Just back from the beauty shop

E: Don't you laugh at me.

For Ya-Ya

So you won't have to look at Ellenie crying anymore.

Being 18 months old is hard...on all of us.

When they've finished reading, Olivia's mother gives her a kiss and says,

"You know, you really wear me out.

But I love you anyway."

And Olivia gives her a kiss back and says, "I love you anyway too."

- From the book Olivia by Ian Falconer

Playmates

I grew up with three best friends...my sisters.

Who were there to play, fight, cry, talk, and laugh with.

And now watching my precious daughters build their sister relationship,

I get to re-live all the teensy, tiny, everyday moments that are

the best parts of growing up with a sister.

Just sitting beside eachother in silence while eating a popsicle, having tea parties, watching the same tv show, thinking the same thing is funny when mom and dad don't, coloring pictures together, learning how to do something from watching eachother, fighting and getting over it in two minutes, sharing (anything) with eachother.

I feel so blessed to get to watch them together all day long.

I can't believe they're at this stage already...sisters as friends. I hope they never, ever leave it.

She is my love.

She is...

the first one up in the morning and at nap. She is brave and my first risk-taker.

She is very persistent and won't take no for an answer.

She is saying something new everyday. Yesterday it was "yellow" today it was "flower".
She is learning them all from her big sister, along with most everything else.

She is a lover. She is the one who still lays on my chest, sits in my lap, and snuggles when she is waking up.

She is my climber, my mischief maker, my firecracker.
She is my dancer - she feels the music for sure.
She is my one with a MAJOR sweet tooth. Tic Tac or Tootsie Toll in the room...she'll sniff it out.



She is curious, spunky, adorable, and moody.
She is fickle.
She is the one who runs to her Daddy when he pulls up in the drive way.
She is also the one who 5 minutes later refuses to let him put on her shoes... now she only wants Mama.

She is my beautiful baby who is growing into a little girl everyday.

Big times with the Little Guy

So we had a BIG time this past weekend.

I mean BIG, right Ellenie?

A sassy, sweet, oh so silly BIG time. Didn't we Lillianna?
Why?



This BIG guy came to visit!!
Yea Baby Connor!

We went swimming, visited Mother Goose, ate popsicles & pizza,

and played and played and played!

Now, this is the FUNNIEST picture of Lillianna I have ever seen.

It makes me laugh everytime I look at it.

We've since changed goggles...darn those mile-long lashes that won't fit in just any ol' goggles and keeps her from opening her eyes.

This picture was, however, the only one of these two together.

These two were thick as thieves this weekend because

Lillianna LOVES her cousin "Baby Connor"!!

She was so super sweet to him and I bet she said, "Baby Connor" no less than 242 times.

Thanks for coming Aunt Corkie and Baby Connor!

We love you!

Deep Thoughts by Lillianna

I keep a glass jar on a shelf in the kitchen.

Anytime Lillianna says something memorable I grab the closest receipt, envelope, scrap of paper, then I write it down and stick in the jar.

I hadn't looked at them in a few months but grabbed a handful last night, read them, and instantly was in a better mood. Not just because they make me smile and giggle, but because they are so precious to me I'm so glad I have them...forever.

L: Look at the ages she's grown! (talking about Ellenie)

---

L: Look at me Ellenie, I'm Jacketnese.

Mom: What does that mean?

L: I wear little jackets.

---

L: Anythings not bright for me with these. (about her new sunglasses)

Mom: Lillianna, are you sure?

L: I'm possibly sure!

---

L: I guess I have an ear confection too.

---

L: My baby sister, she's like God because she forgives us.

(talking about how ellenie doesn't stay mad at he after they fight.)

---

L: I want the crust off my apple please.

L: (In the bath) Ellenie is eating ALL of the bubbles! I'm not getting any!

---

L: Some bunnies are very attractive. They leave tracks everywhere.

---

L: (Talking about Little Mermaid movie) I'm glad Ursula isn't in this world to magic us into a mermaid.

---

L: I really best love you.

Summer Lovin' or Summer Teachin'

E: Eww... What. is. this. in. my. mouth? It's much more fun to play with...not eat.

L: Whatever sis, it's much more fun to sluuuuuurrrrrrp all the juice out like this.
Are you watching Ellenie?


L: I love blueberries! They have so much Vitamin Seeds! (true statement)
Ellenie are you watching? Ellenie watch LaLa pick blueberries. See how I pick the BLUEberries Ellenie. See me? Are you watching...

E: Dude. Got it. Already know. See?

L: Okay Ellenie, now for our corn shucking lesson. I LOVE to do this too!

Ellenie? I can't wait to show you exactly how to...Ellenie?

Freedom Fest 2009

Doesn't this just scream Norman Rockwell?

Precious little girl excited at the small town, 4th of July parade. So sweet, so patriotic...

if I do say so myself.

I hadn't ever taken my girls to my hometown for the big Freedom Fest. We had so much fun!

A great parade, street festival, barbecue contest, live bands plus LOTS of GREAT time with family!

One of the best parts was spending time with this guy! Sweet Connor is getting bigger every time I see him and he giggles more and more too. I wonder what he is laughing about here?

Oh I see! A guy in a funny hat in miniature, funny looking race car...that is funny Connor!

This makes me laugh too:

Lillianna taking her flag waving WAY seriously...

Ellenie...mmm...not so into it.

Love the sweet random things of a small town...like a giant white pig on a street corner with a tiny post-it that said,"Paint Me."

Another great thing about my hometown of Murray, KY is that it's on Kentucky Lake.

A great first to observe...my girls first time in the lake I spent so much of my childhood in.

On Aunt Kitty Cat's boat, Ellenie FINALLY accepted her fate of having to wear the life jacket while on board. It seemed once she had the matching sunglasses, she felt much better.


After a great weekend, Captain Lillianna drove us off into the sunset.

What a wonderful weekend celebrating our wonderful country!

S.U.M.M.E.R.

S is for Sweaty Bettys.

I have two of them and when it's HOT outside we need...

what Betty, I mean Lillianna?

Popsicles!

U is for Unbelievably cute moments shared between little girls

M is for Melting Popsicles down yummy little arms.

M is for mud puddles made for splish splash sploshing in!

E is for Everyone loves to play in the hose!

R is for remembering every little detail of these SUMMER days!

Summertime Slumber Party

WE HEART FRIENDS!

ESPCIALLY FRIENDS WHO COME TO VISIT!

The Pylant girls came to see the Parsons girls in Columbus and we all had SO MUCH FUN!

It was so good to see Virginia...She is as sweet as ever!


Ellenie and Virginia were excited to see eachother...and they couldn't believe how much eachother had changed!



They really are getting big...just like their big sisters.

And they ARE such big girls...3 going on 13 for sure.

They played, they dressed up, they ran in circles, they giggled, they made princess wands, they shared stories, they colored pictures, they picked blueberries, they gave eachother precious gifts of rocks, pictures, buttons. They were adorable!

The one thing they didn't do was sleep much...

but after this delightful breakfast they were ready to go!

We just weren't ready for our friends to leave. It was a sweet and memorable time that we'll never forget. We love you all!