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".