Sparkler fun with Daddy!

This picture of Mike holding Rose is from 2 years ago. Notice how she is blocking her ears.

This picture of me holding Pearl blocking her ears reminded me of the photo of Rose above. Both girls wore this star dress at their first fourth of July at eight months old and then again the next year at 20 months old. The funny thing is the dress is supposed to be size 3-6 months. We sure got our use out of this dress.

Cousins Ben and Rose

Brooklyn and Pearl

Pearl was getting ready to swipe the strawberry which she did a second later. Her nickname from a very early age has been swiper.

Rose getting brave with the sparkler.

Cousins lighting their sparklers together.

Daddy and the girls.

The Sunday before fourth of July.

Walking with my brother Jacob and his kids through the rose garden.

This humid weather is making my sweet baby's hair curl up even more.

My nephew Ben was sitting with the girls at the zoo. He put his arms around the girls and I grabbed my camera as fast as I could to snap this precious photo.

This is my kindergarten picture. I was about 4 1/2 .

Here is my Rosie Posie at 3 1/2.

I think this one is so cute because we both have our ponytails a little lower on the same side. (Thanks Aunt April for taking this cute shot.)

Cousins

The girls and I visited my mom's cousin and her daughters and some of her granddaughters.
The sweet little lady in the fromt is my grandmother's sister Arinda. She will be turning 88 this week.

Olivia is just a few weeks older then Pearl.

A new way to serve tea!

Rose and Lydia having a real tea party.

Donna and my mom with their granddaughters. The little girls are (from lt-rt)
Isabella, Olivia, Pearl, Rose, Lydia and Margot

The girls were trying to figure out their official "cousin" status. Does anyone know how the second cousin, third cousin, cousin once removed works. If you do let me know because I can't figure it all out.

The African American Flag!

Rose was painting a flag on her Welcome Home poster for Mike. While she was painting it she kept calling it an African American Flag. I thought she was just getting the words American and African American confused. I thought it was cute and wanted her to tell Mike when he got home so I didn't correct or explain it to her just yet. After we washed the paint and glitter glue off of her hands. She rubbed colorful glitter that remained on her hands and said, "Mommy I still have some "African American" on my hands. I asked her if she knew what African American meant and her reply was, "Yes, it is a skin color." I then asked her what made her flag an African American flag and she said "It has many different colors."

Guess what we are having for dinner? Mike is away and Pearl has been sick so I didn't get around to checking on the garden yesterday and was shocked to see the two small zucchini I noticed on Wednesday had grown into six humongous zucchini.

Right after I took this picture she dropped all of the zucchini!

Our garden is a far cry from our neighbors very neat organized garden in the background. They don't have a weed in their garden and our vegetables truly appear as if they are just planted among the grass. Our friends down the street watered our garden when we were in Nashville. When we got back she mentioned the out of control weeds/grass. I said yeah we can't keep up with it. She told me that before we planted a garden we need to rototill (sp). Um yeah, duh, we did rototill the soil. I guess the weeds just love growing in the nice fertilized regularly watered soil.

The extremely large, what are we gonna do with all these, zucchini patch! They are as tall as Pearl and the leaves are larger then my head. We started them from seed inside our house. The girls really enjoyed watching the seeds sprout and then transplanting them to the garden. I think it is a very fun way to teach them about plants and that vegetables do not just appear in the grocery store. It is also a great way to get them to try new veggies. The girls are currently in the kitchen enjoying raw zucchini dipped in ranch. I have been teasing Mike that I am going to make some apple pie from zucchini. I found the recipe (on allrecipes.com) for a zucchini pie that supposedly resembles apple pie. So I think I am really going to try it. I will let you know what Mike and the girls thought of it.

Good Night Daddy. We miss you!

A Rose by any other name...

Rose loves to make up names, for her make believe friends, imaginary cousins, pretend grandparents and for her real little sister. She constantly has a new name for Pearl. Pearl of course never answers Rose when she uses these "new" names as they change so frequently. Pearl has no clue that the funny word Rose is hollering at her is supposed to be her name for the day. I decided I should start writing down some of these silly names she calls Pearl because I will never remember them when they are older or even the next day when she has moved on to a new word. Here are a just some of the names that I can recall her calling Pearl:

Chunka-Chunka
Little Butler
Biscuit
Creama
Corna
Lilacs
Lilly
Lolly
Beaza
Marbles
Number 6
Corduroy
Smirl
Glory
Chlorine
Cornflakes
Carmel

I imagine these names are probably much better then what she will call her sister when they are older and fighting over a favorite outfit or have a crush on the same boy. So for now I will smile an appreciate the silliness and sweet innocence of these crazy names. I am glad Mike and I did not let her pick her sisters "Real" name. I prefer Pearl Caroline over Little Butler or Marbles any day. If any of you are getting a new pet (or a new baby;)I am sure Rose would love to help you name it or feel free to steal one from her list above.

P.S. As I am typing this post I hear Rose in the background telling "Pearl" about her trip to "Grandma Abuelis" house. Now she walked by and told me my name is Belella and she is calling Pearl, Iyeyena. I guess we all spanish type names today.

Our Hydrangea Bush. We had hydrangeas in our wedding and then saw tons of beautiful hydrangeas on our honeymoon in Martha's Vineyard. We were very surprised last spring when this Hydrangea Bush appeared.

Pearl has just started wearing pigtails like her big sister. I found the bows at Walmart they have very cute and inexpensive bows. Inexpensive is good considering I needed to buy four packs of bows so that each girls could have two in her hair.

My little thumbsucker had smuggled her bunny outside. Bunny is sitting on her lap and anytime she has bunny she sucks her thumb.

What can I say about this picture, she's just cute and kissable!

Little Mommy. Mike says this picture looks just like my kindergarten picture I had my hair in pigtails too.

During the summer Regal Cinemas has free children's movies on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10:00. Check this site out to see what is showing in your area. http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/familyfilmfestivalschedule.aspx

Friends!

Last week we took a trip to Nashville, TN. Mike and I had so much fun hanging out with all of our "old" friends. The girls had so much fun making lots of new friends.Pearl asking Anna to share her toy!

Pearl decided to just swipe Anna's toy.

Some of my Monday Night "Bible Study" Gal's children. Tammy's four boys and Cathy's two kids are not in this picture. We missed ya Cath, Josie and Theo.

More of my Monday Night Ladies groups cute kiddos.

The Sullivan Clan. Aidan holding Pearl was in our wedding, Jack ran down the aisle after his brother and became unofficially our second ring bearer. It worked out great since our other ringbearer was to scared to go down the aisle. Maggie, sitting next to Rose, is our Goddaughter. Nora their sweet baby girl is now 4.. She and Rose had a great time playing together.

The Clymer kids. Stella (6) and Adam (4) with Rose.

Pearl and Laura are only five days apart in age.

Trying to get a picture of all the kids. Pearl as usual would not sit still.

We miss y'all Nashville Friends! Hugs.

Father's Day
We were in Nashville, TN this weekend visiting all of our wonderful friends. On Sunday we went to a nearby Vineyard with our friends Jeff and Debra and baby Anna. We had a delicious picnic and enjoyed a wine tasting. Happy Father's day to my sweet husband he is an amazing father to our girls.

The girls enjoying the gorgeous view. If only they were always this sweet!

Pearlie and daddy playing.

Rose hanging out in the really cool tree chair.

Daddy and his little girls.

Mike and Jeff with their little blessings.

Precious Anna Rose. The girls had so much fun playing with her.

Swimming Pool Fun!Daddy and the girls "napping" in the pool.

Daddy is being such a good sport!

Pearl is sleeping is or she practicing goin head first down the slide?

Sidewalk ChalkPearl decided to taste the sidewalk chalk!

What a lovely blue tongue!

This does not taste to great!

A day at the Zoo!

We went to the zoo with my MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group. The Zoo was just a small local zoo and not that exciting. The girls enjoyed the playground, especially the little pebbles.