Pictures Worth Sharing

The following pictures are a modge podge of events over the months of June and July.  Don't know if I've already shared some of them, so sorry if there are repeats. 

Came into the kitchen to see Tylie helping Kaelisse put her socks on.

 An outdoor concert at the park...Arlington held them every week for a month--so great!  This was a children's hip hop entertainer, and he really was fun.  Sadly, at 9:30 in the morning, it is already too blooming hot!  The girls would get miserable just halfway through.

 Tylie is infamous for going into her bedroom at night and NOT sleeping.  One morning, she came out of her room like this!  If you can't tell, that's a lot of diapers.  She had worn them all night, and had sore spots where they had been too tight.  :(  But, it was funny and we all had a pretty good laugh as she peeled them off.

 What kid doesn't love putting underwear on their head!

 I was informed that they were taking an airplane ride to go to the zoo.  Wow, if only airplanes were that comfortable!

 Funny kid + box = this picture.  She has fun doing everything...and always manages to crack the rest of us up in the mean time!

 Kae sure is studying that book hard!

 This was such a precious, magical moment for me.  Tylie loves to help in the kitchen, and this time she did almost all the work to make pizzas for our family.  She is such a wonderful helper, and I love sharing these moments with her!

 Cute sleeping picture after church...love her little crossed legs!  Oh, and that adorable Kae-sized pillow is one that her cousin, Nyah, made for her when she was sick in Salt Lake.  She sleeps on it every night and every nap time!

 I love catching my girls reading in every room, in any position, many books.  I hope they continue to love it.

 Apparently she was tired this day....she passed out in almost an instant hanging off the edge of the couch.

 We put together a little art kit for Tylie, and she has been loving it...well, at least she did for a couple days.  I enjoy her creations, and like watching how long she concentrates and how much work she puts into her masterpieces.

 Of course, Kaelisse couldn't be left behind.  This picture was the only one I could get....I promise she was enjoying herself just moments before.

 I had the chairs moved so I could vacuum, and they hopped up to play on them.  Tylie helped Kae get strapped in (every mother's dream...hehe), and they sat there eating crackers and drinking water the whole time I worked.  LOVE IT!

 Tylie had a bunch of her toys taken away for various reasons, and was doing work to get them back.  She was a hard little worker this day: washing and putting away dishes, helping with laundry, dusting the living room.  Thanks for the help Tylie!

We've had a really great summer filled with wonderful moments.  I can't believe it's already coming to a close!  I guess we just have to make the most of the next two weeks before reality sets in again!

Friend-Visit Follow Up

Some leftover tidbits from Alyssa's visit a couple weeks ago.

First of all, the girls want to say THANK YOU for the adorable dresses.  They absolutely loved putting them on this last Sunday, and wanted to wear them all day.  Mommy likes them too, and wants to do a photo shoot...  :)  They are so cute!!

 This one is probably my favorite!!  The girls have started holding hands all the time when they walk places....melts this mommy's heart!

 Second, I finally finished my ornaments for the Christmas tree project we started.  When looked at closely, as individuals, they're probably an embarrassment to my crafting career.  But, I think they look pretty good collectively from afar.

 And, of course, the girls already want to play with it for hours---success!

Hangin' with Uncle Brennon & Aunt Angie

The day after Alyssa went back home, we got some more visitors--Brent's sister, Angie, and her hubby, Brennon.  We were so excited to have them here, and we had a ton of fun with them for three whole days!

They got in late Thursday night, and then we all stayed up entirely too late chatting, laughing, and catching up.  

On Friday morning, Brent took them and the girls to the Fort Worth Stockyards to enjoy the cattle drive and get out of the house for a while.

Riding on the merry-go-round.  If I had to guess, the girls probably suckered Angie and Brennon into forking over the quarters.  That, of course, is the role of aunts and uncles--spoiling and giving things that mommy and daddy would normally not.

 Tylie loves her uncle Brennon, and he obviously has the best shoulder to snuggle on.

 I love when the men take over kid duty!  It's nice to watch them hanging with the little ones, and it's even nicer to have a bit of a break!

 Love this cattle drive...only wish it was longer.

 We spent the majority of our time hanging out at the house, eating at restaurants, talking and laughing for hours, and just relaxing a little bit.  But, there was one more thing we just had to do before they left--group outing to Cabela's!

The guys were nice enough to buy Tylie some fish food so she could feed the fishies...I think they enjoyed it as much as she did!

 Angie pointing out the more exciting fish to a dazed Kaelisse.

 Apparently Kaelisse has expensive taste for big toys--just like her daddy!

 Another trip to the fish pond.  Tylie really can't seem to get enough of it!

 This was making the girls laugh so hard!  What a wonderful daddy they have to pack them around the house!  And, he couldn't have done it without his sidekick, Brennon, making sure Kaelisse didn't fall off the back.

 The boys headed out for a few minutes, and Angie and I stayed home to bathe the girls.  Apparently Kaelisse was anxious and excited for the bath....and apparently she forgot that we usually take her clothes off for the occasion!  I didn't even realize she could climb in by herself yet!!

 This is her picture face...every time she sees a camera, this is what I get.  So Funny!!

We had such a wonderful time during their visit, and always wish they lived closer!  Thanks Angie and Brennon!  We had a blast, and the girls had a blast!  Thanks for the visit!

Alyssa's Visit

I was the luckiest girl in the world this week when my good friend Alyssa came to stay with us for a few days.  She lives in Georgia, has twin toddlers, and her husband works at the University.  Needless to say, they are very busy, and I was so excited that she was able to take time off to come see us.  We fit in as much as we could for the 2-1/2 days that she was here:  went to a splash pad with the girls, hunted down cinnamon bears and covered them in chocolate (and we managed to eat them all), made a wooden Thanksgiving craft, eat a lot of food, talk for hours, make a felt Christmas craft for the kids, go to the pool....it was quite the visit!  Additionally, we did a few big activities.  

The first was a visit to the Fort Worth Stockyards.  Alyssa found out how she measures up to a real longhorn.

The girls rode the merry-go-round and the bucking bronco.  Actually, we were just letting them sit on the rides--didn't have any quarters to make them go.  Then, out of nowhere, this sweet girl about 5-6 years old runs by, sticks a quarter in, and runs off!  She was adorable, and very sweet, and my girls were excited for the ride her kindness provided.  Thank you, little girl!

We hit all the little shops, and my girls helped Alyssa pick out a gift for her boys.

They found all the them-sized furniture they could to sit and rest their weary feet.  :)

Of course, we stuck around for the actual cattle drive.  This always proves to be the highlight of the day for the girls.

Of course, tied for the winning experience was this adorable--and VERY friendly--pony that the girls stopped to pet.

The other big, exciting adventure we went on was planned and implemented by Alyssa---and she spoiled me rotten!!  We went on a much needed mom's night OUT!  Wahoo!
Alyssa treated me to a spa day complete with pedicures, a facial (for me), and a massage (for her).  Then we went out to eat at a fancy little restaurant near the Stockyards and ate some interesting and delicious food.  We had duck spring rolls, rattlesnake-rabbit sausage, crab on toast, beef tenderloin, pork chops....and then still ordered dessert!  Tasty pepper/chocolate cake and some Mexican donuts with dipping sauces.  We had a ton of laughs, lots of chatter, and walked out with very full tummies!  Thanks Alyssa for a wonderful night--it was very re-energizing!

Like I said---I am one lucky girl to have such a great friend.  It was wonderful to have her here, and a bummer to have her leave.  Maybe someday we'll live in the same state--or maybe we'll just have to plan mommy trips like this regularly!