State Fair of Texas

Todd and I took the girls to the fair on opening day. Before the kids, Todd and I had made it a tradition to take the afternoon off, grab our coke can for reduced entry fee, and head off to the fair on opening day. So this year, we were back - only with the girls.  They have some really neat stuff for the kids to do. They have a pretend farm and a big petting zoo. Pig races - which weren't a big hit. And of course the food. No one has to ask Bella twice if she'd like some funnel cake. Hum... maybe if I cover carrots in powdered sugar she'll eat them. 

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night

Last Saturday night, we weren't at the movies, we weren't at a nice restaurant (or even a not so nice restaurant for that matter), we weren't playing hockey, or watching TV. We were at the park. Todd decided it was a nice evening and we should go to the park. He packed us the picnic lunch (or diner in this case) and off we went. I felt bad for Todd once we got there, as he explained that he wanted to grill some hot dogs for us but every bag of hot dogs that he pulled out of the fridge had expired. Who knew hot dogs expired. I always figured the roaches and ants would feast on hot dogs and peanut butter in the next ice age. ANYWAY, it was a nice idea and a nice evening and both girls really enjoyed the park. Last time we were at the park, Becca was still a little hesitant about the swing. She loved it this time. And Bella enjoys the freedom she has to climb and slide where ever she likes. One of the nice things I've noticed about Bella is that she really enjoys watching other people have a good time. She likes to make her sister laugh, but I think she likes watching her sister laugh just as much. It's a lovely smile Bella has on her face when she's observing someone having a good time. 

Going on Holiday

This year we went on two extended family vacations: Memorial Day to Beaver's Bend and Labor Day to Austin. Bella really enjoys having the cousins around. It makes me sad that she doesn't have a big brother because she loves the attention the older boys give her. The picutre above is from the hotel play area in Austin. Becca was really enjoying herself. It was a challenge keeping the girs entertained and fed while the boys played golf and tennis. The picture below is from Beaver's Bend. At that time Bella's class was reading a book and sang a song about a bear hunt. So it was fun going on a hike and telling her that we were going on a bear hunt. She reported it all back to her teacher. Here she is roaring like a bear.

Summer Fun

This girls are as different as can be when it comes to their feelings about water. Becca loves the water. She does not fear it. She will try to drown herself at least once per visit, and the momentary fear I see in her eyes as she loses her balances and plunges into the water head first is never enough to stop her for one second. After just a few visits to the gym pool she learned to scoot into the pool, rather than crawl in. She could scoot a lot further than she could crawl. But once she started walking all she wanted to do was walk in and out of the pool and splash her sister. That is also a fun bath time trick. 

Bella on the other hand, is apprehensive about the water. Most bath nights start with a loud and whiny protest. And she does not like splashing or getting water in her eyes or on her head. A shower (she's had two) is like a slow torturous death to her.  Once she is in the water, she mostly enjoys herself, but it is not a glorious good time for her, like it is for Becca. 

This picture is from a church outing. We went to a city pool that had a splash park for the babies. Becca loved it. 

This picture is from the city water park. Bella really didn't care for it. Instead of playing in the water, she preferred to eat every snack I brought. 

Bella and Daddy

This is a typical Bella picture, with her flashing her big, easy smile. I love that about her. 

But in this picture of Bella she looks so grown up.  I wanted to post it, too.

Bella loves, loves, loves Dora right now. In fact for most of last week she was home sick, and let me just tell you, in those few days I saw/heard all the Dora episodes I care to hear. But anyway, we still endorse the madness: we call Bella "Dora, we call Becca "Boots" (Dora's sidekick), we buy Dora books and anything Dora in the Dollar bins at Michaels and Target, and I'm sure we will buy the Dora swimming mermaid for her for Christmas (I mean, does it get any better than Dora being a MERMAID!).  So one of the new Dora books we bought is about Dora returning all the friendship bracelets that Swiper stole.  And the first time we read this story, Bella pipes up, "I have a friendship bracelet that you got for me in Hawaii." I cannot believe that she remembered 1) that she has a bracelet, 2) that we bought it for her and 3) that it came from Hawaii.  Note to self - the kid remembers everything! Anyway, she was wearing that bracelet in this picture, but that you can see it. 

Beautiful Becca

Poor Becca. She was drooling like crazy in this picture, but I still wanted to post it because I thought it was a good picture of her. 

First Day of Mother's Day Out

Tuesday was the first day that Becca went to Bella's school.  She is only going part-time and only a few days a week. But she is already adjusting very well. She enjoys playing with the new toys and seeing new people. I bought her some new shoes for her first day (the outfit is a hand-me-down). For some reason Becca has a real shoe fetish. She sees her shoes, and she will start calling for them, "Shoes Shoes shoes." And if you give them to her, she will try to put them on. And don't even think about taking them away. Once she sees them, you'd better be ready to put them on her. And then of course the game for her is trying to take them off, as she is trying to do in this picture. I remember Bella playing this game, but not being quite so persistent. There are definitely great similarities in their personalities to mine and Todd's.