The Diva Dentist!

Ella has a thing for toothbrushes and she has for a while now! Not that it is safe for her to walk around with them. She does not want just one, rather as many as will fit in one hand. I am not convinced that this type of outfit would be appropriate, safe, hygienic, or acceptable for a dentist. In fact I hope it wouldn't be. But for now, I think it looks just "tooth-rific" on her!

Chalk it up as a GOOD Day!

Take some sidewalk chalk, sprinkle it with sunshine, add a dash of time with Gamma then top it off with creativity and what do you get...... FUN!

Tess loves to draw, with markers, pencils, pens, crayons, but most with Chalk! She comes up with some creative creations, and she has us guess what they are. As time marches on it is becoming easier to decided what the pictures are.....she has a great time!

Live-Laugh-Love

Some of the Top things I am most thankful that I can do with Kevin!....

Live-Laugh-Love

I have found that while most people "Love" their spouse, not all people "Love" their spouse. I certainly Love and Like my Hubby! He is so fun to be around, and he can get me laughing like no other! The other day after I had some training at school, I called him and asked if he would like some help at the family business office, he said sure. I was glad to go, The Girls were home napping with Mom, so it was a great opportunity to go and help. We did get things accomplished, but we goofed around, laughing and just being K & K. I have always loved that about our relationship, that we kind find humor in things and just have such a fun time regardless of what we are doing.

I see that this has emerged into the girls lives are well. I am so thankful for this....We have a fun time just being together, regardless of what we are doing! I have told my niece Katie, and I hope to instill in the girls as well, that whoever you choose to spend your days with...be sure you can:

Live-Laugh-Love....(and like :)

Recent Conversations with Tessa

I always get joys, smiles, laughs, memories etc.... out of conversations with the girls! There have been MANY times, that I wish I could have a tape recorder right there to catch it all! Here are some recent conversations with Tessa.....

Tessa is awesome little person, I just get so much joy out of our conversations!

The simple talks:

• "What are our plans today?
• "Can I pick out my outfit?, we should all match!"
• "What should we play Mom?
• "Is Daddy coming home soon?"
• "What color does red and blue make?"

The Humorous Conversations:

• "Mommy, Ella just got really stinky!"
• "Mom, did the game come with decorations?" (directions)
• "Did you know that Ava's Birthday is coming up? (imaginary friend), Really, Is she having a party, Yes, but we aren't invited because you can see her, she is only pretend, but I might go!"

The Deep Thoughts:

• "Can we write a note on a balloon and send it to Heaven for Pa-Pa?"
• "Do the birds get to talk to Pa-Pa?"
• "Why do octopus have so many legs?"
• "How big is the ocean...really?"
• "When am I going to get a baby brother for me and Ella??????Yikes!

The list is endless...

As I mentioned, I just love talking with Tess, she is so wonderful, and of course, we are so proud of our little four year old! She is so innocent and I just try to soak up all the special, humorous, and fun things that she says and does. I especially love it when she giggles and laughs at herself, priceless!

..... These are some of the best days!

Recent Conversations with Ella

Ella wants to say everything her big sister says....she mocks her every sound! I have recently enjoyed watching the two of them play and they converse, Tess goes right along with it, she is such a great big sister. She also wants to shout to the World when Ella says a new word... She is now getting more creative, moving past Daddy, Mommy, Gow (Horse in Dutch), Eat.....

Her recent Vocab. Additions:

Getti-(spaghetti), she goes in the pantry and says this over and over

Tet-Ta- Tessa

Doggy

Hot

Tacktor - Tractor

Truck

Tank You - Thank you

Pleezee - Please

No, no, Dion- No, No, Zion!

and of course "eat tookie" (Her Daddy is the cookie monster after all :)

I love to listen to her talking emerge, such a entertaining time....aren't the all in one way or another!

Happy Daddy Day!

Father's Day....Everyday should be Father's Day in this house! We love "Our Boy" as Tessa calls him. He is the "King" of the castle of many girls! Our daughters have such wonderful role models of Men in their lives. I am so thankful for this, a blessing that not all have. Kevin is such a wonderful man, Daddy, Husband and Friend to all! His helpfulness, caring and fun-loving spirit radiates in the lives of our girls ....and mine as well.

I know what a blessing it is for them to have positive male role models in their lives, I feel blessed that Dad is so involved in my life and always has been, so thankful. Our girls have: Kevin, Pop-Pop, Uncle Kevin, Tony, Alex,Mr. Fred, Mr. Matt, Mr. Bart...fine examples of men and role models. Such a positive impact on them. This is part of my prayers for their future, that while we hope to raise strong girls, it is also our prayer that they will see the positive models in their life and seek this in the person they will spend their lives with!

Here's to Dads , Everyday!! Kevin, you are amazing and it is joy to share our live with you raising our girls. We certainly missed Larry a great deal on Father's Day (and everyday).....It still doesn't seem possible that he is not here with us. We know he is with the Father to all of us in Heaven, but we sure miss him here on Earth.....

Need I say more?

Sunsets on the beach!!....Relaxing, Serene, and AHHH!

When I see a sunset and the sand meeting the water it makes me feel so peaceful, so close to God!

Beaching It!

It is no secret, I love the water, sand, and all the joys of the time by the water. It just feels good, calming, and relaxing!

The girls had a grand time playing in the water and in the sand. I know this may be shocking, but I even let my "OCD" he,he... go, while at the beach! It is one of the few places, that I can just let my worries go, sand in everything, I mean everything.... and it is great! This just goes to show how relaxing the beach really is for me!!! and I love it! I let my hair down, (Or up in a ponytail), and we just play, snack and enjoy the sunshine!....With my Sunshines!!

We ~ Heart The Lake Towns!

For the past few years we have joined my parents for a few days on a vacation to Lake Michigan. We love the South Haven and Saugatuck areas. The lake towns are so quaint, relaxing, friendly and the beaches are beautiful. We love lake towns....Tessa, (she was just one month old on her first trip up), and now Ella....It is a joyful time for all! It is also tradition that Kevin come up for the evening after work and join us for dinner, ice cream and the sunset if the weather cooperates. I have many fond memories of the time at the Lake and hope that there are many more times to come! As I mentioned the atmosphere in a lake town just has a different "feel" about it! I love even just to drive around and enjoy the architecture of the beach houses and the boutique shops in the little towns. I have also never been one to turn down the food at the lake! We should venture up here more since it is close to home, life gets busy, but we should make it a priority more to come up....maybe we will!! Our days were full of shopping, water time, snacking, and relaxing....best of all time together just to visit! The girls did GREAT, they are such good little travelers, we are so thankful!

Shopping ......

In the Flower garden!

Teenager!

It is no secret that Tess LOVE, LOVE, LOVES to play dress up! She asked me if she could dress up like a teenager??? That is a LOADED question! SO, I said, what are you planning on wearing? "Well, I think I will wear some pants, a nice shirt, some bright shoes. Can I fix my hair and wear some make-up....PLEEEZE!"

Thinking? thinking? "Alright Tessa", so with some ground rules :) she set off. I of course had to close my eyes, and Ella did to. Then, a few minutes later Tess arrived, all decked out in her "Teenage" outfit, so proud of her latest get-up! I can't help but think of what the teenage clothing years will be like, we are already preparing for that....She is certainly fun, creative, loving, .....and on....!

Oops!

Today we went to the library to return and check out more books. We look forward to our weekly library outings and it is usually a very positive experience. Today, we had to let the librarian know that a certain little sister?? Begins will "E", ends with "A".... Wrote on a page in the library book. Now, about 28 years ago...give or take. Another little sister....Begins with "K", ends with "M", did this to her big brothers books (more than once, I was playing school of course).

So, we reported the damage, and Tessa said "I am sorry my sister did that, I did that to a book once and I was real sorry too!"

The awesome librarian was very understanding and told us not to worry about it. Of course I tried to talk to Ella about it the best I could when it happened."No, no Ella, we don't write in books, that is not kind to books" ...I am certain she understood. due to her puckered lips, sad eyes, and tilted head,...

I think she looks like Daddy here!

...but it did not take her long to resume play and get back to smiling.... Part of the journey, learning from our mistakes!

Pass the ....Cleaner....I mean the ....Mud

Two Daughters.....Two very different girls! It is such a special opportunity to raise two girls who while they may look alike, have two very different personalities. It is a "hoot" to just sit back and watch it "all go down" !

For example, one recent summer evening....Tessa came up with the idea to clean outside?!?!...."A Clean Home, Is a Happy Home", a quote Tess picked up from a show she watched! Couldn't say it better myself!

Then, Ella takes more after her Daddy! While Tess was cleaning, Ella was having a ball in the dirt!

So Fun!...EVERYDAY!

Two Families Went Walking

When does a tradition become a tradition?? After two years, or more? Well, for us, the "Annual Family Walk" has become a tradition for us and our friends. Kevin does the printing for the walks and running races, it is traditionally a busy couple weeks leading up to the walk. They order over 10,000 shirts with numerous imprints, so therefore the office is busy! The walk also always falls the Friday after I get out of school.....Bonus! So, it is a celebration of a job well done for Kevin & the office....and a CHEER for the start of summer!

We load up the kiddos, wagons, and strollers and head to the walk. Although, we were discussing this year that each year, as the kiddos get older the load of paraphernalia becomes lighter, fun, but sad all at once! Eva and Tess were troopers and walked the whole way. Jaden walked some, and Little Ella had to get in her few steps as well. The rain came for a short sprinkle, then cleared off....Perfect!

Now of course the evening would not be complete without dinner with our friends and ice cream to follow!!

We walked, we dressed alike, we ate, we smiled....WE HAD FUN! Looking forward to a continued tradition!!

Beauty Shop!

Playing "Beauty Shop" with the girls is so much fun.....for all of us! One of the NUMEROUS joys of having two girls! Look out Kevin,....this is only the beginning! Joy....Joy....Joy!!