The box of swim diapers we bought for the beach came with a pair of Dora sunglasses. They stayed in their packaging until after nap time today. Then Paige found them and wanted to play with them. She almost got them on correctly- and was very happy about having them.

At daycare, at least. Today was Virginia and Paige's first full day in the 2s room at daycare. They apparently had a great day in there. When I picked them up the teacher told me that they'd been doing really well with the little plastic cups they use in that class, so she sent their sippy cups home with me. Virginia and Paige decided they would be perfect for holding their Goldfish during snack time. I was also told that both girls have been sitting on the potty at daycare. Neither one did anything on it, but it's a step in the right direction. My babies are growing up.

Paige and Virginia got some dress up clothes and jewelry for their birthday yesterday. They were both having fun today putting on all of the jewelry. Paige enjoyed wearing the necklaces and lots of bracelets.

Today Paige and Virginia turned 2 years old! We had a great day, just the four of us. We went to the "mini-zoo" aka PetSmart to see some animals, then went out to lunch and spent the rest of the day here at home. Here are Paige and Virginia in their crowns that my friend, Sara, made and wearing their new dresses I bought for them last weekend in Georgetown.

Today we celebrated Paige and Virginia's second birthday at my parents' house with both of our sets of parents, both of our brothers, my brother's wife and son, and my grandparents. We had a great day together and celebrating the girls' birthday. One of my coworkers made an awesome cake for the girls so we made sure to light candles and sing to them. Here we are singing to Virginia and Paige with Keats watching closely to make sure no one got cake before him.

Today was another hot day, but not as humid as it had been the past few days, so I decided I wanted to get outside with the girls this morning. I set up their baby pool from the beach and their water table and filled them with water. I dressed the girls in their bathing suits (and sunscreen) and out we went. They had a great time throwing water everywhere, but I also managed to catch a picture of them both actually putting water in the water table. Amazing. This may have been the only time the put water in it instead of just taking it out. Virginia is in the purple shirt and Paige is in the white one.

Tonight we had chicken nachos for dinner. The girls enjoyed them, Virginia especially did. She liked getting a big chip and being able to take bites of it. Paige was having more fun breaking her chips into little pieces. Here's Virginia taking a bite of one of her nachos.

Tonight Paige and Virginia were having fun playing with some of their puzzles on the couch. They've gotten really good with these puzzles. They sometimes need some encouragement, but they can do the whole things themselves. They're getting to be so smart!

Almost every evening after dinner while I wash the dishes Ben convinces the girls to go into the living room with him to play with their couches. Last night was no different. But first they had to have some milk. I had already finished washing dishes, so I took the opportunity to take pictures of Daddy sitting on their couches with them. Paige insisted he sit with her, but shortly after this was taken Virginia insisted he move to her couch and I had to sit down with Paige.

It's not very often that the girls sit down next to each other (without being strapped in) for more than about 3 seconds, so when they sat down on the couch to drink their milk together this morning I ran for the camera. Paige and Virginia love their milk, and their snack cups of Cheerios.

Since today is Father's Day I wanted to get a picture of Ben with the girls for today's picture. We were only with the girls from nap time to bedtime and we went out to dinner with Mimi and Pops, so we didn't have much time at home to worry about pictures. Virginia was not in the mood to get her picture taken and would not sit next to Ben for a picture, so we only got pictures of him with Paige. At least Paige was happy to have her picture taken with her daddy. Happy Father's Day Ben!

Ben and I went to a wedding last night. One of his fraternity brothers and good friends got married to a wonderful woman. As is customary at Theta Chi weddings (at least with Ben's pledge class), we took pictures of all of the brothers in attendance with the bride. I think I'm the only one of the wives that was not picked up for her picture with the brothers. Here are all of the guys holding Elise: Tyler, Tony, Corbin, Ben, Gene, Dave (the groom) and Michael Jordan.

I took the girls out this morning to play with their water table on the deck. I decided not to put shorts on them because I knew I'd have to change their clothes when we came inside, so why dirty two pair of shorts? The girls had fun pouring water everywhere. I put the iceberg together for them, but as soon as I poured water on it they took it apart. Paige and Virginia love playing with their water table, even if that does mean they're just pouring water all over the place.Ben and I are about to leave for DC for the weekend for a wedding. We won't have internet access at the hotel, so there will be no post tomorrow. I'll post tomorrow's picture on Sunday.

Yesterday when Mimi came over she brought new outfits for the girls. I thought they were so cute that I dressed the girls in them this morning. I wanted to get a picture of them before daycare just in case they didn't come home from daycare wearing them. Well, my attempts at a picture of the outfits didn't work out too well. The girls were too busy carrying around toys and blankets and hiding their outfits. I did manage to get a picture of them together, though, so that's an accomplishment. Paige and Virginia wouldn't smile for me, though...

This evening I asked Virginia what a lion says, so she responded with, "Roar," repeatedly. I snapped a few pictures as she was saying, "Roar" and for some reason her tongue comes out of her mouth when she says it. I'm not quite sure how that works...

Ben and I like to play "Family Feud" on facebook in the evenings. Tonight Ben was playing a game before the girls went to bed and asked Virginia to help him. She put her hand on his shoulder and squatted beside him on the couch to help him. He made it to the "Fast Money" round, so she must have been helpful!

This evening the girls played with Play-doh for awhile before bedtime. They loved it and didn't want to put it away. Virginia enjoyed taking the Play-doh in and out of the container while Paige enjoyed pulling the Play-doh apart and putting the pieces on her pumpkin.

Paige picked up Ben's keys today and headed right for the foyer with them. I thought she was going to the front door, but she stopped at the bathroom door and tried to use the car key in that. I guess it made more sense to her than the front door since it does have a whole in the middle of the door knob. She tried and tried, but never could get the key in the door knob. Probably because the hole is just a small circle, no where near the shape of Ben's car key.

The girls have started getting their cardboard bricks out again and playing with them. This morning Virginia and I were playing with some of the column pieces while Paige played with the bricks. Virginia started looking through one of her columns so I took one and started talking through it. The girls thought that was hilarious. Virginia was trying to look up the tube at me while Paige looked on and laughed.

Virginia grabbed my Blackberry off the couch today and put it up to her ear like she was making a phone call. She was so serious about it that I asked her who she was calling. With no hesitation, she said, "Dada." Too bad he wasn't near his phone to get her phone call.

I came home after work today and got the wagon and walked up to get the girls from daycare. When we got home they didn't want to get out of the wagon, and I didn't want to stay outside (it was hot), so we brought the wagon in and the girls played in it in there. Paige decided to play with her Magna-Doodle, while Virginia snapped herself into her seat and then yelled for "Mama."

Virginia has found a new place in the house to hang out- the toy box. She started climbing in there on Monday and has been in there at least once every day since. This evening she climbed in there with her bear and her cell phone and hung out for a bit.

Tonight the Nationals' rookie pitcher, Stephen Strasburg, is pitching in the Major Leagues for the first time, so we're watching the game. He's doing so well that Virginia and Paige decided to clap for him. Well, really, Daddy clapped and so Virginia and Paige were copying Daddy, but they're looking at the tv, so we're going to say they're clapping for Strasburg. Don't they look excited?!

This evening the girls and I were singing "Row Row Row Your Boat" while holding hands and rocking on the couch. The girls love it! Last night Ben and I looked up more lyrics to the song so now I sing 3 verses instead of just the one that everyone knows. The girls' favorite verse is one that goes, "Row row row your boat, gently to the shore, and if you see a lion, don't forget to roar" and they roar. It's so freaking cute! Here are Paige, Virginia and I row, row, rowing our boat.

We came home from the beach today and my mom brought Jefferson home from her house today also. The girls were so excited tonight to have their "woof woof" back that they went over and petted him and loved on him. Virginia even gave him a kiss, just like she is in this picture. I think we're all happy to be home and all back together.

Today was our last day at the beach. Tomorrow morning we'll pack up and go home. The girls had a great time playing in the ocean today. Paige joined Virginia in the surf and squealed with delight. Here is a wave hitting all four of us: Ben, Paige, me and Virginia, and the girls couldn't have loved it more!

Today we decided to take the girls to the pool instead of the beach. Virginia took right to it. Paige wasn't so sure at first, but it didn't take long for her to start really enjoying it. They both enjoyed sitting in their floats, "swimming" with Mommy and Daddy, walking laps around the pool and sitting on the edge of the pool with Mimi and Pops. Here are Mimi and Paige enjoying sitting on the edge of the pool.

Today we decided to take the day off from the beach and went to the Aquarium. Mimi and Pops wanted to take the girls to check out the aquarium and we thought the girls could use a break from the sun and their beach shoes, so we decided it would be a good day to hit up the aquarium. The girls loved it! Paige wasn't quite sure about things when we first walked in, but then she saw fish and went crazy. She was running around looking at everything and loving it all. Virginia was the more reserved one today, but she was also running around after a bit. After we went through the whole aquarium we checked out the stuff outside, which included a sea turtle statue that the girls could climb on. Here are Virginia and Paige hanging out on that turtle.

While Virginia loves playing in the water, Paige isn't as big a fan. She likes to follow her sister, or lead the way sometimes, to the water's edge, but after the waves hit her once she wants to be held. She really enjoys watching Virginia play in the water from the vantage point of her mommy's hip. Look at how much fun Paige and I were having.

Virginia could not have had more fun this morning playing in the surf. She dragged me down there and I wasn't sure we were ever going to get out of the water. She laughed and squealed with delight. As soon as the tide would go out a bit and stop hitting her she'd ask for more. It was great fun!

Paige and Virginia had a great first day on the beach. They played at the water's edge a bit, played in the sand under the canopy and loved playing with their baby pool. As you can see they didn't mind getting sandy at all. In their minds, the more sand the better.

I am now able to pick up a wireless internet connection, but the connection is not very strong. I'm hoping to be able to do daily photo updates, though.

Sunday evening after we got to the beach Virginia and Pops went to check things out. I sneaked behind them and caught this wonderful moment with the two of them checking out the view from the end of the walkway.