2011 Birthday Pics

Today Ray, Jecca and I took the girls to Mill Creek Park (near where their party will be) so that Jecca could take Birthday Pictures of them.  Kaelin was a ham, she likes to do this head tilt that cracks me up (ie her last pic).  Hailey wasn't a huge fan - she doesn't do great when we do outside pictures for some reason - too distracting maybe?

Anyhow, these pictures are unedited, some need cropped, but they are my favorites of each of the girls:

Kaelin Rose:

Hailey Grace:

Birthday Pics I like for random reasons

These are some of the birthday pictures from today that won't necessarily end up being used as favors or printed for frames but I LOVE them and here is why:

Kaelin decided to pout for a minute - but the pic is a cross between I am going to laugh or cry.

 Hailey 'telling' Kaelin a secret, while covering her both completely with both hands.

 I jokingly told the girls the sky was purple, this is what happened.

 The look on her face is a little goofy, but for someone this one is cute to me.

Summer Fun

We are trying to make this a very fun summer for the girls.  We purchased a zoo pass this month (and have already been twice to the Pittsburgh Zoo, hoping to get to Akron Zoo this week), and are taking trips to the park, nights in the hot tub, Justin and Ray have taken them to Lake Milton twice, and we were able to go to a Scrapper's baseball game for the first time.  The girls could have cared less about the game, but really enjoyed the food :).

We sat near a regular attendee who gave K a ball.  She was so excited.

The lemon slushes were a little to frozen for a spoon, so they started off licking them like popsicles.

For people familiar with Pierogi races, the Scrapper's game hosts the Dunkin Donuts race :). Not as cook, but the girls liked it. 

Here are a few other pictures I like from the last week.  

I love this picture of Hailey.  She loves this seek and find book.

 While RJ was visiting, we went to Quaker Steak.  We have been there about a million times, but this time the girls wanted to take a picture like RJ did.

 This is not a great picture by far, but it is one of my favorites.  The girls spent about an hour playing together and then creating this 'house' out of books and toys.

Hailey enjoyed the lake a little too much on Saturday :).  She ended up falling asleep at the dinner table.  

 Saturday night tub time.  I love this picture because Kaelin loves when I do this to her hair.  It also shows her red raccoon eyes from the day at the lake.

Our plans for the remainder of the summer include VBS next week, Hailey's birthday, an overnight in Pittsburgh and Kennywood day, Kaelin's birthday, family reunions on Justin's side, several planned BBQ's and pool parties, and the girls BIG bday party.

4th of July Weekend

On Friday we went to the Trumbull County Fair.  We go every year even though it is very, ummm, redneck :).  The girls loved the rides and road EVERY one! 

Then over the weekend we enjoyed play time for the girls and a lot of sitting/rest for me.
Hailey showed up in front of us to sing one morning, but when I went to take her picture, all she did was pout. SO CUTE!

 On July 4th we got a chance to see the Goodyear Blimp as it flew right over our house.  The girls thought it was SO cool!

That afternoon, we took the girls to the Austintown Parade, sitting next to our neighbors.  I sat in a chair with an umbrella, while everyone collected candy.  The girls loved it the first 45 minutes, then they were hot and tired and ready for air conditioning.

Kaelin's End of the Year Concert - 3 Weeks Later

Here are a few clips from Kaelin's end of the year concert.  Her class sang 8 songs, and then another 4 with the rest of the school.   I wanted to load 2 others as well (Jesus, the Lord, is Who I Believe and Pizza Hut), but I couldn't take the loading times anymore.  Enjoy!

Our Sticks Up High...

I'm Gonna Sing, Sing, Sing

A Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track

A week of fun...

The last week or so has been one fun event after another!  Friday our nephew, Dominic, turned 3!  We had a small family dinner with cake to celebrate on his 'actual' birthday.  Then on Saturday he had a big family party (probably 80 attendees) at Amy and Brad's home.  The kids all had a blast playing in the water and sand and enjoying as much cake and sugar as they could :).

Sunday was Father's Day.  Justin was able to enjoy golfing with his dad, and then we had dinner at our house for his step-dad and mom.  We all enjoyed the evening.  I made no-bake cheesecake for dessert (Justin won't eat a real one), but decided to top it with homemade blueberry topping.  Apparently, that went over well, because I was asked to make more topping and another cheesecake on Monday too :).

Monday we ordered from our Favorite chinese restaurant for dinner.  I had to take this picture of Hailey eating her Lo Mien.  SO Funny!

Yesterday was a different kind of fun....I had a bunch of errands to run in the morning and physical therapy.  Then after naps I decided to wash the girl's car seat covers, which led to also scrubbing the bases, and then the strollers and their cloth parts.  Of course when all was said and done I also had to vacuum out the car.  Why can't I do ONE thing, instead of making it a 20 step process??  Anyhow, to make it fun I had the girls help.  One bucket of soap water, 3 washcloths and a hose, along with the car seat bases and strollers in the driveway.  Needless to say, about an hour later everything was clean and drying on the porch, except for the 3 of us :).

Today we braved a trip to Pittsburgh Zoo, despite the forecasted thunderstorm.  It didn't rain, it was very warm and humid though.  The girls loved it - the penguins, aquarium, watching the mama and baby elephant throw dirt on eachother and sea otters playing.  After about an hour, Hailey's hair was just springy curls from the humidity - so adorable.

 We packed a lunch and enjoyed a break in the shade about halfway through.  However, the highlight was at the very end, when the girls got to pet a boa constrictor.  I was SHOCKED that Hailey (along with Kaelin) went to pet it - and was excited!  I expected her to not go near it!

Also towards the end the zoo had set up a misting station.  Kaelin and I enjoyed it, Hailey on the other hand, NOT thrilled!  She is so funny sometimes, certain things just take a while for her to warm up too.  Kaelin was a trooper and walked the entire 4 hours we were at the zoo, while Hailey had to get in and out of the stroller and be lifted several times.  I was so proud of Kaelin.  Being in a large public area with a lot of other kids always reminds me that I have GREAT girls (despite their bickering and whining at home).  They are very well behaved and I am so proud to be their mommy!

End of School...Beginning of Summer

Kaelin's school year has come to an end...and summer has begun!  I have a few pictures to post today ... and her concert video - but that will come in a few days.  

Here's our last two weeks:

Justin drained the hot tub, scrubbed it out and filled it.  Now the water is cleaned and stabilized.  However, instead of returning it to hot tub temperature, we kept it at 90 degrees.  The girls now think they have a built in kiddie pool :).  They LOVE it!  I remember swimming in my grandparents' hot tub when I was little, so it makes me laugh to see them doing it as well. AND we don't have to drag out their pool, blow it up, fill it, and wait for it to warm a bit!

Memorial weekend was a fun extended weekend for us with Justin home.  We had a picnic in Grove City on Sunday, and were able to visit with a few friends.  Monday was a day at home with the girls getting to play outside and Justin doing yard work.  Here is a picture of the girls from Sunday that weekend.

Kaelin's end of the year concert was SO CUTE!  Several classes sang 4-5 songs each, except for K's - they sang 8!  And were adorable doing it! Then at the end, all of the classes came together for 4 more songs.  We have it all recorded, but I need to load it and then edit down a few songs to post.  Here is a picture of K singing.

Kaelin's end of the year picnic had gorgeous weather!  I was very grateful!  We were out with the kids from about 9:30-11:30, including a picnic lunch.  Kaelin was excited that I drove and that she got to play with her friends.  

During the picnic she loved this thing.  

Scared me, but she climbed through/over it several times.

Kaelin's class with Ms. Doyle 

(the ones that attend on Fridays, each day is a bit different.)

The girls like watching Uncle Ray walk on his hands when we are out in the yard, so they wanted to try too.  Here are pics of them 'walking on their hands', or as I remember from childhood, wheelbarrow style.

Cute pic of the girls one night with Mommy getting a treat while everyone else was traveling.

Side Note: Our baby birds flew away.  At least that is what I am choosing to believe.  They were there one day and just gone the next. :/

Upcoming this next month:  Dominic's 3rd Birthday Party! Carlee's Graduation Party! 4th of July! RJ is coming for a visit!