Names

Practicing the fabulous 4-some names in an attempt to reduce tears. 

According to Emma:

Emma = E-ah

Molly = Mommy

Jessie = Baby

Clara = Woowoo

We will keep working on it :)

Our week in progress (including Clara's 1st dentist visit!)

On Monday we started off our week with a bang when Clara had her first dentist appointment!

We had kind of a rough morning, but thankfully she and I worked out our differences over a discussion of who lives in the water in the car on the way there, and then they had a princess page to color while we waited (1 bonus point to Dr. Matthews!)

There were two other little ladies around Clara's age waiting too, so that made it fun. They giggled, read a book together, drove the ship in the background, and then did some more coloring together.

One by one they started to get called back and Clara didn't care - she was just happy to have the purple colors all to herself. 

Then it was Clara's turn! Ms. Erika won Clara over rather quickly by letting her pick out her own new tooth brush. (Please note Clara's outfit of a dress, tennis shoes and a swim suit cover zipped up.)

Then she gave us a tour, introduced Clara to some of the other people there, showed Clara all of her cool tools and then let Clara have her very own mirror tool to see what was going on. Plus she got to wear some "wonderful Daniel Tiger glasses" to protect her eyes from the "bright hot sun light" :)

She did great while Ms. Krystal counted her teeth and cleaned them a little bit. But at one point she got spooked and needed to sit on my lap for a little while while she kept working. She let her brush about half of her teeth before she decided she did NOT like the "tickle brush" and wanted no more "strawlaberries" in her "mouf" (the tooth paste tasted like strawberries)

The hygienist said that Clara did really well for a first time visitor, especially at a 3 years old, and that her teeth looked fantastic. (Yay, the brushing is paying off!) 

We had to hang around a little while until Dr. Matthews could come and take a look, so we took silly pictures to pass the time :)

"Clara a pirate, argggggggg"

"Gig 'em, Aggies! Argggggg"

 And then when Clara started getting restless and ticked off they asked me what would be helpful, and I asked if Clara could play with some 'Elsa' gloves. Clara was ecstatic! 

She let Dr. Matthews count her teeth and take a look, and then while he talked to me she let Ms. Krystal put the fluoride coating on her teeth. They let Clara pick out a balloon (she picked orange!?!?) and a toy from the Treasure Box. And then, right before we left, she asked if she could have a little tooth brush for Baby Emma's teeth :) It was so sweet, and they let her pick one out for Emma too. 

They told us to make an appointment for about 6 months from now, and to bring Emma along. We'll see how that goes! :) 

Then I dropped Clara off at school for just a little while, and then picked both girls up and we went to play at Lulu and Papa's house for just a little while, with puzzles and books!

On Tuesday Emma really wanted her hair brushed and clipped back just like big sister :) She was SO happy with her little clip, although it was cracking me (and Bryan) up. 

Adorable!

This photo is actually from Monday at school during nap time, but they didn't send it to me until Tuesday and blogger is being a bum about letting me move it up, so it's just going to stay here out of order.

sleepy snuggles

 When I picked up the girls we did a little puzzle building. Clara was quick to explain to Emma how everything worked.

When we got home Clara was a typical 3 year old mess, upset about EVERYTHING. Ay yi yi.

But Emma wasn't, so that helped :)

"Baby cheeeeeeeese" hehe

I put on the Jungle Book hoping the songs would cheer Clara up. Between that and some "spider mans" (aka fruit snacks), it did, thank goodness.

loves her babies

hehe :)

 Clara took this selfie of herself and Emma and I love it!

Two tantruming chicas

 Then Clara would tell Emma "go night night!" and Emma would fall on the floor:

Clara reading Emma a story

night night Emma

Video:
*Coming Soon*
(When YouTube cooperates)

And Clara put on her Elsa gloves :)

Have a great rest of your week!

Bye, ranch!

This weekend there was a LOT of block building (and destroying *ahem Emma*)

They had so much fun - thank you for having them out there, Lulu!

Emma had a serious diaper situation this morning so she was forced to take a bath while we cleaned up her clothes and PNP. She was not terribly pleased with Papa or the mandatory bath in the sink. (I think she's become accustomed to taking baths with Clara and this just didn't seem right.)

Sorry kiddo. You were dirty, dirty!

 These little birds are inside the patio roof. It's always neat to see baby birdies!

Before we left Bryan was adjusting Emma's car seat (it's new, so it's taking a little tweaking), and while he adjusted it Emma sat up front to drive.

Unfortunately he went to open the door when she stood up to peer through the window at him, and she nearly tumbled straight onto the pavement! Bryan heard me scream and put his hands out and luckily caught Emma before she fell too far. Cue mini-heart attack. She totally wasn't phased but it took me a while to calm down. I was happy to have her safe and sound in the car seat, even if she wasn't too pleased to be there.

Then the gate wouldn't open all the way, and then it got stuck half way and we did everything we could think of to close it, but it just wouldn't work. So we drove around the ranch to see if we could find Lance, because we didn't have any signal to ask my parents what to do or for Lance's number. We found him and he told us what to do. 

So then we were on the road for a few minutes when the gas light chimed. Uh oh. We had planned to go to Meemaw and Papaw's house straight from the Happy M but there aren't any gas stations on the way, so we had to head to Victoria first. We pulled in to the gas station just in time, thank goodness.

By then we were running so late that the girls were hungry and angry because it was nearly nap time. We stopped to pick them up some food, calmed the tantrums and let Meemaw and Papaw know that the girls were being crazy people and that maybe our haywire morning just needed to come to a close. I hate that we missed seeing them, but given the way the girls acted in the car it was probably a good call to head home.

They were VERY happy to get home. 

I'd like to give Clara some kudos for not needing to stop to use the restroom once on either trip! She also didn't have any accidents in the car. She really is good at using the potty most of the time!

Once we got home I told the girls they could read 2 books and then it was nap time. 

After nap time we just played for a little while, and the girls took a bath (this one Emma took much better.)

Maverick also received a bath because he smelled disgusting from all of his ranch shenanigans.

It was such a lovely weekend, and we really appreciate Lulu and Papa allowing us to join them and have some fun!!

Round 2 at the ranch!

Saturday at the ranch!

Bryan and I were SO grateful to Lulu for getting up with the girls on Saturday morning! We were up a ton with Clara the previous night and a lot that night with Emma so we were starting to feel the effects of not enough sleep.

A little bonding with Papa time

One of our goals for the day was to get the dining table out of the house, and the one my parent's were using at their house in, plus vacuuming everywhere. The girls thought having a wide open space to play on was fun.

She "cheeeeeese"d me until I got out my phone to take a picture of her :)

There was lots of wrestling and riding and patting going on too. Luckily Papa and Daddy took one for the team and I just manned the camera :)

A new favorite photo! so sweet!

love

night night Papa

Emma laying down with Daddy after putting him to sleep

It doesn't look comfortable but she was so happy!

mimicking what Clara was doing to Papa

happy girl

These two wrestled after that ball, played toss and roll, built blocks (and knocked them down) and just had a good time with each other. I love watching them learn how to play together! It sometimes ends in tears, but I guarantee there is just as much giggling as there is crying!

I really wish I had gotten a video of Emma playing "toss" with Lulu, Papa and I :) It was so stinking cute. Next time!

They were big fans of all the cushions being off so the couch could be vacuumed. 

Then it was time for naps. Emma took hers but Clara absolutely refused, despite Papa offering to let her nap with him on the couch, and Lulu and I both being stern. 

Here she is "reading" to Papa about Noah and the Ark:

Sadly that meant when Emma woke up she was allowed to go outside and play and Clara wasn't. This was DEVASTATING  to Clara, even though she knew that the rule was to lay down at least 10 minutes with eyes closed to be allowed to play. It just about broke her heart, but sometimes that's what it takes to learn a life lesson.

The swings were a big hit! Thanks for hanging them up!!

Poor Emma still doesn't like grass but she desperately wants to explore. 

Then Clara decided that ultimately it was better to lay down with Daddy for 10 minutes so she could go play, so while she did that Lulu, Papa and I took Emma for a ride.

Fish face at the pond

Or maybe I should say she took us for a ride?

When we got back we did some coloring and made dinner, just in time for Clara to wake up from her short nap (so tired!)

So she went with Lulu, Clara & I to pick up Papa from his dozing operation.

Clara even got to ride!!!

Emma clapped and pointed, but got a little concerned occasionally

whoa!

Clara liked the dozer and liked riding with Papa, but the noise frightened her a little bit. 

She told us that it was ok that Papa smashed the trees down flat because the tractor was a pretty yellow. Interesting logic, I think.

Maverick spent his time running around a like a crazy dude, jumping over trees down, running through the grass, zig zagging everywhere, wearing himself out.

happy dog

Riding back to the house

I know he can be a big pain in the tush, but I really do love this dog.

:)

When we got back Clara got to swing too much to her delight :)

Helping push Emma

Such a lovely day with family.