Wordless Wednesday: Because all swim suits should be ironed,right?

Cookies? What cookies?

CJ came down the other night from putting Kyla to bed and found Keifer at the table with a box of nilla wafers! She is resourceful!

Future ballerina?

This summer, I signed up K1 for 3 summer sessions at a nearby dance school. Because our girl loves to shake her bootie and twirl away like there's no tomorrow, I figured she might like it. I was right! She adores it and especially adores the outfit *eye roll*. We are contemplating signing her up for future classes more regularly (in the Fall), so for now, we'll continue with our baby ballroom classes (that now Kyla has joined and is soooo excited about), and think about the dance school as well. I don't want to over schedule our girl, but at the same time, this is the girl that each time I pick her up at Elaine's, she begs me to do something other than go home! She is a mover and a shaker!

Figuring out the ballet shoes
The first week,she refused (adamantly) to have me take pictures of her!

NO PICTURES, MOM!

learning to jump with arms out

doing some stretches

Just like YOU, Sisssssss

The time is here. Kyla is in full-on love mode with her big sister. The minute she hears Keifer's voice or sees her upon waking or when she (K1) re-enters a room, Kyla lights up like a tree at Christmas, and starts crawling as fast as she can to greet Keifer. If she happens to be in her crib, getting changed in the AM, when Keifer says hello to her, Kyla says back, "hi, Sisssssssssssssssssss". It is the sweetest thing. Of course, we're really the only ones that probably understand the "Sis" part, as it sounds like a snake hissing. But- we know it's meaning :)
Keifer has proven to be an excellent and caring and HELPFUL big sister from the get go. Yes, Kyla is getting into her things more frequently as she becomes more mobile, but we keep reminding her she has to TEACH Kyla to stay away or that Kyla just loves her SO much, she wants to do everything just like K1 does! This seems to help (for now) and so far,Keifer is a huge help in trying to comfort and entertain Kyla.

Yesterday, Keifer was "writing" notes for a neighbor girl, so Kyla wanted to write just like her!

"Whatcha doing, Sis?"

Peek
Attempting to scribble with this colored stick just like K1

Keifer helping Kyla with her morning bottle upon waking. She always wants to try and hold Kyla on the couch, but Kyla wants nothing to do with that- and lets us all know that!

Sissies playing together- sooooo sweet!

"Here, Kyla, you can have that one" ~ and the sweetest thing is, that Kyla has been sharing everything she has (toys, food, bottles) with us at every chance she gets. She thinks it hilarious when we take things from her, say "thank you", and hand it back to her.

check out Kyla trying her hardest to figure out HOW THE HECK to put on K1's sandal yesterday

Mama's gifts

This year for Mother's Day, I had the chance to pick out my very own gift. I'm not one for wearing much jewelry- it's actually a job hazard (as I work with small children, and lots of grabby hands and physical activity can be dangerous!). However, although I have some gorgeous necklaces already, I was yearning for a more personalized necklace that was unique, had my girls' names on it, and could be something that was simple, yet could be dressy if it needed to be.

Someone I know had mentioned Lisa Leonard Designs to me before, and I had admired her work in a Parent magazine as well.

I searched and searched, did online voting, friend voting, and co-worker voting. In my heart, I thought I knew which one was THE ONE I wanted, and my co-worker Leanne sealed the deal for me. She and I seem to see things on the same level and I made the decision and had CJ order it up for me!

This is the necklace I ordered, with Keifer & Kyla's names on it. It is simple and beautiful. I have loved it since I opened it, and Keifer absolutely adores when I wear it. She likes to read the names to me, and spell out the letters. Kyla has also expressed great interest in trying to pull it off my neck! HA!

**Disclaimer: I received no compensation or free products for mentioning these products. **

Sippy cups

Kyla is learning the ins and outs of using a sippy cup. We've been practicing on a variety of different ones. Girl needs to learn how to close her mouth once she sips! LOL.

On this particular night, she also learned the joys of ravioli on her OWN! Oh, how this girl loves to try and use her fork and spoon - so hard she tries! She sees so much going on and is trying to imitate SO much!

Wordless Wednesday: Wet fun with cousins

Sorry for being MIA

As always, excuses excuses excuses. But - they are valid! Since having Kyla, life around here is non-stop- we're always playing, walking the dogs around the loop, eating, cleaning, changing diapers, going to some sort of lesson, hanging out, winding down or working/at Elaine's house. I had my last day of work last Monday (the 14th) so now I'm free as a bird this summer to play, play, play! We decided to keep the girls at Elaine's house for 2 days each week: one, because they love it there and the social interaction as well as the learning is amazing, and two, well, Mama is selfish and wanted some time to be able to work out, do errands, and maybe try to actually CLEAN this pit of a house. It's true that I USED to be quite nit picky about my clean house; these days, I'm happy if the bed is made and our dishes are even IN the dishwasher. I cannot stand how cluttered and yes, dusty/dirty our house becomes, but there will be time for that LATER, right?

For now, I'm off to try and put a VERY cranky girl (3 year old) to bed after she had the time of her life today at her cousins' house, jumping on the Slip 'N Slide and splashing in the kiddie pool. No, CRANKY doesn't do her mood justice, it's down right annoying! AHHHH!

We have a few play dates set up and had one this past Friday, so many more picture to eventually come.....when the time is available!

It's the "Swagger Wagon", BABY!

HOLY SHITE!
We are pulling the trigger TONIGHT!

I just talked to CJ- we are getting a swagger wagon! HOLY CATS!
My nerves /adrenaline are through the roof!
I LOVE IT!

I have turned into THAT MOM- the mini-van mom. A 2011 Toyota Sienna. South Pacific Blue. DVD players/wireless headphones, back up camera, electric doors and gate. Leather seats/heated. Blue tooth automatically for my phone. UNFRICKINBELIEVABLE. *gasping in shock*

Goo Goo, Ga Ga

Rah rah , ah ah aha. Roma, ro-mama. Bad Romance.

Lady Gaga. Everyone is talking about her. What, you're not? I can't go a day without hearing her on the radio or seeing something in the Hot Gossip section of web sites.

Last week, my fave show Glee did a cover of her song Bad Romance. Keifer happened to come down into the basement to say goodnight to me just as I was watching the performance. Yeah, needless to say, me and K1 watched that performance 3 times before she went to bed. "Again, mama, again!" she kept saying. For the next few days, she went around humming "rah rah rah" under her breath. So did I. And I must say, I liked the way they had Rachel and her mother, Shelby, perform Poker Face. It made me understand the lyrics (for once) and actually felt a little verklempt over the whole mother/daughter relationship storyline on the show!

My SIL Jilly and I are going to see her in concert in August - she added a second show and I got us tix for the second night. I cannot wait- I just know it's going to quite a memorable concert!

This morning, Keifer heard something on the radio about the concert,and she asked me, "Mama, what's her name? Goo goo, gaga??". Seriously. "Goo goo Ga Ga".

Sea dragons: oh me, oh my!

Sunday, on this past glorious 3 day weekend, CJ and I decided to take the girls on a quick trip the the MN Zoo. We have a membership, so going for an hour at at time is easy thing to do- its quick, we won't get over tired, we usually go a bit later so the crowds are leaving, and we get to go as many times as we want to!

Apparently, this January, the zoo added a new Sea Dragon exhibit. Can I just say OMG!??? It was AMAZING! I've never seen anything like the sea dragons they had on display- of course, Keifer couldn't have cared less. Kyla did show some interest, and especially in the fish in the nearby tank, but mama was obsessed with watching these miraculous sea creatures float around their gigantic tank. Unbelievable. If you've never seen, I hope you can soon!