Would you like to put your head on my chest?

I heard Bella say this to Evie so I ran into the room where they were watching TV and found this.   Love it.

I will be hanging this up in my cube at work

A bunny rabbit by Bella

Butternut Squash 2012

It is a tradition!   Grandpa Groves brings butternut squash.   I attempt to prepare it and get the girls to eat it.  Grandpa's haul this year.

And captured with video. I just noticed the first video also captures Evie's hair twirling habit. Those knots are really fun to get out with a brush!








And the links to last years posts about butternut squash

butternut-squash-2011.html

butternut-squash-retraction-we-have.html

iMother's Day

This post is way overdue but I couldn't let it slide by.. I had a great Mother's Day.

Jeff surprised me with an iPad after I got myself an iPhone a few days before. So I had lots of new toys to play with.

If you ask Bella about Mother's Day she'll say it's the day we put up a bounce house inside. I ended up purchasing a small bounce house at a garage sale and the girls really love bouncing on it. We've only put it up inside so far.

It was a beautiful day so we went to Kent park for picnic. Evie didn't eat so well and kept trying to wander away. Bella was being a good big sister kept going out to get her and bring her back.

After eating we played at the playground for little bit.

We ended the wonderful day with ice cream at ColdStone.

 I'm so lucky -it was such a great day.

Evie sings 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'

We have a video of Isabella singing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' when she was about Evelyn's age or a little younger.   When I heard Evelyn singing it I knew I had to get a video.

Last day of Blastball

The last day of Blastball was a sweltering 97 degrees, so not too many kids came out.  Bella did really well, she had some good hits and got lots of balls out in the field.  We are so glad that she seemed to really enjoy it.

Here is a video of a good hit and a run around the bases.  I'm not really sure what the boys on the other team are doing as she runs the bases, kind of chasing at her, and as I watched the video again it kind of annoyed me....  

The Team (the ones that made it that night)

Our celebratory end of Blastball celebration dinner was at Subway (Bella's favorite).  She informed me in a serious tone that she only like lettuce on her Subway Sandwiches on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Guess it was a good thing it was Wednesday, because I had them put lettuce on it.

Bella and Aiden at Blastball

This video cracks me up. Bella's team is playing Aiden's team in Blastball. Aiden is up to bat. Bella is way at the front of her team because they are trying to give her a chance at getting the ball as she has only gotten one or two all season long. One of the reasons I like this video is that Aiden is Bella's best friend and you can see the both in the video even though they aren't on the same team.  Bella wipes out while trying to get the ball and then you see Aiden running to first and back.

   

 The next video is one where Bella does actually get the ball and yells out 'Blastball'.

 

Bella's Gymnastics Fun Meet

Bella had her "Fun" Meet today at gymnastics.  She had quite a bit of stage fright and had a shy sheepish look on her face the whole time.   She didn't seem to be enjoying herself, but after it was over she said it was fun.   The meet was basically they went around to four different stations: the balance beam, floor, horse, and bar and did a routine on each one.   Just yesterday I took her to a makeup gymnastics class and she was doing all this stuff on her own, but due to her stage fright she didn't seem to want to do anything on her own.  We are proud of her that she went through with it and at the end had fun.

Hard to get pics in that gym, she's the blurry one in the black on the balance beam

She basically either had her hand over her mouth or in front of her the whole time

Starting her floor routine

Receiving her medal

Her "fun meet" look

Evie and Grandpa were there to cheer her on.

Posed picture afterward when she was all happy again

Easter in pictures

We kept busy on Easter weekend and I took plenty of pictures, so here goes.

First, noticed Evelyn kept saying Happy Easter, so I had to get a video

On Sat. we started off with an Easter Egg hunt at a Coralville park.   Calvin and Kevin were with us too!

The kids watched some tennis

Happy Evie!

 Afterwards, we spent some time at the park

 Close-up of Calvin and Evie saying good-bye (a little much PDA) 

Everyone running back to the van

Next, we went to some Easter activities at Sycamore mall.

Bella held a real bunny.  Evie was way too scared to get near it.

Evie with bunny mask

Bella does some coloring

and shows off the finished product

The girls get ready to dye some eggs

Love Evie's expression here

Patience is hard work

Look how pretty!

 Sunday morning the Easter Bunny came and we went to church

 Grandpa Groves came to visit and we did an egg hunt outside

We ate Easter brunch at the Iowa River Power Restaurant

Bella enjoyed her food

Jeff stuck out his arm with the camera and got this candid shot

Grandpa has his hands full

Finally went ended the weekend with an egg hunt with the neighbors.  Lots of fun in our backyards