Sunday Drive....

I'm not sure there is anything better than the sweet sound of a baby or child laughing. Some days, I find myself going back and watching old videos on the blog of the girls when the were little, laughing out loud, like this one. You just want to bottle it and bring it out on one of those really rotten, no good days. Their laughs have changed and they've become giggly little girls. This videos is one of my favorites as it captures their personalities and their laughs! Enjoy...

Let's go fly a kite

We continue to try and reward good behavior and avoid going completely ballistic over the tantrums and bad behavior that occasionally seem to be taking over around here. So, this week, the girls reached their 10 stars on the reward chart-so they were rewarded with a special adventure with dad. Typically, we try and do these separately, but they opted to do it together. I worked late, Daddy picked up from pre-school, packed dinner up and headed to the park. They flew a kite, played at the new park and went for frozen yogurt with unlimited toppings. A perfect 3 year old day!

I began the chart over again this morning, and was asking them what this next reward could be. My little manipulator Lilly, quickly suggested....Disney World?

Summer To-Do's

1. Princess Camp (check)

2. Swim Lessons (in progress)

3. Vacation Bible School

4. Father's Day at the lakehouse (check)

5. Back-to-Nature Camp at the YMCA

6. Trip to Pennsylvania

7. Trip to Chicago

8. Trip to Hilton Head

We are busy! The girls are LOVING summer. They were a bit disappointed waking up and NOT putting on a princess dress this morning. We had a rainy day but made the best of it with friends. Here are some pictures of the Princess Camp Graduation Performance last week:

Tinkerbell and her Tambourine

I'm hoping the dance instructor gets a kick-back from Disney for the early brainwashing that went on....

Addy on the Red Carpet

Lilly & Ms. Kelley

Dancing Queens

Strawberry Fields Forever

It has been two years since we ventured to the local farm for some good-old-fashioned strawberry picking. We missed the season last year, so I paid more attention this year and the girls had a blast. We packed a lunch, met up with some friends and ate more than I care to admit. It was a scorcher, so hats, shades, sunscreen were all essential, but the effort paid off with enough strawberries to share and a great afternoon nap!

Ready & willing, before they realized they were the ones picking!

Lilly, always giving orders and frustrated that Addy isn't listening...

Addy--consumed more than she picked

Lilly--pretty proud of the loot!

Good call on the white shirt mom...

Every adventure is better with friends!

No Judgement Here...

I love the 3-year old world the girls live in, they are soaking in life to the fullest and have absolutely no judgement of anyone. I took them to the pool on Sunday, another girl was having her family birthday party. Within minutes of the girl and her family arriving, A & L were her best friends. They shared their kick-boards and beach ball, she shared her barbie. They didn't hesitate to introduce themselves and get to the fun stuff. I watched from the sidelines and decided adults could learn a few things from them. I still clam up occasionally in a room full of folks I don't know.

Their view of people different than them is another lesson we could all learn from. When we were downtown a few weeks ago, two men holding hands were walking their dog in front of us on the sidewalk. A & L asked a ton of questions...about the dog. They think wheelchairs are the coolest thing they've ever seen. I loathed my freckles growing up and now Lilly celebrates hers, each night looking for a 'new' one to show off.

They don't hesitate to pick their nose in public, forget to cross their legs when wearing a dress, they eat with their fingers and they pick out mix-match socks (and sometimes shoes for that matter). So, I shouldn't have been surprised when yesterday they wanted to wear their princess dresses while riding their bikes.

We could all us an afternoon as a bike-riding princess, right?

IND-->ATL

Confession Time....my girls will be 4 in less than 3 months and we don't travel with them. They are spoiled beyond belief, but typically spoiled in the state. We have access to a beautiful lakehouse in northern Indiana and we've done a couple long car trips, but all less than 5 hours in their lifetime. The trips we've taken we've opted to do as a couple, leaving them at home basking in the glory of being the only grandkids on both sides of our family.

So, when we caught wind that Jeremy's good friend was getting married in Atlanta and knowing my high-school girlfriend relocated her family there last year AND we have wonderful family friends in that area, we decided the Memorial Day Weekend trip was in order. We planned to drive as a foursome, but my parents wanted to join in the fun to see our close friends, so Grandpa's frequent flyer miles were cashed in for Addy & Lilly's first flight! I thought it was important to have our car/car-seats and not pay out the a@# to fly with golf clubs and all our 'stuff', so we drove in the peace & quiet while the girls hit the sky! We were given strict instructions by Lilly, to make sure we "followed the big plane, not the little plane down to Atlanta." So that is what we did!

Once there, we hit great playgrounds, pools, the American Girl Place & the Georgia Aquarium. It was fun and a trip we will certainly do again. Thanks to Grandma & Grandpa Sadler for your help--the trip wouldn't have been possible without you!

Addy, waiting for her ride to the airport, she'd been packed for days!

The sting-ray exhibit at the aquarium--they loved it!


The girls and little Dakota Rose--showing this girl what power-shopping is!


A & L and their dolls waiting for their lunch at the bistro-I'd spoken to a lot of skeptics about this place, but it is marketing genius and the girls were in awe!

Lilly, came round the table to thank her mama for bringing her!