Our Favorite Cottonwood Tree

There is a wonderful trail near our house that goes by many majestic cottonwood trees. We love these trees for their shade, and their great big trunks make great backdrops for pictures, too. There is one tree in particular that I really like. It served as a backdrop for Callie pictures in the spring two years ago.

It's hard to believe she was once this small

Two years later, Emily and Addison had a chance to pose at the base of the same tree! Addison was just getting over a stomach bug, so I wasn't able to get her to crack a smile, but a kind couple walking along the path helped me out by getting the girls' attention behind me, so at least I got them looking in the same direction! :)

These girls are mesmerized by big kids. Here they're watching some big kids go by on bikes. 

Pigtails!

In March, we decided the girls had enough hair to attempt pigtails, and oh boy! have those pigtails been fun!

This is the face Addie gives lately when she sees something she really wants or she's really excited about something, it's usually accompanied by loud mouth breathing

Emily's hair isn't quite long enough for two pigtails yet, but one is pretty darn cute!

A Little Friend

Kaia Lin was born on February 29th, which makes her a leapling! She came into the world three weeks early weighing 6 pounds, 5 ounces. She's a healthy and alert little girl, and when she was almost three weeks old, Emily and Addison got to meet her!

So tiny, so precious, so beautiful

To be honest, Emily and Addison were probably a little more excited to see Doogle, he was a little more active than Kaia. In fact, later when Doogie got to come out of his kennel, Addie chased him around, squealing with delight.

Addie looking at the baby

Emily reaches out to touch Kaia's hand

The three girls

Gate Breakdown

The girls like to sit at the base of the stairs and rattle the gate. It now has a bungee cord keeping it closed after they figured out how to open it. A few weeks ago, Emily rattled and rattled until finally, voila, the gate came loose. Addie and I came to see what was going on, and while Addison joined her sister in the gate breakdown, I picked up the camera to document this teamwork.

E: Hmmm, the gate didn't used to do that

E: Maybe if I just pull it a little harder

A: let me help you out, I'll get this side

E: Oooo, this piece just came off, what should I do with it?

A: Oooo I wanna see. Can I see?

E: No way! This thing's mine!
A: I want it!!!!

E: Mmmmm, tasty. I knew it would be.
A: Uh, wait a minute, do you see what we just did?!?!

A: hehehehehehehehe

Vacuum Phobia

Chris took these pics of Addison while I was vacuuming a couple of weeks ago, and I think he did a great job of capturing her curiosity and apprehension. I usually can't vacuum when I am home alone with the girls because Addie gets scared and just wants to be picked up, but in order to be picked up, she needs to come near me, which means coming near the vacuum, which just makes everything very scary and complicated. So Chris usually distracts the girls while I vacuum. Addison's curiosity usually gets the best of her, though, and she'll break away from whatever game they're playing in order to investigate the noisy sucky thing.

The game Chris has been playing with the girls a lot lately is called "Spoon Island". The chairs are islands and it began with a spoon being the motivator he would toss from chair to chair to get the girls walking. The spoon has since become anything that is currently captivating their attention, but it's still a fun game around here!

Spring

So far, we've had a very warm start to spring here in Colorado, which means we've been spending a lot of time outside enjoying the nice weather. 

On March 5th, we went to EB Rains park in Northglenn. Best. Playground. Ever. These are the post-play all-dirty-and-worn-out shots.

Emily got to play in the sandbox for the first time on this playground trip

Up next: Nap

March 6th, so nice out we decided to eat lunch on the deck

After lunch, it was out to the yard to play in the sun

March 8th, back out to the yard for some exploring

Emily practiced her rock climbing skills, going up and down our little rock wall, always being very precise in her hand and foot placement and always maintaining three point contact

Me and my girls

One of my favorite views these days, Addie by my side

Backyard Exploration

Eatin' stuff

Eatin' other stuff

March 14th, we took our first trip to the Denver zoo. The girls didn't quite get the whole watching animals thing, but they loved watching all the kids!

March 15th, we went to the Smiley Library to return Library Doll, and while we were there we had a nice geese-watching session

This squirrel begged and begged until we gave him a bit of MumMum, which he nibbled and then dropped in disgust before running away, telling all the park animals that we had lousy snacks

March 27th, DeeDee came over to help out in the midst of a stomach bug epidemic, and while everyone was feeling decent, we went to the park for some fresh air

Emily was on her own in the swings on this trip to the park since Addie's stomach was pretty queazy 

Watching the grass slowly turn green and the buds come out on the trees and bushes, listening to the birds chirp and the breeze blow, tasting the sticks, rocks, wood chips, dirt, grass, bugs, and yes, even goose poop.....ahhhhh Spring!