Please don't call CPS

Daniel and I were discussing what our plan was for dinner tonight. He has to head into to town for a meeting, but he said that he would pick up a pizza for us on his way home. I explained that the kids would be in bed by the time he got home, though. So, we were trying to figure out a way for him to get home sooner.

At that point, Ava is really excited at the possibility of pizza for dinner and decides to throw her two cents into the conversation:

Ava: "Daddy, I really think you should bring me pizza home for dinner."

Daniel: "Oh, yeah. Why is that?"

Ava: "Because....I don't think Mommy really wants to feed me anymore."

Gee, thanks kid! Hopefully, she doesn't say things like this to strangers, or I could get in some real trouble.

I knew this day would come...

So up until recently, Ava has had absolutely no interest in picking out her own clothes. I was stupid enough to actually believe I could get through the preschool years without this struggle.

Well, that has all changed now. Ava insisted today that she was big enough to decide her own outfit. Fair enough, I thought. She seems pretty good at knowing what goes together when she helps me pick things out. I mean, maybe she just has a natural knack for style. So, I let her at it.

Well, Ava glides downstairs triumphantly declaring that SHE MATCHES! Oh, my sweet girl. Stripes and plaid together? You have so much to learn, my love. No worries. I was so proud of her for trying hard and for workin' it.

And yes, I certainly let her out in the neighborhood for our walk today in this. In fact, she was sure to tell everyone that she picked her outfit out. I was thrilled to see her so proud of herself. I could never take that from her.

What am I going to do with this kid?

Oh, Leila Rose is going to give me a heart attack one day soon. Today I ran outside for a minute to adjust the sprinkler while the girls were peacefully playing upstairs. I was only out for a couple of minutes when I came in to find that Leila had climbed on the kitchen counter. I have no idea exactly how she managed this, but I have a feeling the high chair was involved.

Anyway, I immediately go to pull her off since she was on a very narrow section of the counter only to find her munching on something. I stuck my finger into her mouth and pull out a small piece of it. She is eating Daniel's orange slice candy that was sitting in a jar on the counter!

Those of you that know me well know how anti-candy I am for young kids. I immediately stuck my finger back into your mouth to retrieve the rest of it. Of course, this sent her into a massive fit. I can't blame her though. I would be mad too if someone snatched candy out of my mouth. Once she recovered, she stood up with the saddest look on her face and begins to sign more...More...MORE! I laughed and told her that there was no way, and she begins her fit all over again. I fear a candy monster may have been created today. I need to figure out how exactly she managed to get up there and also hide the candy bowl.

Our evening walks

I am so happy that we are getting some relief from the oppressing heat and humidity we endure here in the Gulf region of Texas. It is rough when you can hardly let the kids outside to play for months on end. I mean, it is a sad thing when you are cheering for temps in the low 90's.

Anyway, I am thrilled to be able to take the girls on an evening walk everyday. We have been going up and down the streets of our new neighborhood. I have not met many of our neighbors since we have moved being that no one wants to venture outdoors longer than the time it takes to walk to or from their car. Now, I seem to be seeing many people outside tending to their yards or chasing kids around. I have met a few moms with two daughters that are similar ages as Ava and Leila. One in particular, I see every evening walking with her girls, and we always stop to chat for a minute. I still have not met any one I would call a friend as of yet, but it is nice to just meet new people.

The other great thing about our walks is that I am lugging 50+lbs of kids and wagon behind me. Let me tell you what a great workout that is. In the week that we have been going out, I have noticed a huge difference in my shape. I really haven't had the opportunity to work out well since moving and giving up access to a gym and remember the heat. So, this is great for me. I love the feeling that a good work out gives me. That and the body change is such a huge motivation to keep getting out there every evening. Not to mention that the girls LOVE riding in the wagon and look forward to it as soon as dinner is over.

Adventures in plane-making

We had a fun day making paper airlplanes. I don't know where Ava picked the idea up from, but she was so great at folding. Here are our results:

Mommy's

Ava's

...and Leila's

Hey, it flew when thrown hard enough. What more can you ask for from a 16mth old?