Cheap Fun that Never Fails

I think every child enjoys a good empty box as much as (or more than!) any expensive toy on the market.  My children are no exception!   And I love the way that Keelyn is watching her big sissy - always studying her so she can be just like her!

Our Little Fish

Last summer, Mackenzie was a bit hesitant to learn how to swim.  We had to quit the mommy & me lessons because she was crying, Keelyn was crying, and I wanted to cry!  But by the end of the summer, she was doing so good just by being in the water more.  So, I got smart this year and started swim classes in February.  And they were NOT mommy & me!  I figured by the time summer came around she'd be doing well and enjoy swimming all summer and not just at the end of the summer after she warmed up to it. 

Well, my plan worked!  Her swim coach pushed her (more than she'd have let me push her!).  And this summer she is turning into quite a little fish!  She LOVES the pool!!  Here are some pictures from her swim classes:

Our Tiny Dancer

At the end of the school year, we got to have another parent's day at ballet class.  For this age, they don't do a recital but just practice their dances to show us during parent's day.  It is so fun to see how much they've grown in the half year since their parent's day in December.  This may be our last little dance performance for a little while, she has requested gymnastics for the fall :)  But I hope she comes back to dance again!

Posing before we leave for the "show"

Mackenz & her bud, Mady Kay chatting while waiting their turn.  Reminds me of times I'd get in trouble for talking during gymnastics practice!

Taking it all in while eating a lollipop, probably hoping to get her chance soon!

Mackenz and all her buds showing us how they can tap!

I love this little half smile when she sees us, trying hard not to smile!

Tap dance was to the 'Under the Sea' song :)

Posing with her dance teacher

Aunt Natalie came for the show!

Mackenz & her 3 ballet buddies

Our sweet Keelyn & her Aunt Natalie

Bunnies, Princesses, & Posin'

A while back (because, you know, I'm way behind on here.....) we were outside, 2 out of 3 of us dressed like princesses, and admiring the beautiful flowers growing outside by our side patio, when I spotted a cute little bunny.  We have A LOT of them around here.  And he let me get rather close to him I thought.......  It will be interesting to see whether our love of the cute creatures turns to hate if they eat all of our tomatoes and other fine fruits and veggies from our garden.......

The bunny

The princesses

And one that actually wanted to pose for me!

Summer Time Snackin'

We've been enjoying a favorite summer treat lately - popsicles!  And mommy has enjoyed making them a little bit more healthy by making her own out of real fruit smoothies that have kale blended up and frozen inside - not that she's telling the kids that!  Such a fun way to sneak in some fruit and veggies!

Round #2

Well, it seems baby girl #2 in our house has discovered dressing up.  Good thing I love this stage!  Every day (actually every hour probably!) is a reason in itself to change into something fancy for our big girl, and now little girl is starting to follow suit.  At first, she just started letting me put the dresses on her when big sis said she thought sissy wanted to dress up too.  Now, little sis comes asking me to 'dess'?!?  And when I say yes, she runs off with a smile and goes to pick out a 'dess'.  Sometimes it's an actual dress up dress, but quite often it is anything that her sister wears (often recovered from sissy's hamper!).  And by anything, it could possibly even be her undies!

Here are the two sissies working on some outside art and scooter ridin' in their finest attire! 

Last Trip to the Mountain Property

A couple months ago, we sold our mountain property that we have owned since before kids.  Well, as you can imagine, we haven't exactly used the land much since having kids.  It was a beautiful piece of property on a small river that we had thought we might build on some day, but in the meantime we could go up and swim, camp, etc.  But that just didn't happen much with the kids.  So, we decided to part ways with the land and put the money to use on the property we actually use all the time - our house :)  Since there are so many things we still want to do to the house, it has helped get a few more projects underway. 

But anyways, a few months ago we spent a Saturday up at the mountain property one last time before we sold it.  And it almost made us regret selling it because the girls had a FABULOUS time.  They waded in the water with daddy, and then, our extremely cautious girl just decided she was done with wading and wanted to swim, so she stripped down and did just that!  It was so cute - she was in heaven.  We'll have to find some other land that we can use so she let her outdoor adventure spirit run free from time to time :)