Catching Up

We hadn't updated the blog for a while so I thought I should catch up. AnLi started back to Montessori last week, so we've just been getting back into our routine. Carli will start preschool August 21st. In the meantime, we've been having occupational therapy and speech therapy during the week. Carli is making HUGE progress on the eating/chewing front. I about cried when she had her first chicken McNugget. Whenever she gets a new food, she dances around, hops, jumps, you name it. She gets pretty excited, too.

We've mostly just been playing on the huge slide/swimming pool. I'm actually glad we couldn't return it now. Yes, I've had to eat my words! The girls have had so much fun playing on it every afternoon.

A Helping Hand


Watermelon snack

And it wouldn't be summer without corn on the cob!
Carli REALLY wanted some corn on the cob, but it was a little too much.

We cut it off the cob and she, of course, loved it.

Carli is infatuated with long hair. She's always touching AnLi's or mine. She actually puts leggings on her head so that she can have ponytails. Now that her hair is long enough, we're able to put a couple pigtails in. She LOVES them! She can't stop looking at herself in the mirror, huge grin, dancing and jumping around. It's so cute!

Here she is sporting her new 'do with a powered doughnut mustache.
We went out to Doug and Julie's new place. Dustin gave AnLi a little fishing rod to play with. Brian tied a twig on the end of it so she could practice casting. She was very, very serious as she was concentrating so hard. She got really good!

Fourth of July

We had a great time on the Fourth of July at Jeff and Kolene's house. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera. We spent the day in the lake swimming, boating and watching great fireworks that evening.

I wasn't sure how either of the girls would do as AnLi did NOT like the fireworks last year and I assumed it was Carli's first fireworks experience. They both cuddled in blankets, and Hillary and I each covered the girls' ears, while they would peer out from under their blankets every now and then. :) After AnLi got used to them, then she didn't mind them so much and thought they were pretty.

AnLi kept her swimming buddy Hilary busy, as they were jumping off the dock and swimming around the boat back to what should be the beach area. We've had so much rain this year that the beach is actually under water, which makes a perfect spot to keep the girls contained. AnLi never wanted to give Hilary a break!

We went back out on Saturday and I took my camera this time. The girls LOVE being in the water! Thanks for having us, Ko & Jeff! Ko got these cute inflatables. Most of the day the crocodile was chasing the fish or vise versa. They loved them!

Hilary and Kiya

Bounce House

Last week we went to Boingz, a big place with inflatable jumpies. The girls had a great time! Carli is so fearless! She would lay sideways or on her stomach and go head-first, laughing and giggling the whole time! A great place to go on a rainy day.

Another Zoo Day

The Kittens

AnLi is so in love with these kitties! She knows Max is her kitty and pays extra special attention to him. Carli really hasn't shown any interest in them yet, so Brian has decided he'd take care of Rubi for her until she's ready. (He who was upset I brought home TWO kitties.) The cats have been so good. AnLi likes to get her blankie out so they can both lay with her. And they're more than happy to do it. When we got home last night she was hugging and kissing Max and saying, "I love you, Max. I sure missed you." So sweet!

Introducing Max & Rubi

Carli & Rubi ~~~ AnLi & Max

Grandma thought the girls need their own kitties. We came home with two adorable little cats. AnLi named them Max and Rubi. Carli is still a little scared around them. She'll hold and kiss them, but when they want to rub up against her legs, she freaks a little. AnLi is infatuated with these cats. She wants to hold them all the time! We're working on holding them nicely. She does really well, but once in a while she gets a death grip around the poor things. She wants them to be outside with her to watch her swim, sit on her lap while she's watching a movie, and just be with her all the time. It's so funny to hear them saying, "Here kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty."

I'll try to get better pictures. It's hard to get two squirming kitties and two giddy girls to sit still and all look at the camera at the same time. LOL! (We just returned home from a birthday party when I took these pics, and AnLi had been swimming there so her hair is a mess!)

Summer Days

A day at the zoo!

I went to a baby shower one hot Sunday. I came home to this huge contraption! The girls have a blast, but I think it's way too dangerous for 3-year-olds! I made Brian drain the water and pack it up in the box so he could take it back. Yep, no returns. So I guess we're stuck with it. The girls LOVE it! They giggle and laugh the whole time. Carli is fearless. She gets on the big slide and lays across the top sideways and just rolls and bounces the whole way down. The whole thing makes me a nervous wreck!

Playing at the Beach