We've been hot out here. The best way to keep cool is going to the O'Fallon pool. Its got this mushroom behind them (the water fall), pretty neat. The girls have started to warm up to it but they still aren't sure unless I am right near their sides.
The hats are a requirement but Suzanna loves to wear her glasses as well. We've made such great use of these hats with straps under the chin. Two summers in a row, that's good. Ella doesn't try pulling it off any more since she knows the velcro usually wins.

What do you think?
The time has come for this little one to wear her first pony tails. She has enough hair, and actually probably needs a trim. Today was the day!

This time last year.

It started out being a nice cool morning so we headed out to the park after Ella's first nap. The Castle Park is one of many parks within 4 miles of our house. The girls like this one a lot. I like the shade and tunnel slides so Suzanna's legs don't get burned.
Somehow Ella ended up with Suzanna's sunglasses.

Peek-a-Boo Ella Bella!
This evening was like normal evenings when Suzanna is finished with her snacks Ella shares the rest of hers. Suz will come over to Ella's highchair and Ella will put the snack in Suzanna's mouth. Very sharing.

More dance moves you might ask? Yes, this little one pops them right out!

I just thought I'd add another picture of the girls. My big helper....
...and the little sweetheart.

100 days to go...hang in there Daddy! Your biggest fan club is waiting open armed for you right here in St. Louis!

Suzanna's new phrase she learned yesterday was "I think so". It's very amusing where she inserts that phrase. After Quiet Time today I asked her if she napped and she responded, "I think so". I laughed. She laughed....funny girl.

Our yellow roses are in bloom. This is the rose bush closely planted to the deck. We still haven't moved it (as our Master Gardner referral recommended.....soon, Nana, soon). I can't believe we've been here 2 springs now. I commented to Casey he's going to miss the St. Louis summer and he paused and said "No, I won't be missing any summer....I'm in Iraq". Sorry, about that comparison...I'm sure Colleen can testify to that truth! Any how, I thought you'd like to enjoy this rose and think of home, Casey.

I neglected to add the favorite part of going to Eckert's Farm this weekend was the strawberry picking. Well, there was a huge long line of people picking their own, so we just did it the easy way (having 2 toddlers) and just went into the country store and bought a bunch. They look small but they are juicy and delicious. It was hard not to sample more and more when you cut and wash. Yes, I froze half for this Fall when we have someones favorite....Strawberry Heaven.

We had such a nice visit from Mimi and Aunt Angie. The girls had a blast with the inflatable pool Aunt Angie brought with her. Well, at first the water was too cold then Suz kept begging Angie to go outside (with just her undies on). I also loved going out for a movie, lunch, manicure and pedicure (thanks Angie)! Needless to say I've been very relaxed and feeling great! The afternoon they drove back we all took long naps. That's how much fun we had! The weather was great on Saturday at the Farm and Strawberry picking (so good....yes, I froze a lot for you, Casey). Sunday it pored cats and dogs as well as Monday. Yesterday and today we broke down and turned the AC on. It's been very very humid. It's only maybe 83 degrees out there but the humidity has made these curls very tight and frizzy (yuck). Suzanna's hair looks like she walked out of a salon. For some reason it works opposite as mine. Maybe its the mixture of baby hair, but with humidity comes this body and beautiful ringlets...I hope it stays baby girl!

Last night as I was making my final rounds on the girls I was just hit by how peaceful the girls sleep. As I walked in on Ella I had to smile. I love the messy hair and her little arms up. Casey and I always laugh at how stubby kids arms are because they don't reach over their heads. I can only imagine these arms going a few more inches up. Not quite over the head just yet.
I went in for another shot and I think the flash woke her up....oops! I was out of there before she realized what Mama was doing.

Tonight before I went to bed I checked in on the girls.

Each Memorial Day Eckert's Farm has a strawberry picking time and also activities for the kids. It was a nice overcast day, so much unlike this time last year.
The airplane was a hit this year. Just Suzanna's size.

Today the McBride's joined us for a morning at the park.
Ella's at that stage where she enjoys the park but would like it more if she could walk herself around needs be.
I really love how well Ana plays with Suzanna and Ella both. The entire time Ana made sure Suz had a buddy to go up and down the big slides and would cheer the girls on. Suz was constantly asking where Ana was and Ana was such a good buddy for Suz.

At the dinner table Ella joins us in prayer over the food. It's so cute how she folds those chubby little arms and prays.

Things Suz loves to do:
Make Ella laugh. Do what ever Ella is doing.
Coming down the slide....weee!

Here you are, Alisha.

Both girls napped once we got home from church (around 2:45). It was too late for me to nap (there's no way of me getting to sleep in the evenings if I nap after 3pm), so I took that time to Blog. Suzanna, however took a long time waking up when 4pm rolled around.
Ella tried to wake her up, nope....not a budge.

Doesn't Suzanna look like Sleep Beauty?

• Suzanna during Sacrament Meeting grabbed a hymn book, put it on top of her legs and sang (loudly) with the congregation. (The row in front of us kept turning around, it was cute!)
• Sweet and endearing emails from Casey
• Ella's contagious smile
• Suzanna calls all her Nursery classmates "friends"
• Looking into Ella's eyes and seeing Casey
• Beautiful Spring weather this week....hopefully it will stay that way for next weekend (Memorial Day weekend)
• Mimi coming into town and helping me out
• Fresh vegetables and Suzanna devouring broccoli (her new favorite)
• Ella first thing when she wakes up (very snuggly)
• Right outside Ella's window is this bee balm tree because of it her room smells like lilacs when the widow is open
• My two wonderful and beautiful girls

Every Sunday morning after I do Suzanna's pretties she goes and shows Casey the final result. This morning was no different. After I finished with her hair she said "Show Daddy my pretties". That moment made me sad, but I quickly reiterated Daddy was at work far far away and let's take a picture so he can see the pretties.

Thinking of you Daddy.

I took this video a day before you left, Casey. I just stumbled across it, maybe you haven't seen it yet...here you go sweetie.

Two things I forgot to mention: Ella plays peak-a-boo by covering her ears, and do you notice how she bites the spoon....a little game she sometime plays when you feed her.

We've had rain this last week. It's been nice....we love the thunder storms. Suz gets all gitty when she hears the thunder. We race to the windows waiting for the lightning to strike soon after.
Today was a bright and cool spring day. We started out the morning teaching violin lessons and then we played on the Fort. Thanks to the rain, the grass is green and growing like crazy and bunnies all well fed (all three generations). Today was a nice Spring break of blue skies. I can't help but think of St. Louis when I hear the song "Blues skies, nothing but blue skies". I've never seen such blue skies before in my life! I remember befriending a girl in the Army from Kansas. She had her family pictures and I asked her if they photoshopped the sky in the background, it was so clear and blue. She said "Nope, that is what the sky looks like out in the Midwest". And she was right!
Our Fort.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were all reflooring and recarpeting days. It was hard juggling the girls while loud noises took place. The hardest part of all was trying to clean out every closet and put it somewhere besides the carped areas. That took some time, and replacing as well as putting the books back on both bookshelves. Thank goodness Shantelle let us come over today, there was no where to hide with the girls when they did the carpeting. It was a nice break, thanks Shantelle!

Okay the before picture didn't really show the scars, tears, and cheapness of this vinyl. But here it was:
...and after:

Because of your hard work Casey, we can enjoy our much needed replaced flooring. Thank you!