New Milestones!

Josie has been cruising for a few weeks and is now standing all by herself. She has also learned how to climb stairs- so back up went the baby gate. This little one is in to EVERYTHING. We are going to be in so much trouble when she starts walking!

Brushes Drying

Art Box

Ellie is always asking to do "projects" so we picked out this blank treasure chest for her to paint and use as an art box. She spent two whole hours working on this thing and it turned out gorgeous! She did every single bit of it herself, even the placement of the stickers. She is so proud of it and I am too!
(Watch the video below and try to guess whether painting makes her happy or not.)

Day at Downtown Canal (with cousin Sara)

Ellie's fountain wish...

Pool Time

Ellie loves the pool but this was the first time that Josie got in without screaming. She usually doesn't like to get wet (including baths!) but for some reason she cautiously let me coax her in this day. Yay Josie! Also, a few days later, Ellie went into the "big pool" instead of the kiddie pool to swim. My girls are getting so brave!

Telling Stories

Once upon a time there was a little kid baby Ellie...who was doing a walk...then they had a bubble that got them...and then she got stepped in a water puddle and she got all dirty...and that's how it ends, the end.

New Ballet/Tap/Tumbling Class

Ellie took a short session of a new ballet class this summer. This class also does a little tap and tumbling. I (and Ellie too) like this new class so much better than the other one she was in so this is where we will stay when it starts again in the fall.




On the last day of class, the girls surprised us with this cute little tap performance. I love it!

A Dog's Life...

Photo Shoot in the Grass

Gymnastics

Ellie is taking gymnastics over the summer and is loving it!


A special day on the slide!

Ellie Composing

Haircuts (Josie's first!)

Ellie Elephant

Hat Girls (picnic at Eagle Creek Park) plus bonus video

Ball Heaven

Josie's most favorite thing to do in the world is to throw/roll/catch balls. We need not have any other toys in the house...she can play forever with just a single ball. She is very good (and surprisingly accurate) at throwing and she will throw one at you (whether you know it or not) any chance she gets. Charlie Dog LOVES this and they will often be seen playing their own games of "hit Charlie in the face with a ball" or "here Charlie, you chew your ball first and then I chew the (dog) ball next". As you can imagine, one of Josie's favorite places to be is the ball tent!

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Here's a little clip of her showing off her throwing skills. (That foot belongs to her Papaw.)

Ellie's First Sparkler

An Awwwww.... Moment

So I was busy paying bills online when Ellie starting trying to climb up on my lap. I told to get down because I was trying to finish the bills but she kept insisting "hold me Mommy, just hold me". I kept saying "not now" while trying to explain to deaf ears that if I stop now the session will time out and I'll have to start over and I'll be done in just one more minute blah blah blah...when she all of the sudden got real quiet, looked down at the floor, and said with the most pathetic sweet little voice I've ever heard...

But Mommy...

I can't hold myself...

Of course, the bills didn't get finished.