Ice Cream Social!

I love having get togethers for our girls and their friends, but since both of their birthdays are in the winter I thought it would be fun to throw something casual together this summer.  So, last Saturday we got out our kiddie pool, mini jump house, and lots of ice cream and called it an ice cream social!  The girls couldn't wait for their ice cream party, but didn't quite understand why they had to wait for the actual party to eat the ice cream.  ;)

The day also happened to be Lyla's half birthday, which we didn't make a big deal of with our guests, but it was sort of a little nod to our 4 and a half year old.  The day was so fun with good friends, great weather, and delicious ice cream.  You really can't go wrong with that combo.  :)

Here are some pics!

- K

 

Diggin' into that ice cream!

 

Homemade chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich!  Heaven.

 

Ryan was offended at the amount of ice cream I'd put on my sandwich and had to show me "how to do it right."

 

"Mooom, enough!"

 

I love this picture.  A teenage neighbor drew the one on the right.  The one on the left is Lyla's replication.  haha!

Eighteen Months

Well, this little sister turned one and a half today.  It's hard to even find words that accurately describe my Evie Joy.  She's all buttery goodness one second and a demanding son of a gun, rolling around the floor screaming the next.  We thought Lyla was strong willed, but this one's off the charts - our mini CEO with a strong opinion about e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.  She's dramatic 'til the last drop with her fake cries and laughs, nasty looks and no hesitation in chucking whatever you hand her clear across the room while staring you right in the eye.  A little busy body, she can usually be found dipping her hand in dog water or the toilet, spreading cat or dog food all over the floor, or unraveling an entire roll of toilet paper.  Another favorite is emptying my cupboards or grabbing a stool to throw all of the food in our pantry into the trash.

Evie can say almost anything you ask her to, but doesn't say much besides "mama" and "dada" on her own accord.  She finds that an aggressive "EH!" with a finger point pretty much always gets her point across.  She also holds her own with her big sis these days and even picks on her from time to time - just runs up, grabs whatever Lyla has and runs off.  She braces herself for a fight and even if she loses she doesn't care - just walks off to the next activity.  She'd succeeded in asserting her authority for the moment, and that was a win in her book.

The funny thing is that describing her behaviors above makes her sound like such a little pain in the ass - which she is at times.  But, in between all of her sour antics she is like a little piece of heaven on earth.  She giggles and snuggles and dances and plays.  She loves to play chase and hide and seek, and constantly runs up, grabs my hand and drags me off to wherever her little heart desires.  She's independent as can be and gets busy just playing all on her own.  She follows her big sis around like a puppy dog (unless she doesn't want to) and they run and laugh and scream their little guts out.  She's obsessed with Bubble Guppies and is the best little mama to every one of her baby dolls (unless they make her mad).

Man, she is so funny, sweet and wildly entertaining.  I've enjoyed this phase even more the second time around - all those chubby little rolls running around on fat, flat feet.  I wish I could bottle up this sweet stage and hold onto it forever.

Love you, Evie Sis!  You are a dream come true.

- mama

Three AND A HALF

Today was Lyla's half birthday - my first baby is three and a half.  It's funny, the words alone seem so insignificant.  Three and a half.  Three is still such a small number, and really three years is a short amount of time.  The first three years of our marriage flew by, and the three years we dated before that.  The three years of college I had before we met flew, and every other three year period. 

But the last three and a half years of my life have been the furthest thing from insignificant.  And in the last 6 months my girl has changed so much.  She's losing her toddler and gaining so much big kid.  She's officially in kid sizes (back when she was a baby I literally thought I'd die the day that happened) and she's obsessed with being big like mom to sit in the front of the car and drink coffee.  :)

I look at sweet Lyla and I see such a mix of baby and big kid.  Her best friends in the neighborhood are 5 or 6 years old.  She's got an opinion on every little thing, a wild imagination, and could care less about fashion other than princess dresses and cat shoes.  She's an amazing biker (with training wheels) and the fastest on a scooter with as little fear as ever.  But just as quickly as she'll wipe out, hop up and run off to the next stunt without a second thought, she'll come running to me with a big Mama!, wrap her arms around my leg and ask to be held or cuddled, and I'm reminded of what a precious, tender little thing she still is.

To celebrate her stealing my heart for 42 months in a row we went to the Barbie Dream House again (she's been talking about it since we went for her 3rd birthday and it was every bit as exciting as the first time) and stopped at the Disney Store.  The girls were a couple of dolls - we had such a blast.  I am one lucky girl.

- K

I took these pics of L today before we left for the mall.  I don't know why she was so obsessed with the globe, but man is she a cutie.  :)

Curtsying :)

A Half Birthday for Everly

Today is Everly's half birthday, which also marks the fastest 6 months of my entire life.  Evie sis just keeps getting better, she's rolling and sitting and scooting, and so so close to crawling.  She's eating solids like a pro, and has the rolls to prove it.  Her little eyes just dance when she smiles, and she has this hearty little giggle that's mostly reserved for her big sis' wild antics.  When she's not giggling at Lyla, she's just staring with pure amazement.  She can't get enough of her big sis or her furry brothers.  She has one little tooth, with another on the way and will pretty much chew on anything.  She's the happiest baby with the fiercest little temper, which I kind of love.  She also loves her mama just as much as Lyla ever did, and I could die every time she sends a giggle my way.

I love watching these girls and their personalities unfold.  I love their similarities and differences and just every little thing about them.  Being a mom is the best.  :)

- K

Half Birthday

Today is Lyla's half birthday and I kind of always thought half birthdays were worthy of a celebration.  Since Auntie Jo is in town and she doesn't always get to be around for real birthdays I decided we should actually have a mini celebration.  We went to a really cute café and bakery, Cupcake.  They have amazing cupcakes and pretty darn good regular food, too. 

Lyla loved getting all dressed up and picking out special cupcakes.  We sang happy birthday, blew out candles, and she stuck her fingers in every single cupcake.  Such a fun little night.  :)

- K