Playin' catch-up

Here's just a few of our latest and greatest...

Here's Ryan making some of her funny faces!

Kella being 'bucky beaver'!

We've been spending lots of time drawing and practicing our letters. We were having dinner at a restaurant with white butcher paper covering the tables, so we started 'practicing' our letters, by the end of dinner Kella could write an "E"! We had E's all over the table (perfect addition to the scrapbook!) So, we started practicing other letters. She had a little trouble finding the "middle" of the K, so I put a dot to help her find it, notice how big her dots are!!!

Her letters aren't always in order... but who cares! I'm so proud of her. She really works hard to learn new ones and get her name just perfect! I love that she can sign her own cards now!

Standing tall! Kipp's office manager made the girls this growth chart when Ryan was born... it's a great way to keep track AND if we ever move the board can easily come along!

One of the best things about having a 3 yr. old is finding new pics when I upload them to my computer! Apparently, Kella gets a little camera-happy when momma's not around, but what a great surprise!!! Thanks doll!!! Both pics of Ryan were taking by you-know-who!

So, I picked Kella up some new colored rubber bands since we are now able to squeeze 2 piggy tails out of her hair... this day she wanted "crazy hair" as she puts it!

I told her if she has "crazy hair" she has to make "crazy faces!"

Fun on the Fourth!

This year the weather put some minor kinks in our plans for the fourth. On Saturday, it seemed to be pretty good weather until it was time for the festivities. Heather & Chad drove up to join us in the celebration. Frisco square has an annual festival with "The Taste of Frisco", bounce houses, local artist's and all the sno-cones you can eat! But, by the time we made it to the restaurant for dinner, it literally came a down-pour.... ugh! Luckily, it turned to a mild sprinkle and we decided to stick it out and wait for the fireworks.

After getting the perfect parking spot, we waited....and waited... and waited for the sun to go down. Chad came up with a fun game to "play" while we waited.......watching the bigger puddles of water eat the smaller ones on the sunroof....Kella got the biggest kick out of it.... way to be so creative Chad!!!

Ryan's not too sure what's going on, but happy to be tagging along!

It got a little chilly once the rain stopped and we all kept thinking "I sure hope these fireworks are worth it!"

Shots taken by Kella...

Ryan actually fell asleep during the show. Don't mind the birp rag blocking the noise!

Sunday we headed across the street to our neighbors. For several weeks it has been a construction site while their pool was being built, but it's finally ready, just in time for the 4th!!! Thanks guys!!!

Our friends own AquaTerra Pools and built this paradise for our neighbors! Great design Tal!

Kella was getting a little brave and jumped to our neighbor, Chad.

Making her way to the steps...

High-fives to Kella! Great job!

Here's Ryan with our sitter Hailey. We love that she lives a few houses down AND we love her!!

The gang from Madison Drive! We (heart) our street. This has been such a great place for us. We couldn't ask for better neighbors. Thanks to April & Jim for being such great hosts!

Let's bowl, Let's bowl, Let's rock-n-roll!

Our buddy Camille & her mommy turned us on to this fab website www.kidsbowlfree.com where you search for a participating alley in your area, sign up for free passes and that IT! Every Sunday they email me daily passes for that week, you get two free passes per day per week!!!!! All you have to pay for is shoe rental.... what a great site! On those nasty, rainy days last week we took advantage, paid our $2.50 for shoes and had a great afternoon of bowling with Camille!

Here's Chloe & Ryan cheering the big girls on!

Happy Birthday DAD!

This is one of my favorite pics with my dad. So typical, softball uniform and cigarette!
This is the last birthday I got to spend with my dad, he was turning 59 on July 5, 2005. He would've been 64 today. Miss you Daddy!

8 MONTHS

Ryan Kate is now 8 months old. Just to mark some of her milestones.... she now has 2, very sharp teeth on bottom, is a total rolly-polly and began sitting up without help, which has been huge! She can now, playfully take a bath with Kella without having to sit in her bath "chair". I think Kella is a little more excited about this than we are! This also means our table order at restaurants will be "2 adults, 1 booster & 1 high-chair"...... wooohooo!!!

Crawling should be coming soon. She's now getting up on all fours, rocking back and forth and pushing herself forward with her feet. A few things she will pull up on, toy baskets and the couch, so I lowered her crib just to be safe.

This expression is, pretty much a constant for her. Sucking on her top lip... I was so thankful to at least get an amateur pic of it!

She's such a joy! One of the biggest differences, for me, between the first and second child is how much I savor each day. I remember with Kella I loved what each new day brought, but I also looked forward to the future. How fun it was going to be when she could do this. and that. and going here and there without such preparation. Now, knowing what's in store, I feel like I could take care of a baby forever. I love having a baby in the house. I love that she gets so excited when I go to get her from her crib in the mornings. I love that she is so chubby and squishy with a face I would love to eat! I love that she is discovering her voice with her squeals. I love her intrigue with Kella, that she knows that she is loved, not only by her parents, but this other girl who will forever be her SISTER! I do look forward to her future, but for now I am satisfied with the anticipation of what we will do together when she wakes from this nap!

Kella on Ice!

Looks like we found a hobby she likes, for now! First, she tested the waters with mom (see earlier post) which couldn't have gone smoother. So, we had our first lesson with someone a little more legit than mom. I was a little curious to see how she would handle not having someone to cling to, but she did great! I did my best to hide, so she wouldn't be tempted to come off the ice once she got frustrated or nervous, but I did manage to capture a few shots.

Here she's practically begging for her to hold her hands! Her teacher was awesome! Gave great encouragement and didn't grab her the second she asked for it, which I appreciated. I want Kella to know that not everything comes easily, and hard work definitely pays off. When we watch the more advanced classes, by advanced I mean the 7-10 yr olds who are learning to skate backwards, and Kella would notice how fast they could skate. What a great chance to teach her that they, too, started out in the same class as her and they all worked really hard to learn to skate like that. When I told her this she turned wide eyed and said, "they were in my class? Just like me?" "Yep! And if you work really hard, you'll be able to skate just like them and go so fast!"

Learning to march!

How does she motivate my little one to be so brave.... STICKERS!!!!