All the single ladies...

As of right now we don't really listen to secular music with the girls. I'm trying to find a balance of what is too much for their little ears and what is ok. Sometimes I feel like I"m being over protective and sometimes I feel like I'm doing the right thing. I personally won't let them listen to people like Lady Gaga. I just think the message being sent is too much for them-especially girls. And right now they don't know the difference. Some people have told me that they're too little to understand it and I know that but I also just want to set us in the right direction. I don't want the girls listening to music that suggest sex or longing for boys. Yuck!


Well yesterday I needed a break-the girls wanted to watch a movie. We were looking on the on-demand button on the tv. They saw Alvin and the Chipmunks and I reluctantly said yes. No one sat and watched the movie with her because Aaron and I were cooking and cleaning. But she sat still and watched the ENTIRE movie. After it was over she moved a kitchen chair in the center of the kitchen. She got up in the chair and moved her little hips and body in ways I didn't know was possible ...all while humming the tune to All the Single Ladies.

It was SO funny! But after watching it ONE time she could hum the tune and remember some of the dance steps. We didn't get bent out of shape or anything but laughed really hard at her. When it was time for dinner she started crying saying she wasn't finished with "her show."

But this just goes to prove that what they watch and hear is SO important even at THREE years old.

I'm just glad she didn't sing the part "if you like it then you should of put a ring on it" LOL

STAYcation

We didn't go on a vacation again this year. It seems there's always a reason. This year we wanted to save some money. But we have had a blast doing things here and there around Houston. Aaron took some time off and we have had a great week. We went to the Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory with Nana and Aunt Amber and the girls. Then we have been shopping, dinners, and Moody Gardens. Here's a few pictures.


Blue Bell was fun! The drive isn't bad from our house and when we got there it was already busy but not too bad. The girls didn't want anything to do with the cute paper hats they give you to wear. They liked seeing how the ice cream was made, although I'm not sure they understood what was going on. At one point Saige started saying "I want my ice cream" rather loud and we got the "keep your kid quiet" look from someone. It bothered Aaron more than me. (I'm use to it!)

Getting all the cousins to look and smile was hard. Mostly it was my little ones they wouldn't look to save their lives. The bigger ones get it by their age. I must of taken 10 of the girls on that bench and got only ONE with everyone looking in the same direction. HA!!

We went to eat at a little diner after. It was really small but the food was good. Here's some pictures...







We also went to Moody Gardens today. We went to the aquarium and the rain forest there. The girls enjoyed seeing the fish, sharks, turtles, penguins, seals and all the rain forest things. They had birds, lizards, and bugs galore. They wanted to run through everything and not really take their time. Reese kept saying "what's next? What's next?" In a way it made me glad we didn't do something bigger at their age. They enjoy doing things but at the same time don't take their time and won't remember a lot of this. But we still had fun!


(Don't they look thrilled here???) haha






Umm...not sure why Reese does this now with her hands in pictures but its like a new pose or something. ??


And then we went to the Rain Forest Cafe. Reese is very uncertain of going in even though she loves animals. First she said she didn't want the animals to come and eat her food. She said she wanted them in cages. :) I assured her they weren't real and that it was just for fun. Aaron took Saige around to see the monkeys and elephants but Reese wanted NO part of that. We were thankful we got a table in a corner away from ALL tree/animal things. After we stuffed ourselves something sick (cake and all) we bought the girls a build a bear animal. They had a special for the clothes and shoes but Reese said she wanted her monkey to stay naked. LOL! We then went on the ride they have and it was SO. MUCH. FUN!!! Reese was scared at first but lighted up and enjoyed it. We all agreed that the ride was our favorite part of our Galveston day trip. (maybe the brownie was mine?)




LOVE Reese's face here. Priceless!

Lately...

We had a great summer so far and it has been pretty low key. We have swam in our fancy pool a bunch. The dogs also love it. The blow up one we had popped so we got a super fun cheapy one like this. We don't have to worry about holes. :) Reese was NOT happy about the dogs being in the water with her so she got out and pouted. Now shes cool with it.






We have gone to the zoo, played with friends, swam at our neighborhood pool. Reese can swim pretty good under water. She is doing way more than I expected her to but she still is a little scared so thats holding her back some. Saige enjoys floaties while we swim. Its been a little rainy here too so we've played outside in the rain a lot, looked for worms, built forts inside and all the fun stuff kids should be doing.

The girls are becoming friends too. I couldn't be happier. They love to run, play, and pretend together. We went to play with some friends at a play place one day and my girls didn't really play with the other kids but had a BALL being together. It was so so sweet! When I found out I was pregnant with another girl I was so excited. Not that I wouldn't want a boy but having a sister has always meant so much to ME and now my girls get to expeirence that sweet joy! I pray that they will remain close throughout their lives like Kara and I have.

Saige and the crayons

See...this is what my child does. She eats crayons. I've basicly given up. I tell her to stop but she continues to eat them. She will sneak off and nibble on one. GROSS!! I can't leave crayons out or she will bite the tips off of each one. Its so so gross. And its just as gross coming out the other end. We had to have her iron tested to make sure she didn't have pica. She doesn't. She just eats them.

Chef Aaron at Claire's Kitchen

Aaron was the chef for a friends birthday party this weekend. There were a lot of little kiddos. (20+?) Aaron did a great job trying to ham it up for the kids. They made pizza's, fruit kabobs, and decorated a cookie. The kids got a little paper chef hat to color and they each had little aprons. The birthday girl got a real chef coat with her name printed on it and a real chef hat.Here's a few shots of Aaron with the birthday girl and Reese. I didn't get any of Aaron or Reese cooking because I was chasing Saige all over. It was a great party though!

New playroom

I finally decorated the playroom some. I still have a ton to do but I finally have a vision. We are doing a princess theme. I decided that we are done having babies-well Aaron and I decided. :) And with that decision I have embraced the color pink. And girls. I love it. I bought some wall stickers and put up a cute saying. Aimee painted the best crown/wand ever!! She went way beyond what I thought we were going to do. I love what she did! I went to hobby lobby and bought some cute princess wall hangings. I'm still trying to decide if I should paint the picture frames pink or leave them black. I am also on the lookout for curtains but haven't had any luck yet.

Here's some of what we've done. There is still more but I think it looks really cute.

Princess Dance Camp

Reese and her little friend Claire went to princess dance camp here in town. They went to the Snow White day and the Ariel Day. They got to play dress up, learn a dance, eat a snack, do a princess themed craft (for Snow White it was caramel apples and for Ariel it was a seashell craft) and preformed their dance for the moms at pick up. We also got a little picture of each day with them wearing dress up clothes.

On the Ariel day Reese's head is cocked to the side BIG time. I giggled at it and asked her why she did that. She said "MOM It is NOT funny! It is beautiful!!"

Here's a few pictures of her dancing (not the best but you get the idea)





And here's a sweet picture of Reese as Snow White on the first day!