Reward Challenge

Tess has been "Challenging" bedtime lately. She thinks she "isn't tired.."

We started a bedtime chart...It reads: To get a sticker, I must go to bed when it is time...No tears!

She filled it up and her reward choice was "Ice CEEEM", a treat we can enjoy as well! She was so excited all the way there and she LOVED her pink Ice ceeem!! Ella was a bit confused where her treat was but her time is coming! Tess asked for another chart already! The simple joys!

Decisions, Decisions

This is so good!

Major Moves for the Girls!

Tess and Ella have had some "Moves" in their lives recently.

Ella graduated from Baby Swing to Jumper-Roo and from baby carrier car seat to the next step rear-facing car seat (my back is thanking me!!)

Tess graduated from her car seat to a booster seat with a back!!

Both the girls are very happy with their transitions, as for Mommy....Well, I am thrilled they are healthy and growing so well! I am also a bit emotional that our Baby Girls are growing up so fast! I am so thankful we make the most of everyday of the journey!! We love them both SOOOOOO.... Much!!

Loving the Legs in the Jumper-Roo!

Look at the Traveling Girls!

Pass the ....MUD????

Kevin is drywalling and mudding our family Movie Room! Tess heard the word mud and she was THERE..... I will help you Daddy!! Yikes!

I am so glad Kevin let her ...Help...if that is even the right word for it! Regardless if it took him some extra time, he was thrilled to have her invovled with the project! Such a good Daddy!

One pink sock, one yellow sock....our little Unique Tess!

"How is dis Daddy? I help you!"

XOXOXO

"What ya doing Daddy? Making a Cake?" -Tess

Daddy's Girls

Happy Father's Day!!

I was blessed to grow up with an amazing and involved Dad! I look up to my Dad for endless reasons and most importantly....My Dad is always caring, loving and willing to help! If you know me at all, it clear that I know how blessed I am to having caring parents!

When the time came and I met Kevin, I knew I had met my match! He is caring, loving and always there to take care of me....what this means is he is an amazing husband and Daddy to our girls! Blessings again, from above! The package even included a wonderful father-in-law...bonus!

So here's to the Dads in my life....My Husband, My Daddy-O, My Brother and My Father -in-Law..... Such wonderful examples of men for our girls to grow up with!

Bugs!!! Bugs????

She loves them, She loves them NOT!

Tess is having a tough time deciding her true feelings on bugs....

"Mommy, come quick, it's a bug, I not like it"....

"Look Mommy, dis (this) bugs, he's coot"....

It sure it fun to watch the mixed reactions....

One thing is for sure, she likes her bike helmet!

6 Months...How can it be???

ZZZZ!

17 1/2 pounds.....28 1/2 inches....

Kevin's heart has been won over by his Girls! 6 Months, 1/2 a year, Many weeks, Countless Joys.....It is her half birthday but we WHOLE Love her!! Our "Ella Bella", "Ella Bear", Our Baby is 6 Months Old! Ohhh, How time goes fast. These little milestones seem to come so quickly. We are so blessed to have such a healthy, happy and joyful little bundle...well, tall bundle of joy, she is off the charts so far! Kevin, Tess and I could not be more pleased with the endless joys that come our way each day with Ella! The noises of the house with a six month old and a three year old are so precious, I try to soak up every bit of it. I was holding both the girls the other day and I thought to myself. Kevin and I could not have even known what God's plan was for us with our family, we simply trust in it as we always do....We feel so blessed! Ella and Tess bring us joy and laughter, especially seeing them together! Six months we are thankful for every second of our entire journey as it continues!!

Catch the Big One!

Kevin and I were very excited to put in a pond when we build our home. Last summer we stocked it with fish and the hope is for us to enjoy fishing for fun with the kiddos. It has happened sooner then we thought it would! Although the fish are still small, we enjoy catching and releasing them and feeding them.

Our friend Mike came down recently with the "boys"! It was a fun evening had by all. Tess kept up with the boys! Mike and Kevin thought that the boys would eventually put the worm on the hook or take the fish off....wrong, we could not keep up! They also brought their lawn chairs down to the pond thinking they might sit back and take it all in....wrong again! Those kiddos kept the three of us very busy, the fish were biting and the beset part....We ALL had a great time. Ella watched from her stroller, and Tess was a busy little girl! We are thankful for our country land and for our pond, it will bring many fun summer nights!

Quotable Moments....

I often tell myself, I have to write that down.... Especially out of the mouths of babes.....I had been writing them in Tessa's journal and writing about Ella's adorable babbles in her journal....

There have been so hilarious recent ones from dear Tess...

"Mommy, they had pizza at the Farmers Market, (giggle), I didn't believe my eyes"

"Give me BIG snuggles"

"Mommy, when is your parents going to come visit"

"I do it just fine Mommy"

When is Daddy coming home,

(she came to snuggle in our bed in the morning then Kevin left for work when she fell back asleep), I lost Daddy in the bed, where is he"

SHHHH! "Our Baby is seeping (sleeping)" (when there were other kiddos over) Too Cute!!

At dinner "can I have more chops, (pork chops) they are good (after already eating 1 1/2 pork chops)

"Mommy....long pause...I loves You! (Melt your heart)

"Will you hold me in both yous arms Mommy...(Well YES!)"

"Ella leaved me" (as Ella rolled away from her)

"Make my hair look like an ice ceam cone????(after some explanation a ponytail on top of her head)

"Do I have to go night night, I not so tired...."

"Don't call it a horse and buggy, I don't like bugs so much"

IT IS SO MUCH FUN having a 3 year old!

Ella's Quotes....

BaaaaaBaaaa!

Dadadada!

Giggles....Big open mouth!

Snorts when so is so excited! and kicks her legs wildly!!

The journey is so joyous!

Good Times, These are the Good Times!

Two things I LOVE... Family + Walk = Happy!

We had the joy of taking in a local family walk on a gorgeous evening. It was part of a marathon festival in town. We opted for the family walk option and we couldn't have been happier! The weather was great and the kiddos had a blast! The walk was 2 miles and Tess and Eva walked most of it...so proud! The walk was so well planned, bubble blowers, music, sidewalk chalk and stickers along the route! Following the dinner we enjoyed a dinner with our friends, and ice cream....guess who had that idea?????...Yes, Kevin and the kids couldn't have been happier (Jamie and I enjoyed it too!)

It was a good time had by all!!

Sun Lotion....

Tess might be a bit obsessed with the beach, she comes by this honestly. Since our Florida trip this past spring she frequently takes trips to "Pretend Beach, I go to the beach Mom, Okay, bye, safe trip". She told me the other day that her and "Lily" (her friend I can't see but who she really has fun with) were going "at the pretend beach Mom, see you".

So as this enjoyment of the beach continues she had a recent trip to her pretend beach! I was putting Ella in her jammies after her bath. One minute Tess is talking to us then she disappeared. I said where are you going? "At pretend beach Mommy, I be right back" (okay, she plays this a lot, she will be fine to two minutes ...wrong again, Kim)

Ella and I journey to find Tess.

She is in our bathroom.

She has removed her clothes and put on a swimsuit and flop flops.

She is in our tub, and I smell something...???...what is that???

"Hi Mommy, it's fine Mommy, it's fine Mommy, (hand up in the air), I a baby, babies make messes,???(really, she is been telling me recently how BIG she is), It's sun lotion, I am going to the beach at Florida"

She had lotion EVERYWHERE!

I had to laugh, (a talk to her about it of course) she was on a mission and saw the opportunity and seized it! Then she help me "cleans it up", "I will help you Mommy and give you a hand"!

Our Little Beach Girl!!

All Clean!!!

My Buddy Bryce

Tess had a "great time Mommy" at her play date with Bryce. I told Kevin that Tess had a date....with Bryce. He said not for another 15 years, but he said that a meeting at the park would be fine!!

We met our friend Brooke and her two cuties Bryce and Cam at the park to play and have lunch. The kiddos and the Mommies had a very special and enjoyable time. I am hopeful that the summer is filled with simple joys such as these! We are so glad our girls have special friends they can grow up with!

K & K Time!

K & K

K & K before Kevin's recent Class Reunion

It is no secret that I adore my hubby! He is amazing and without a doubt, life's journey is a blessing walking with him! I am so thankful that when I say my many thanks for each day it includes the fact that he is my husband and the wonderful Daddy that he is to our daughters. I enjoy our family time together and our K&K time as well, both are so important to us!

Exploring Ella's World!

Raising children and having a healthy family is an amazing blessing. We enjoy the many stages and joys of our girls. Ella is really finding out about the world around her. I think that this has to do in part to her sister Tess! Ella watches every move Tessa makes and she will stretch her little neck like a giraffe to catch a glimpse of what is going on around her. She reacts to everything and many times it is a HUGE Smile, Giggle and her little legs just kick so quick! The numerous facial expressions that she is developing and the looks we get from her are precious and just as we do with Tess....We try to take it all in, every laugh, every smile and every giggle....While we enjoy the ENTIRE journey!

"Can I give you a hand Mommy?"

Landscaping is very enjoyable for Kevin and I, especially when we can have time to enjoy it! It has become a part of the daily outside routine at our house! I think that Tessa is going to be a green thumb like "Pops", I wish I was more of one myself, but I am learning! Ella is so pleased to watch Tess and I from the comforts of her stroller. We just move her around as we weed and water the flowers.

"I just loved-ded our flowers Mommy" Tess told me yesterday.

But the greatest quote of all was when I was planting some flowers, Tess had her gardening gloves on (boy, that is a success in itself getting those on her each time), and she says to me

"Mom, let me give you a hand with that!" "I would love your help Tess", "Yes, Mommy I will give you a hand, like it says in the book we read". Children, they don't miss a thing!

So, happy gardening to everyone, May the joys of all the flowers and gardens continue endlessly!

"Mu-nastics"

The journey of "lessons" started this spring for our family....you know the journey that continues forever with children.... Tess was in her first gymnastics class! It was a hoot to be with her and to see her learn from a teacher besides her family members. She loved it and even better she was able to get a great deal of attention since she was one of two kiddos in her class.

She looked forward to her lessons each week! She loves to practice,....even if she attempted to make the towel bar in her bathroom a "mu-nastics bar, its fine Mommy" Yikes! She learned some fun things and more importantly she had a great time!!! She was too cute, but too grown up all at the same time! She was anxious for more so we are taking another class this summer! "Can wes go again soon Mommy??"