You know you're a redneck when....

you create a waterpark in your backyard with a baby blow-up pool and plastic slide. But the kids had a blast! I created this little water wonderland for them Saturday after their naps when the mercury hit almost 100 degrees. Since we have complete privacy in our backyard thanks to the grapevines, I told them they didn't need swimsuits. I don't know which they liked more, the cool waterslide or going tinkle on the grass standing up. Caroline definitely made the biggest splash. Little Ava barely gets enough speed with her tiny body to make a dent. To top things off, I just bathed them and washed their hair right in the pool. I'll be putting their pink car on blocks next week to complete the effect.

Ava's attempt at going backwards

Ahh, summer!

Bite Me!

Not too happy with little miss Caroline's antics today. She bit her sister so hard on the face this morning when she couldn't get a toy away from her, it left some serious marks. Ava was crying so hard you couldn't hear her. This is the evidence. I can only hope it doesn't scar. I guess it's payback for a similar bite Ava gave her on the cheek not too long ago. I wish I knew how to cure them from acting out their frustrations on each other this way. Pinching has become an issue too.

When I told Caroline, "Say you're sorry to Ava" after her time in the naughty chair, she went into the living room and haughtily yelled, "You're sorry Ava!!"

Yeah, not the most heart-felt apology.

Doctor Doctor, give me the news...

The girls went in for their 3 year well-baby visit on Thursday. As expected, they are well and thriving! Caroline weighs 34 pounds and is 38 1/2 inches tall. My little featherweight weighed in at 28 pounds and is 36 1/2 inches tall, but she's climbed from the 3rd percentile in weight to the 20th and is in the 40th percentile of height. Way to go Ava! The doctor seemed impressed with their development and their sleeping and eating habits. But we were both blown away by their outstanding intelligence. Case in point: When Dr. Charlie asked Caroline who her favorite princess was, she paused momentarily before answering softly and sweetly, "Mommy." I'm calling Harvard because clearly we're talking genius here!

Dr. Charlie was also more than happy with their potty training status and not at all concerned about Ava's "baby voice." He thinks she speaks just fine for her age and wonders if it's perhaps a reflection of her being cast as the "little one."

No shots this visit, but thanks to the swine flu we will be getting TWO flu shots this year. One in August for the usual strain and one in October for the piggy variety.

I'm so grateful my ladybugs are healthy, happy, and developing as expected. I am truly blessed...twice!!

Good Morning Sunshine!

Today, Ava decided to greet the day with gusto! When I took Biggie outside to go potty first thing this morning the sprinklers were running. When I turned around to go inside, I was met with a buck naked Ava at the open front door. She had quietly and quickly taken off her jammies and diaper. When I asked what she was doing (but having a pretty good idea), she said that she was going to run through the sprinklers....at 9:00 a.m.! Apparently she wanted to relive the fun she had at Aunt Lisa's lake house where she first ran through sprinklers. I didn't have the heart to ruin her fun, even though I thought she'd be a bit cold. Is there anything cuter than that bum? Maybe the smile :-)

Summer Vacation!

I'll be going back in time for a bit here while I catch up on some fun activities in June and for the 4th of July. We took a trip to see Aunt Lisa, Uncle Curt, Lydia, Margaux and baby Elise in Chicago on June 24 for a week. We had a great time! I was lucky enough to be able to use my miles that I accrued while working at the University of Utah to get three airline tickets for me and the girls without spending a dime (except of course for the stupid bag charges). Lisa and Curt were generous enough to let us stay with them and use one of their cars. With FIVE girls under the age of 4....and their mothers (poor Curt), we had a lot of bodies to move around. But we managed famously!

We spent the first two days at their house in Chicago and then the rest of the week at their lake house in Michiana. In Chicago we went to Navy Pier and took a boat ride along the lake shore to see the city skyline. I know...totally touristy, but we wanted to be outside and I wanted to get on the water somehow and this boat ride was only 30 minutes. There was lengendary Chicago heat that day with loads of humidity, but we still had a blast. The girls still talk about their boat ride and the Thomas the Train ride (which lasted about 2 minutes). Oh, to be young and so easily amused.

The cousins getting silly

We even got hats to go with our sweat!

Margaux & Aunt Lisa

They're stoked, you just can't tell

Puff Daddy, P Diddy...our daddy?

I kid you not, today as I was reading my exclusive collector's edition of the Michael Jackson tribute magazine Caroline pointed to this picture and asked, "Is that Daddy?" And she wasn't pointing to the King of Pop (RIP). True story! Brad, do you think it's time to consider sunscreen? Mamasaymamasawmamamockyousaw!

Shenanigans

Oh, my little Ava. Don't need much commentary here, except perhaps it's time to move her away from the window. If I had room I probably would. When we had bottles, it was common to find three or four lined up in the window behind the blind...not, of course, until I spent days looking for the missing bottles and convincing myself I was going crazy. The window is much cleaner now too since she can't "clean" it with milk. It's a good thing I always check in on them before I go to bed. No telling how she and the blind would have fared the night.