First Bath in a Real Tub

Four and a half months old and she's too big for the sink. I put her in the real tub, and big sister G insisted on hopping in. Baby E was a bit dubious of adding a splasher to the mix, but Gretters was in heaven.

Girly things

My first french braid on the girls... I'm so proud.

Our cousin Ann came to town for a brief overnight visit and brought tiaras for the girls... which they absolutely loved. She bathed them and played "waterfall" with them and showed her usual Ann Poppins magic. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of Ann Poppins--- but I did catch a quick snap of Gretters wearing her tiara. Thanks, Ann!

Baby E enjoying her pedicure. Those baby nails grow so fast!

Family Date

Daddy and I try and go on individual dates with each of the girls. They're usually pretty simple, like going out for icecream or going to the mall. We thought it would be fun to go on a family date and make it a big one: dinner and a movie! Here we are at Red Robin.

We had some extra time before the show started, the girls played on a few cars, buses, spaceships and trains. Here the twins ride on a big yellow bus.

Gretters had fun on the train pretending it was choo-chooing. It was weird to think that only a week ago, we had been at Disneyland riding a real choo-choo.

Shrek... the final chapter. This was mommy's favorite of the four movies because it was about families and being grateful for what you have. I am blessed with a wonderful family and I am grateful!

Brief cousin visit

After the Grand Canyon visit, my sister's family passed through to visit other family in the area. One night they played with us at the trampoline place, and then returned to the house to eat pizza and play dress-up. Good thing we have several princess dresses.

The twin cousins

Grand Canyon

Growing up, my family always took long vacations. Because of those trips, I've seen 45 of the 50 states, but we had never been to the Grand Canyon. We decided to take a road trip with our three families from California and see it together. All I can say is that it doesn't even seem real; the beauty is indescribable. And we definitely want to go back, with just the adults, on a hiking adventure. Here we are, keeping the trip tradition alive with our own families.

Our own little family standing on the "edge" of the North Rim.

The hotel we stayed at was only a couple years old and was all decked out in cowboy parafanilia. The girls loved the mini fridge. We swam with all the cousins in the big pool, ate pizza together, and ran across the hall back and forth between the rooms. It was cousin heaven.

Gretters standing in our cowboy bathroom. Notice the boots and steer horns on the wallpaper.

Bell and E in the hotel. All three girls clamour to hold their littliest sister. It's so cute.

My little sis and her groooowing family; all five kids and one on the way!

Little brother and his little family.

The cousins sitting patiently waiting to start our Grand Canyon tour.

Sisters from another mother. My sister and I joke that Gretters and Eva were twins separated in heaven. These two munchkins are a year apart, and that's about the only difference. They are both fiery and independent and simply charming when they want to be.

Celebrating Dad's 60th

My dad turns 60 this year and for his celebration he wanted us to all go to Disneyland. We made t-shirts again like last year, only this year the ears indicate the "magic" number. We chose blue because it's his favorite color.
This is how I spent a good portion of my time... yes, there is a baby under there.

Bell drove Mommy in the Utopia cars. She didn't crash into anyone. She said "Mom, now that I know how to drive, maybe I can drive when we get home." Hmmm... maybe... in 10 or 11 years. She did a great job, but pointed out how Grandma Red did NOT obey the signs when she crashed into us. Yes, Bell... Grandmas can be naughty!

Both the girls rode all the fast rides (except Indian Jones because they didn't make the height requirement). They love rollercoasters. Here, Lady poses with her fancy sunglasses in front of the Matterhorn.

Gretters favorite rides were "Pirate Booty" (Pirates of the Carribean) and the "Ghost Ride" (Haunted House). She still asks me to hum the tune they play while in the haunted mansion. This girls isn't afraid of anything (except maybe ants). She also loved chasing the little birds that populate the Disney grounds.

Baby E enjoyed looking at all the people from the comfy seat of her bjorn. Mommy lost her polka dot sunhat in the Haunted Mansion, so she had to buy Baby E a lavendar tinkerbell sunhat. It only cost a semester's worth of college tuition.

One of the rides the whole gang could ride... It's a Small World. With 10 grand-daughters, it's no wonder that the "doll ride" was a huge hit with this group.

This is a replica of a photo we have of the girls when they were 16 months old on their first trip to Disneyland. We were carrying them in bjorns back then... but now they're too big for that. It doesn't seem that long ago that they were first here... and yet, I definitely have two grown-up girls. Where did the time go?

Highlights from this Disney Trip:

1) Being together of course in our matching shirts

2) Yummy Mexican Food

3) Gretters shutting down the Alice in Wonderland ride (oh yes she did)

4) Buzz Lightyear competition

5) Me finally refusing to ride Dumbo, but watching all the other poor suckers wait in the longest line for the shortest ride

Day 2 California Trip: Grammy!

While in California we stayed with Grammy. She rolled out the red carpet for us; feeding us, buying diapers for the babies and giving the kids all kinds of gifts. All this, while running back and forth to the hospital to take care of her sick husband, and still looking glamourous in her bright clothes and funky earrings!

The girls had fun running all over her house, playing with her collection of dolls, and going in her pool. Our second day of the trip we had a BBQ with my Aunt Marlene and our cousins. Daddy and the other men-folk played a balance game, and then most of the adults played Liar's Dice.

The girls' favorite room was the "Cowboy Room." They saddled up to the bar and pretended to have horse races with their cousins.

Baby E dressed in the cute guitar outfit Grammy bought her. This little girl LOVES music. Good thing she was born into a musical family.

Our last day of the trip I was looking at Grammy's library and noticed she had MiddleMarch (one of my favorite all-time books). She told me I could have it... and a collection of classics that my great-grandmother had owned. I remember my great-grandmother's library and was in awe of it as a little girl. I am excited to now own some of her books and pass on my family's love of reading to my own children.