1st Day of Preschool!

Ella's 1st Day of Preschool!
This was one ecstatic girl to be starting preschool!
Ella woke up in the morning ready to take on her new adventure. 
We are so proud of you Ella! 

Curls are a must on the first day of school!

Ella insisted on us putting a full length mirror in the hallway so she could check herself out. 
She kept spinning around saying "FABULOUS"!

Our "Ellie Bean" is so grown up!  We are glad that Ella was eager to start preschool, but is sure didn't stop mommy and daddy's tears!  Little sis Livy was very proud of her big sister too.  Livy came in to drop Ella off, and one of Ella's teachers asked Ella if Livy was going to preschool today too.  Ella responded with "no, her goes to my ReeRee's house".  It was so precious and shows just how much we love LaRee.  We want Livy to stay a LaRee's for as long as possible! 

Girls Just Want To Have Fun!

The girls getting their second wind before bed one night.  This was the first night that Olivia wore "big girl" jammies - a Barbie nightgown!  Whoo hoo!  Sniff sniff, our little baby is getting so big!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Awww, Livy giving mommy a kiss!

Ella's turn!

Livy riding the horsey (pool noodle)!

Strike a pose Ella!



There is the cheesy Livy smile!



We spent the 4th of July in Hastings again this year.  Bamma got a pool for the girls to swim in which was awesome since the weather was unbearably HOT!  Thank you Bamma!



Livy is pretty excited for the 4th of July! 
We love our little firecrackers!

  

Apparently the 4th of July and golf go hand in hand for Ella.



Ella doing her "shock" face once again by the flag.



Livy's first corn on the cob ever! 
Of course it was delicious, it was Nebraska corn, not that ol' Iowa stuff!
Way to use those teeth you have been breaking through all winter doll baby!

Corn on the cob is one of Ella's favorites!

June

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DADDY!
This photo is so much the girls right now.  Ella is making her signature shock face in the picture and Livy is making her signature scrunchy nose face, all while wearing daddy's baseball caps!

Daddy was showered with kisses, hugs and cuddles the morning of Father's day, when the girls delivered him breakfast in bed.

Ella and Olivia want to tell the world how much they love their daddy and that he is the most devoted, loving, fun, smart, ambitious and energetic daddy ever!

It takes a special man to raise daughters and Ella and Olivia's daddy could write the book on it. 

All 3 of your girls love you daddy!

Livy's first painted piggies!  Oh, so cute!

Poor Baby Girl!

Oh, little miss Livy Lynn and her boo boos!
 It is true how you become more relaxed after your first child.  With Ella, I can count on one hand how many bonks to the head she received in the first 2 years of her life.  With Livy, I can start on a Monday and be on my second hand by Friday, and then there is still a weekend ahead of us!  GOD BLESS this little girl!  I don't know why she gets so many bonks on her head.  Is it her personality, is that we are more relaxed, is it the result of her big sister, who knows?!?!  What I do know is that she is a tough cookie, just like her big sister and her daddy - not like mommy!
This gorgeous (deep) scratch on top a lovely bruise is the injury that resulted from the girls jumping on Ella's antique wrought iron bed.  Inevitably, Livy bounced off the bed and smacked her face on sharp piece of metal that was sticking up from the frame.  The good news is she only cried for about 2 minutes compared to mommy's 20.  The bad news is, she still has a scar.  Hopefully it will continue to fade with time, and we will do a better job of watching our precious baby!
 

Ready for dance class!

Ella's shock face!

What a doll!

Ella tells us that she "swings like a bat!"

What form!

Balance beam.

  

Ella's first day of gymnastics!

Ella started gymnastics and dance classes this summer.  She LOVES gymnastics!  Dance however, is a different story.  Luckily we only signed up for 6 week summer sessions.  She will continue with gymnastics this fall, but we are planning a long break from dance class.  There are too many kids in her dance class, which really just means a lot of waiting around and no attention, so she is bored to tears (as are mom & dad).  It's a different story with gymnastics, there are only about 5 kids in her class and she is constantly moving.  She loves the trampoline, doing flips on the bar, and practicing her cartwheels!     

Twirls!

Ella relaxing on the deck.

Cousin Kade walking the girls to the car after the parade.

How cute is this?!

Mmmm, finally a lollipop!

Livy still on the lookout for more candy!

Sister teamwork to gather all the candy!

Livy focusing on the next candy throw!

Daddy and Livy at the parade.

Daddy and Ella at the parade.

Cute little Livy in her piggies! 
Governor's Day Parade in Grimes!  Our first parade as Grimes residents!  We went to the parade with Bamma, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Tanya, cousins Kade & Dayne.  We had a fun weekend with Bamma and going downtown with Jeff & Tanya that evening.