June Bugs

As we say goodbye to June I'm reminded of how quickly these lazy Summer days go.  I remember being little and looking so forward to the months when fun was the main thing on the agenda.  Now as a mom I feel a sense of responsibility to add a little bit of Summer magic to the hot days that beg the question..."What are we going to do today?"

I've tried to keep my little bugs busy.  Like fireflies in a jar they bring light to almost any activity.  Budding artists have turned our dismal driveway into a beautiful canvas...

When Emme grows tired of drawing the chalk tends to migrate towards her mouth...

So I do my best to distract her...we practice words like, "bird" and "tree" and "flower"....

Some mornings we've slept later than others, but when we manage to make it out before the temperature hits triple digits we hit the road...

Sometimes meandering through the streets to Aunt Kim's or maybe even making it to Starbucks.  Others we take breakfast to go and just enjoy the sunshine...

If I'm feeling especially motivated we may find ourselves headed to the zoo...

On this particular trip the early morning animals were just waking up and my girls held hands running from cage to cage admiring the activity...

We also managed to find a hidden area that we've always overlooked.  Carter got up close and personal and said hello to a prairie dog...

We always end our visit with a ride on the train.  I never say no...maybe because I have such fond memories of doing the exact same thing with my Mimi as a child...

June has not been without a few mishaps.  The biggest one being a little run in I had with a Limo...

Sad faces all around...

There was also the moment where I realized sometimes a multi-tasking mama just can't get a break.  While I was busy cleaning toilets (just about my favorite job in the whole world) Emme was busy eating a blue marker...

She also found the perfect spot for a mid-morning nap...

We've attempted to find the balance between lazy mornings at home...

And afternoon activities.  Heading to the pool seems to top the "favorite things to do" list...

Carter surprised me on our last visit by deciding she was going to jump off the diving board (a first for her).  I had expected this to come with some pomp and circumstance (namely coaxing or at least calming a few fears).  So imagine my shock when she just walked right over and took the plunge...

After a few lessons in diving off the edge from Aunt Kim she was ready to try that as well...

I've deliberated all summer about which swimming lessons to sign her up but I think instead I'll just hire Kim...

There is a fine art to staying busy and I'm slowly perfecting everyday entertaining.  It's the little things like turning a quick trip to the store into something fabulous when you score the race car cart (sure it's like pushing an 18 wheeler around but hey it's cheap entertainment)...

A morning spent playing beauty shop at the kitchen sink is also free of charge (and leaves everyone with clean hair)...

It's been a happy June around here.  A few highlights I missed...The other member of our family purchased a new car (I am so proud of her, really Kim I mean it)...

And I drove up I-35 to help my Mama and Daddy move into their new house.  After months of chaos they were happy to have a place to call home...

You can follow her new home/decorating adventures at Roxanne the Artist.  And while I was away the girls had a little date with their dad (Carter had seen the advertisement at Chik-Fil-A and it was a must give gift for her on Father's Day)...

With a months worth of fun under our belts we're gonna' keep on soaking up the sun and making the most of our hot Texas summer...

And maybe take a nap or two while we're at it!

Show Business

Last Friday we found out the hard way there really is no business like show business.  Carter has been taking dance from a rather intense place for the past few months...

All her hard work was culminating in an end of the year recital.  If you're wondering what exactly I mean by "intense" well think FULL dress rehearsal the day before and you might have a general idea.  Thank goodness for sweet fashionable aunts who help with makeup...

I won't bore you with all the details but the short version is the venue was downtown (which means trouble and mama's gonna' be getting lost).  I did my best to allow enough time for finding the place, parking, etc. but in spite of my best laid plans we were still running late.  We parked and hit the ground running...literally.  Me pushing the stroller and my sweet little Carter jogging her little heart out.  I don't think I will ever forget looking down as we hurried along and seeing her arms pumping and curls bouncing...her determination stole my heart.  


We ran a good half mile before finding right entrance and pushed through the door as the music for her routine was starting.  I tossed her up on stage (and did my best to ignore the dirty look her teacher shot me).  I was sweaty, frazzled, and a little worse for the wear but...BIG SIGH we had made it.


Fast forward 24 hours and the day of the actual recital.  I was determined to allow ourselves plenty of time.  I had Carter's make-up done well ahead of time (think toddlers and tiaras) and was getting ready to start on her hair when I left the bathroom for a moment.  I returned and had to do a double take, it looked like I was staring a raccoon in the eyes.  Carter had rubbed black circles about two inches wide around her pretty blue eyes.  I wish I had thought to snap a photo...but based on the previous drama of the day before I went into go mode.  With a little help from Roxi we quickly re-did makeup, finished curling hair, and voila...finally ready to go (per Carter's request we took a "before" and "after")...

I'm not sure she will ever wear this much make-up again...

But I could get used to these beautiful curls...

 It was all a bit much but Carter was loving it and that made me very happy.  She was super excited that Grammy, Granddad, and Roxi all came to watch her perform...in fact she got a hold of my video camera on the way downtown and the results were pretty funny if you ask me...

She is crazy about seeing herself on film (not sure if that is a good or bad thing)...

I hung out backstage with her class and they were pretty cute in their tiny tap shoes...

It was finally time to get down to business and after all the drama I was so glad my munchkin' was finally shuffle hop stepping her little heart out with the rest of her adorable class (Carter is in the back right corner)...

                          

I was so proud of my tiny dancer...

But I wasn't the only one...

It's easy to be kinda' crazy about this kiddo'...

Even if she was wearing more make-up than her mama...

Did I mention how much I love her...

With the show behind us we headed for a celebratory dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.  Her daddy told her she could pick out any dessert she wanted and  Carter (who is reading anything and everything she can get her hands on) read through every single cheesecake on the menu.  She finally decided on "The 30th Anniversary Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake" (say that five times fast)...

All in all it was a totally unforgettable weekend, with a few moments that I am tucking away on the "hope I'll remember forever" list.  I was reminded more than once not to sweat the small stuff (literally when it's 105 out) and to just laugh and have fun...it is the perfect antidote for stress.  That being said I think we may be pondering another dance company for the fall...

Something with a little more emphasis on the fun and a little less emphasis on the show.  One thing is for sure around our house there will always be dancing going on...

And fun, there will be plenty of that...

Hands Down

There is absolutely no denying my girls favorite person in the whole wide world.  It is (without a doubt) their daddy...hands down.  


There is a palpable air of excitement that permeates our home the minute he arrives.  Squeals and the sound of little feet running across the hard wood floor are followed by cries of, "Daddy's Home, Daddy's Home, DADDY'S HOME!!"  When he is out of town that daily pick me up is very missed by all of us.  Homecomings are always sweet and much anticipated (no matter how long their main man has been away)...

He is the one that seems to be able to make everything better...just by being there...

He is loved, adored and when he is home we are complete.  He is the best dad I know, how lucky that he just so happens to be my husband...

Happy Father's Day to you Nate (If it wasn't an actual holiday we would make one up just to celebrate your greatness!)


And......to my own daddio....you'll always be the greatest man I've ever known (a few of my favorite photos)...  

And my new favorite things about you?  One word..."Pops".  You've been sporting the name for almost 6 years now and you wear it well if I do say so myself...

Happy Father's Day Dad.  Thanks for continuing to be the person I want to talk to when everything is perfect and when nothing is going my way.  You are one of my favorite people in the whole world and I love you.


Dad is great...he feeds us chocolate cake.