Sister Storytime

Kaylee, now the Author. She came home on Friday with a book she wrote. We were very impressed with the folded piece of paper with letter "E"s inside. But we were most impressed with the 5 minute story that she tells you while reading. Best thing about this book, it has a different ending every time. She reads it to Maddie, which she seems a little confused by it. I think she would prefer eating the piece of paper instead.

Daddy Day Care goes to the Zoo

While the girls' school was closed over the week of the 4th, Eric took off the week with his broken pinkie. He took the girls to the Austin Zoo, which is more of a endangered animal rescue zoo than for show. Kaylee fed all the animals, which consisted of throwing the food several feet away from the fence. If you don't know yet, she is rather afraid of animals. Oh, the joys. Maddie was a trooper as always.

Kaylee's feeding skills....

To brighten your day....

"I'll be the mailman, you be the tiger." - Kaylee

"What game is that?" - Mommy

"Mailman, Tiger game" - Kaylee

"Oh." - Mommy

"Chase's Daddy makes beer, it's Strawberry Beer and it is yummy!" (Chase is an imaginary friend)

"Can you verify?" (Mommy/Daddy's work language)

"When Aunt Issa comes over, you & Daddy go on date?" - Kaylee

"No, we stay here as a family. Do you want to play Candyland together?" - Mommy

"Only girls with blonde hair play Candyland. Only Me, Issa, & Madison." - Kaylee

Mommy busts out laughing.

"Don't text anyone that." - Kaylee

"You & Madison will go to San Antonio to stay with Papa & Tutu." - Daddy

"But how will I get back to Austin? I can't drive." - Kaylee

"Will you text Papa & Tutu to come over?" - Kaylee

"Do you want me to back celery & peanut butter in your lunch?" - Daddy

"Yes." - Kaylee

"Blueberries?" - Daddy

"Yes." - Kaylee

"Ok." - Daddy

"It's going to be AWESOME!" - Kaylee

Kaylee, The Photographer

The tables have turned. The girl that didn't like taking pictures is not only asking us to take her picture, but not offering to take pictures. She is completely fascinated with taking pictures. Whats even more entertaining is watching her take millions of pictures in seconds. After each one she take, she quickly looks at the results, laughs, and takes another one. Occasionally, you will hear, "That's a good one."

For your viewing pleasure, pictures taken by Kaylee.

Mommy Daughter Date Night

Last weekend, Kaylee & I went on a Mommy/Daughter Date Night with 2 Other Mommies & Daughters. Kaylee opted for a pink dress, pink purse, and pink lipstick...this is a date. We started the evening with Italian dinner at Mandola's while the girls feasted on pizza and gelato and the Mommies enjoyed some vino with dinner. Afterwards, we headed to Cafe Monet which is a paint your pottery place. Kaylee picked a special ice cream cone to put all her treasures and I painted a cupcake piggy bank for Maddie. It was lots of fun and I know Kaylee felt extra special to go a such a special date. When we left she asked when her Daddy date and Family date was? Love that girl.

Hide your Wine!

Maddie's personality has definitely start to thrive! She sees something she wants, she will go after it. Kaylee, at this age, would make other people get things she wanted. I think this is totally 1st/2nd Child syndrome.....2nd Kiddos fend for themselves.

In the situation this weekend, I was just relaxing watching a movie & drinking a glass of wine while holding Maddie. Every time I would raise the glass to take a sip, Maddie would follow it up to my mouth and try to grab it. She was so persistent and that girl is strong! We sure did get a kick out of it!

Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Miller!

Lindsey & Jeremy got married July 3rd in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The ceremony was in the breathtaking Thorncrown Chapel and reception was at the haunted old Crescent Moon Hotel. Everything was adorable and very shabby chic...and purple...as Lindsey is. The night ended in dancing to music only my family listens, which I think provided the entertainment. Not to mention, Caitlin's hair that provided the comic relief....Snooki meets Ellie May? xoxo.

And.....Kaylee got to check off Flower Girl off her Bucket List and has offered to be one for anyone's wedding. Words can't express how much she enjoyed being one.

Everyone was wonderful and the happy couple is off to Hawaii! If only we could all go to that! ;)

May Family with Kaylee's Ear Cups

We think we are funny

Papa & Tutu and the kiddos

Happy Couple!

Cute Maddie!

Beautiful Thorncrown Chapel

Awesome

Introducing...the Flower Girl

Ernst Family

Mr. & Mrs. Miller!

All the girls...vision in purple!

Maddie takes a dip in Beaver Lake!

Once we landed in Arkansas, we headed to Beaver Lake....not to be confused with (Justin) Beiber Lake. The lake was one of the prettiest lakes I've been too. It was huge, refreshing cool water, and calm with barely any boat traffic...even on 4th of July weekend! The kiddos had to wear life jackets, even lil Maddie. Her life jacket was seriously bigger than her and boy, did she get hot. Her face was so red, that I thought it would be best to dunk her in the middle of the lake to cool her off. And she love it! I still can't get over the fact that I dunked my 5 Month in the middle of a lake. I don't think I would ever done that with Kaylee, but 2nd Kiddo....heck yes. Kaylee did great in the water too, however using the lake as the "bathroom facilities" was a rather difficult concept to grasp. Going to have to work on this one....

BTW, poor Eric had to sit on the boat since he couldn't get his cast wet. : (

Love the K's facial expression, no fishies

Mimi & Maddie

I don't know to laugh or cry

May Family in Beaver Lake

Maddie's in the water!

Mommy is crazy!

Some Smiles!

20-Question Car Game

Both Eric and I played the "20-Questions" game during our childhood family car trips. His family played with with animals and mine played with famous people...typical. How you play is someone picks an animal/famous person in their head and the rest ask yes/no questions to guess the animal/famous person. You have 20 questions to pick it.

We thought we would play the animal game with Kaylee during our long drive to Arkansas. This is how it went down. Eric picked an animal in his head...

"Does it have 2 legs?" Kristen

"No." Eric

"Does it have 3 legs?" Kaylee

"No." Eric

"Does it have 4 legs?" Kristen

"Yes." Eric

"What animal is it?" Kaylee

So...no games lasted too long during the car ride. However, both girls did great sleeping and entertaining themselves. Thank you iPad. Both girls added Oklahoma & Arkansas to the states they've been too. And yes, even Eric got to add Arkansas now!

Good old Arkansas!

Within 24 hours, we had been to the ER, 3 States, and a Casino!

Picture requested by K

Don't Kill Me

Two Thursdays ago, we were planning to leave for a 10-hour car drive to Lindsey's wedding in Arkansas by 7PM. Eric took-off work to get the fam situation before the trip while I tie some major loose ends up at work. He decided to get a quick Mountain Bike Ride in, before we left. Around 10:45AM, I get the frantic phone call from him, "Don't kill me." Yep, I rushed home to take Eric covered in scratches, dirt, sweat, blood, and a clearly broken pinkie to the Emergency Room. He looked a lot worse than it really was, but my favorite quotes at the ER were: "You can tell you wore a helmet, because it is the only place without blood." & "You THINK it's broken, it's TOTALLY broken."

Few hours in the ER, pain meds, and a cast later...we were good to go. What a way to start the trip, especially now that I have to drive the whole way. But, no I won't kill you.

Eric had surgery this past Friday to put some pins in his hand, everything went well. Now we are in the healing process and will check with the doctor in a few weeks.

After the numbing and the straightening of the pinkie. Imagine it at a 90 degree angle.

Clear break where the pinkie and hand meet.

The Doctor took these pics on my iPhone!

"Don't kill me"