Bust a Move

We headed out on a big roadtrip the 4th and I'll post lots of pics of our adventures later.  This little clip of Caroline busting a move at GiGi and PawPaw's pool needed a post of its own.  It was so random.  We were all getting ready to leave and she just started dancing very seriously.

Southlake Stars and Stripes

We started our July 4th Celebration on July 3rd at the Southlake Stars and Stripes Firework Show.

Caroline tolerated a pic with Uncle Sam.  Abby kept her distance.

  The girls made patriotic bracelets at one of the kid stations.

 Time for a Brownie . . .

  . . .and a flyover.

 The girls were really patient waiting for the fireworks.

 Nonnie was on dessert duty.  The girls helped her decorate a flag treat earlier that day.  Nonnie and Abby had to stick the berries on as fast as they could because Caroline was shoveling them into her mouth at record speed.

 The Colliers, Taylors, Elsemans and Whites joined us. 

Still Waiting

 Yeah!  Fireworks at last!

 I was surprised at how much the girls enjoyed them, but I think they liked their glow in the dark necklaces even more.

 They also liked the music a lot.  Caroline ended up dancing for us.

Star Spangled Sunday

We dressed up in our red, white and blue for the patriotic church service Sunday.  Abby and Caroline would not cooperate for a pic before church.

We gave it another try after church.  I was trying to snap a pic while they were happy and then realized we stuck the flag on backwards in our hurry.  Oops!

Fun Fridays

It's summer and that means Pops does not work on Fridays!  Nonnie and Pops have been taking Abby and Caroline on Friday mornings while I do chores and run errands without my two little helpers in tow.   

This past Friday the girls washed Nonnie's car. 

After all that scrubbing, it was time to take a dip in the pool.

Caroline always swims with her head under water (even if her floaties are on) and with this duck watering can.  She does not let it go.

 Nonnie and Pops also took them to Studio A where they registered for dance lessons.  This fall Abby will take ballet and tap and Caroline will have a Mommy and Me Class.  I've been waiting for this!  Classes begin the last week of August.

 Their Fun Friday time ended with milkshakes.  Yum!

Cartoons and Cuddling

 Every morning the girls run into our room and get in our bed to watch a show.  They start off with space in between each other and then Caroline gradually works herself closer to Abby.  This sweet, calm time usually ends with some tackling and yelling.

I bet she won't notice if I wrap my leg around her very slowly.

One Fish, Two Fish

 Swim lessons have also kept us busy this summer.  Abby just finished her fourth week of new "big girl" lessons at the Carroll Aquatic Center.  She learned so much! It was quite a commitment, as she had a lesson every Monday through Thursday.

The aquatic center is huge and is kept cool for the competitive swimmers, so Abby needed a wetsuit.  She is a pro at the sidestroke and can swim the length of our pool on her back.  She is now starting to learn the freestyle.

 At the end of each lesson, her teacher took the group to the "hot pool" to warm up.  I tried and tried to get more pics of her swimming, but as you can see most pictures come out dark in this place.

 She is very interested in the olymics now.  We watch the trials every night and she has declared that she will be in those races one day.  Last night she asked how old she needed to be.  We are taking a break from her lessons in July and will pick them back up in August.

Caroline continues to take at Emler once a week and is also quite a little swimmer.  She is all smiles during every lesson.

 Monkey Walking Down the Wall

I managed to get some video clips of her.  She loves her teacher, Ms. Wende!

Summer Days

Our summer days have been packed full of fun outings and some time in our house to play and relax.  We were invited to a birthday party at the Grapevine Aquarium, which was really neat.  The girls were very excited to see this octopus.  Caroline was yelling, "I see a octopus!  I see a octopus!"

GiGi and PawPaw were in town and took the girls to eat at Rainforest Cafe after the party so Brent and I could enjoy an early anniversary dinner.  

 They had to stop at the rides on the way out of the mall.

 The girls loved going outside every morning in their pajamas and ordering PawPaw around.

 Abby had him arrange the chairs just so and then he would make bubbles for them.  This would go on for quite a while.

Abby has been perfecting her cutting skills.  She made this chef hat and was starting on a pizza here.

 We have played outside and gone on lots of jeep rides!

 Abby loves her goggles so much, she even eats in them sometimes.  Forget the spoon.  I'll just use my mouth.

 Father's Day-Abby made this little poster for Brent at school.  We were saving it for Father's Day.

 Caroline slept through lunch and got a one on one feeding with Pops.  I think she is telling him something really important here.  She talks nonstop.

 We have really enjoyed the pool and swim at least once a day.  I don't have many pics of swimming because I am usually in the water.

 The girls have a new favorite show, Doc McStuffins.  They  copy everything the character does with their own stuffed animals and doctor kits.

 They play and play together.

 We've had several friends over to play.

 We joined our library's summer reading club.  Abby is very motivated to earn the grand prize- tickets to the circus!

I mostly read to the girls, but Abby has started making up stories to pictures and likes to have Caroline sit and listen.  She starts off interested and then . . .

  . . .this is what happens.

Friday, we went to a play.   Caroline soaked it all in, but Abby had a tougher time.

She spent half the play burying her head in my back or Nonnie's lap.  I don't think The Gingerbread Man was her favorite, but we'll keep trying.  Next month is Peter Rabbit.

 We were overdue for a trip to Cabella's.  Abby couldn't wait to shoot the guns.

 Little Caroline was more interested in the fishing reels.

 She was really excited to sit in the bottom of the cart.

 Dinner with this 2 year old is very entertaining these days.

 We buy our produce at Sprouts every week.  Abby ate a burrito while we shopped yesterday and Caroline helped me with the list.  I feel like a tornado when we grocery shop.  I have to stay focused and get out before the girls lose interest. 

 Pops babysat the girls for a little while the other day, so Nonnie and I could go to a store alone.  I forgot what it feels like to shop with my mom and actually be able to have a conversation without interruptions.  He made brownies with Abby and Caroline and got a big high five, "low down" style.

Last week, I volunteered at Feed the Kids with some friends and Nonnie kept the girls.  They had a big time reading in the tent they built.