Tidbits from August

Clara's first day of second grade. Jason doesn't have to go into work super early to work, so he's been taking  her up to the bus stop everyday. So wonderful!

We borrowed these costumes from my sister. Savannah and Caroline especially love them, and Clara was a good sport about trying it on. Savannah has a little stuffed Pooh Bear that she has recently named "Pooby" that Caroline is always trying to get her hands on. Savannah gave Caroline her big "Oklahoma Pooh Bear"---but the little one is always the coveted bear.

 Caroline is forever climbing on this stool and goes right for the toothbrushes. What a stinker.

 
Clara was so happy that she could lure Caroline onto her lap with chocolate ice cream.

This is the castle for Queen Savannah.The big stack of pillows is the ammunition for the "Catapulter" to catapult to any thieves that come to steal from the Queen.

Tidbits of June/July

Here's what we've been up to lately.

In June we visited my parents; a few years ago my dad bought these green play guns that make noise and light up when you shoot them, and Savannah got the biggest kick out of them. She would place her feet, put up her gun and let out a loud, blood curdling Rebel-yell. It was hilarious. I have a video of it, but it wouldn't load.

 We did the summer reading program and got did lots of reading. Savannah has started reading a little of the Dick and Jane books.

Sometimes Caroline will grab a spare roll of toilet paper and carry it out the house, clutched to her chest. It doesn't always stay rolled up.

Savannah likes to raid my closet and have us present her at fashion shows.

One afternoon we were describing the Olympics to the girls: the events, medal ceremonies, national anthems, etc. So we spontaneously had our own Olympics. We did a few little events, made our flags and chose our national anthems. Clara's was "Footloose," Savannah's was "Yellow Submarine," Jason's was "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." I never won first place, so I don't think I even picked a song. We all had to sing the song of the winning person. It was pretty funny.

Family pictures

A few weeks ago, a friend took some pictures of us at the local botanical gardens. We had never been there in the summer, and it was so pretty. Caroline wasn't at her happiest, but it was fun. We didn't get any of the three girls, but I want to go back and take some of them together, and some more of Savannah.

 Caroline and Clara are watching the dog down the path. Caroline's highlight was seeing the dog.

May

Savannah's been learning about space in preschool, and she made this adorable little astronaut. She's started hanging up her drawings on her bedroom wall, just like Clara.

Caroline just gets into everything. Here she's sitting in the dress up box with her favorite bracelet, halfway under Clara's bed. Just chillin'.

Clara turned 7 at the beginning of the month. Seven! Jason worked late on her birthday, so we had a few days of celebration. She had some friends over and they played outside, painted flower pots and planted sunflowers. I think Caroline is the cutest present, though.

Clara got "Frozen" for her birthday, and they were both just ecstatic. I love Savannah's face in the background.

The weather has finally warmed up, and we've been playing in the water table. We hadn't gotten Clara a new bathing suit, so Savannah enjoyed getting Clara getting wet in her clothes.

My baby is one!

My mom gave us this little bib that my sisters and I used when we were little. I think its so darling.

 

She's the only one of our girls to really get dirty with her birthday treat. It was fun to watch. Clara and Savannah wanted to make banana muffins and put a cream cheese topping on it. I think she likes it!

Savannah gave Caroline some of our baby dolls, which Caroline just adored. She puts it to her chest, hugs it and pats its on the back. It's so sweet.

Washington DC

Jason did an anesthesia rotation in March, which meant going to work early and coming home around 10am. Nice! We took advantage of his wonderful schedule to go to the temple and take the girls to the National Mall. The temple was so beautiful!

I haven't been to the Mall in so long, and I've forgotten how far apart the monuments are! The girls were most excited about the carousel by the Smithsonian museums.

My dad was a Marine, so the girls are familiar with the USMC emblem. Clara learned about the Marines in school and surprised us at dinner once by saying out of the blue, "Semper fidelus!" Her grandpa would be proud!(I couldn't get the picture in the center..?)

It took us a long time to find West Virginia.

It's surprisingly hard to get a picture of all 5 of us together!

It started out kind of chilly but turned out to be a pretty warm day. Here are the girls at the WWII memorial. Clara, the wonderful big sister, is rolling up Savannah's pants. We got ice cream after this, which was probably their second favorite thing.

This cutie just rode along in her stroller and on her daddy's shoulders like she had nothing else to do. She's so happy, as long as she's with her mama or daddy.