Happy 4th Birthday, Juli!

After everyone was back from Magic Kingdom, the birthday fun continued! We sang Happy Birthday to Juli and had some delicious birthday cake from Publix. If you have one near you, I highly recommend anything from their bakery! :-)

Swim Time

The girls patiently waiting for a trip to the pool...

Pretty girl

I have the remote and some fishies. I could just stay right here all day!

Can we go yet, Mom? Please!!!

The Budding Artists

Katie brought home this paper from school on Friday that she and Juli worked on together. She said she colored the front and Juli drew a chameleon on the back. Fine work from both of them if I must say so myself! :-)

Katie colors...

and Juli draws

There was also a bunch of other pictures that Katie had drawn.
What do you think this is?

If you guessed jellyfish like I did, you're wrong!

She told me "I tried to draw a football but it didn't work very good." Once she said that, I could see how it might have been footballs in her mind. The laces just wound up under the ball instead of on them, LOL. I'll give her an A for effort.

Prima Ballerina

Katie started dance class today. She was so excited and couldn't wait to get there. Juli's in the same class and one of her good friends from school is also in the class so she had a great time! They do a combo of ballet, tap, and hip-hop. I'm not sure yet if Katie got Joseph's or my dance talent (poor kid) or maybe Aunt Karen's (that'd be good!) but either way, she's having fun! :-)

Pretty as a picture

Showing us their "moves"
Dancing Queens
Warming Up
Once we got inside the girls got to run around a bit and practice on the bars.
They were having a good time!

Katie helping Livi dance

Once the teachers went into the 'studio' (I guess that's what it's called, right?), the door is shut so the kids aren't distracted by the parents out in the waiting area but we get to watch them on TV. It was just so darn cute!!!

Juli's up first, then Katie

Check out Twinkle Toes at the end!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Katie!

Tonight Aunt Sandy, Juli and Livi came over for Katie's birthday dinner with me, Joseph, Katie, and Maddie. Then Grandma came over to sing Happy Birthday and Katie got even more presents!
(Disclaimer: Our dining room is being remodeled, hence the open walls and unfinished floor!)

Singing to Katie

Juli's happy to have a piece of Katie's birthday cake

The cake

Grandma snuggling with Livi

Our Lil' Party

Opening Grandma's gift, a really pretty winter coat! :-)

I think this is her look of shock because she got a "cambra"

Now she's excited!

Checking in out and ready to take some pictures!

Today's A Good Day For A Trip, CiCi!

Katie and Juli took their first train ride today and loved it. Well, Joseph reminded me they have been on the train in Magic Kingdom but I think this qualifies as the first ride because we sat in a passenger car and it was not at all like a ride at an amusement park. It was lots of fun though!

We rode the West Chester Railroad with Karen, Chris, Maddie, and Chris' mom Diane. There was supposed to be a flea market at the station but it was one measly table with stuff you couldn't even give away. Pretty funny!

Choo-Choo!

Maddie, Katie, and Juli in front of the train.

Standing there was totally freaking Katie and Juli out!

Juli enjoying the train ride as we moved slowly past the train yard.

Note the scoot away from the window once the speed picked up!
She did warm up to it and as we bounced along she told me "CiCi, this train is really dancing!"

Katie on the other hand loved looking out the window the whole time and didn't even want to turn around to smile for a picture.

Tree #1 - Uh oh! Debris on the track! It's just a little one though...

Chris, Maddie, Diane, Karen

Tree #2 - Umm, we might be here a while!
Actually, kudos to the guys cutting through the trees. They got everything cleared pretty quickly.
Thank god because let me tell you it got hot quick in that passenger car once we stopped moving!!!

The conductor gave the girls lollipops since they were so good while we had to wait for the tree to be cut off the tracks.
Here's Juli's aftermath...

On the ride back to the West Chester station, the girls read their Thomas books that they bought at the Glen Mills station.

Katie took this picture of Juli. She's such a talented photographer. Maybe Daddy can give her some lessons!

After the train ride, I drove the girls past West Chester University, since it was just around the corner, to show Katie and Juli where their Mommies went to school. Katie asked if me and Aunt Sandy were in the 'big kid's class', LOL. I stopped to take a picture of the building we lived in our first year and Katie said "if you want, I can go inside with you and take a picture of your old home." Aww, sweet offer but they were so tired and crabby (they were tired headed TO the train and never napped). Otherwise, I would've gotten out for a few minutes and walked around the campus a bit. Oh well, maybe next time...

Here's our old home
(taken on a drive by)

For more pics, check out Sandy's blog or Karen's Shutterfly pics (I'll have to add that link later.). Oh, and thanks to Juli for the title of this post, :-)

Our "Swim Club"

Today Dave, Karen, Angie and Jared came over to visit since the kids weren't able to play when I stopped by their house on Wed night. Juli came over too to join in the swimming fun. The kids had a great time playing together!

Trying out their new "gobbles" as Juli says, :)

I don't remember what made them make this face but I had to post it because they both look so funny!

Katie loves her cousin!

Olivia thinking "Seriously now, what are those 2 weirdos doing???"

Enjoying the pool

Jared searching for his quarter

Choo-choo!

Time for a break

Karen forgot her bathing suit so this was her "dip"

Happy Father's Day!

James and Sandy came over tonight with the girls for a Father's Day BBQ. Katie, Juli and Livi had a great time playing on the slide and swing set while the grown-ups snacked on some yummy BBQ food. Joseph and I made pulled pork for the first time and it was so good! I can't wait to have some of the leftovers, :-).

Katie trying to go under Juli to get over to the 'drive'

Livi could do it easily since she's smaller.

Success! Livi takes the wheel!

Monkey girl!

My camera died since I hadn't charged it after the concert last night so I don't have too many pictures, :-(.

Gone Baby Gone

We went to Juli's Goodbye Tonsils party on Wednesday night but I'm just getting around to posting a few pics now. Now the tonsils are already gone and Juli is back home!

Goodbye Tonsils, Goodbye!

Katie helping Juli open presents

Katie couldn't wait to check out the Hannah Montana doll!

You're never too young to work on your computer skills, :-)

Juli in her froggy robe