Tricks...

...what kid doesn't love them.

Have I mentioned how much I love these two! I especially love how much they love each other...

The big 3 Party!!

When I asked Reese what she wanted to do for her 3rd birthday there was no hesitation. She wanted to have a water balloon party and she immediately started listing all the friends she wanted to come.

Reese was excited to pick her birthday cake and to my surprise she picked Tweedy Bird. I thought for sure she'd pick a princess or Mickey Mouse cake, but the second she saw the Tweedy Bird cake, she was sold.

The crew: Harper Tate, Rowan Tate, Addy Hart, Reese, Cohen Vohs, Brynn Tate, Claire Nuttall, Lucy Nuttall, Austin Messmer, Gavin Messmer, Gavin Gardner, Kyson Sumpsion. (Friends that showed up a little late and didn't make it into the photo, Brea Wild and Blake Baker)

The aftermath...

After the water balloons were gone, we got out the sprinklers and all the kids rode their bikes through the water.

These two little best friends...are trouble on wheels!

Reese and I both owe Arnold a big THANK YOU for her awesome party. He took the day off work and spent several hours filling over 600 water balloons and he even cleaned up the aftermath. He is the best daddy and husband ever!

If your wondering where Anniston was in all of this...she cooperated perfectly and slept through the whole party.

The big 3!

Originally we were going to be in Idaho for Reese's actual birthday, so we planned her "friend" party for the day after we would be getting back. But at the last minute our plans changed so we were home on the 10th. We couldn't let her actual birthday pass without a little celebration so we decided it would be fun to spend the day together as a family having some fun.

We started the day by going to get donuts. Reese loves donuts and we don't get them very often. She got to go to Day Light Donuts and pick out which ones she wanted. Then we opened her presents from Mom, Dad and Anni. I love the intensity in which she open's presents. She loved everything she got. Then we surprised Reese and took her to Chuck E Cheese. She's only been to Chuck E Cheese one other time in her life, but she asks all the time to go again. I'm not a huge fan of Chuck E Cheese, but I figured I could sacrifice and let her have some fun. It was a success. We all had a great day!

Build A Bear

Reese's cousins Riley and Mycol, and her Aunt Jen wanted to surprise her for her birthday and take her to Build A Bear to make her very own personalized friend. They picked her up the Saturday before her birthday for a special "girls day out". As I was getting her ready to go that morning, she kept saying, "mommy, you and daddy can't come...just Reesy." She loves Riley and Mycol so much and had so much fun. Honestly they could have taken her anywhere and done just about anything and she would have been thrilled to be with them.

Girls!

I love my girls so much! Everyday I realize more and more that I was meant to be a "girl" mom. I wouldn't trade these two for the world. I hope as they grow up they love each other and have as much fun together, if not more, than they do now.

Reesy Piece...

And it continues....

I came upstairs one morning after running on the treadmill. I was dripping in sweat...

Reese: Mommy? You take a shower in your clothes?

Mom: No, I was excising and this is just sweat.

Reese: What sweat mean mom?

(After an obviously too complicated/too complex explanation of sweat...)

Reese: What ever mom...it's just yucky!

After running on the treadmill for 40 minutes Reese looks at me and says, "Good job mom, you getting so big." ...ummm..."big"?? Some times the encouragement of a 3 year old leaves a lot to be desired. Fortunately I think she's just reflecting what I always tell her; that she's growing so "big" and strong.


Mom: Reese, let's go get dressed for the day.
Reese: Why mom? Where we going?
Mom: (as if we need to go somewhere to get dressed) To the moon, for lunch.
Reese: (with a very puzzled look) you got a rocket mom?
Mom: yep, I borrowed one from NASA.
Reese: (an even more puzzled look, followed by a big smile) you teasing me mom?
Mom: yep, I'm teasing. You're just too smart for me kiddo.
Reese: (while laughing) yep, I very too smart for you mom.

I love the way Reese says certain words incorrectly, and while I know I should correct her and help her learn to say them properly, sometimes I just like the sweet innocents of her cute little baby language. Some examples include:

Reese trying to say my name: "Your name minkama mommy?"

Bubble gum is "gumble gum"

A bath tub is a "pad pad" (this one baffles even me)

Chocolate Milk is "choco milk"

Old Navy is "Old Lady"

I call Anniston "Anni Banani" sometimes, Reese calls her "Bany Anni"

Delicious is "elicious"

Cereal is "c-low"

licorice is "lick-o-lis"

I know I should change this, but I often use the phrase, "oh crap" when something goes wrong, I drop something, etc... When Reese hears me say this she always responds, "Oh crap what mom?"

I'm really careful not to talk about loosing weight in front of Reese. I never tell her that I'm dieting or exercising to "loose weight" or because I'm fat. I always tell her that I exercise to be healthy or I'm trying to eat healthy. The other day she came up the stairs carrying one of my weights. I asked her what she was doing... "I'm being healthy mommy. Exercising being healthy."

Reese: Mom, help me with my puzzle.
Mom: Ok, (I sit down and start working on puzzle, but then Reese stops working on puzzle.)
Mom: Aren't you going to help me?
Reese: I tired mom
Mom: I thought you wanted me to do the puzzle with you? We don't have to do the puzzle if you're tired.
Reese: No mom I want you do the puzzle. I just watch.
Mom: What, do you think you're management around here? I do all the work and you just watch?
Reese: What "magment" mean mom?

I have a hard time waiting for surprises...

I'm really good at keeping secrets. Ask any of my long time best friends. I'm a vault. But I really suck at surprising people. I'm a terrible liar, and I just want people to know what awesomeness is headed their way.

I was super excited about our "big" birthday surprise for Reese. She's wanted a plasma car for quite some time, and quite frankly we were tired of her borrowing all her friends when we were outside. So, once is came in the mail we couldn't resist just giving it to her early. I say "we" because Arnold was just as excited as I was. After all there are only so many days of summer left. We figured she might as well enjoy it for as long as possible.

I think we definitely made the right decision. She's only had it for 3 days and it's already warn in. It looks like she's been riding it all summer.

Bridal Veil

We realized last week that we hadn't been up to Bridal Veil Falls yet this summer. By this time most years, we've been up the canyon more times than we can remember. I guess baby Anni has put a small crimp in out ourdoor style.

So last Sunday we took an evening drive. Reese had a blast playing in the water. It didn't matter to her how cold it was.

I just hung out on the bank with this little cuttie, who flashed these baby blues at everyone who walked by.

Anniston 5 month and counting....

...and getting cuter by the day!





Anni is finally eating a little more. She now downs about 5 oz. at every feeding.

She can roll back to front and front to back, but she still does't do it too often. She would much rather be sitting up in her bumbo or in her bouncy play gym.

She has the cutest little laugh and is incredibly ticklish.

She's had a sudden interest in real food lately. She's still a little too young, especially with her food allergies, but I do let her suck on a Popsicle from time to time. She loves it...SHHH...don't tell!

Reesy Piece...

After getting dressed the other day I walked out of my bedroom and Reese, unsolicited, shook her finger at me and said, "No, no, no mommy. I don't like it. Not cute." She then went into my closet and picked out two different shirts and told me I should wear one of them.


Driving in the van...
Reese: I have to have the window down mom.
Mom: why, I have the air conditioning on. Let's keep the windows up.
Reese: But I need the sun mom. My body needs sun, so good for me.


I left the room for 1 minute, when I came back I found Reese attempting to change Anni's diaper. She had her completely undressed and diaper off. It's a good thing it was only a wet diaper.


After asking Reese to do something multiple times... with no response...
Mom: Reese, what is it you hear when I open my mouth? Do you hear my words or just noise?
Reese: Quacking mom, like a duck. Quack, Quack, Quack Quack!
Mom: I guess that explains it.


Reese was playing with Anniston on the floor, but it was time for Anniston's morning nap so I picked her up and said...
Mom: Say night night to Anni, Reese. It's time for her nap.
Reese: No mom, Anni doesn't want to take naps. Her not tired.
Mom: She looks pretty tired to me. I think she does want a nap.
Reese: No mom, she told me her not tired. She wants to stay and play sisters.


Reese: Mom I wanna watch cartoons.
Mom: (feeding Anniston) Hand me the remote and I'll turn them on.
Reese: where remote mom?
Mom: It's over on the arm of the chair.
Reese: On arm? Chair have arms mom?
Mom: Well kind of, that what you call the end of the chair.
Reese: Crazy! How come I never know these things?

Grandma...

These girls love their grandma...and Mickey Mouse Club House. That's what they were all watching together. Anniston can't take her eye's off the T.V.

What do you think??

More and more people keep telling me that they don't think Reese and Anniston look anything alike and when I tell them that they actually do look very similar they seemed surprised. While I definitely think that Anniston has some unique characteristics and will probably take on her own look as she gets older...you can't tell me that these too don't look an a lot alike...at 4 1/2 months anyway.

"Self" photos

When Reese was a baby I used to get on the floor with her and we'd have "self" photo shoots while we were playing. I thought it was about time Anniston got in on the action.

She thought it was the greatest thing ever...and so did Reese!

Sometimes I think the most "technically" wrong photo's are the best.

We really are....

just a family of fish.

Breakfast

With our new couches we made a rule that food is no longer allowed in the living room. So this is how Reese eats breakfast, so she can still watch cartoons.

Our talking toddler...

Early one day Reese asked if we could go outside and play. I told her it was yucky outside (it was dark and rainy), so we would probably be staying inside today. A couple hours later the sun came out. Reese looked out the window and said, "look mom, it's not dirty outside anymore."

Reese: I want juice mom
Me: Sorry sweety we don't have any juice, it's all gone.
Reese: (total look of shock) What?? No juice, how do these things happen??

Me: Reese will you stop growing up and stay my baby forever?

Reese: Sorry mom have to grow up...it's life.

While driving home from the mall, I had just gotten off the phone with Arnold...

Reese: Who talking to mom?

Me: daddy.

Reese: Mine daddy?

Me: Yes your daddy.

Reese: Arnold daddy?

Me: You only have one daddy honey...that would be Arnold.

Reese: One daddy but two grandpa's? (Arnolds parents are visiting and Reese is still grasping the concept of two sets of grandparents.)

Me: yep, two grandpa's.

Reese: grandpa and candy grandpa? Where candy grandpa? (my dad is "candy" grandpa)

Me: He's in Idaho, that's where he lives. He's coming to visit you in a couple weeks though.

Reese: Let's go get him and have two grandpa's together?

Me: Sorry sweety it's not that easy.

Reese: miss mine candy grandpa. I schatzie...grandpa's treasure.

(Schatzie is what my dad call's Reese. It's an Americanized version of the German word schatzen, which means little treasure. It is a term of endearment in Germany like princess or sweetheart. The Americanized version got started when an American GI married a German girl after WWII and started calling her “Schatzie” instead of “Schatzen.”)

Arnold: Reese that's a cute shirt is it new?

Reese: Yep, mom bought it at Old Lady. (Old Navy)

Reese ran to the bathroom after playing outside all afternoon. When she emerged...

Reese: Mom I had accident...pee peed on the bathroom floor and rug.

Me: Of course you did. That only makes sense considering I just cleaned the floor and washed the rugs today.

Reese: (all smiles) Yep...a course I did.

Reese: Mom...I tired.

Me: You are? Do you want to take a nap?

Reese: (shaking her head) Don't be silly mommy.

Reese was looking at a picture of herself from last summer:

Reese: That me mommy?

Me: Yep, that was last summer.

Reese: Where mine hair go?

Me: You didn't have very much hair last year.

Reese: Why cause? Hair all gone?

Me: It was still growing from when you were a baby.

Reese: Oh oh oh...hair growing. Now I have big girl hair.