Gymnastics Fun

K is at her peak of her Gymnastics career. Sorry K, but your legs are little to long for Gymnastics. I will eat my words when you make the Olympic Team, but until then....here are your mad gymnastics skills.

Monkey

Swinging

Love the Face

Big Finish

What you do best, Jump...a lot

China Uncle Takes Texas

Uncle Greg came to visit from Shanghai! And....Grandpa & Julia came in from El Paso and Brian, Dana, Noah, and Baby Ernst #2 came in from Angleton. Happy to introduce lil Maddie and spend quality time with Familia!

Uncle Brian & Maddie

Telling Uncle Brian who's Boss

Artwork by Cousins

Baseball with a Football and a Tennis Racquet

I love Bathtub Pics...think K was more excited!

Serious Cuteness (Poor Noah's Face)

Smiles for Grandpa

Proud Grandpa & Daddy

Daddy use this opportunity for a Homebrew Tasting

Facebook Posts

Got 2 funny facebook posts this week, not sure if they are extra funny since I'm away this week. Boy, did they bring a smile to my face. Both posts are from parents at the girls' school....

Kaylee was asking me what was all over my arms today. Then she asked me why I had tattoos.... I had nothin to tell her. Ha!

AND

This morning when I dropped Blake off K was involved in pouring work at a table by herself. As we passed her she said, "Blake..." - held up the little pitcher next to her face - "....I have beer" - hahahaha!

Why are you still there?

Oh, Kaylee. What am I going to do with you? (A common phrase my father would ask me.)

"Why are you still there?" asked Kaylee tonight when she hijacked Eric's phone and locked herself in her room. So cute. She started rambling like no other and actually had somewhat of a conversation with her. I couldn't get over the high-pitched squeaky little girl's voice.

Thank goodness for iChat, so I can watch Maddie's chubby cheeks grow. She smiles ear to ear when she sees me.....and that is why I love technology.

Eric is being a trooper.....more like the trooper's captain. Or something like that.

Family from afar

See what I'm talking about?

Out to Cali

I'm in California for the week training for my new gig at work. Obviously not the easiest thing to do leaving the girls, and poor Eric, and breastfeeding...how is this going to work out? To be honest, I have no idea. Ask me at the end of the week.

K's teacher gave us good suggestions while Mommy is out:

1. Have Kaylee "x" out the days on a calendar, so she count the days down until Mommy is home.

2. Carry a picture of Mommy and take it out when she misses me.

3. iChat.

I picked out the girl's clothes for the week, Eric loaded up the kitchen with foods I don't allow, Tinkerbell Calendar is up, Freezer is stocked up with milk (I hope, enough), and practiced iChat with Kaylee. Wish us luck!

I scream, you scream....

Kaylee screams for GELATO!

And she ate the whole bowl, true story.

A Centered Child

Last Friday, we had a wonderful Teacher-Conference for K. Nothing beats hearing how great of a child you have. Of course, we think so, but always nice to hear it from others. ;)

The teacher described K has being even keel, observant, intelligent, strives to meet expectations, comfortable, and outgoing but shy at times. She has taken an interest in reading and spelling, so the teacher is working with movable letters to spell three letter words with her. She made a comment on how much K thrives at puzzles as that is a pre-cursor for math. They are working on counting, but more importantly associating the quantity. That way you can tell the child "I need 8 plates" and she can get 8 plates....oppose to memorizing counting to 8.

When we asked what we need to work on.....the teacher replied, "I think y'all are fabulous parents and you have your self a very centered child." One of the best compliments ever and not because she said we were fabulous, but that we have a centered child. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Likes Legos just as much as Mommy & Daddy did as kids!

Left-Brain coming out...

K made Mommy her version of an Apple Computer

She even tells you what each button does

Chatterboxes

There has been a language explosion in the Ernst household. Lil' Maddie has been razzing and a-gooing....never seen a baby try to talk so hard. The teachers at school have made serval comments on how vocal she is. I'm not too surprised, since her Big Sis is quite the chatterbox!

As for K, all of the sudden she is using bigger words. Nothing HUGE, but definitely the next step in her vocabulary. Eric and I stop and look at each other, did she just say that? Like....

"That isn't funny. I'm frustrated." Referring to when she couldn't find a book in her room. How amazing for a kid to verbalize their feelings? Using frustrated instead of the usual "sad".

"That's disgusting." Referring to the bug on the floor, instead of saying "gross".

"Wow, amazing." Referring to the Easter Cookies, instead of saying "yummy."

On a funny note, she is learning that some words have dual meanings. The other night I had a "hot" issue at work, boy, this was had to explain. Hot? Fire? Another instnace, Eric referred to something as "on track" and K asked about the racetrack.

Flashback....On one of my childhood favorites "Full House", DJ calls her little sister, Stephanie, a Chatterbox. For whatever reason, this was a huge insult. So, my older sister, Lindsey, would call me a Chatterbox and also went on to duct tape my mouth shut. Oh, sisters....

Dance Parties

If I could give any advice to new Moms, two words...dance parties. Once the visitors slow down and you are at home alone with a tiny 4 Week old that doesn't do much.....dance party. I had dance parties with Kaylee and then almost every day on Maternity Leave with Maddie and Kaylee. I would blare...blare...my iTunes and totally dance like it was no one's business. Great workout too! Most the times the babies would fall asleep, but as the weeks go by the more they would start dancing too...first smiles were made! As babies, Kaylee's favorite songs were "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillat and "Three LIttle Birds" by Bob Marley, and Maddie's are "Little LIon Man" by Mumford Sons and "Bust a Move" by Young MC. When I say "favorite" I mean stop them from crying, dancing, or smiling. Kaylee LOVES dance parties with Maddie, she has some serious moves.....but she would get mad if you laughed at her "serious" dance moves.

Other songs on the Girl's Playlists. I will request these songs at their weddings and most likely start crying the minute I hear them. One of my favorite times...dance parties.

"Daughter" by Loudon Wainwright III

"You are the Best Thing" by Ray LaMontagne

"Say Baby" by David Garza

"Dogs Days Are Over" by Florence + The Machine

"Folding Chair" by Regina Spektor

"Counting Stars" by Cas Haley

"American Honey" by Lady Antebellum

"Day-O (Banana Boat Song)" by Harry Belafonte

"Big Night" by Big Time Rush

"Just Can't Get Enough" by Black Eyed Peas

"Clumsy" by Fergie

"Sweet Escape" by Gwen Stefani

"F* You" by Cee Lo

"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper

"Single Ladies" by Beyonce

"Baby" "One Time" "Never Say Never" by Justin Bieber

"California Gurls" and "Firework" by Katie Perry

"Just Dance" by Lady Gaga

"It Takes Two" by Rob Base & DJ E-Z

"Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus

Anything by.....Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, Dispatch, OAR

Putting in writing to read this in 15 years.....I'll let you know how they turned out. lol.

Violin Lessons

K, "I want to be a dance girl when I grow up."

Mommy, "We need to look into dance lessons, maybe when you are four."

K, "I want violin lessons, too."

Mommy, "Violin? Do you know what a violin is? Where did you see a violin?"

K motions how to play a violin.

K, "At school. I want violin lessons."

Daddy, "What about drums?"

K, "I'm NOT a band girl. Silly Daddy."

....Mommy & Daddy looking at each other having no idea where any of this is coming from....

Mommy Day 2011

First Mother's Day with two kiddos! Double the fun, right?

Love being a Mommy to my beautiful girls! But I seriously couldn't do it out with Eric....we are very much a team. I told him today I would prefer a "Parents Day", but he doesn't want to give up his Father's Day. Plus, it's two holidays for Hallmark...they would never downsize to one. So, I embraced the Mother's Day.

There are several reasons I why I love being a Mommy, but I can't get enough of Maddie smiling when she sees my face and Kaylee randomly telling me that she loves me. Millions of ways a child can tell a parent they love them...from non-verbal gestures to rolling out the red carpet treatment. I love each one.

Highlights from Mommy Day 2011:

Girls' Movie Night for "Something Borrowed", loved.

Whole family outing to K's Gymnastics, K loved.

Olive Oil Tasting, amazing.

Work.

Cakebread Chard 2006, worth the wait.

Work.

Derby.

Half-Birthday Celebration.

Brunch at Lamberts, yummy.

Wine Tasting at Duchman Winery, beautiful.

Swimming at Papa & Tutu.

Cuddles with the girls.

On the way to see K's Gymnastics

Olive Oil Tasting

Love my Mommy Bracelets

Brunch with My Girls

Wonderful Daddy and Cute Maddie

Reason #2467 why I love K

Wine Tasting

Couldn't get over how big the winery was for Texas

Don't fall in K

Special Breakfast with K

Friday Morning, K's school had a special breakfast for the Mamas. I dropped off K and then needed to get MM situated in her classroom. When I came back to K's room, she had two plates of banana breads with forks and two glasses of chamomile tea waiting for me at the table. She has never waited on me before...so nice to be pampered by a 3-yr-old. While eating she told me to close my eyes for a surprise (something I do often with her), once I opened my eyes she gave me a clay pinch pot that she had made. She was so proud to give it to me. After we finished, she cleaned up everything. Again, not used to the wait staff. She pushed in our chairs and wanted to show me the classroom. Not just any tour, but..."Here is the door to outside. Here is the doorknob." etc. etc. She wanted to show me all of her work, but obviously didn't have a week to spend in the classroom. I told her to pick one work to show me, so she picked a Butterfly Puzzle where you put together the eggs, then caterpillar, then cocoon, then Butterfly. She was elated after she finished it by herself....kept saying that this is a "hard" puzzle since it has "lots and lots" of pieces.

Definitely saw a more mature kid Friday morning, and really felt like she was going out of her way to make me feel special. One lucky Mommy.

Work-In-Progress Backyard

Our backyard has been Terrapin's Backyard for years, but the girls are invading. We are trying to grow grass over her running trails and attempting to make our backyard into a Family Backyard. Over the past few months, we have cut down 2 trees, planted 2 trees, created a garden and herb garden, planted several plants, and attempted to grow grass. Here a few pics of the progress.

FEBRUARY 2011

MARCH 2011

MAY 2011

Blog to Book

I've been published! ;) Finally got around to making the Blog for 2008/2009 into a Book!

How awesome is this?

Seriously, I'm not good at Baby Books. Sit down and write....with a pen?? Much rather type real quick. I do apologize for any grammar errors....I'm used to writing in bullet points and five word sentences. Transitioning from fast-paced corporate life to family blogging isn't easy sometimes. Anyhow, this my modern day Baby Book. Totally Kristen, traditional with modern twist. I always do things on my own terms anyways.

I originally started the blog to keep family and friends updated on the kiddos. Now, I'm writing it for my girls. I want them to have stories of their childhood, so bare with me if I add in my advice, lessons, family history posts too.

Happy Half-Birthday Kaylee!

Oh, yes....we celebrate Half-Birthdays! It all started with my December Birthday and my Sisters/Brother having summer birthdays. I was part of the "It sucks to have a birthday right before Christmas" Club. So, my Mom started celebrating my Half-Birthday in June. I got half a cake, often times a watermelon. I would a get a small gift too. I loved it and my friends love it even more. Some of my Half-Birthdays were some of the best birthdays I've ever had, besides celebrating Lindsey's Birthdays with her ID. ha. There are no expectations with a half-birthday, so no disappointments. I love them.

Today was Kaylee's Half-Birthday...the big 3 and 1/2! She wanted Strawberry Shortcake and Strawberry Cake...so that is what she got. She was elated and loved celebrating another birthday! I called my Dad and K hijacked the phone and locked herself in her room. She realized it was Papa's Half-Birthday too.....so we celebrated with him too. She doesn't quite understand the "Half" part as she told 2 8-Yr-Olds, "It's my birthday." "When?" "Right NOW. I'm Four." Well K, you aren't Four RIGHT NOW, but in 6 months!

My first time making the famous Watermelon Half Birthday Cake

Happy Half-Birthday Kaylee!

Half-Birthday Twins

Excited about Strawberry Shortcake...more excited about Cool Whip

Who does Madison look like?

Eric, "Madison looks like Daddy."

Kaylee, "I look like Mommy. Madison looks like me. Madison doesn't look like Daddy, because she doesn't wear whiskers."

Maddie May is 3 Months!

Happy 3 Months Maddie! She has ton quite a bit for only being 3 Months old! She definitely is losing the newborn look and looking more like a baby baby.

Such a happy little girl...all smiles and chuckles!

K was excited that MM was 3 too!

K woke MM up, but we got a cute smirk!

Children's Ball Charity Event

K got to dress up as a Princess two days in a row?!? Sounds like a great weekend!

On Sunday, we headed over to the Children's Ball Charity Event for Relief Nursery. One of my friends from yoga worked for the non-profit and thought K would love the Princess & Pirate theme. Princess & Charity...perfect match! It was beyond perfect.....Bouncy Castle, Nail Salon, Fishing, Dancing, Hula Hooping, decorate your cupcake, design your crown, tried martial arts for the first time, and horse carriage rides! Perfect for a princess! Great fun, good cause! And of course...Maddie slept through it all!

Video of dance moves is at the bottom...enjoy!

On our way for a very important date!

That Pink Blurb is K

K's only King

Princesses were everywhere!

Her favorite game!

So precise.

Her face makes me laugh.

Hula Hoop

Trying something new!

Dreams came true...on a horse carriage ride!

The next Kate? Yes, we watched more Royal Wedding when we got home.

Yes, Maddie you were there! xoxo. Yes, Mommy was wearing a crown! ;)

As K would say, "Watch my dance moves."

She is so awesome...trying to dance like the big kids.