TGIF!

So the pictures this week may not show it but the girls have actually been pretty sick this week.

We've had a lovely case of Hand- Foot- Mouth- Disease which should be entitled Fever- Blisters- Whiny Disease. Needless to say, it has been a bit of a long week.

There were lots of bright moments too.

Like when our fabulous neighbor brought Lillianna a surprise...

We all three ran out to see it.

It made for a perfect moment for Ellenie to get her first taste of sitting in the grass.

Lillianna introduced us to her new friend, Cara.





Cara stuck around for over 45 minutes!
I swear I thought Lillianna had trained her in that period of time.
I think she might be a bug whisperer.

Obviously a genius...

Coloring a "green limosine" Lillianna wonders...

Which one should I use?

Right hand?

Or my left hand?

Bathing Beauty

Bathtime has just gotten more fun recently.

Ellenie, sitting up so well now, loves to reeeeaaaaach for toys, the faucet, the washcloth.

She loves to splash and gets so serious when she's working hard at it. Then she bursts with abig smile when she realizes she has an audience. so fun.

remember this?

this is miss lillianna...a couple of months older than ellenie is now.

don't even remind me about how fast it all goes by.

Who pooted?

Bugs are the best!

I love a little girl who loves a good bug..or worm...or insect of any kind.

And boy does my little girl LOVE them right now.

Lillianna: Look Mom, a worm! I'll get it.

Lillianna: A ROLY POLY! I'll get it.

Lillianna: Mom, what is that?

ME: A big beetle with uh...pinchers.

Lillianna: I'll get it.

So then, she "get's it" and puts it in her bug box.

And wears it around her neck for admiration.

Ellenie thinks bugs are really exciting too.

BaLLoOn PaRtY!

It's so HOT outside...

let's stay inside and have a...

Balloon Party!

(Lillianna's words, not mine.)

Home sweet home

I love these pictures.

I love the tree in the pictures.

Most of all, I love the house in the background of the pictures.

This house has been such a good home to us.

It is filled with the happiest memories of our little girls.

The yard has hosted many picnics, sprinkler runs, and treasure hunts.

The front porch has been the place for popsicle breaks and a snacks nearly every day for two years.

Our neighborhood and street have the best treasures anyone could ever find. ever.

The best neighbors in the world just happen to live next door.

Many other precious people surround us on all sides - smiling, hugging, loving my girls - helping to create the amazing family of friends we have here.

I love our life here and am so very sad to leave.

I know we will find another house, another neighborhood, other neighbors...

there's just no way they will be as perfect as they are here.

These are a few of my favorite things...

At six months, Ellenie is developing into her own little person...with lots of personality and lots of things she likes and dislikes.

She loves to eat...but she really loves to chew. Fingers are her fav.

She loves to scoot. First it was only backwards but in the last week or so, she's been working on her forward motion.

She does not like getting stuck. It's so embarrassing!

Ellenie is loving her new ability to get up on all fours and pose. Then she started rocking, then in the last few days she pushes with her legs, thumps down on her chest, and then back up again until she has "crawled" her way to me. That's her favorite destination right now. ME. I can't believe we're already at the "Mom, where are you going? MOM! YOU CAN'T WALK OUT OF THE ROOM!!! COME BACK!!!!! " phase. It's not my favorite.

This is my favorite face right now. Good thing since ol' lizard lips is around all the time. If she's not smiling or crying then this the tongue is out. It's really funny and pretty cute.

At six months, she's a whopping 13.8 pounds and 26 inches long. Her head is the size of Sputnik according to the doctor. I know that huge head is housing her huge brain that is really going to take her places one day...like the White House.

Winter Wonderland

Mittens in July...

That's almost as crazy as the silly colds we all had last week. Who gets sick with colds in the summer? Apparently anyone is 4 or younger or anyone who lives with them.

Everyone is feeling much better now and after playing outside in 100% humidity in her hat, Sweaty Betty finally decided to take off her winter gear.

This melts my heart...

It really doesn't get better than this.

And to be honest, these moments are more frequent than not. Which is so sweet.

I know the day is coming when they will fight, when they will hurt eachother's feelings, tattle on eachother, and make eachother cry just because they are sisters. But right now, they are just enjoying making eachother happy. Lillianna takes this on as a very serious responsibility...dancing, singing, jumping in front of Ellenie just to get her to smile or giggle.

Then Lillianna thinks Ellenie is so very funny when she does the smallest "big girl" thing...like grab for Lillianna's crayon or rip a piece of paper. Lillianna just laughs and laughs which of course makes Ellenie smile and laugh and then I start laughing and then, well, we're all laughing at eachother laughing.

It really doesn't get better than this.

Front porch photo shoot...say cheese!

The strained cheese.

The phony cheese.

The Are you eating my arm? cheese.

The She's Singing So Loud In My Ear Cheese.

The Sweet Cheese.

SPLISH SPLASH!!

Lillianna is playing the part of Nemo.

Bibby blasts between bubbles

Virginia rows her boat gently in the pool...

Caroline cools off

bored and wanting to go...out of the chair