Swim Lessons

Katie and Ella took their first swim lessons at the lake last week. Once they were there they loved it, but every day was a battle. Ella told me, "Mom, the teacher wants me to put my face under the water and I don't want to!" I assured her that she could put her face under the water when she was good and ready and no sooner! Here's a few photos from class...

Katie hanging out have a good time with the kick board.

Katie giving me a smile (and making sure I was close by).
Ella being Ella (i.e., ignoring the teacher and doing what SHE wanted to do!)
Listening a little bit... or trying to decide exactly which instructions she was going to heed and which she was going to ignore.
Ella giving me a big smile... she really did have a good time.
Katie (far end) and Ella (closest) on the kick board with a friend from class in the middle.

They even have "circle time" at swim class!

Ella got splashed in the face -- CLASS OVER!

Having a Conversation

This is not the greatest photo, but I had to hide while I was taking it (they fuss at me every time they see me with the camera!)... I heard the girls talking so politely to one another and when I looked around the corner, I saw them sitting at their little table in the kitchen carrying on a conversation... just chatting away. Although they fight, they are definitely the BEST of friends. As soon as they saw me, the moment passed... but, I know there will be more.

More Cousins Come to Visit

Boy, have we had a busy few months. We just returned from Oklahoma on Tuesday and on Saturday we had more visitors. This time it was Bill's cousin Emily (Aunt Emily, to the girls), Uncle Chuck and their kids, Meg, Sarah, and Chase. They spent most days sight-seeing and unfortunately, we didn't get the camera out much, but here are a few shots from their all too quick visit.

The girls (Ella in blue and Katie in yellow) with cousin Chase.
With Aunt Em
Making Silly Faces
At the amphitheater at Arlington Cemetery
Chase, Katie, and Ella running and running and running...

Katie & Ella's NEW Room

I decided that the girls' room looked like a dorm room... everything was mismatched and sort of hap-hazard. So, we ordered some curtains, got rid of the old changing table we were using as a book shelf, and hung some new vinyl clings and this is the result... Finally, a REAL room!

Notice the pink gingham curtains and the flowers, butterflies, caterpillars, and ladybugs flitting about the walls?
And, a REAL book shelf!

Goodbye Kisses

It was time to head back to DC.

Ella's gives Aunt Shelley a big sloppy goodbye kiss! MMMMMMMM....
SMACK!
Katie puckers up for hers.

"Bye-Bye, Aunt Shelley!"

Horse and Buggy Ride

Grandma and Granddad's neighbors in Oklahoma have a miniature horse, named Cloud, and a little buggy, just his size. Mr. Mark took the girls for a ride. The horse was adorable -- no bigger than a large dog. In fact, they have a Standard Poodle that I'm pretty sure is bigger than the horse!

Katie took the first turn.
Now, Ella's turn.
Isabella, the little girl from next door, Ella, and Katie.

Katie was a little nervous and that was about as close as she would get to Cloud. Isabella did her best to convince both girls that Cloud was a good horse, but they weren't too sure.

Little White Riding Hood

We left Aunt Bonnie and Mimi to hold down the fort and I took the girls and headed to Oklahoma for a quick Jones family visit (Bill went TDY to Colorado). Here is a cute one of Ella pretending she is "Little WHITE Riding Hood". She put her gwagy (that's 'blankie' to you and me) on her head, secured it with her hair bow, and beings gwagy is white, viola! Little White Riding Hood.

Katie was the "Wolf".

Aunt Bonnie et al come for a DC Visit

Shorty after Aunt Shelley, Uncle Val Joe, and Cousin Wesley left, we had more visitors. This time it was Aunt Bonnie, Cousin Will, Baby Beth, and Mimi. We didn't get the camera out much during the visit -- too busy play referee! -- but here are a few snapshots of the kiddos.

Katie and Will
Ella playing with Baby Beth
She LOVED playing with a real live baby and Baby Beth seemed to enjoy all the attention as well.

Perfect Endings

I was out and about most of the day today and when I got back to Grandma and Granddad's house Ella was in the little kid swimming pool, just hanging out on her floaty enjoying the late afternoon sun (naked as a jay bird, I might add!). It was time for supper and everyone went in to eat. Ella was still enjoying herself in the pool, so I decided to hang out with her until she was ready to get out. As I was sitting on the patio just relaxing and soaking up the last of the day's rays, I hear a soft voice say, "I love hanging out with you, Mom." Now, that's a perfect ending to any day...

Yesterday

We arrived at DFW on Tuesday evening and our typical after airport routine is to stop at the McDonald's in Frisco. They have a wonderful indoor play ground and it's a great way to burn off that extra energy before the long car ride to Atoka.

We were in the bathroom washing hands and Katie says, "Mom, we never been to this place before." [Translation: We've been here before.] She continues, "We were here yesterday."

Ella says, "NO, KATIE! Yesterday is a short time. We were here a long time ago."

Decorating Baby Beth's Bouncy Thingy

Baby Beth is here visiting this week. Katie decided she needed to make a sign so that everyone would know the bouncy thingy that Aunt Bonnie brought belonged to baby Beth. It used to belong to the girls and she really wanted to write "This used to be Katie and Ella's and now it belongs to Baby Beth". She was satisfied, however, with "Baby Beth" and a picture she drew of of her.

This is the complete master piece... You'll notice the large Doodlebop light stick she taped to one side and the rattle she made from a couple of plastic cookie cutters. She was really trying to make sure baby Beth was happy in her bouncy seat.
A close-up of the picture she drew of baby Beth.
This is the word "BABY"... she wrote all the letters herself.
They are all on there B-A-B-Y, just not necessarily in the proper order! This sign says, "Beth".
Again, the order of the letters is a little random, but all the letters are there and she wrote them all herself WITHOUT looking at the ones I wrote for her. She knew exactly what she wanted to write, she just needed me to tell her the letters.
Katie being silly.
Happy with her work.

July 4th Celebrations

Well, another Independence Day Celebration for Katie and Ella and, at their request, another year wearing the SAME blue/red dresses. This is the 3rd year in a row they have worn these dresses.

Katie July 2006
Ella July 2006

Ella (blue) and Katie (red) July 2007

Katie (red) and Ella (blue) July 2008

As Aunt Bonnie pointed out, these particular dresses definitely passed the cost/benefit test! In fact, I'm pretty sure we'll be able to get at least one more year out of them...

This year Kate and Ella had their favorite BIG cousin, Wesley, here for a visit. (As opposed to their favorite LITTLE cousin, Will.) Here's a snapshot of the kids hanging out before we all went our separate ways... we did the neighborhood parade and then went to the Air Force Base for fireworks and Aunt Shelley, Uncle Val Joe, and Wesley went to do the 'real deal' in downtown DC.

Aunt Shelley and Uncle Val Joe joined in for the photo op

The Gladden's head off to downtown for a day of sight-seeing and fireworks!
The Brigman clan head to the Lake Barcroft Independence Day Parade... the stroller is all decorated and ready to roll!
Lining up for the parade
One of the decorated wagon's, a Voting Booth.
The girl's hanging out waiting for the parade to begin.

The (almost) world famous Lake Barcroft Band! Notice the bass drum being pulled by the wagon.
Katie playing with Julia, a friend from the neighborhood.
Later in the day, we meet up with the Valenzuela's at Bolling AFB's Freedom Fest.
Finally! It's time for fireworks!
A not-so-good-picture of the view of the fireworks. We were just across the river from DC. You can sort of see the Washington Monument just to the right of the fireworks. Aunt Shelley, Uncle Val Joe, and Wesley were right in front of the Washington Monument -- they had a GREAT view (plus the noise and the crowds)!!