May 31

Happy 29th Birthday Daddy!

Clay, 1 1/2 yrs old

Daddy brought home a turtle from work yesterday to show the girls

This video is our "Keep on the couch game"

May 30

Happy Birthday Grandpa Tim!

This morning Mommy and the girls ran errands. We visited with our old neighbors, Jim & Norma, & then went to Wal-Mart. Kat screamed for half of the time we were shopping; makes for a fun trip (insert sarcastic tone) & a grouchy Mommy! After lunch we met Christy & her kids at a fire station for an open house (to celebrate the fire department's anniversary). No sooner than we got there, they got a call and left. Thankfully, there's a park a block away, so we took the kids there and let them play. Two of our friends, Tammy & Sonya, were also there with their kiddos, so Julia got to play with her buddy Alayna.

This was all they got to see

Off they go!

'I don't like this water park either!'

Swimsuit vs Birthday Suit!
Alayna took her clothes off to swim, so Julia thought she should too!

Since Julia's clothes were soaked through, she got to ride home commando! She was really excited when Mommy told her she would get to ride home naked!

Mommy's trying to gather up some energy to clean the house while the girls are napping...

May 29

Today after the girls' naps we went to Six Flags for a few hours. We mostly rode the kiddie rides, and the girls seemed to really like them, except Julia didn't like the little roller coaster. She said "Maybe I can ride it again when I get bigger." We played in the water park for a short time. Kat liked it better then the one at the zoo, but Daddy spent the whole time chasing her around.

Julia checking out Speedy Gonzalez

Kat checked him out too - but from afar!

This year Julia's tall enough (barely) to ride the kiddie rides all by herself!

She finally got to ride the swings! She wanted to last year, but she wasn't tall enough

Kat's in baby Emma's face - again!

Julia decided a couple of days ago that this bear, which Bapaw gave to Kat, is hers and she has named her Nonna Karen Nonna. We call her Nonna Bear.

May 28

These are more pictures from yesterday. After the girls' nap, Mommy got the baby pool and sprinkler out for them to play in the front yard.

Julia loves playing outside "Bare-a-foot"

Daddy just got home from work - see the joy on their faces?

After dinner, Daddy suggested we go get ice cream... we didn't argue! According to Julia, Mommy had "panana" (banana) ice cream

Kat thought it was funny to push Daddy's face to the side

Today we went to the library for story time. Afterwards we had a picnic lunch and played on the playground at a nearby school.

After naps, Kat had an ENT appt. The Doctor sent referred us to a Pediatric Audiologist for further testing because he said it's a 50/50 shot she may have to get tubes and he wants another test run to determine what to do. Tonight we had a church picnic. The girls had a great time playing in the dirt of the softball field.

Kat and her best buddy Camryn

Julia and her best buddy Alayna

Pencil Holder

Kat wandered over to the other side of the fence to hang out with some of the youth... she had never met any of them before, so she's apparently not shy!

May 27

This morning Mommy and the girls ran a few errands (for VBS people, Dollar Tree has a bunch of Luau decorations) and then we headed to the zoo. We played in the water park at the zoo for awhile. Last year Kat loved it and Julia was a little afraid. This year, Julia ran around and didn't need Mommy by her side at all; Kat didn't want any part of it (she stayed glued to Mommy's side)!

Kat the Shark & Julia the Parrot

Kat thought she was tough stuff walking the zoo

Hey! He's almost as harry as Daddy!

Julia loves to "Shake the trees"

'I don't think I like this'

Julia had a ball!

'I know I don't like this!'

For a special treat, the girls got to feed the Lorikeets some nectar

Wake up Kat!

May 26

Happy Memorial Day!

Kat's purse-dress. Doesn't everyone have one?

Daddy had to wake Kat up to go into the mall for lunch... she wasn't too happy

This morning Daddy got up with the girls and Mommy slept in until 8 (back in college if you'd have said 8am was sleeping in, Mommy wouldn't have believed you). Thanks Daddy! This morning Mommy did laundry and then we ran several errands. We ended up being out until about 2:30pm, which is way past the girls' naptime, so Kat threw quite a tantrum at Sam's Club... serves us right! Both girls are napping now. No plans for the rest of the day, just to rest and enjoy each other.

In other big news: Kat peed on the potty again this morning! Mommy was changing her diaper and asked if she wanted to go sit on the potty. She nodded yes, and as soon as Mommy sat her on it, she peed! She got an m&m this time... food for a reward ought to motivate her; she loves to eat!

May 25

We left for Papaw's house on the lake yesterday morning and got back tonight. We hadn't been in quite awhile, and the girls really enjoyed it. Julia loved fishing and throwing rocks in the water. We took her out in the boat last night and when we got done she said, "that was awesome!" We spent some of the weekend with Uncle Bob, Aunt Jessica, Uncle Joe, and Calli, but they all had to leave because they got sick; hopefully they're feeling better now. They're not the only ones whose weekend didn't go quite as planned. Daddy had planned to relax and play this weekend, but Papaw had other plans. Daddy helped him fix a trellis, cut down 2 trees, and weed-eat the yard. At least he has one more day to rest before returning to work!

Daddy working on the trellis

Calli, Jessica, and Bob grilling out

Julia and Mamaw

Julia's 1st time fishing and she caught one!

Showing off her fish!

She also caught a Kat-fish!

Playing with Uncle Joe

Daddy hauling off the tree he and Uncle Bob cut down

Daddy and Julia out on the lake

Fishing some more

Julia loved driving the boat "Very fast"

Bedtime snuggles

Before bathtime lately Mommy has been setting Kat on the toilet to see if she'll do anything and tonight she peed in the potty for the first time! Mommy did the "Peepee dance" for her. She was very proud of herself.

May 24

This video is of Julia watching a "Funniest Pets" TV show last night. She's laughing at a dog who is skateboarding... to find joy in such simple things!

May 23

Last night in the bathtub, Julia spelled the word "zoo" with her foam alphabet letters. On her own she put the letters up and said, "Z-O-O, that spells zoo".

Kat made a big mess at dinner last night, so Mommy gave both girls a bath right after dinner. Then we read for a long time and the girls went to bed at 7:30pm, which is about an hour earlier than usual. They both slept until about 7am, so that was nice. They have been much happier today!

Today was Mommy's last day babysitting Ethan and Emma. We went to the zoo. Mommy thought that since today's the last day of school there wouldn't be many field trips, but apparently other people had this idea... and we were wrong! There were lots of field trips. Between the crowds and having four kids under the age of 4, it was... interesting!