My Little Chatterbox

Chloe has really started talking a lot lately. She has a huge vocabulary and repeats anything you ask her to say. It's so fun (and helpful) to have her tell you what she wants. Some of her favorite words right now are yes, donut, Aubrey, thank you mommy, and bless you (she says this whenever you sneeze or cough - it's really cute!). She also tends to talk really quietly, which is such a huge contrast to her loud personality. :) She loves to copy everything that Aubrey does (good or bad) and loves to play with her. Lately they've been playing so much better together. It's so cute to see them leave the table after eating and hear Chloe say "hand" as she holds out her hand for Aubrey to take. They then walk hand in hand to the living room to play together. These are the moments when I'm so thankful that I get to stay home with them.

Garlic anyone?

Several weeks ago Calvin and I took the girls shopping to get Aubrey a bookbag for school. While we were at Wal-mart, Calvin wanted to look at the vitamin section for vitamins to give to the cattle. (Don't ask!) I was trying to keep track of Chloe who was constantly putting vitamins into our cart, so I wasn't really paying attention to what Calvin was doing. Anyways, we finished shopping and went to check out. We didn't have too many items - cat food, a clock, garlic, and some pop. When we got home, I unpacked all of our purchases and found the bottle of garlic, which I put on the windowsill for Calvin to take out to the barn. He bought it, right? Three days later Calvin comes into the house, holds up the bottle of garlic, and says, "What's this for?". I proceed to tell him that he bought it and needs to take it outside. He says that he didn't put it in the cart and didn't want it. What?! Apparently one of the girls put the garlic in the cart and I stupidly bought it. Aubrey says it wasn't her, so it must have been Chloe. That girl! You can't ever take your eyes off of her! Good thing Wal-mart takes anything and everything back! :)

Picnic at the Park

The day before school started Aubrey wanted to go and play at the park and have a picnic there. We had a few errands to run in Watseka anyways, so we had a picnic in the park. The girls loved it - I'm not really sure why we haven't done it before!

First Day of School

So, today was Aubrey's first day of preschool. She has been excited for weeks to go to school. She even had me circle the date on the calendar and had a countdown going on. Today was finally the day. We got dressed, ate breakfast, and then were off to school. She looked so big carrying her bookbag on her back. Once we got to school, we found her table and she sat down and got right to painting like all the other kids. Chloe and I hung around for a few minutes just to make sure she was settled, but she did fine when we left. I, on the other hand, got a little choked up - she's my baby going off to school for the first time - but I didn't cry. On the way to the car, Chloe asked, "Where Aubrey?" to which I replied, "She's at school." This was the first of five times in about an hour and a half that she asked this. It was so weird to be at home with only one child! Chloe and I played for a while, which was really nice considering I rarely spend time with her alone. She is so cute - she loves playing with the kitchen and her dolls. We then left to go pick Aubrey up. She went on and on about all of the things that she had done at school. She absolutely loved it! I'm so glad!

Ready for school with her bookbag and supplies

Chloe's not so sure about this whole going to school thing
Aubrey painting at her table at school

Park and Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

We ended up staying with mom and dad a few extra days while Calvin was away looking at some cattle in Colorado. While we were there, we swam, of course, did some shopping, played at the park, and I helped mom some at school. We also took the girls to the zoo. We had gone last year, but they were working on a new African section of the zoo which wasn't finished until the early part of this summer. We spent most of our time looking at this new area. The girls loved looking at all of the different animals. They spent most of their time out of the stroller - sometimes I wonder why I even bother bringing it! It was fine though, because there were plenty of people to help me keep tabs on them. They loved it!

Playing at the park near mom and dad's house - like Chloe's fashion statement? She absolutely refused to let me roll her socks down. How ridiculous is that!?

Sitting in the land rover at the zoo

Watching the zebras

Chloe loved getting up as close to the animals as she possibly could!

Grandma and Aubrey resting on a rock.

Sitting in a tent

Chloe fed the giraffe. Aubrey was too scared to - she didn't like its tongue.

Aubrey tried on a zebra mask.

Watching the cappuchin monkey (there was only one!)

Riding on the carousel with Grandma

Sitting in the tree house with Aunt Dani - they loved walking out there!

Looking at the monkeys

Chloe and Aubrey on the komodo dragon.

Chloe and Aubrey riding on the turtle.

Chloe found this ostrich in the gift shop and rode it around like a horse.

VA Vacation

The rest of our vacation went by too fast! We enjoyed spending some quality time with each other, and the girls loved being with their cousins. The weather was beautiful - hot and sunny with just a little bit of rain (it actually felt like summer!). I was not ready to leave, but somehow our week ended and it was time to go home. All in all, it was great and I am so glad we went!

We went to Colonial Williamsburg one day and walked around. There was a church there that we had seen on a previous trip to Williamsburg (in 2000) and took a picture in the same pew that I have a picture of me in with my sisters.

Grandpa swimming with Chloe and Colton
Aubrey did really great swimming - her swimming lessons this summer really helped her get over her fear of the water. She still doesn't like going under, but she at least swims now.

Watching a movie

Standing in an old fireplace at Lee Hall Mansion (notice Chloe trying to take off her clothes - she's been doing that a lot lately)

Me, Dad, and the girls in front of Lee Hall Mansion

The girls on the steps of the mansion

Singing together in Chloe's bed at our timeshare

Chloe eating breakfast with Grandpa

Chloe and Colton swinging

Aubrey and Maximus swinging

Walking on the rocks - doesn't she look so big!?

Trying to decide what kind of ice cream to get at Coldstone Creamery

Eating the ice cream that they picked

The four cousins

Chloe and Colton giving hugs before leaving

Chloe made such a mess with yogurt in her carseat. What was I thinking!? Oh, yeah - crying child - give her whatever she wants to make her stop crying! :)

VA Vacation - Virginia Beach

On the Saturday after we arrived in Williamsburg, we headed out to Virginia Beach. It was supposed to be an hour drive, but traffic was horrible so it ended up taking us almost two hours! Then we drove around trying to find a parking spot, which took forever because it was a Saturday and super busy! Once we finally got to the beach, the kids immediately started playing in the sand and ate a picnic lunch. The girls loved playing in the sand and sort of liked the waves. They just didn't like it when the waves got deep around them. It was really hot that day, so the water felt great and the waves were a blast to play in!

Playing in the water with Aunt Jenna

The girls and I at the beach
Playing in the water

Waiting for the waves