some new pictures

I realize I have not been keeping up with the blog so well. So here are a few pictures from the past couple of weeks...

Last weekend we went bowling with some friends. It was a rainy Saturday afternoon so it really was a perfect day for it. Mikayla really wanted to have a turn throwing a ball, this was as close as she got.

It was Jennifer's first time bowling, she loved it! She wanted to help everyone and did great. Really I think she loved it so much because she got to go with her friend Rylee!

This is Jennifer's new favorite park because they have a merry-go-round and a teeter totter.

One day last week I was emptying the dishwasher and when I got done here is what I found. Mikayla had been playing behind the chair, by the coats and had gotten not only her hat on but also the ear wrap. She thought it was hilarious!

Mikayla being silly once again in the wagon.

Over the weekend Jennifer thought it was necessary to get some of Bill's shirts out of the closet, put one on, put his shoes on and her coat. Here is what the final result looked like...

Bill trying to get a good picture of Mikayla. Lately when she sees the camera and knows we are taking her picture she crinkles her nose up, it is her way of "saying cheese". It really is funny.

Mikayla really could have cared less about her picture being taken, she just wanted to pick all the flowers and hand them to me!

Saturday night Bill and the girls ate at the coffee table in the living room. It just started out with Bill and Jennifer but Mikayla was not about to be left out, she really is all about being with her sister and dad. Both the girls thought this was really great!

This is what was happening Sunday afternoon while I was on the phone with my mom. Bill began by "cleaning off" the table with the hose, before I knew it the entire deck was soaked, as were Bill, Jennifer and Mikayla. When I tried to see what was happening my sweet daughter thought I needed to be wet as well, she did not get me!

Would you have opened the door?!

A wet baby trying to crawl inside. (She saw the camera, notice the nose curl.)

Nothing like playing with the hose on a warm Sunday afternoon.

One last spray for good measure.

And maybe dad will take the hose now...

standing!

This may seem like an ordinary picture to you, its just Mikayla standing being funny you say. This picture was however cause for great celebration at our house yesterday! Because you see Mikayla did this all by herself, yes that is right after months of waiting for this day she finally did it, she stood up by herself!!!! We were in the girls' room, I was helping Jennifer with something and Mikayla was just crawling around. She got into this triangle position, with her bottom in the air and hands on the floor, that she often does. All the sudden she pushed up with her hands and was standing on her own in the middle of the floor!! If our windows had been open and anyone was close to our house they would have heard lots of screaming, I went crazy! I started jumping up and down and cheering and then Jennifer joined in, she is one of her sisters biggest cheerleaders which is sweet. We then ran out to the living room so I could get a picture and the one above was the only one I got because, in true Mikayla style, once she figured out that I really wanted her to stand up again and again she didn't want to do it!

Instead she decided to grab a nearby book and read for a little bit. Shortly after this I left to go to church to help Bill and one of my girls' favorite people came, Jenny. Mikayla proceed to stand up several times for Jenny and Jennifer!

Today Mikayla kept going strong with the standing but her dad had yet to see her do this exciting new skill. So tonight at bedtime we were trying hard to get her to stand up for him but she just wanted to brush her teeth!

This girl loves to brush her teeth! It is funny, anytime she is in the bathroom she asks to brush her teeth. I guess it is a good thing to want to do. Eventually we got her to stand up in the kitchen and then she went crazy! She would stand for a few seconds, sit down and then stand right back up, it is fun to watch! She was so very excited for herself too!

Just a picture of Jennifer yesterday cheering her sister on to stand up. My kindergartner is doing great at school by the way!

Mikayla has been missing Jennifer while she is away at school. So she is finding fun things to do around the house to make the hours go by faster. Most days she empties the lid drawers, every lid we have that goes on a plastic container is thrown onto the floor. A few days ago it was the towel drawer. This sweet girl sat and played with these towels for the longest time.

It was a mess, yes but she does great at picking up as well, she loves to help! More pictures of the standing girl will be coming soon, I hope! Hopefully walking will be coming soon!

kindergarten

Yesterday was the first official day of school, which means we now have an official kindergartner! I, like most parents, find it hard to believe that my little girl was off to kindergarten. Jennifer was very excited to start school and she had a great first day!

Mikayla is not really sure where her sister has gone all day. Yesterday and today she would crawl somewhere and sign J, which is her way of "saying" Jennifer, and look around. Even at lunch the past two days Mikayla has been signing J, wondering if it is time for Jennifer to come home yet. The house is kind of lonely all day without one of the girls here.

We are looking forward to a great year of kindergarten!

fun at the fair

Sunday afternoon we were off to enjoy some time at the fair. Jennifer, of course, was very excited to be heading to the fair. She had a long list of things she wanted to see and do.

When we got to Papa Jim and Mama Sue's camper Mikayla was very excited! Not sure if she was excited to be at the fair or just to crawl around the camper.

Of course one of the things on Jen's list was to ride a horse, much to her disappointment this was as close as she got this year.

One of the reasons to go to the fair is to eat all that yummy food! Mikayla was loving Mama Sue's turkey leg, it was very funny to watch her eat this.

After all that turkey this sister needed a little nap.

All four of us went down the big slide together. Jennifer sat in between Bill and I and needed to hold both of our hands as we went down, very sweet, gotta love even these little moments.

Riding the trolley back up to the camper after a fun afternoon/evening at the fair. Jennifer loved riding "the big green tractor" as she called it.

After a good nights rest we were back for more! First on the list was Little Hands on the Farm.

Kayla girl even got to do it this year! (It will be even more fun for her next year when she can walk!)

Jennifer thought these were the greatest thing this year. As soon as she saw it she needed her picture taken.

Mikayla was almost jumping out of the stroller wanting her picture taken too!

Oh Clifford. Last year Jennifer would hardly stand next to Clifford for a picture, this year I think she would have stayed with him for an hour. She was super excited to see him and have her picture taken and then she just wanted to chat with him, about everything.

Mikayla just wanted to pet Clifford.

The girls each got a pack of tickets and included in that were a few tickets for rides. This made Jennifer very excited because this was one of the things she really wanted to do at the fair. Her first pick was this ride.

Next was the bumper boats. Really it was just a lot of spinning in circles, she thought is was great though.

The last choice was hard but finally this was the one.

Mama Sue took Mikayla on the carousel. She thought it was great!

After seeing lots of animals, eating lots of fair food, riding some rides, having fun at Little Hands on the Farm, Jennifer making some new friends at a show, seeing Clifford and doing lots of walking another year at the fair came to an end for us. Jennifer has already asked to go back about ten times since we've home!