a true toddler now

evie: 

this pic was taken one day a few weeks ago at the library.
because when mama is plum outta ideas of how to entertain the girlies we head to the library.
new books! new toys! oh so exciting!
[it's not really that exciting but libraries always feel a bit magical to me. mostly due to my many good memories of summer visits to the library when i was girl. thanks mom!]

look at that sweet face and those gigantic cheeks.
what an angel's face.
[that kinda sorta looks down syndrome in this picture? maybe just a little? i know. i know. that's terrible to say, but it's a little true]

you hadn't learned the art of a tantrum when this picture was taken.
my, how things have changed.
this week you have perfected that art.
there's the throwing of yourself on the floor, followed closely with two chubby hands shoved into your eyes and all sorts of fake crying that sounds so realistic that every once in awhile you fool me or your dad.
[note: your dad is a sucker for crying and caves waaaaay to easily. i have a feeling you will exploit this many times in your life]
and then there's the thrashing about- legs kicking, butt bouncing, rolling to and fro as only a toddler can do.
you certainly look like a tortured soul.

but we're onto you little one.
we've done this rodeo before and it's not nearly as impressive the second time around.
keep up the good work though.
the tantrums seem to tire you out and there's nothing this mama loves more than extra long naps.

love ya kiddo.
tantrums and all.

my ballerina

kate-

this summer we enrolled you in ballet and gymnastics classes.
you have loved both but you've declared that you prefer tumbling to dancing.
i think this has nothing to do the actual activity and everything to do with your teachers.
you dance teacher is a little, how does one put it lightly?...... grumpy.
she was most definitely not made for children's classes.

your tumbling teachers were a group of high-school gymnasts and their summer job was to teach classes at the rec center.
they had pandora set to the disney station, were energetic and full of smiles and compliments.
an easy win as far as like-ability.

regardless, you've had fun in both classes and i think we'll sign you up for dance/acrobatic class this fall.
as long as there is minimal/no make-up required and absolutely no booty-shaking involved.
"let them be little" as pinterest says.

scenes from around the house

dear girls:

life seems to be crashing by at a ridiculous pace.
evie, you're walking! kate, you're taking dance and gymnastic classes! good heavens, what's next? driver's ed and teenage pregnancies?? [please no. not ever. please]

i feel as if i'll never capture your childhoods successfully.
i'll never be able to document all the great things you say or the funny things you do.
days/weeks will pass and we'll forget they even happened.
and doesn't that seem tragic?
to let our life pass without pausing to appreciate what a glorious thing we have going for us?

so here we are,
another blog post that on the surface is about nothing.
but really it's about everything.

two healthy daughters who are happy and well-adjusted [a mother's dream come true].
a safe home to live in with a pool to boot.
enough money to afford us a comfortable lifestyle.
love. and really there isn't much more we need.

still love this quote that sums it all up perfectly:

"the days are long but the years are short"

can i get an AMEN?!

also, 

this made me pause and think: especially number 4 and 5

lunch time

well that looks about right.

evie,
your face is covered in chocolate [this is becoming a frequent thing lately]
most likely because i can't get you to eat much of anything except chocolate and yogurt.
oh well, live it up kid.
i'll enjoy it right along with you [nutella is the cure of all crankiness]

kate,
your plate is full of healthy things that you gobble right up.
it's fantastic and makes me feel like a crazy-good mom.
remember when you were a picky eater??
thanks kid for growing out of that stage.
[maybe there's hope for your little sister]

summertime and the living's easy....

lots of movie-watching and snuggling,
swimming,
long naps,
and pancakes for dinner going on around here.

we're in hibernation mode due to the heat.
i dare say extreme heat is sooo much better than extreme cold but it's still rough on us.
i long for the winter when i can open my windows and have fresh air blow through the house.



and i'm having the urge to cut off all my hair.
please someone talk me down.
summer won't last forever and then i'll regret it.

or will i??


ps. i added june's instagrams to the bloggy, scroll down to see them. [they're after that fantastic and astounding video of our picnic]

picnic

one morning in june [when it wasn't scorching hot at 9 am]
i took the girls for a walk to a nearby empty lot that people use for soccer games and softball practice.
we spread out a blanket under a big tree,
ate some food,
read some books,
and enjoyed the breeze.

and of course i made a video of it.

my favorite parts:
-kate stomping on the blanket when she can't get it to spread out like she wants
-evie's face when she barks like a dog
-me stuck in the tree. [i was trying to show kate that climbing trees is fun. #fail]

instas

june's instagrams

evelyn loves technology just like every other kid her age. and more scoot-scoot rides.

 more from the shooting range

 sunday morning [that's what 2 hours of sleep looks like folks] and sunday evening [at a friends house]

jank's siestas are all about eating, snuggling and napping. and stickers, pepsi and licorice are staples in our house. 

 those two kids are trooooouble and evie had a rough day- just look at those swollen, tired eyes. 

 splash pads for the win.

 ugh, every morning around 4am i hit my wall. no amount of sugar or jumping jacks can cure it. and late night swims are the best.

 see? i eat healthy stuff. [sometimes] and that kid is just about the best. i really love her personality. 

 teaching evie to walk involves a leeeeetle bit of shoving and stumbling and book dedications- i think they're the sweetest and i always read them. 

 more fun at the library [one of the best ways to beat the heat] and a made bed makes my heart sing

 new pics for the gallery wall and evie stood unassisted for a few seconds. progress!

 just chilling on the back patio, enjoying some grapes apres swim and yet another simple but wonderful backyard picnic. 

 evelyn rue, there hasn't been a stranger yet that's gotten her to smile and our new desk- a craigslist treasure for only $10.

 tea parties while evie naps and my obsession with baskets continues [where else would one hide all the kid paraphernalia??]

 had the back patio all to ourselves [that's what happens when it's 90 degrees at 7pm] and playing peek-a-boo with her curtains after sleeping in until 9am!

 kate 'helping' keep evie occupied, wrestling on her bed is probably not the best idea but thanks miss kate. and this is the evie we all know and love. promise she's not always a surly beast.

 a summer picnic

 babies in baskets never gets old and kate loved her dance class and the ice cream afterwards. 

 ahoy! kate is obsessed with pirates, evie is obsessed with kate. and kate's dance class is at the yuma art center which means great lighting and plenty of space for evie to crawl around. 

 more swimming. what else is there to do besides sweat our faces off??

evelyn rue: loves sweets and chocolate and cards. the opposite of kate and my mini-me in most ways [she even bounces like i do when the food is especially good]. and miss kate waiting for dance class to start.

a letter of thanks.

my dear kate:

thank you for being my rock today.
sometimes evie has fussy days [as we all do] and i hate to admit it,
but i don't handle fussiness as well as i would like.
when i can't figure out what's wrong and she cries and whines despite all i do,
i go positively mad.

i stand in the shower and cry.
i cry for my uselessness.
i cry because i hate that somethings wrong and she's suffering.
i cry in frustration at my lack of ability to handle her crying [now, that's ironic]
and i cry because somedays are just so overwhelming.
and then i laugh and cry all at the same time because i am so very aware at how stupid and irrational it is to cry because a baby is fussy.
oh to have better control over my emotions.


and that was most certainly what our 5 o'clock looked like.


but then you hug me and give me that sweet smile.
your eyes are tight with worry and you look 30 years old.
and suddenly i feel like the daughter and you the mom.
and i accept your hug and somehow i feel better.

i wish i could love you as perfectly as you love me.
you'll never know how much i [quite unfairly] depend on you.
thanks sweetheart.