Yoohoo

Yoohoo.  Yes, I am still here.  It's just life.  It's busy and when priorities are made - showing up here is last on the list.  I have little hands tugging me to watch them hula hoop, complete one-handed cart wheels, roller blade, ride bikes...I think you get the idea.

So here are a few snapshots of what we have been up to.

These are some pictures from the first day of school.  Vaughan was so excited to go to school with Latham.  She drops her off at her class every morning and makes sure she is off to a good start.



This was Ellery's first day of school (a few weeks earlier).



We celebrated birthdays...three of them in October alone.








We went to a pumpkin patch



and celebrated Halloween!


Vaughan as Pocahontas, Gagi as a witch with a wig, Ellery as Laura Ingalls, and Latham as....herself.  That sweet girl wanted to be a horse, a cow, cookie monster, a ballerina but in the end - she went as herself.



Oh and Gracie -- as Little Red Riding Hood.

My time is up...I'm off to enjoy the weekend (hope you are doing the same).

And she's two

For months now Latham has been two - well, at least according to her. But today, this day, July 12, 2012 my little baby really is TWO!

Remember this day? http://fredoniafalldown.blogspot.com/2010/07/its-girl.html

She is the current clown of the family - always vying for a laugh. She is also very nurturing - furrowed brow at the sound of any cry. And she is a super smoocher - which might be cause for concern in 15 years. And she clearly likes chocolate donuts - documented quite nicely here.

Happy happy happy birthday!

Fourth of July

Party at the beach.
Fun in the sand with friends.
Dancing, dancing, dancing.

Happy Mother's Day

For a little inspiration on this very, very special day....take a look at this video.

About those eggs

The Easter Egg Hunt that we go to is serious business.  The children are grouped by age and then let lose in the long grass to search for eggs....all hoping to find the golden egg.



It took Latham a while, but eventually she understood the concept of the Easter Egg hunt.  Like the other girls, at first she would find an egg, squat down, open it up and gobble up the goodies inside.  She liked this little game and was especially fond of the candy.



This guy makes an appearance every year.  Those eyebrows are freaky, right?  Vaughan looks skeptical.



The girls would not stand still long enough for a photo.  I'll take what I can get and on this day - this was the best they had to offer.



And last but not least - Vaughan was busted eating her chocolate Easter Bunny!  She looks ever so guilty but darn it that bunny was good.

The Recital Reveal

The big girls have their recital in May and costumes have arrived. These are NOT their costumes - just their warm up gear.

Each year the girls anxiously wait to see what their costumes will look like. This is, after all, the whole reason they dance....for the costumes, of course!

Ellery promptly tried hers on for all to see. By the way, check out Latham's sneaky smile in the background.

Hand on hip, ready to go.

Turks and Caicos

The first week of March, we packed our bags and bathing suits and made our way down to the Caribbean. The excuse had something to do with celebrating birthdays but the experience was really all about spending time together with family.

Latham's feet hadn't touched the beach since she was just a one year old last summer. Initially she was a little skeptical but quickly realized the bounty of fun to be had in the sand.

The house we rented was footsteps from the most beautiful beach. The sand was white, white, white and the water was the lightest blue. Best of all, there were no waves and the girls could walk out at least 50 feet with the water only reaching their waists.

In case you were wondering, Ken and his ladies travel with us. No telling what nonsense they would get into if we left them unattended at home.

The girls spent equal time making cookies out of sand, building castles for their barbies, making new friends with our neighbors and swimming in the ocean and pool.

I sure hope Ken put on some suncreen!

These girls hung tight all week long.

If I could only jump into pictures....