Zoo Trip - part deux

Earlier this week, we made a super quick trip to Tulsa to visit the zoo.  Millie's been asking to go again, and we meant to go before it was mid-Summer and too hot...but here we are at the end of June.  Instead of putting it off until the Fall, we decided to go as early as we could, and I'm actually impressed we made it there by 9:30am.  It was already hot, of course, so we skipped the buildings this time and just focused on seeing the big animals.  I'm really glad we went.  It's so easy to talk ourselves out of doing things because of the hassle and car rides and whiny kids missing their naps, but as Amanda says "we can't be hermits".  We must get out there and makes some memories...so we did, and we made some good ones and the rest we will just ignore until we forget them completely.  It's what parents do. ;)

Mills was extremely cautious this trip...she was scared something big was going to jump out and get her.

See how she's hedging?  Those African Penguins can be pretty scary ;)

Syd Pid wasn't scared...she's always just happy to be included (and let out of the stroller)

The sea lions put on a great show for us!

the new enclosure is pretty cool

You can't see Mills' face well here, but she's blowing bubbles.   She kept noticing the bubbles coming out of the sea lions' noses, and since blowing bubbles at swim lessons was fresh on the mind, she was pretty impressed.

Her favorite part of the day...the train ride!

Syd enjoyed it also...the cool breeze felt nice and there was so much to look at!

elephants!

I was very excited that there was a special dinosaur exhibit at the zoo this Summer.  The last time the zoo did this was in 1992!  I actually do love all things dinosaur, but JKK just goes along with it to be nice to me. ;)

Millie did NOT love the dinos.  They were loud.  Here's some video of how she spent the entire trip through the exhibit.

 JKK is such a good sport

Syd Pid was soooo exhausted by this point.  We hit the road by 1 and she was asleep in the parking lot. :)

Mills wasn't far after...it was a fun day and worth the effort!  I need to remember that...

Swim Lessons

We skipped Swim Ranch this year and decided to go a different route...we brought the swim lessons to us, and I loved it!  We hired a swim instructor to come to our neighborhood pool for three days this week to give lessons to Millie, Cooper, and Grey.  It was pretty relaxed, but the kiddos (well, Mills & Grey...not so much Coop) seemed to really enjoy it and even learned a thing or two.  I don't expect Mills to swim anytime soon, since we rarely go to the pool; I just want her to be comfortable around water and respect the pool rules and especially the teacher.  Ms. Donna was great with these (almost) 3 year olds and very patient with them.  She made it really fun for them too...I think we'll be using her again next year.  It also worked out well with Syd being able to leave her at home with JKK or a sitter and allowing her to nap at home.  It was a win for everyone. ;)

practicing kicks

Cooper didn't want to get in the pool, so it was just Grey & Mills most of the time...

goodbye hugs

Millie and Grey get along so well ;)  thankful she has such sweet little friends

Summer Time

Syd's finally over her croup sickness, but the first of last week was a little sad around our house.  Mills endured a couple of days of hearing Syd whine and cry, so one night I took her to Chuck E Cheese for dinner and playtime, since she loves that place.  It's so overwhelming with all of the lights and sounds, she can't even focus on one game or ride for longer than 2 seconds.  I don't get it, but who cares...she was happy. ;)  

Summer is officially here...Syd gets pink cheeks when she's hot

Millie's first Sonic drink - a grape slush!

swing fail

This is a birthday gift and has been so awesome for both girls.  We keep it indoors (mostly) and take turns chasing everyone around the house with it.  Syd always puts her hands on the dash, like this.  Thanks Tom & Carol!!

Another awesome bday gift (Thanks Dina & Larry!)...the girls love splashing in it and getting wet.  Mills especially loves getting Syd wet, and Syd has been a pretty good sport about it.

Papa and Grandma Tricia came last weekend for Father's Day

We always have a great time with them!

Earlier this year, I asked dad to teach me how to make kabobs on the grill, since he's a master griller.  We had our first lesson this weekend, and I think it went pretty well.  The results were delicious.

We also celebrated JKK for Father's Day...seriously so proud and appreciative of my guy.  He makes it fun around here.

It was a beautiful weekend to spend some time outside...if only I could tan like Millie...

This weekend, I also took Mills to a bday party at The Little Gym.  Her selfies crack me up.  She always looks a bit confused.

Hey heyyy, big girl!  Syd just wanders around the patio area and prefers to stay away from the pool.  I'm sure she's afraid Millie will splash her or get her wet somehow...

Mills, on the other hand, can't get enough of the pool.  The wetter she is, the better.

Puffs or cheerios in her cup are her fav thing right now

Playdate at Noel's to use the big water slide...there was a terrifying humongous bumblebee that ended the water play prematurely.  Mills is still talking about it two days later.  She asks "why?" ALL THE TIME now.  Like a hundred times a day.

Syd looks wicked cool in her suit, right?!

Syd is climbing now.  It's a hard stage because we're back to having to watch her almost every second.  You take your eyes off of her, and then all of a sudden, she's standing on top of the activity table (or treadmill or fireplace) dancing a little jig.   I'm not kidding, when she makes it to the top, she dances.

I love this pic.  Look at those little feet. <3

Today we went on an early morning walk and ended it at the playground.  I took some video of a few recent milestones: Syd claps and Mills swings by herself!

Things have been really fun lately.  It seems like it goes in waves of good and bad around here...not really bad, just sort of not fun where everyone is cranky.  But not right now...things right now are good.  Millie is cracking us up with her talking and pretend play.  Syd is cracking us up just simply strutting by or dancing constantly or jabbering away.  And the two of them together are quite the pair.  They love each other and I'm constantly amazed at Millie's patience with Syd...as well as Syd's laid back attitude with Millie's manhandling.  We love these two so much...who knew that was possible?!

Funny Face

I asked Millie to make a funny face ;)

Currently Catch-Up (A Long One)

Syd loves this!

So does Mills ;)

Buddy's back in the swing of things...and by that I mean: he's completely annoyed with everyone but me. :)

A couple of weekends ago, I went to Tulsa for my cousin Jennie's going away party (her family is moving to PA).  It was a fun night of shenanigans that included a midnight water slide ride (brrrr).  This pic is of me, Cindy Lu, and Brooke (Jennie not pictured)...the only pics I have of Jennie include Brooke in a swimsuit or Jennie dancing on some picnic tables.  hahahaha...it was a fun night.

JKK and Coco held down the fort with the girls...thanks Aunt Coco for coming out!

New water table fun!

I had to rush back the next morning to take Mills to a birthday party at the splash pad.  Mills still isn't thrilled with that place....I need to take her more often so she gets used to the random shooting water spouts.  She did enjoy the birthday cake, though.

Often overheard from Mills: "watch out, pid pid!".  Big new milestone for Syd: she's finally able to stand up on her own without pulling up on something.  Almost two weeks after her birthday, it finally clicked...she was very proud of herself.  She's also clapping and waving now...I need to get video.

The last weekend of May, my good friend, Ashley, and her boyfriend, Scott, came to visit.  We had a fun outing to the Crystal Bridges museum, which included seeing some groundhogs frolicking around this pond behind A & S pictured below.

There is a pretty cool kids' room filled with art projects, like this snap bracelet decorating station.

This is one of my favorite pics of Millie...she looks so lovely and grown up.  I know every parent can see the beauty in their children, but John and I are consistently in awe that we made these beautiful babies. <3

JKK took the kiddies home for naps so that Ashley and Scott could enjoy some of the outdoor trails. The CB grounds and trails are gorgeous this time of year with the wildflowers.

We even got a babysitter one night so that the four of us could head out on the town!  Since we were eating at a restaurant on the Bentonville square, it was the perfect opportunity for a photo op...

Since JKK loves Buddy Love so much, he ordered the "Buddy Love" cocktail, which turned out NOT to be his new favorite cocktail.

Millie is into accessorizing these days...this necklace is worn with almost anything.

Syd just likes to accessorize with mud.  

We had Syd's 1 year pictures taken a couple of weeks ago...on the windiest day of the year.  I'm not kidding.  Some of the pictures were so funny that Amber turned the camera around so I could see the shot.  My hair looked like a turban wrapped around my face and head.  Thus, we didn't love the family pics nearly as much as the shots with just the girls.  She posted these two on Facebook, and they turned out soooo lovely.

Look who's back for the Summer?!  Cayden and Beckham! And Amanda and Heath too ;)

Last Monday, we got to spend the entire day with them and it was wonderful!  Mills was in heaven.  So was I...terribly miss my adult conversations with Amanda.

These two are going to have so much fun at their co-birthday party in July!  Save the date: July 12 from 10am-12pm at Little Giggles

Beckham has grown up so much since we saw him in January!  Big boy will be one at the end of this month.

Syd was kind of funny with him...kept staring.

a lion...rawrrr

The rest of the week, Millie asked to see him again and again ;)  BFFs4life

Friday, I drove down to Dallas for a college girls reunion, and we had the most fun catching up, shopping, hanging by the pool.  It was so relaxing and exactly what I needed...especially some time with this girl.  Bekah will always be one of my best friends...wish we lived closer.  PS - I got my hair cut!

Sunday morning, I drove home bleary-eyed and ready to see my three.   However, what we thought was teething and allergies appeared to have turned into something worse for Syddles.  After a call to the nurse to explain her strange wheezing, we headed to the ER.  Our first emergency room trip.  Poor Syd has the croup viral infection.  After an extremely long day of treatment and monitoring, we got sent home late Sunday night.  Thank goodness because we both slept so much better than we would have in the hospital.  There was only about an hour where it got kind of scary and the rest was just waiting.  So thankful she is on the mend...now we are just battling some nasty cold symptoms.  Get better soon, Pid Pid...we miss your laugh.