Happy Father’s Day!

Since we get up and go to an 8:30 service (that’s 30 minutes away) each Sunday, our morning Father’s Day celebrating was a bit rushed, but fun nonetheless. We celebrated Classic Style... wake Daddy up in the bed with his gifts! Classic Style also includes breakfast in bed but we opted to eat at the table since no one wants syrup from 20 sticky fingers on their bedding. The girls and I snuck around and got Dan a bike jersey from a local cycling shop. But they were the most excited about giving him some twizzler mini’s they picked out for him at Target - and eating them for him, of course. Ellie and Julia gave him special cards they picked out (each with an animal on it).

Donald Miller spoke at our church that day and delivered a fabulous message. Honestly, it was incredible. Dan bought his newest book and is looking forward to reading it. Update: since this summer he has just about finished it.

We went to lunch, I think. And there were naps involved. All in all, it was a nice and relaxing day.
Doesn’t Ellie look just like Dan??

Silly Girls

Girls will be girls. Especially two mischievous little sisters! This is a hodge podge of silliness.

Dressing up

The ONLY picture I could get of Julia's nails that were painted for the first time.

J just hanging out on our bed. Looking small.

Julia wouldn't nap this particular day and wound up disrupting Dan's studying.

Playing with new horses!

Camping out on the kitchen floor.

May I take your order?

Ellie: I would like a veggie burger with cilantro, pepsi coke with a little milk on it.
Julia: Honey, salt, ham

Ellie's Family BDay

I wanted to post this picture because it captures big sisterly love. Here is Ellie, on her birthday morning (of the party anyway) getting excited for Julia's little present. Backstory: we got Julia a microphone like we got Ellie - that sound like you're in a stadium, cheap and very cool. At the point of this photo, you can see Ellie has already opened hers. I have a very special 4 year old.

They Play Here

And I am dreading the day that Julia gets tall enough to hit her head on some of the mean looking hinges under this table!

Things that make you go...

I'm not sure how it happened, but it did.

The creation of Washcloth Head.

The girls don their wet washcloths and they get a rather contagious and explosive round of the giggles.

A Little Tea

Sometimes I turn my head and see this...

Aww, look!

My two girlies reading bibles together while I wash dishes (and sharing the same stool). You can say it now: Awwwww.

Raising Chololate Lovers

So I made some raw chocolate mousse out of avocados (and maple syrup, soaked dates, vanilla and cocoa powder) . How many of you are thinking "ew, gross" right now? Dan thought so too until he tried it and let me tell you, it's quite yummy. The girls really wanted to try it, so I let 'em. Ellie was quite disappointed, but Julia seemed to enjoy it. Well, about half of it anyway. Not sure I'll waste this stuff on the likes of them again! Now as for dark chocolate... the two of them can tear it up!

How dirty...

... can a little one get while eating pizza? Especially when I forget to put a bib on her? Big sis tends to keep her clothing spic and span (and has been known to be able to wear something for 3 days in a row before getting it dirty). Julia is a very messy eater and manages to get herself quite dirty each time she eats, regardless of what she's eating.

Little Sweethearts

When I look at these pictures I am reminded at how sweet my little girls are. Here's Julia donning a few necklaces she found (one of her favorite things to do is put on a necklace), unloading a baggie of Ellie's silly bands, and crawling over to the window to climb the stool and look down and shout at Levi outside. She adores Ellie and wants to be near her at all times. And Ellie who is so patient with Julia. I tell her all the time what a great big sister she is. She brings Julia her very own toys, sits by and says "oh that's so cute" when Julia hugs her babies, gives lots of hugs and kisses, and honestly loves her little sister. They're not perfect, but they're perfect. Just saying.

Mom will you...

... take a picture of me and Julia drinking?

Go Round

I do my best to rotate out our toys here and there since Ellie seems to tire of them (and I guess what kiddo doesn't?). We got out the little spinning toy a few weeks ago and I was humored by Julia's reaction to it. She was mesmerized by it and wanted to participate in all the fun Ellie seemed to be having. Fortunately, Ellie was just as excited to teach Julia how to use it as Julia was to receive her lesson. They both had a knee-slapping good time. Nowadays, Julia tries to stand up on the base and wonders why it moves and she falls. Good times.