Weekly Round-Up

It's that time again to round up our week. It was a good one filled with healthier girls, lots of park play, and time spent together as a family. We hope you enjoyed yours just as much as we did ours!!

The Cloth Booty

I've often thought about switching from plastic store bought diapers to cute patterned
cloth diapers, but it always seemed a bit too intimidating, and a bit too much work. Boy,
was I mistaken. I am very grateful to one of my awesome mommy friends who
explained to me how cloth diapering works, and then graciously allowed me to borrow
many of the diapers in her personal collection. You see...buying or making cloth diapers
becomes an obsession. Not only is cloth diapering fun because I am making my own for
my little koala bear, but its less expensive, better for the environment, and totally easy!

Plus..theres no denying that this little cloth booty is the cutest thing around!

The Park

I've been soaking up the girls lately. It's not that I don't always try to soak them
up, but it just feels like time is flying by way to fast. They are growing taller, smarter,
and more beautiful too quickly right before my eyes and as much as I love seeing them
blossom, I also tear up thinking about how fast it's all happening. So, I've been trying
to sit back and watch them more, instead of trying to micro-manage their existence.

I've let them stand on benches even though my heart beats crazily out of my chest.


I've caught glimpses of them just thinking, pondering, wondering.


I've allowed them to explore and learn more freely without me right by their sides.


I've indulged them with playing pretend and making them feel like it was real.


I've stood back at a distance and watched them grow more independent.



And, I've noticed my heart smiling more and more as I've watched these two sisters
become truly inseparable and loving best friends.

Popsicle, Sherbet and Swing

Today was another one of those warm and sunny SoCal winter days. After nap/quiet
time the girls and I took a long leisurely walk soaking up the heat while feeling the cool
breeze blow our loose hairs against our cheeks. It was quiet, peaceful, absolutely wonderful.




When we returned home they requested ice cream & Popsicles. So, of course I
obliged and sat back watching them indulge in their sweet snacks swinging together.







It's not often that they sit, just the two of them, side by side soaking up each others
company. Usually there is some hair pulling, toy taking, or running off.







But, today they made my heart melt once again as I watched my girls simply sitting
and enjoying being sisters. As I closed my eyes for one second, I imagined them
grown, old, doing the same thing and at that very moment my heart smiled!

Table Sitting with Little Miss Evil Knievel Jr.

Presley is a rebel, a true dare-devil who tries to defy odds, boundaries, and rules.
And...she is only one years old.








Her newest trick, if that's what you want to call it, is climbing tables. Believe me,
I don't think it's safe, I'm not happy she does it, but I am still compeled to take her
picture while she is a top because it's an accomplishment right?








At least this Little Miss Evil Knievel Jr. thinks it is!

Around and Around She Goes

I've been taking the girls to a different park lately in order to switch things up, or
maybe it's just because we were in the area. Regardless, new parks offer new excitement.

Like always, Giulietta is quick to find the new excitement. She's not my dare-devil
by any means, in fact we basically have to beg her to go on rides at amusement parks.
However, when it comes to the equipment at parks she is all over it, never second
guessing herself. At this park they have a seat that appears to be tilted at just the right
angle so that when you sit on it, it spins and spins and spins.

You cannot keep Giulietta off of this thing. She squeals with laughter and delight
while she is on it, flies off fast and hard like a bull rider on its beast, and then walks
around like a drunkin' sailor who can't quite keep her balance. Who knew something
so simple, could be so enjoyable!

Weekly Round-Up

I try to carry my big ole' camera everywhere we go that way I don't ever miss
a shot of these growing girls. However, it just doesn't happens and it's okay
because I always have my phone with me. Most of the time I take these shots
and try to sneak a minute to upload them to Facebook, but it doesn't alway happen.
So, my next thought is to put them in a collage at the end of the week to post, but
I have never gotten around to that either.

This week, all that changed when Marce introduced me to Instagram. As you
can see from below, I went just a little Instagram happy! The App is quick, easy,
painless, and fun. I even found time to make a collage of our week and I plan to
make this a weekly habit! Hope you enjoy!

Put a little Sea in your World

Today was our last day using our passes to Sea World, which we've had for two years! We've come a few times, but today the magic of the sea was more present then ever through the eyes of my girls!

Fish and Friends

The Aquarium of the Pacific is a place that I can take the girls over and over
again and it never seems to loose its "cool" factor. They are so excited to
walk from tank to tank oohing and ahhing over the magical movements of the
underwater animals, and once outside they brave up the courage to try and touch
them. We are very thankful that Fafa Rick bought us this membership, because we
certainly have enjoyed it thoroughly this past year.

On this visit to the Aquarium, Giulietta was in good company with her new bestie
Abbie, and her old bestie Charlie, as well as her tag-a-long sister! The kids looked,
touched, climbed, chased, and watched.

This girl

Giulietta amazes me daily.
She's beautiful, compassionate, and intelligent.

Last night when I inquired about a self-portrait she painted at school she informed me that she made her head shaped like an oval, her eyes like circles, her nose like a triangle & her mouth like a half moon.

I was soooo impressed and thankful for what she is soaking up from school, home, and our everyday outings.

Boy, am I counting down the days until I get to feast my eyes on her masterpiece.

79 degrees in winter

When it's 79 degrees on a Winter day, us girls think it's the perfect time to enjoy a little Yogurtland!

Cheerios

This morning at breakfast Pella was getting a little bit restless! So, I decided to throw some Cheerios at her in order to help her pass the time!

I know exactly what you're thinking! "Katie would be pissed if anyone else was teaching her kids how to throw food!" And, you're right, i would be! But...I'm the Momma, Presley's giggles were ridiculously cute, and I managed to get a Cheerio to stick to her head!

Her first high speed ride

Presley has been going to theme parks since before she was born. She's been on the train more times then I can count, jumped in the inflatable bouncer with kids three or four times her size, and enjoyed the sounds, colors and movement of the easy going rides at Disneyland.

I figured with her 14 month birthday quickly approaching, it was about time she went on her first high speed ride. So, while at Knott's on Sunday we gave it try. Presley stood in line patiently with her older sister, walked up to her little race car and climbed in with me to follow, and looked nervously around once our seal belts were fastened. Once the ride started her face was beaming with a huge smile, and her giggles were uncontrollable. I think the Peanut's Race Cars at Knott's are going to be a must ride with both the girls from now on.

S is for...

Sweet.....Sincere.....Smart.....Sophisticated.....Special.....Sassy.....Spry.....Strong




Giulietta Elizabeth.....February 2012.....3 years & 4 months.....Cottonwood Park

You Are My Sunshine

Sassy...Chic...Sweet
Presley Ella...13 Months

Boot Madness

I have only owned one pair of boots in my life. And, they were bought for a 2 hour girl scout father/daughter hoe-down dance, but mainly used to give me added inches so that my dad could take me on rides at Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland. I'm not sure how often I wore them, or if I even liked them, but I do remember I had them.

My daughters on the other hand, have owned boots from the moment they were born thanks to their sweet Nana Kim. Now, it seems that we have boots in every single size, texture, style, and almost every color.

The girls wear them...The girls love them...The girls look adorable in them!