first time without training wheels

We went to the school so she had plenty of room but....she found a few obstacles...

Well, while Frankie was out fishing with Adam, I decided to take Hailey to try her new bike without training wheels. She did great...and I think the video tells the rest of the story...she is fine, no worries, and she kept getting back on! Elias rode his "cycle" until it ran out of gas (battery)...he rode after his sister the whole time!

I wanted to include a video update on her swimming lessons. She is doing excellent! At this point, they are really working on endurance. She is able to do the backstroke and freestyle the length of their lesson pool without help. She very much looks forward to her lessons, and is one tired little girl after. All of the teachers keep eyeing Elias, and I promise them that when he turns 3, he is ALL theirs! He has no fear when it comes to water, and definately tries to mimic his big sister!

Hailey's b-day

Four generations of girls (minus Ashley...I need another brown face in there!)

Bad girls bad girls...watcha gonna do?

Hailey turned 5 on the 18th, so we had friends and family at the sprinkler park for some water and fun. They got to decorate their own cupcakes (Kirra's solution to the icing melting). Hailey got the best present from Great Granny...a much -needed visit! Great Granny arrived while Hailey was in her swim lesson and kept turning around looking at her. She finally realized that it was true...Great Granny had suprised her! She told her swim teacher and they all waved at her. I think Great Granny was as happy as Hailey was! I've also included a picture of Great Granny, Kirra, and Hailey on Uncle Adam's bike. Hailey tried really hard to get Great Granny to get on it, but she settled for standing behind her. Elias much enjoyed his cupcake...as you can see!

Sea World and Fishing

The look on Elias' face tells how good of an aim he is...

On Tuesday Laura and I took the girls to Sea World for a mommy and daughter day. We all had so much fun! The girls were brave enough to go on a Shamu roller coaster without mommy's. That is Hailey's mouth you see on the whale in the front of the picture. Shamu really was amazing, and so were the seals. I've included a picture of what Hailey described as the "potato looking thing"...aka a walrus. After a few shows, we went to the water area to cool off. I took Hailey and Mia down the water slide...Hailey went in front by herself, while I rode with Mia. They loved it! We wrapped up our great time with a HUGE thunder and lightening storm and a bit of the park getting flooded. Mind you, Laura and I got "mom of the year" awards as we ran through the storm with girls on our backs....We were able to catch a glimpse of a rainbow before we left, which was very pretty.

Last night, Frankie and I took Hailey and Elias fishing. Well, I watched while they fished, since I'm not much of a fisher-person. Frankie used to try to get me to fish, but he gave up after he noticed that I sat with a book while he did all of the work. Now he just accepts that it really is better if I don't even pretend...geez, Grandpa really should have left him a warning book about what NOT to try with me! Anyhow, Hailey and Elias got to fish. Well, Hailey got her line in the water and Elias got a pole with the line out of the water. Right when we were packing up, some Round Rock police drove up on 4-wheelers and talked with us for quite a while. Hailey got to get on their transportation...Elias just wanted Mommy.

Enjoy....

more swimming...and the 4th

Elias got to ride in the "train train" and also got his girls to himself at the movie in the park...

On the 4th we had the Bachtel's and Mom, Adam, and Kirra up to our house. We are lucky enough to live down the street from an open park that looks over much of the city, where we could also see the great fireworks!

Laura and Mia invited Hailey and I to go to SeaWorld with them tomorrow, so we are going to have a mommy and daughter day. Frankie has to work, so Scotty is being awesome enough to watch Elias. He assured me that he would much rather chase the two boys around his AC'd house than Jack around SeaWorld. So true! I will post some pics from that fun day when we get back...enjoy!

June 2009

Hi all! Well, I am off of work so we are super busy! I have been taking the kids to the library at least once a week (have to get Hailey ready for kinder!), Hailey's swimming lessons twice a week, swimming in Granny's pool or another pool another 1-2 times a week...and the list goes on! We've also visited the sprinkler park and on Friday we went to a movie in the park with Mia and Laura. I'll post pics of that soon. I've also included two videos of Hailey swimming...she just started taking lessons in June, and is doing great! We are very proud of her progress! The swim school she is at is year-round, so she will continue with one lesson a week when school starts. I love that when I take her to the pool now she can function without hanging on the wall the whole time. She just beams with pride....

I'll post more pics in a few days...

So, we recycle water wings. We have a standing agreement that when there are enough adults for every child, we don't water-wing them up. However, when one's child gets out of the water and walks the the opposite edge that his parents are to jump in - HE gets water wings no matter what! Well, until he can start the swim lessons Hailey is in when he turns 3.

Ahh..Hailey loves her mermaid Granny Goose...

Kirra's b-day, bike riding and swimming

So...check out Elias in his undies grabbing himself! Such a boy... Earplugs are being modeled, as well as Hailey's goggles..

Jack and Eli laughing at the cake...and Eli getting a ride...

May has come and gone...we celebrated Kirra's b-day last weekend. We had the Bachtel's up and all of the kids had fun. Elias likes to climb on Hailey's bike. He thinks he looks very manly in his undies and on a pink bike...

We also went swimming twice now. More pics to come on that...Hailey starts a swim class next week. She is SUPER excited! We had to get her a one piece, so I needed to show that off as well. It HAD to have the strap to go around her neck (fashion pain) so it took some looking!

Elias' Birthday

Yeah! A sand and water table AND a wagon! Who could ask for more?

Goofy backyard play...her neck is kinda freaky! Yes, his thumb was on the lense.

Koolaid anyone?

Mommy and Daddy forgot candles on his real birthday, so Daddy found ghetto candles! Cheeeeeese!

Happy 2nd birthday to our little man...I won't bore you with the rest! Elias turned two on April 2nd and we had some great friends over to help us play with his new sand and water table. Right now it's purely a sand table, but as soon as the sand decorates our yard appropriately it will soley be a water table until October or so. I've thrown in a few pictures of Hailey and Elias today in their goofiness.....we hope this finds everyone well. Enjoy the pics!