Favorite Stories

It's funny how Lila gets "stuck" on the same stories at bedtime. She'll ask for the same one or two books every night for a month or more, and then she'll gradually phase into a new one or two favorites. It's been like this for a long time. The other night when she asked for (surprise!) the "dinosaur book" and then the "llama" one, I thought, "I should write this quirkiness down". I think she likes to get to the point where she can actually read the book to me by memorization before she lets it go. So right now, it's How Does A Dinosaur Eat? and Is Your Mama A Llama?. ...Every ...single ...night. Before that, it was Better Not Get Wet Jesse Bear and The Hungry Caterpillar (that was in the height of a bad gypsy moth season here). Of course she also had her Goodnight Moon and Good Dog Carl (that was the week Lu died unfortunately for me, the reader) phases. I'm excited to move on from dinosaur/llama phase, but it will be a little sad. Just another sign that Lila is moving along and growing up. I never thought I'd say this, but already miss Jesse Bear a little bit.

September Boardwalk Trip

After the soccer game Saturday, we decided to make our last trip to the boardwalk. We went earlier in the season with Ryan's parents, so this time we took my parents. My dad always gets sentimental remembering taking Rob, Becca and I to the boardwalk when we were little. He says he can't believe that he's watching me take my kids now.
The highlights for Emma - the upside down coaster with Daddy, and the hang glider ride with Gappy (I seriously almost wet my pants watching my dad fly through the air on his stomach next to Emma).
The highlights for Lila - the dragon tilt-a-whirl with Mommy and Emma, the boats, NOT the Sea Serpent coaster with Emma ("fun but too scary for me").
The highlights for the adults - pizza, ice cream, watching the girls have an awesome time!

Soccer!

Emma had her first soccer game on Saturday. She's playing on the traveling team this year and it's much different. The kids actually seemed to know what they were doing - well, at least compared to last year. Emma played wing. She did great! They spread out where they were supposed to be. They knew what to do for throw ins, etc. Her team lost, but you could really see the girls getting the hang of it throughout the game, and I'm sure the next one will be better. Emma dressed her American Girl, Elizabeth for the soccer game too. She wanted her to sit on the sidelines with Grammy, Lila and I. Sometimes Emma seems so grown up, I love it when I see her act like my little girl still. Lila ate the entire contents of my purse, but was very well behaved during the game. That was good, since Ryan (who was running the sidelines with the flag), insisted that I videotape a little "in case she gets injured and can't play the rest of the season at all." Way to think positive, Ry!

Home With Lila

Lila and I have both missed Emma while she's been at school this week, but I've enjoyed having time to spend with her doing 2 year old things. When Emma was 2, she had 100% of my attention 100% of the time. So today Lila and I read lots of her favorite books in her room, colored, played Mr. Potato Head (which I didn't realize she can totally create a potato head guy with all of the proper features on her own - nice accomplishment), and took her "Baby Emily" for a walk.
I had to take a picture of the walk with the doll stroller. It was 88 degrees here today. The hottest day of the week and a little humid again. Lila insisted on wearing her jacket because "it's chilly outside". She also needed the hood up and the zipper zipped. She got some funny looks from people driving past us, but whatever. They don't know my Lila!

First Day of School

Today was Emma's first day of second grade. I can hardly believe it. She was so excited to go back to school - just like I used to be (don't call me names). I was excited for her to go back too. It was time. I've learned this summer that it's really hard/impossible do something with both girls at the same time. Their age difference is too big. Emma doesn't want to build with blocks with Lila and I. She'll do it to play with her sister, but it's not fun for her. Lila can't paint or do projects with Emma and I. -Or play a game (even Candyland, believe me we tried). Anyway, I'm sad to leave so much of Emma's time up to outside influences and not me, but I'm ready for a little sanity and a schedule.
She looked so cute in her new dress. Here's a picture or two. Now I'd better go get her off of the bus.

Family Portraits

These are lovely. Let me preface this by saying that I only had to pay $10 for a bunch of these pictures. Now I just have to find people who'd like a copy!
Family Portrait day was a huge success - especially because our very sweet photographer was in training! I won't even post most of the pictures here, because of my vanity. In one pose, our stools were arranged so I was taller than Ryan, further forward in the picture than him, and he had the girls around him, so I had nothing to hide any part of me. It was like Big Momma and her Family. We also had one with all 4 of us lying on our backs looking up at the camera with our heads together - hello, my hair is styled to cover some of my face for a reason! Then there was the all lay on your stomach propped up on your elbows pose. I was wearing a low v-neck shirt and I've nursed 2 children - need I say more?! Ryan's face was red in many of them, he says the odd poses made the blood rush to his head. Emma was her professional self - perfect in every picture. Lila was also herself, and she's not a model for that very reason.
We did pick the least bad one, and I will laugh every time I walk past it framed in my house. What a memory!

Labor Day Weekend

We had a great long weekend full of family fun. Here's the recap: We spent Friday at the shore with my good friend Shelley and her family. The big kids had fun boogie boarding and building a "boat" in the sand with their dads. Lila and "baby Emma" always have fun together. We used their outdoor shower (I don't think we could do the beach without access to one of those!) before we drove home and the girls both napped
Friday night we finally tried the "new" restaurant down the street that's only been open for a couple of years! Becca and Chris were happy to join us. And, because of the long naps, the girls were really good through a long but delicious meal.
Saturday we did housework and then had friends over for dinner. Melynie, Brad, and the girls came over. It was a beautiful night to sit outside. The five little girls enjoyed the fire and s'mores, but they got so sticky they needed to go in the hot tub afterwards. Fun!
Sunday we went to church and then used the last week of my Sears portrait membership to get a family portrait done. That's a post in itself. Then we went to Grammy and Gappy's house for the pool and dinner.
Monday was my dad's birthday. Happy Birthday, Dad! We spent the morning at the park with Melynie and the crew (what are we going to do when they move again?!). The kids had a great time on the playground and the adults watched and commented on all of the dogs that walked by going to the dog park. -A great place to shop for breeds! Then we went back to my parents' house for more swimming, dinner and birthday cake.
It was a great long weekend!