June 2015

New clothes, twirling dresses, painted nails, pig tails, and high heel shoes...what more could a girl ask for?  This girl is a girly girl...no doubt about that!!

 Marlee had swimming lessons and while I don't have any pictures of her during lessons, I do have a picture of her swimming with her friends from Jack & Jill and a picture of Laynie keeping herself busy during Marlee's lessons.  Marlee has learned so much and loves swimming. 

 We swim (play with the water hose) in our backyard pretty often 

Laynie likes to sit by me most days so Marlee won't torment her with the water hose.  She thinks it is funny from the safe zone. ;)

Marlee LOVES watermelon and I HATE it because cutting it is not my favorite.

 We have gone out on the boat a few times (only one picture actually on the boat...probably because I am watching them like a hawk so no one falls off...and I don't know why I don't have one of Marlee...probably because I didn't have time once I got Laynie to sit still). 

 I bought Marlee a watering can so she can help my water our flowers.  She is such a good helper. 

 We went to Branson with James' family.  We went to a small water park, The Dixie Stampede, and Silver Dollar City.  The water park was fun after the girls warmed up to it (Marlee was very scared once the giant bucket dumped out and made a loud noise), they LOVED the Dixie Stampede (Laynie kept clapping and saying "Ooooo" and "Yay!" and Marlee was fascinated with all of the pretty dresses), and Marlee loved Silver Dollar City (Laynie didn't give a rip and took a nap).  I didn't get many pictures because I am trying to do better at experiencing the moment instead of trying to capture every moment.  I like that much better.

James and I spent the majority of our time at Silver Dollar City in the kiddie park with the girls while the rest of his family rode the big rides.  I think this picture does a good job capturing how he felt about that.  Haha!!

 
Marlee likes to help me in the kitchen and has to help when we make eggs.  I let her mix it all up and then I turn the burner on and it is my turn. 

 They are really starting to play together and just cackle the entire time they are in the bath.  I love that they have each other. :) 

They also love to sing together.  Layie chimes in loud and proud with a word now and then.  Marlee will usually say, "Good job, Laynie!"

May 2015

We started May out with Touch a Truck in Rogers.  We went with the Bradley's and Marlee had a blast.  Laynie slept the entire time. ;)

Here we are gearing up for the day at home.  Layine LOVES to do this now and initiates it all the time out of the blue.

Marlee and Cooper walked around holding hands the entire time.  It was so sweet.

 I thought Marlee would enjoy helping me plant and take care of flowers this summer so I actually planted some this year.  She helped me plant a couple and then she decided she didn't like the dirt.

Laynie loves to read and loves to climb up on the stools to sit by her big sister.

 Marlee loves to help decide on her clothes in the morning.  She was pretty proud of this outfit.

And she wanted to wear this to gymnastics one day.

Speaking of gymnastics...she loves it and she is learning so much.

 We go to the park about once a week after school...sometimes we get ice cream first.

Marlee is really into makeup.  She likes to get into mine every chance she gets.  This video was the first time but now she is always wanting to put on makeup. ;)

Laynie does this all of the time.  She just goes round and round and gets faster and faster.  She does it a lot when I'm cooking dinner.  We think it is so funny.

Marlee had her first dance recital.  She was SO EXCITED to perform on the big stage.

We walked over to the Boys & Girls Club one Saturday and went swimming at their indoor pool.  The girls had a blast and we will definitely be going back.  They had a big enclosed slide that Marlee went down with her Dada.  It was dark and fast and Marlee WAS NOT a fan.

Dada and I got out of the house and went to a Dave Matthews concert.  It was awesome.

 At least one of us has been coughing for the entire month of May, making for lots of restless nights.  Laynie wakes up with some pretty crazy hair after those restless nights.

 Marlee LOVES the Bible.  She carries one with her all the time and was so excited to find this one at the doctor's office.  We might be raising a little preacher! 

I still meet Pa in Chester on Thursdays so the girls can spend the day at Jack & Jill.  Marlee sings her songs the entire way there.  I just love to hear her sing.  Laynie has started chipping in, too.  Laynie sings really loud and proud and off-key and it makes me chuckle every time.

Thursdays at Jack & Jill are very exhausing.  My child that never falls asleep outside of bedtime can occasionally be found on the couch like this on Thursday evenings.

 We ended the month at Hayes' birthday party.  I didn't take any pictures, but Jess sent me this one of Laynie.  I love it.

I'll leave you with their school picture.  I love them so much. :) 

 We are looking forward to summer and swimming!!  Marlee can hardly wait to get in a swimming pool.

April 2015

April was a good month.  The girls have a blast on Thursday's at Jack & Jill and at Ma & Pa's house.  They get to play with their cousin, Hadley and eat Sonic.

Laynie is talking more but still won't say Momma.  I think she is messing with me.  She has started using silverware and really favors her left hand.

 Marlee loves interpretive dance. ;)

She is also really into ledges right now.  We have a book called The Little Burro and the donkeys walk on a ledge.  She is obsessed with ledges.  We have to look at ledges on our phone all the time and she points them out during our entire drive on I-49 to Fort Smith.

James and I went on our first adult only vacation.  It was heavenly.  We went with some of our best friends, Josh and Whitney, that have a little girl just one year younger than Laynie.  We did a four night cruise to the Bahamas because we didn't think we could be away from our babies that long, but we decided mid-cruise that we can.  Our next cruise will be seven days...if the grandparents will keep them that long! ;)  Maybe when they are a little older and easier to manage.

Mom kept Josie and Marlee while we were gone and they had a blast.

  She always says "Josie is my cousin, but she is also my best friend."

When we got home from our cruise, Marlee had a good time grocery shopping with me and we all had a good weekend just enjoying each other and the sunshine.

 Marlee's dance recital is coming up, so they had pictures at dance class.  She got to wear blush and lipstick and she was really feeling pretty!!

 Laynie got her first haircut.  While we waited, Laynie did lots of exploring and Marlee caught up on some reading. 

 I didn't get an actual pictures of Laynie getting her hair cut because she freaked out a little bit and I had to use my phone to play Mickey Mouse as a distraction.

I will leave you with a sweet video of Laynie reading in her room.  I find her in her room often jibber jabbering and flipping through her books.