Popsicles!

We waited surprisingly late in the hot summer season to start enjoying popsicles, but now that the girls are aware of them, they make frequent appearances.  These were some of the first of the summer, made from left over smoothie, and the girls thought they were in heaven.  I love Paige in the first two - it's like she's watching Charlotte, thinking, "What are you doing??" She's just got such a concerned look on her face!

(Also, yes, I am aware that it looks like we run around like naked heathens the entire summer, and that's only about 50% true - we're mostly only naked when we're at home.  That's what back yard fences are for, right?  And I'm sure that this will embarrass Charlotte when she's old enough to know, but Charlotte loves being naked in the back yard.  Why? So she can urinate standing up.  She thinks that's about the coolest thing she's ever done.  Love you, sweetie!)

Help with the dishes

Paige has really become Mommy's Little Helper - in one aspect.   She LOVES to help load and unload the dishwasher.  (Her absolute favorite part is putting the soap tab into the compartment.)  She has a hard time climbing on and off the step stool still, so she just blindly puts the silverware and plates up.  They always make it into the right drawer, just a bit messily.  I have to come behind her and sort it out, but it's nice to not have to bend over with such a big tummy right now. It's also really nice that Paige thinks chores are a priviledge!

Thought I'd throw this last one in because Charlotte saw me taking all those pictures of Paige and asked me to take some of her, too, and she just looks so happy in it that it makes me smile!

Face painting

There has been a pack of face painting crayons left over from last Halloween floating around my makeup counter for months now.  I just knew it would come in handy, and boy did it! What better way to keep hungry girls occupied after playing in the pool while Mommy fixes lunch than make up?  They had a blast painting themselves and each other.

Fun with Parks and Cana

The girls sure love them some Parks and Cana!  They both get so excited when they get to see them and never want to leave.

Swim lessons

Charlotte is taking swim lessons this summer.  We started in May, which is when these two pictures were taken.

She cried her head off the first lesson, and about half of the second lesson.  By the third, she was functional, but timid in the water, as usual.  Her teacher did manage to convince her that it was ok to put your mouth in the water and blow bubbles, which is what she's doing in the second picture. 

So she's been doing basically the same things since May, namely: putting her face in the water, learning to float on her back, how to get out of the pool by herself, stuff like that. Mostly getting comfortable in the water.  There hasn't been much progress to speak of, until this week.

It's like a lightbulb went off! She's all of the sudden comfortable on her back in the water and can float for a couple of seconds.  She's allowing her head to be dunked underwater and will wear goggles (for a while).  She's not truly swimming swimming by herself, but she is making definite progress towards it. 

Just this morning, we all went to the pool in our neighborhood and Charlotte "swam" to us from the steps.  She pushes off, goes underwater, stretches her arms out towards us, and kicks her feet.  She makes about a foot or two of distance on her own, then comes up gasping.  BUT! She's not breathing in water like she used to. She's very good about holding her breath.  She "swam" back and forth for close to an hour, and only got out because we said it was time for lunch and gave her no choice.  I think she's as excited about it as us! 

A reminder for myself

All through this summer, which has been surprisingly un-hot, we have had lots of water fun.  Most of it has been in our backyard with no clothes on, which is the best kind, right?  Anyways, I have some ADORABLE pictures of the girls playing in the sprinkler, splashing in the kiddie pool, riding on blow-up dolphins, and sliding on inflatable water slides that I want to make sure get into my yearbook at the end of the year. 

Unfortunately for yall, there is NO WAY I'm posting pictures of those white booties on the internet, so...  use your imagination, or just come for a visit during nakey time!

PIcs to include:

May 98, 100, 103

June 7, 10, 14, 16, 18, 20, 26

Koby's triathalon

In May, Koby did a triathalon with Luke Riley and I managed a few action shots.  What a stud-muffin :)

Leaving on a jet plane

We flew to Midland for Easter (yes, I am really this far behind updating the blog!!) and the girls had a blast.  Charlotte was especially pleased to find out that cousin Carter was getting bigger and FULL of energy to run around and play.

These are some pics of the girls having lots of fun showing their stuffed animals, Froggy and Bunny, the planes taking off and landing, running around and chasing each other, and just generally being loud, sweet girlies.