Tis the Season

Bayleigh & her friends at school The class party...cookie decorating

Brooke in a dress my Meme made

Brylee in a dress my Meme made

Bayleigh, ready for the Christmas show in a dress from some friends in TN

Posing

Bayleigh's Christmas Play

Brooke

Brylee

Brylee with fondant

Brooke eating sprinkles

Bayleigh and Daddy

Daddy & the Sugar Bakers

Mrs. Claus teaching ballet

and doing the train

Look who's pushing the twins

The girls with Santa

The Christmas Season has kept us quite busy this year. Everything started before Thanksgiving when we were graced with a trip from my sister for one week. The girls were so excited (of course, so was I) and I wanted to cram as much into the week we had her as possible. I must admit, that it went by quicker than I would have liked, BUT she must have really enjoyed herself because she is coming back to see us the end of this month. Now as much as I'd love to share every detail of this fun Christmas season. I would far rather be savoring every second I have doing all those fun Christmas activities with my sweet little girls. So, I am just going to share with you some of the highlights with pictures!

Fall Time Firsts!!!

This fall seems to mean lots of new "firsts" at our house. I guess you could stay it all started with this...


Now, if you haven't figured it out yet, this isn't any ordinary picture of Bayleigh with her bike. There is something missing. Still haven't guessed it yet? I will give you a hint, there are TWO things missing. Okay, for those of you who still haven't got an answer it is...TRAINING WHEELS!!! While Jason and I were out of town for my ten year high school reunion, Bayleigh and my dad worked very hard on learning to ride her bike without her training wheels. Bayleigh is going to be in a mini mud madness triathlon for her school at the end of October and it was very important to her to ride a bike like a big girl.



Now, Brooke and Brylee also had a "first" this month as well. The girls took their first trip to the dentist. I was a little nervous as to how well the would sit in a chair while their teeth were being cleaned but they did GREAT!!! They both especially loved the spit sucker, but the highlight of the trip was when their dentist blew each of them up a latex glove balloon. They spent the rest of the morning trying to "milk" their cow udder balloon.

Miss Brooke

Miss Brylee

There was also one more BIG first for Bayleigh. On Saturday, October 9th, Bayleigh lost not one but TWO teeth. They had been loose for awhile, but some very intense flossing on my part popped them right out. No gums for this girl though...her two permanents had already grown in right behind. The tooth fairy was VERY generous. She left SEVEN dollars and a new tooth brush!

Zoo Trip

On September 15, Jason and I took Brooke and Brylee to the zoo for the morning. It was quite a strange feeling being there without Bayleigh, and when she found out about the trip, she was quite disappointed. I think that has been the hardest part of Kindergarten for her...wondering what she is missing out on while she is at school.

The trip was a fun one, and it was nice to spend that one on one time with Brooke and Brylee. They really tried to act the part of "big girls," and Jason and I shared many laughs over their funny quirks.

Brylee giving the Komodo dragon statue a kiss

Brooke checking the statues nose for boogers

Riding the statue while yelling "yee haw!"

Daddy and Brylee at lunch...the highlight of our picnic was the squirrel eating our crumbs at our feet

Looking for a rhino

Me and my beautiful little girls...rhino in the background

Brylee and Jason...just spotted a lion!

Sassy Brooke enjoying a snack

The cute hedgehog we got to see up close

Brylee...can't believe how fast their growing up

Brooke...striking a pose

Looking cool in our shades

No question who these girls look like!

End of Summer Fun

As the nights are finally starting to get cooler here in Arizona, the pool temperatures are starting to drop. Now, if only our daytime temperatures could do a better job of following this cooling trend. Anyway...here at our house, we are trying to get in all our last minute pool time before it becomes too cold to enjoy. So on September 12, we had a playdate with some of Bayleigh's long-time friends, Collin and Carter. I've know these boys since before they were born, and they have always looked out for my girls like little sisters. Now between Carter and Bayleigh there is 2 1/2 years difference in their age, and they have such a special relationship. Although Carter would never own up to playing baby dolls, barbies, or having tea parties, he would do just about anything for Bayleigh. Joanna, his mom, and I have listened in on them having long conversations or playing with each other for hours. When Carter was younger he used to always test the water (situations that might get him in trouble) by sweet talking Bayleigh into doing it first. We were lucky enough to catch a surprise picture of them enjoying one of their private tea parties in the backyard.

Brylee...getting ready to do a cannon ball

Brooke...at the beginning of the summer she was unsure about swimming, and now she is the last one out of the pool

Bayleigh and Carter looking cool in their shades

Group shot...Brooke on the left, Brylee on the right

Bayleigh's School Swim Meet

Thursday, September 9th Bayleigh's school had their annual swim meet. As part of their PE classes they get the opportunity to swim for the first month of school. Considering that the temperatures outside are still over 100 degrees most days, this is a favorite with all the kids. After demonstrating all the water safety skills they learned, the kids got a chance to race across the width of the pool. Although I would have been proud of Bayleigh whatever the outcome...she flew across that water and took 1st place!!! I am convinced that she got her competitive gene from her Daddy. Here is a video of the big race.

Playing Catch Up - Part 3: Girly Girlz Party

On August 21, the girls were invited to a birthday party for one of their good friends, Eva. Her party was at a precious little boutique that catered to kids called Girly Girlz. It was an under-the-sea tea party, where the girls were made up into glamorous mermaids, complete with braids, hair glitter, make-up, manicures, tails, and accessories. Once everyone was as glamorous as they could get, all the mermaids sat down for lunch, cupcakes, and tea. My girls had so much fun, and I just wanted to share a few pics with you.

Bayleigh getting hair glitter.

Brylee getting her mermaid braid.
Brooke getting a mermaid-style manicure.

The fancy little sister mermaids.

Bayleigh and her best friend Sopia

Mermaid Brooke

Mermaid Brylee

Playing Catch Up - Part 2: Brooke and Brylee's Swim Lessons

August was also a big month for Brooke and Brylee. This month they got to take a class each Monday for swimming lessons. I must admit that after their first class, I was a little discouraged about their progress. They seemed distracted and off-task, and I worried that they weren't ready for it, BUT every week after that they continued to WOW me with all the skills they quickly acquired. By the end of their class, the could both swim underwater and flip to their back to rest or get more air. They loved diving in shallow water for rings and jumping off the side. Way to go girls! Mommy is so proud of you.

Hugs before their lesson. Brooke in pink, Brylee in the print

Me and their teacher working with them.
I love my little fishes:)

Sassy Brooke...she loves this Barbie leotard and always wants to swim in it.

Brylee...it took everything in her to wait her turn to get in the water.