Celebration Town

Yesterday was Connor's birthday party at Celebration Town. The girls had never been any place like this, so at first they didn't know what to think. It didn't take long for them to join the party. They had SO MUCH FUN...

Bouncing around...

In no time at all the girls were going down the slide all by themselves!

The girls didn't stop moving for a second (which is why most of our pictures are blurry!), and they sure did sleep good last night!

Pigtails

Does it get any cuter? Mallory's hair gets longer and thicker by the day, and now it's long enough for pigtails if you can get her to sit still long enough.

Sunday Morning: Nap Time

Mallory... Anna Claire...

Thirty minutes into nap time, Anna Claire is still awake - smiling, laughing, singing, and banging around in her crib. Thankfully, Mallory sleeps through it all.

This has been Anna Claire's "routine" for two weeks now. I thought maybe she was just discombobulated since I've been working semi-part-time, but I don't think it should have taken her this long to adjust. She is just not at all tired anymore at her mid-morning nap time, 9:30. The bigger problem? By 11:00 the crankiness has set in, but afternoon naps don't begin until 1:30.

So, what to do? I have no idea what's best. Move morning nap back so Anna Claire is tired? Cut out morning nap for Anna Claire? For both girls? If we cut out morning nap it makes sense to move afternoon nap earlier. They have always been on the same sleeping schedule which has made life so easy. The thought of putting the girls on two different napping schedules does not thrill me.

Ugh! I do not like schedule changes, but looking back, I have to admit things always seem to work themselves out just fine for everyone. Time will tell...

Saturday Evening

Waiting for steaks to finish on the grill...

The girls got to play in the shade of the front yard for a bit this evening while Walter grilled dinner in the sweltering heat -- but it sure tasted good!

In other news, Mallory hasn't quite been herself lately. She has been quite fussy with a runny nose, hasn't slept well for two nights, and her temp is 99.8 (nothing to be alarmed about but a little higher than her normal which tells me that she is, indeed, feeling yucky). There's nothing worse than a cold in the heat of the summer. Hopefully, she'll be smiling again soon!

Tuesday Morning

I have already been to work several days, but I am officially back on contract tomorrow, so the girls and I decided to make the most of our last official day of summer break (though I do have Friday off!!). We had a great day just hanging out at home. Sometimes that's so much more fun than going out and about. Here's how we spent our Tuesday morning...

As usual, Anna Claire and Mallory both woke up from a great night's sleep with smiles on their faces.I went into the kitchen to get breakfast ready and came back to the playroom to find Mallory like this. Would you just look at that baby belly!!Breakfast: French toast, sausage, cantaloupe, and blackberries.

Playing on the back porch before it got too hot...Anna Claire wanted to swing...
Mallory wanted to play in the water...The girls "helped" me organize some of their newborn baby clothes to sell. The girls realized playing in storage bins is just as fun as playing in the laundry basket.
As a matter of fact, they wouldn't get out of the bin so I could fix their snack, so I just moved them into the living room and they sat in the bin and watched Yo Gabba Gabba. They sat there forever (longer than I actually needed them to) and were just mesmerized by the TV. What have I started? Anna Claire is loving on her sister...

Back to work tomorrow. It's going to be a long day. I already miss my babies!

So, You Think You Can Dance?

Well, just take a look at Anna Claire and Mallory. They've got moves!

Anna Claire was really getting down right before I grabbed the video camera. Both girls have always liked music, but more recently, they have really been into their music and dancing whether it be videos on the lap top, their TV shows, cd's, or the music their toys play. These girls have become dancing machines. I just wish the video showed more of their faces - all smiles!

Basket Case

This summer, one of the girls' favorite "toys" has been the laundry basket. I'll sit on the floor and fold their laundry while they crawl in and out of the basket. It's the only way I can get it done if they're not napping.

Yesterday, Walter offered to fold some laundry while I finished dinner. Well, the girls kept throwing their folded laundry on the floor (they love to unfold already-folded laundry). I told him to let them play in the laundry basket...

....not the laundry hamper! There is a difference. The girls know it; I think they were a bit confused about how they were supposed to play in their laundry hamper.