cake. Sure, sometimes I could get her to tell me that the 4th was America's birthday, and sometimes she would talk about red, white, and blue, but every single time I mentioned the holiday to her, her immediate response was "flag cake and Owen!"

Well, the day didn't disappoint! We did indeed have flag cake (decorated exclusively by preschoolers), and Owen did indeed come over for an afternoon/evening of lots of swimming, playing in the sand, sliding, swinging, etc. What a happy Fourth we had!

Above is the flag cake in the process of being decorated. So funny to watch the difference of how a girl and boy decorate a cake...Anna was meticulously lining up her blueberries (into some unidentified shape, but it had meaningfulness to her...), while Owen was launching his blueberries from about a foot above the cake and getting much joy out of seeing where they landed. Oh, they had fun...

Here's the final product. Ok, maybe not quite the flag cake to make Martha Stewart or Betsy Ross proud, but it was the best one we've ever had!

We seemed to have our hands too full with these two preschoolers plus two infants to get many pictures of them playing yesterday, but we did capture this "lemonade moment" before they got into the pool. Flash forward 15 years to Spring Break 2024 and these BETTER not be margaritas, you two!

My apologies to Kate and Charlotte for the small number of 4th of July photos of you two ladies. You had a great time "playing" together...you just kept our hands too full for many good shots! Next year...

Cutie pie

Ok, of course we're biased, but isn't she just too cute??