Daddy's Girls

I'm not sure which one adores the other the most. Now, I know there is going to be a point in their childhood where they don't look at each other like this but I also know from my own experience that there is no better friend than your sister. You go through everything together as children and adults and its a bond that can't be explained. Love my sisters and I'm so glad my girls will have that too. 

We had a great Saturday at the lake. Lazy afternoon of swimming, fishing, eating burgers and great time with family.  My definition of lazy is a little different than it was before kids but it was the perfect way to spend our last Saturday before hunting season.  Cap'n, we've got to get you in some pictures :) 

Katie started rice cereal Wednesday night. She sits in her bumbo with us while we eat dinner and has been smacking her lips and watching us for a while. I can't believe it time for this already! I actually tried it a couple of weeks ago but it didn't help her go longer between feedings at night so I decided to wait until closer to the 4 month mark. When I was at the doc with Lilli yesterday she said she was more than ready for some food based on her size and development so I'm glad I trusted my instincts. We also started transitioning her to her crib last night so it made me feel better knowing her crying wasn't hunger. Needless to say Matt and I are exhausted today but hopefully she'll be used to it in a few nights. Matt is more than ready but I'm going to miss having her in our room. Although in a few nights I'll probably think its crazy I ever felt that way. She also rolled over yesterday from her belly to her back so we've had lots of changes in just...

I just realized this didnt publish on Tuesday...  It's been 8 years since Matt and I were married on the beach in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. We have 2 kids, have lived in 3 different places, have seen lots of other additions to our extended family over that time... But it still feels like yesterday. Couldn't have asked for a better partner and Dad to our kids. Love you Matt! 

But Lilli is really one of the smartest children in the world! ;) We showed her twice how to write her name a couple of weeks ago and now she can do it on her own(and does all the time). She hasnt even started preschool yet. She is very proud of herself and we are too. 

As any parent knows, the first few months with a new baby can be hard.  You are going on little sleep and trying to get to know this new member of your family.  It's even more challenging when you add a toddler in there.  It's been getting easier over the course of the last month or so but I feel like yesterday we all had a good balance. Yesterday morning Matt watched the girls while I got to have a solo run and trip to Walmart. That may not sound very exciting but for someone with 2 kids around almost 24/7 that was one of the sweetest things he can do. :) Midday was his turn for a quiet house while I took the girls to Ella's first birthday party. She has a huge water slide and baby pools set up for all the kids to have some fun in the sun.  Lilli had a blast and it's always good to see that part of the family.  Then Saturday evening we split up and I took Lilli to see Turbo (or "the snail movie"). It was the first time Lilli and I had gone...

 I've been trying to come up with some things to do to enjoy our last few weeks of summer and we really had fun today. We started with a lazy morning before meeting Yaya for lunch. We got a nice surprise when Hailey and Case joined too. He's so cute and just slept the whole time. Katie has not been interested in naps since we got back and I won't hold her during them. :) I think Yaya liked her spot.  When we got done we met Carissa at her apartment to swim and stayed for 21/2 hours. Lilli taught herself how to doggie paddle without floaties today too. She's always been to afraid to swim anywhere that is too deep for her to stand even with her floaties but today she decided she was over it and took off.  I'm not sure exactly when it happened but Katie is big enough for the bumbo now. I tried her in it not long before our trip and she couldn't stay up but she was definitely ready today.  Getting big!   

We had a great afternoon yesterday with just the 4 of us in our quiet house. We were home by noon and relaxed in the living room all day. Lilli and Katie both napped a lot for us and we got caught up on some of our shows we missed. It's funny that you can always use a vacation when you get back from vacation.  Our last couple of days there were as nice as the beginning of the week. On Friday we went for a long boat ride to explore the lake and have a picnic. Then we found a swimming area to hang out at for a while. Lilli wouldn't get in the lake anywhere that she couldn't stand and Lake Hamilton didn't have many beaches so she really only swam a few days.  By the time we got home and had dinner that evening everyone was worn out!  Saturday we took the boat to lunch and went for a short ride and then spent the rest of the afternoon by the dock of our house. Go figure on the last afternoon Lilli decided it was fun to swim there.  We spent the evening at the house where...

We've been having a great time in Hot Springs the last 3 days. After the guys got In from fishing on Tuesday we pretty much spent the afternoon hanging out in the lake until our delicious fish dinner.  We did the same thing most of Wednesday. We just hung out by the house fishing and relaxing on the lake. Everyone had turns getting some Katie love too. That night we all took the boat to a restaurant for a delicious seafood and steak meal.  Thursday morning we got up and went to Lake Catherine State Park for a horseback ride and then to picnic and swim by the lake.  If was Lilli's first time on a horse and I hadn't been since I was a kid so it was really fun. Nana, Matt and Katie decided riding wasn't for them so they just met us for the picnic. Katie got in the lake for the first time and I wish I had gotten pictures. We were back at the house by 3 and then spent some more time in the lake before taking another boat ride to a pizza dinner.  It's been a really relaxi...