Tutus and Twirls

On Saturday we were invited to a "tutus and twirls" ballerina themed birthday party.  We dressed Maya up in one of the many frilly dresses she was gifted, but horror of horrors, I lost her hair bow.  There's really no point in putting a 2 1/2 month old in a silk ruffle dress and legging set if you forget the hair accessories. 

 

Despite the fashion faux pas, I still got some cute pictures with my kids -

The other night we put Maya in the bouncy chair and asked Collin to play to her while we were getting the dinner on the table.  His idea of entertaining his sister was putting every object he found in her vicinity - including a vacuum cleaner attachment and several Lion King figures that were under her legs - in her bouncy seat!  

Maya didn't complain about her crowded bouncy seat, but we felt that she deserved a relaxing bubble bath after that!

This girl LOVES her brother - lights up for him like she does for no one else!  She was smiling at Collin at dinner tonight and Collin was conversing with her.  We told them it is one of our greatest joys to see our kids love each other. 

Having a super-hero time at the Children's Museum

Once again with the help of my mom, Collin, Maya and I visited the Children's Museum.  I took Maya upstairs to a nook in the tot spot to nurse her while Collin played with the air propelled balls.

Apparently he shared and even helped a younger girl with the balls, but did not have a sharing heart when it came to a table of Mr. Potato Heads.  Though we have one he rarely plays with at home, he spent 45 minutes designing silly Mr. Potato Heads at the museum.  My mom said he was telling the other children who came to the Mr. Potato Head table that it was too crowded here, they needed to go play someplace else!  We had to take a time out and quick prayer for a change of heart!

The musuem has a super hero theme for the summer, and one of the "kid crafts," which Collin's only help was picking the design, was a super hero mask. 

He was obsessed with a Batman and Robin library book, and we often pretend to be the dynamic duo on the swing set in our backyard.  Last week Cas was swinging too, and when Collin named himself Robin, Cas decided he was Batman.  Oh no, Collin was quite sure Mommy was Batman and Cas had to be one of the lesser characters.  Poor Daddy, he was not happy that he couldn't be Batman!  But I love playing a starring role in this boy's imaginative super hero stories!

I let Maya play a little in the tot spot, but she mostly people watched since she can't yet control her hands.  Poor girl, she was just along for the ride, and watching Collin assemble Mr. Potato Heads put her to sleep -

We had another great visit to the Children's Museum, and I'm already looking forward to next summer, when Maya can participate in all the cool things the museum has to offer, and my mom and I can alternate between kids.

Collin the destroyer

While Collin thoroughly enjoys destroying the cleanliness of our house, ant beds, block towers, and the silence of our house during Maya's naps, he had to watch the destruction of our pool from inside.  Our poor pool was unfortunately more than a fix-the-pump issue, so it had to be gutted to fix the broken piping and cement. 

 

Collin acting tough with the destruction in the background -

Pretending on the excavators in the backyard -

The pool was destroyed in two short days, but unfortunately we've been waiting most of the summer for permits to construct a new one, so I think we'll be taking a dip in our backyard pool next May!

Coos for the Great Grandmas

I am so fortunate to have two wonderful, healthy grandmothers in my life and living nearby.  So when Cas goes out of town, I give them a call to join me for dinner and some much-needed adult conversation. 

 

While Collin was busy jumping off the bed into a pile of pillows, the great grandmas enjoyed some smiles and cooing with Maya. 

 
 Mid-coo with Great Grandma Betty -

Smiling and kicking on her changing table -

Collin has fun telling the grandmas riddles and stories at dinner, and everyone enjoys spending time with each other.

Pizza Chefs

We've been spending a lot of time at the grandparents' home this summer, having play dates and doing a lot of swimming.  One Thursday morning, we hit a local story hour.  I hung in the back with Maya while Collin found a comfortable Grammy chair in the front.

We were able to play with my friend Kelly and her adorable one-year old, who blew us away with all the animal names and sounds she knew.

Maya slept most of the play date, so we got no group shot, but the kids had fun reading and playing together.

I love the pile of 15 books around Kelly and Katelyn -

This Friday when Cas was at a conference out of town, we met up at a local pizza restaurant where the kids' meals were build-your-own pizza.  Amber's three and Collin were very into their pizza creations.

 

First, we rolled out the dough -  

And posed for a few pictures -

 Then added the toppings -

The boys enjoyed bathroom humor stories, which began with my dad's story on the car ride to the restaurant detailing burbing, spitting up, and other pleasant topics before we ate.  At the restaurant, Brownie was too busy holding and showing off his granddaughter to continue his silly stories.  

We had a great evening eating pizza with friends, and then burned off all that pizza the next morning at the pool.  It was a great end-of-the-week celebration of the fact that I survived not only my first week back at work, but three nights on my own with the kids, which unfortunately fell on the same week!

Our swimsuit model

My friend Kelly gave Maya this crazy adorable swimsuit.  Before heading to my aunt's to swim, the level of insane cuteness required a few pictures.

 

Collin giving his sister a kiss in an attempt to draw out a smile -

Seriously Mom, this is ridiculous, but I can't control my limbs to put an end to the camera clicking.

Stop the madness -

The ruffles are to drool for -

Smiles from our blue-eyed beauty.  Will the blue eyes last?  There are bets on both sides, but at two and a half months, they're still looking pretty blue -

Smiles and a tongue -

Rolls on the arms and legs - something unseen in Collin's baby pictures (or mine) -

She hung in there for a few more - 

I call Maya our pooping machine.  We normally change outfits once or twice everyday from a blowout.  In her first few weeks, she pooped on me every other day, once absolutely hosing me down when I mistakenly changed her diaper with her facing me.  But now that she's older, I trust her diaper-less for a few minutes to get that naked bootie in a shot -

Seersucker smiles

Cas took Collin to the circus on Saturday, and I had to snap some pictures of my handsome, coordinated guys when they returned.  Maya and I took our first outing to HEB.  Not quite as glamorous, but that's the season we're in, so I enjoyed a book and some sweet cuddle time with Maya when we were done shopping. 

 

I have no idea what I did with my camera - it was an unintentional, dizzying effect.  

Collin was a going on cotton candy fumes, but he managed to make eye contact and smile once.

 

Later that evening, Maya was in a super cuddly mood . . . which backfired at 5am, having allowed her to sleep way too much in the afternoon and evening.  Daddy and daughter -

Collin told Maya all about the circus when they took a bath together Saturday evening, assuring her that she could go when she was three.