a little catching up

Here are just a few pictures from the last week or so to see what we've been up to... Kinley got her 2nd haircut ever. She requested it and loved sitting in the fun cars and watching Mickey Mouse while getting her summer 'do. Ty attempted to chase around a rolling sippie cup... and thought he needed a haircut too or just wanted to play in the firetruck seat. Ty has been teething like mad and sleep is not so sound but, he loves sleeping on his momma and I just can't resist it myself very easily.

  We went to the lake again last weekend and there was lots of swimming and dock sitting.

Ty has learned to eat puffs and just thinks it is the coolest thing. He is so proud of himself when one successfully reaches his mouth. Also, some princesses came by our house the other day.

And Kinley started her first gymnastics class. She LOVES it....maybe it has something to do with her hot pink butterfly leotard??

What has summer held for ya'll lately??

Mommy / Daughter Night!

Last week Kinley and I had a mommy / daughter night!! Spending time with JUST Kinley is rare these days and I just treasure spending some one on one time with my girl! She is growing up so fast and has taken to being a big sister SO well. There are countless times I have to tell her to hold on or be patient or do something for herself because I am holding or attending to Ty. She does not hold one ounce of jealousy or bitterness and has handled it beautifully. She was beyond thrilled to spend our time coupled with Jen and Eden. I don't think I have mentioned it on the blog yet but, we learned about a month ago that Eden and her family, our dear friends the Fogles, are moving to Illinois at the end of the summer. We are so happy for them and the ministry opportunity they will have at their new church but, it truly is going to rock Kinley's little world. She is totally co-dependent on Eden and just loves the life out of her. I have tried explaining to her what moving means and how Eden won't be around everyday or at church or school anymore. She acts like she gets it but, I am not sure. She mentioned the other day when we were talking about it that she wanted to pick Eden up from the airport with a sign that says "We are glad you are home Eden." So sweet...but, I think she is equating it with a vacation. Anyway, we will cross that dreadful bridge when we get to it and until then, spend lots of time together for the summer.

The night of our mommy / daughter night it was pouring down raining so Kinley insisted on her rainboots.

We started at Chili's for dinnner and let the girls order pretty much whatever they wanted. So, there was lots of chicken fingers, french fries, chips, strawberry slushy, and lemonade. They were a little wired while waiting for their tables and laughed and laughed and turned the waiting area into a dance floor.

After dinner we decided to go to the mall for an indoor activity. We shopped a little and rode the carousel in the middle of the mall and got punching balloons as a treat. The night was so fun and totally exhausting. The girls both crashed on the way home and were pooped from too much fun. Did I mention that we let them pick out matching outfits to wear to Summer Camp at church the next day?? They couldn't resist.

I can't wait for another Mommy-Daughter Night!

 

Good Girl Jars

So....we finally made our good girl jars.  Allison made them up last year and they are genius and adorable and so much fun.  I really think Kinley is just now old enough to really get it and be motivated by the good girl jars.  So, a year later...we finally made some. They are no where near as cute as Allison's.  It was super easy to do on the silhouette.  I just cut out the images on white cardstock, some colored cardstock circles and used some modpodge to attach them to mason jar lids.  If you don't have a silhouette...totally go to the Lullaby Lubbock Etsy store and buy some of these.  They are a steal and customizable and totally worth it!

Kinley's good girl jars are for:

• Going to bed by herself / taking a nap (a biggie!)
• Washing her hands after she potties
• Eating all her food / trying a new food item
• Cleaning up toys
• Brushing her teeth
• And a Thumbs Up for a catch-all (i.e. being polite, sharing with Ty, helping out mom, etc.) 

Finding what to fill the jars with was a fun challenge.  I tried to fill up the jars with what I REALLY want her to do with the really fun items...so, going to bed by herself has some really fun spikey neon balls. And the Thumbs Up jar I filled with foam stickers so she can get lots of those each day.   Other jars are filled with bells, vase filler glass, multi-color cotton poufs, and jewelry beads.  

The jars truly WORK and are amazing.  Day one of the good girl jars Kinley was being babysat by Pops & Gram and brushed her teeth and went to bed by herself all at one time just to put some stuff in her big jar! She is so excited about it.  Her rewards are every quarter of the way up the jar.  She already got to go to get ice cream with Dad for filling it up a quarter of the way!  Yay Kinley!  

When she fills it up to the very top she gets to go to the zoo.  She is so excited and motivated to fill her jar!

We can't wait to go to the zoo!

last week in instagrams

Ty had his ears checked and they are clear and beautiful now.

But, there is still a lot of teething going on. We spent last weekend at the lake for memorial day with my parents and Ben's parents. It was the most relaxed I have ever been there. Lots of helpers with kids, lots of sleep and sun. It was amazing. There was lots of fishing

and sitting on the dock

   

we went to the park after we got home to play outside and fish some more Can't wait to see what next week holds!

painting for a friend

Kinley asked to paint the other day and I remembered seeing on Pinterest one time to write their name in painters tape on a canvas and let them paint over it.  Kinley loved going to town on her canvas and was so excited when her name was revealed in white.  I obviously did not spend much time making her name pretty so we had a few paint runs and not the prettiest canvas but, we were in a rush to start painting!  Then, when she was done she wanted to give her canvas to Eden.  But, I didn't think Eden would want a canvas with Kinley's name so I suggested she make one for Eden too and she loved doing it.  It was a fun surprise for Eden when she came over to play.

 

We will have to think of some other pictures to tape off and paint this summer.