My Little SuperStar

Doesn't it look like the paparazzi took this picture?!

(I will also admit that this outfit is the most "mini-me" that Anna-Kate has ever looked. :)

Something Different

Today, I can admit, I was crabby. I hadn't paid correct attention to the weather. I didn't realize it was going to be scattered showers. I had planned to go to a park with the girls. Insert crabbiness when my park-plans were ruined. I have a mom or two I call when I am hoping for a last minute playdate but I feel bad subjecting them to my icky mood too often. So, I decided I wanted to do something different with the girls.

I am so glad I did! The girls and I had a great morning! We went to Cary Towne Center. I told them we were going to have a special treat: riding the carrousel! They loved it! Then we walked around the mall for a little while before having a packed-lunch in the food court. Isn't it nice when time with our kids is what lifts us out of our bad moods?!

I think of this as Mary-Knowles's "victorian" picture. She looks so sweet and proper on her horse.

I asked Anna-Kate for her "little girl smile" to get this picture. AK l.o.v.e.s riding the horses, but she is serious about it. I have to remind her to smile (and then I have to endure the traumatized cries of AK as you drag her off the carrousel).

Here is a great "then and now" picture of the girls. Back in September we did this same outing. Wow, how much these sweet ones change in 7 months!

We also ate in big girl chairs. It went surprisingly well.

Anna-Kate desparately wants to be able to navigate stairs easily. She is not quite there, but she sure is trying! They loved all the stairs and "hills" or ramps at Cary Towne Center.

Many thanks to my sweet little girls who made me smile when I was the cranky one!

Zoo

Here are the promised zoo pictures! We had such a blast! Guaranteed to become an annual familiy event! AK was way too excited and distracted to smile for the camera.
She asked for "more elephants" all day long! I think they may have been her favorite.

And, how could they not be her favorite?! Look at these so-awesome elephants! (Maybe the zoo will one day let us take a ride on one of those amazing creatures!)

Mom, don't you think these rocks don't get enough credit?! They are so cool! We walked away with AK's hands full of rocks. She threw them down a moment or two later. Then, she said, "more rocks."

That is one excited pointing finger!

With good reason. I love the giraffes too! (props to Will for this nice picture!)

Am I smiling about my sweet little girl who wants to join the polar bear exhibit?

Or, am I smiling because I feel so blessed to have such a great family to spend the day with?!

Quote of the Day

Today we spent at the zoo! Our first trip to the zoo with Anna-Kate! It was So.Much.Fun! Here are my two favorite quotes of the day:

We saw the elephant statues as we drove in. Then the elephants were the first exhibit we saw. Anna-Kate said, "Hold it elephant! Hold it elephant!" Hhhmmm, I don't know if you can hold an elephant AK, but it would be fun to hug one, wouldn't it?!

We were watching the polar bear. Anna-Kate said, "Anna-Kate's turn in water. Anna-Kate's turn." No, sweet pea, we can't get in the water with the polar bears .

I am at my parents house, so pictures to come soon!

One Turtle's Story

Meet Goliath. This was August 2009. Will's dad had found this little turtle at his office. He decided to take him home to show the grandkids and then kept him. Goliath now, April 2011. That little turtle has grown!

It was time. Goliath had outgrown his living arrangements with the Simmons. It was time.

He looks happy!

Phase 3

Look at our pretty kitchen! (not AK's cute kitchen in front)

Will and I had a fun, but exhausting weekend. We painted the kitchen! We have really enjoyed tackling these occasional projects. Click on these to remind yourself of Phase 1 and Phase 2. The whole house was that "contractor beige" when we moved in. Over the last year, we have painted our bedroom, the living room, the dining room, and now the ktichen. We tried to pick an earthy yellow that would match the warm tones of our downstairs.

Before

After

Before

After

A Teaser and a Quote

This weekend Will and I are painting our kitchen! The "before and after" post to come when it is done. We are excited, because this will mean we are [probably] finished with our painting projects in this home. Before putting Anna-Kate to bed last night, Will started taping to get ready to paint. Anna-Kate wanted to help put "stickers" on the wall as well. I had to laugh. When AK had a put a little square of the tape on the wall, she stood back from her hard work and said, "Pretty!"

Wait for it! The finished product will be coming soon. What color did we paint? Did we leave up the "pretty" tape? So many cliff hangers!

Sweet Story

Not long ago, I came in the house to this sitting on my dining room table! I loved Nancy Drew books growing up. I read them all! I decided that I wanted to collect as many of them as I could, hoping one day my daughter would enjoy them as much as I did. But, I really want old copies. I love these that have the matte yellow covers, or even older ones have matte blue. One year for my birthday, my husband's eye for books spotted a first edition. My parents surprised me with that copy for my birthday a few months later. One of the sweetest parts: my handsome knight of a husband carries around a list of which books I own, so that when he sees one, he knows which ones I already have. So far, he has given me one or two a year since we've been married. I love Nancy Drew, but I love my Will even more!

The Magic Touch

Do you remember this picture? I definitely do! Anna-Kate was right at 4 weeks old. We had had a day or two where AK cried for no apparent reason. Her Opa came over and walked her around. She just laid on his shoulder, quietly enjoying her Opa. Now it's almost two years later (wow, almost two years!!!). AK has been going through a super clingy stage lately. So this picture means a lot because she is allowing someone else to hold her, her Opa. And, because I just love family and knowing that AK knows her family so well (both sides of her family)!

Best Buddies

Mary-Knowles, Anderson, and Anna-Kate Can you tell they enjoy each other?!

Thirsty?

Got milk?

I do!

This Week

The school year only has 8 weeks left (only 8 weeks left with MK, sad!, details of that for another post). I was asked by a former homeroom student to tutor her for the remainder of the year. I am a softie, so of course I had to say yes! That means another evening of mine occupied, and occupied without blogging. :( Here is our week: Monday Amazing sunshine! We went to a park and spent most of the time swinging! Tuesday We were back at the pediatrician's to check out AK's hives. (Now a trip to the allergist is in order; a post for another day.) The girls get really excited to go to the pediatrician's; they love the train!! Wednesday We went to Marbles for about an hour (gotta love a membership). Then, we met Ashley and Anderson at the mall for lunch. Can you see our children's future?! Fast forward about 11 years, and the quote of the day will be, "Mom, can't you let me and Mary-Knowles walk around by ourselves?! Walking with mom is so embarrassing!" Thursday AK's appointment to follow up on her tubes. They look great! I still brag on how well MK does at all these recent appointments for AK. Then it was off to Barnes & Noble for story time. Girls love it, if you are ever near Crabtree Thursdays at 10:30! Friday We spent the day here at "Anna-Kate's house." Pushing AK's cart is MK's favorite activity!