Six Flags and swimming

This week Kylie, Kate and Ryan visited us in Maryland.  It was great to have them all here even though we only got to see Ryan for a very short time on Sunday.  The girls enjoyed each other, but mostly they LOVED the pool!  Here are a few shots of the very very quick visit, and a wish for many many more visits like this in the future!

Exactly how they are

I took this picture the other day after the girls had been playing together for a long time, and not fighting.  When they emerged from the playroom wearing their chosen garb, I thought to myself that this image sums up their personalities so much right now.  I love my girls!

Lexi loves the water!

We went to our neighbors house for 4th of July this year.  They have a great pool.  The girls could not get enough!  Here are a few shots of Lexi having fun jumping into the water off the waterfall.  Pulled out the camera too late and didn't capture Isabel in her glory, but will next time!

He still amazes me

As many of you know, Doug has been very hard at work building our deck.  He has almost finished it, and WOW, it is amazing.  Even through this crazy hot summer, and humidity that could choke a giraffe, he did it.  Here are some pictures of his craftsmanship:

The best feeling in the world

I tell my daughters I love them many times each day; some might say I over use the phrase.  Since the day they were born I have felt this overwhelming love for them and just can't help but say it to them all the time.  I guess somewhere, unconsciously I hoped they would return the sentiment one day.  That day has come.  Today my husband and my daughters called me at work to say good morning, and wouldn't you know it, they also blurted out "I yove you"!  It was the sweetest sound I have ever heard.  It was even more special than I could have ever imagined.

With everything they are saying these days, hearing them express their emotions for me could not have been more welcomed.  They happen to be the Captain's of stating the obvious right now, so I feel very lucky this is what they chose to share with me today.

Two very helpful, and busy little girls

How quickly things are moving, and how busy it seems we all are, but none are busier than my two year old daughters!  They want to help with everything these days from doing dishes, and sweeping floors, to folding laundry and clearing dishes from table, to helping daddy fill in the holes he made to build the deck!  They are ever so curious about it all, and love nothing more than to be allowed to do "it"!  I am proud of them for being so outgoing, and willing to try anything.  One morning Isabel was being so helpful she decided she should feed Lexi!

I think she forgets sometimes, that she is only 1 minute older!  More often than not, they play together very well and are getting more and more into make believe and pretend.  It is so fun to watch and to listen to them talk to their babies, change their babies diapers, feed them and more.  It is also quite funny to hear them repeat things to their babies that I say to them.  The other morning I heard Isabel tell her baby that she wasn't supposed to go pee pee in the diaper, go in the potty.  I guess I have used that phrase a lot lately!

The girls are potty training on their own schedule, I am just going to have to get used to it.  I am told by many that it will happen when it happens.  So I am trying to be patient, but I do fail at times!  We have resorted to bribery these days; 1 m&m for trying, 2 m&m,'s for #1, and 3 m&m's for #2.  Some days this is incentive enough but other days I am told "I dont' want to use the potty".  At least they know what they want.

They are strong willed, funny, energetic, loving, and in explorer mode; I just can't seem to get enough of them some days.  They are really starting to talk a lot now, and I notice them repeating many phrases after only hearing them once!  I have been trying to remind myself of this, or they remind me when I hear them says things like "That's gross" or "Mommy needs a break"!  From the mouths of babes right!?  :)

Doug and I (well mostly Doug) have been super busy building our new deck!  He is doing an amazing job, and we can't wait to have as many of you over as possible to hang out on it, maybe eat some good food too! Here are a few pictures of the progress on the deck.

Memorial Day 2011

We spent Memorial Day weekend in Pennsylvania with Grandma Q and Papa Bill this year, and boy did the girls have fun!  They are growing like weeds, and seem to be talking more by the minute!  They both love to read, or be read too, and are crazy about trampolines!  We are saving our money to get one for them!  Here are some great pics taken over the weekend.  We miss everyone, and I hope to get more posts up on a regular basis through the end of the year.