Portraits and updates.

Krista was here visiting at the end of May--it has taken me this long to post pictures of the girls most recent portraits.


Presley, age 4

• can play pretend for hours (even in her room all by herself for quiet time)
• loves to explore outside
• has a good sense of direction--especially when out hiking with her dad
• makes up songs full of nonsense words and phrases and likes to sing them at the top of her lungs
• can get so engrossed in a craft/project/coloring--very focused

Stella, age 2

• no longer taking enzymes--and doing great!
• loves chocolate, nearly as much as I do
• love to grab your face for a kiss and is very affectionate
• copies Presley in everything she does
• has her own unique sense of humor and will cover her mouth while snickering at something only she finds funny
• when she says she loves you all she says is "lover"

Swimming.

For the last two weeks, and the next two weeks, the girls are taking their first (of many) swimming lessons! Chris's parents signed the girls up for lessons at their club and we are making the daily 1/2 hour drive to the pool.







The girls love the lessons and their teachers (Stella has had some rough days but today she discovered how fun it was to go under water, and I can barely get her to come up for air).

To make the trips down even better we pack a picnic lunch and stay after lessons for open-swim for a couple hours. The girls are getting very brown and we are all trying not to get too much sun. It sure brings back memories of the years I spent as a lifeguard and swim instructor!

Festivities.

We spent the Fourth as we usually do--the Oakley Rodeo, fireworks, picnics, and family. This year we had the added bonus of cooler weather, COLD in fact.




We had to buy Stella the $2.00 cowboy hat on our way to the rodeo--she loved the horses. We left just early enough to catch the fireworks show as it was going off right above our heads--Presley could have watched for hours.

At home sparklers, Snap-it's, and the Midway fireworks--our deck has the perfect view!

Happiest Place on Earth.

Or Most Crowded Place on Earth (it puts Swiss Days to shame!). There were long lines, it was hot, we all got tired and cranky--but we loved it!








What worked for us:

1. My double stroller sucks (so hard to push, why?). Renting 2 singles from Disneyland the second day was wonderful!

2. Get there early and stay until the kids fall asleep--around dinner time. Once you get there it is too hard to go home for food/naps and then come back again.

3. Bring your own snacks, but they do have fruit, smoothies, chips, and water when you have to buy something to eat (at OK-ish prices too).

4. Lots of sunscreen for everyone.

5. Just to the right of Cinderella's castle (when you are looking at it) is a place where they hold outdoor weddings/events--if you go to the back, in a little corner is a private bathroom marked for a bride/groom. No lines--go potty here. Maybe it wasn't the cleanest but it was far less used and fits strollers.

6. Be prepared to wait in a lot of lines--and try not too freak out that your kids are swinging on the dividers, licking them, hanging on them . . . yuck but it is going to happen.

The girls favorite ride was "It's a Small World" and for the amount of time you wait in line versus the ride time, this one has by far the best ratio. Oh and do the switch pass thing with your Fast Passes (on the rides you can).

Princesses.

I have two little princesses who loved meeting their favorite REAL princesses at Disneyland. Presley was chosen to announce the princesses and we somehow got seated at the first table that each of the princesses visited.








Presley was star-struck and goofy. Stella just wanted to hug everyone. We also met Sleeping Beauty (or Booty as Stella calls her) but she was weird and none of the pics were any good). I need more camera practice.

The Beach.

My girls finally LIKE the sand. Here they are warming up to it at the wedding--then full on into it at Huntington Beach.








This last shot is of the girls with mermaid tails made of sand (hard to tell, but they thought it was so cool to be a mermaid).

Can I buy a house here, or anywhere only blocks and a cruiser ride from the beach, please?

Stella's New Room.

I no longer have a baby in a crib--but a tiny 2 year old in a very large bed!

Stella has been in her big girl bed for 4 days now and things have gone smoothly (today was the first day she did not want to nap). Mostly, she has not fallen out yet--I would be surprised if she could even get out by herself, so hopefully that will keep her from wanting to get out of her room on her own.



I am still waiting on a bed skirt and 2 stuffed animal owls (matches her bedding) for on top of the armoire. Maybe a second dresser for the closet--it is too cute and was from Ikea (I love the orange).

Preschool Graduation.

Not that it really means much, but Presley "graduated" from preschool! The kids did a little dance and stranger danger program, and then received their diplomas.



The kids also counted by 10's, said the Pledge of Allegiance, and recited the alphabet with letters and sounds. The best part was the book the teachers put together for each child--a record of the crafts, field trips and more they did during the year.

Auntie Kiki Visits.

Krista and the boys (Elliott and Jonas, 5 1/2 months) came for a visit! Krista came to shoot her friend's wedding pictures but we got to enjoy her, the twins, and her friends Kim and Bruce for 10 days!


We can only wish they could have stayed longer and that the weather could have been better while they were here (it snowed two of the days!). Hopefully they will be back at Christmas.

Party #2.

All day long Stella kept saying, "Birthday Stella". We had family, friends, presents, balloons, and cake--the only thing we forgot to do was sing "Happy Birthday" (Stella calls it songing). It didn't even matter that we celebrated 9 days late!








Thanks to Krista, Becka, and Camille for helping me with the chocolate butterflies--they turned out perfect! And Tami for the darling "2" birthday shirt (which is now covered in chocoate)!