the birds and the bees

The weather was so beautiful Thursday that I knew we had to get out of the house for a bit. I decided to head down to the zoo with Ava and Lila.

First, we hit up the birds and the bees exhibit. My girls love this.

Ava trying to catch her a bird.






Checking out the grey wolf.

Most of the morning Lila looked like this, happy and content.

Near the end of our time at the zoo...

Ava also loves the barnyard animals. Except for this time. We were visiting the donkeys when one of them decided to bray extremely loud. Ava went running and crying. Lila and I had to chase her for what felt like the length of the zoo.

Who knew that we would also be visiting the zoo again the next day? I had one extremely upset kindergartner when she found out where we had been.

7 months

Our monthly picture in the rocker...

Lila you are a joy! I have never seen a baby smile so much. And when you smile, you do it with your whole face.

You are enjoying baby food, almost to the point where you no longer want a bottle. You are eating puffs and little yogurt melts like a champ. You never choke on it. You just chew it like you've been eating it for months. You take after Emma in that you love some juice and you can chug it back.

You are crawling, well, mainly army crawling. You sit so well on your own. You love your bouncing horse, but nothing beats hanging with the big sisters on the floor and moving at your own pace.

You still seem to be a mommy's girl. You search me out in the room. I don't have to hold you all the time. It's more like you just want to know that I am there.

You have begun to wave hi and bye, and you try to clap your hands when we do even though most of the time you miss. You shake your head "no-no" when we do. You love peek-a-boo!

When we took you to the doctor for your checkup, we were told you were "healthy". You weighed 18 lbs 15 oz. Your sisters hit that mark when they were a year old. You are wearing 9 month and 12 month clothes. I love my chunky monkey!

Life is all the more sweeter with you in it, Lila Kate!

cooking with ava

On Tuesday Ava and I decided to bond while doing a little cooking. We decided that some yummy s'more cookies was exactly what we needed.

She was so excited to put on her apron. Mainly, her reason was so that you could not see her shirt that well. She many times over informed me of how it was ugly. The little diva that I am raising has decide that polos are for boys, and they are not cute. I attempted to educate her about Ralph Lauren and how her polo was cute.

It did not go over.

On a side note, this is why I could not homeschool. We would be having these kinds of lessons all the time. I mean, let's really be honest. What is she going to use more in life?

These may or may not be the most sanitary of cookies.

Someone may or may not have licked their fingers a gazillion times.

Yummy cookies, fresh out of the oven!


Enjoying the cookies of her labor!

we're stepping out

Oh, Botanic Gardens. How I have missed you!

That mean, awful Sun and his friend Humidity have caused us to not grace your wonderful abode. They have caused us to be sentenced to our home all summer, a place free of sweat and stickiness and smelliness...

The have caused me many days of hair pulling, many days of stress, many days of a messy house and many days of claustrophobia.

But, hope is a comin'. One day last week Mr. Humidity left for the morning, and we were able to flee from our house! And it looks like this week will not disappoint either!

HELLO, SASSY PANTS!

I really do love hanging with Ava. Her personality is so different when she is not around Emma.

I think with Emma she is "competing" for attention. When it is just Lila and her, she is easy peasy to deal with. She's so sweet and accommodating. Even though I miss Emma during the day, I have loved getting to know my middle girl in this setting.

unscripted

Sometimes the most precious pictures to you as a parent are the "unscripted" ones.

The ones that you don't plan.

The ones that just show everyday life. No special event, no special holiday. Just your family having a typical, ordinary day.

My baby... She loves to eat some solids. As much as she used to love her bottle, she is now getting to the point where she wants solids and our food. We have already snuck her some ice cream, puffs, bananas and applesauce. We joke around that if you gave her a steak she would figure out a way to eat it.

My big girl is growing too fast. How is it that she can mature so much in just a couple of weeks after starting school? I like this picture of her just being silly while Jason takes her picture. I am so proud of her.

My determined girl. For as carefree as Ava is, she is also very detailed. She loves buttoning, buckling and tying things.

Lila loves playtime on the floor. She is mastering the crawl now. But have no fear, she can get pretty much anywhere she wants to go by rolling and army crawling.

Lila has such sweet big sisters that love to play with her.

Oh, the delicious chunkiness of my baby. I love it!

These pics were courtesy of my film loving hubby!

ava's first day of school

Ava was so upset that she could not go to kindergarten with her big sister. I am so thankful we found a program to put her in!

We have been so impressed with Second Presbyterian Church. The bonus is that they give half off of the tuition to families who are in ministry. Score!

Ava loves it! She is only going 2 days a week, but anything will help. She thinks she is just as big as Emma, and she needs to be going to school everyday.

Oh, how quickly that thought will change in a few years. She will be begging me to let her stay home!

Her brand new book bag that she picked out herself. It has the matching lunchbox, too.

Such an excited little girl!

We had to explain to her that the bag goes on the back:)

the first day of school

Last week Emma reached an important milestone in her life. She began kindergarten. I am so thankful that she loves school and is so excited to go.

Emma is starting school at Richland Elementary. Jason and I have been so impressed by the school! We had heard wonderful things prior to Emma attending so I am thankful that we get attend. The parent involvement at Richland is incredible. I am also thankful that we got the teacher I wanted, Mrs. Hunt. Such a sweet lady!

This is Emma standing outside the school waiting for the bell to ring. The start time is 7:30. We have some major adjusting to do! Well, mainly Momma since she is not a morning person.

The kids have to wear uniforms at Richland. I have to say I really don't mind. I don't have to think too much about what she is going to wear in the morning. Also, I don't have to worry about her outfits getting ruined.

The styling new backpack she picked out for this year.

With the matching stylish lunchbox...

We could not get Emma to look at us once we got inside so we could get a picture. She just wanted to get in and start her day. I had to ask her to give me a hug. I think I am the one with the separation problem...


This will be her first full week of school. Richland also offers so many extra-curricular activities after school. Emma decided she wants to do gymnastics, and it starts tomorrow. My big girl will be staying after school. How scary... for me!

a night at the orpheum

As if the girls were not about to internally burst after their Wizard of Oz party, a week later the Wizard of Oz was playing at the Orpheum. We went with Candice and her little girl Presley. Girl's night!

Candice and Presley. This was taken at The Majestic where we ate before the show. Delish!

Emma with Glenda. Ava was not going anywhere near her even if she did say she was a good witch!

Presley was also unsure about Glenda.

3 sweet girls...

wizard of oz... the party

Cupcakes from Muddy's. Yum, yum!

Emma was so excited about this card. Mrs. Kim did well!



The girls were so blessed with all the wonderful gifts. We are so thankful for our friends and family!

Then, it was time for the pinata. We used the witch's broom to hit the pinata. The girls were really swinging!
See the poppy tissue flowers in the background? They were so cute!

We had to cheat a little to get the candy flowing. Otherwise, we might have been there all night.

My sisters with Emma

Melanie with Lila who napped for most of the party

A sweet moment with Ava and Pop-Pop

Our good friend Courtney and her precious Nora