Lydia Loves Ladybugs

No really she does.  When they were everywhere in the fall she collected hundreds of the dead and alive and kept them in a little treasure chest.  She always want to buy stickers, clothes, toys, etc with ladybugs on it.  She even chose to have a ladybug room!  I was able to get everything for the room (from paint, to border, to bedding, to the giant ladybug pillow) for less than $100!  I love gloat with my bargain shopping skills!  Check out her super cute new bedroom, only a few more finishing touches to make like the lampshade, curtain tiebacks, bed frame, and drawer knobs.  Oh and thanks to Granny and Sandy for watching the girls while my mom and I painted (Thanks to mom too :))!

Proud of my "weird" kids

St. Charles has some great programs at the library for their summer reading program.  The kids loved this one with a Ventriloquist.  I thought the show was just ok.  First thing I didn't like was that they had one of the puppets put a bag over his head.  YIKES!  An audience full of preschoolers and early elementary may not be the best for that move.  Then he kept having kids sing the theme songs to TV shows my kids did not know like Sponge Bob Square Pants.  Mine were the only ones not singing, and I have to admit I am proud of that!  The puppets also kept arguing with the ventriloquist and flirting with the parents and the older kids there (middle school age).  Um, weird.... 

That being said, the kids thought it was funny and tried to talk like him for the rest of the day.  Cecelia could be understood, but Lydia just puffed out her cheeks and sounded like she was humming.  It was cute for about the first 30 minutes them a "your lips have to move when you talk" rule had to be put in place!

Bella Ballerinas

My girls are beautiful.  I know I am their mom, but they are.  Don't even try to argue with me!  I love that they are innocent and carefree.  SOOO many girls in dance were worried about performing.  Their parents were WAY too freaked out too.  I mean really people these are 4 and 6 year olds.  Believe it or not college scholarships are NOT riding on this performance!  My girls were not the best dancers out there, but they were some of the least stressed out and that made the performance worth it.  They were thrilled to curl hair, wear a cute costume and get flowers, a necklace. and a trophy!  Now they are excited to move on to the next new and fun thing.

 Getting ready!

Not worried on little bit!

Yeah the curls actually stayed (kind of)!

2 weddings and a birthday party

So the day is pretty self explanatory.  The girls got to jump and get energy out at Titus' birthday party.   Then they got to rest at Tony and Katie's wedding.  We took naps and then went to my cousin Rachel and Seth's reception (they eloped).  Bob and I even got a few swing dances in at the reception.  It was a very exciting day for 3 little girls!  I don't think that this will help me talk Cecelia out of marrying Will though!  Weddings and receptions are too much fun!

Tony and Katie

When we got to Rachel and Seth's reception Cecelia was confused.  We don't see my dad's side of the family as much as my mom's side.  She scouted the room and a look of pure excitement came over her face when she finally recognized someone she knew,  Great Grandma Corbett!  It made me proud that we have actually gone on many occasions to see grandma.   Even if she doesn't remember it, we sure do and my girls are better off because of it!  Here is a pic of the Hines' with Great Grandma Corbett.

Rachel SO DID NOT want to cut the cake of do a first dance or any of the cheesy things you do at weddings, but the masses won and she humored us all so we could get a few pics.  Isn't her dress AMAZING!!!  I always love Rachel's style and lifestyle for that matter.  She and Seth always take in the pleasures of life around them and it makes me smile!

Confusion

Today we were supposed to meet friends from Campbell at a park near St. Peter's Rec Plex.  I had no idea though that there are 3 or more entrances to the park.  We ended up at a pond with a waterfall.  Everybody else was at the playground.  It was a ton of fun, even if we did not get to meet up with friends. The girls loved climbing on the waterfall and playing in the water.  Sylvia enjoyed the carrots.  I am actually surprised she didn't turn orange after eating so many!

Cecelia is growing up

For graduation Cecelia asked if she could get her ears pierced.  I wanted to do it when she was a baby, but Bob vetoed that idea.  I didn't give him a chance to veto again and took her while he was gone for the day.  She chose pretty pink flower earrings, didn't shed a tear, and is oh so proud to be grown up enough for earrings.

 Before

During

After

Taking Grandma to the Zoo

Grandma Becker hasn't been to the zoo in years so we decided today to make a fun day in the city.  The temps were not supposed to be too bad and the rain seemed to hold off.  We went to buy tickets to Circus Flora, went to the zoo, and then stopped by the Muny to get tickets to Beauty and the Beast.  The zoo was fun until the sea lion show when Sylvia turned into an animal herself and caused a few more hairs to become grey.  You can see her ornery self in the pic below.

This is a fountain that has been there since I was a kid!

Lydia finally rode an animal, granted it did not move up and down, but it is a step past the bench she usually chooses! Do you see the slight look of reservation in her smile?

The animals were really active.