Two

Miss Frances also had a birthday this past weekend. Two years old! Wow!

Just a few thoughts to capture this precious little girl...

*She has loved Minnie Mouse since December and still has quite the affinity for her but princesses are running a close second, namely Ariel!
*She loves to pretend to talk on the phone.
*She's already a great little singer. She likes Wheels on the Bus and Row Row Row Your Boat along with several worship songs.
*She talks up a storm (much more than her brother and sister at this age).
*She loves her Sissy and Bubba (as she calls them). She will also refer to WalKer as WalTer. We always get a kick out of this.
*She's fun loving--loves to play dress up and loves to be tickled:)
*Her biggest love right now is swimming. She goes around the house collecting everyone's swimsuit when she know it's pool time. She tells everyone "babysuit on" and you best get moving. No cover ups either; she wants to know you've got your suit on!
*Dougie the black lab is still her favorite lovey.
*She loves to drink milk and likes to eat cheese and anything else her brother and sister are eating. She will not eat peanut butter however but loves most any kind of meat.
*She loves her mommy but at the same time she is very much a daddy's girl.
*She refuses to sit in the buggy anywhere! Unless she is in a folding chair:)

Pool Party Fun

We celebrated the twins' birthday poolside this year.  There's just not much you can do in the hot summer sun that doesn't involve a little bit of water!

I hope to have some actual pictures to show soon, but until then, I thought I would share how we carried out the pool party theme. (Check out my Birthday Parties Pinterest board to see other fun ideas that just didn't make the cut!).

First step...cute invitations! Kathryn helped me pick out these fun invites from My Expression.

Second on the list...a cute cake or (in this case) cupcakes!

octopus cupcakes

Throw in a few fun theme-inspired ideas...Like serving fruit in a carved "sandbucket" watermelon

watermelon sandbucket

and serving snacks (cheese curls and goldfish for us) in sand buckets

Summer Mix served in sandbucket

and you've got yourself a party!!!!

Six

Walker and Kathryn are celebrating a birthday today. We kicked their special morning off with doughnuts and a Target run (a birthday tradition three years in the making!).

We will be partying at the pool later today, so check back for some party highlights!

A First

Kathryn lost her first tooth last night! She was a little nervous, a little excited but mostly determined to get that loose tooth out of there!

We are proud of you Kat Lloyd!

Beach Trip 2012

We just returned home from 4 days at the beach. It was everything we could have hoped for--sun, sand, swimming and good food. And even some extras for the kiddos namely balloons, face painting and bunk beds!

Matt and I even celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary while there with some Mexican food followed by ice cream:)

Here are some pictures capturing some of the highlights!

Anthro Featured Artist

I am LOVING Anthropologie Featured Artist, Alexis Bittar's jewelry pieces. Just wish the prices were as eye-catching. At several hundred dollars a piece, don't think I'll be buying, but a girl can drool, I mean dream!

Elytra Necklace

 Lucid Charm Bracelet

Puddle Earrings

Someone Stole My iPad!

Can you guess who?