Having a sister is a good thing...

Pushing a sister in the doll stroller is so much more fun than pushing a doll. Somehow Elsa convinced Lily to give her a ride. It didn't take much convincing.

Lily and Elsa come up with unique ideas every day. I can't believe how much they've changed in the past few months. They are SO smart. Their vocabulary is getting huge. Today, they were able to point out all sorts of colors in their "color" book including the standard red, orange, blue but they also said pink, white, brown and black and their old favorite stripes. They also know lots of big words like apple, towel, table and avocado. Elsa's all time favorite word is still "socks." She talks about her feet constantly. Lily has taken to calling me "Mom-Mom" which is about the cutest thing ever.

They've also picked up some cute little rhymes I say to them like "nudie tudie" and "messy bessy." They call bare feet "nudie tudie toes."

They've also started putting words together into simple sentences like "Mama Help," "Elmo ride", "Lights on." Most of these things are commands. (Hence, our new project with the words please and thank you). But, it is so great to be able to communicate. Much less mystery about what is bothering them.

I also can't believe how friendly and sweet they are. They give tons of hugs and kisses. They are also very nice to the people we meet. They always say "Hi Baby" whenever they see one. They charm everyone at the store. They say hello and good-bye to all the shoppers and cashiers. People are getting to know them in our neighborhood. They are also very sweet to the other kids at the park. Elsa, especially, likes to give the other kids toys to play with. Lily's more likely to strike up a conversation with somebody.

This is a really great age!





ETA~aren't Lily's pants funny. She INSISTS on wearing her new fuzzy pants, even if they are a bit too big.

Grandma and Grandpa A visit

Some pictures of Grandma and Grandpa A's visit. They kept us very busy with lots of fun things to do.


Grandpa reading to Elsa and Lily.


Petting the goats at the Oakland zoo. (Grandma, Mommy, Elsa and Lily).


Riding the steam trains at Tilden Park. (E,L)


Grandma and Lily snuggle on the train.


Grandpa ran the Bay to Breakers race in SF. It is a 7+ mile course all across the City. It is a San Francisco spectacle. Grandpa ran the course in 1 hour 9 minutes. People were still finishing 2 hours later. Yep. That is a Naked Elvis in running shoes. The people ahead of them are pushing a keg of beer.



Elsa and Lily enjoying the view of San Francisco from the top of the new De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park.


Getting to share a ride from Grandpa (L,E)

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all our Moms, Grandmas, Aunties and Friends. Thank you to everybody that mothers us. Women make the world go round. It is such a comfort to know the girls and I have a team of role models to take care of us and teach us to be strong women. I have really appreciated all the guidance and help from all of you during my first years of motherhood.


And a special thank you from Mommy to Lily and Elsa. It is such a joy to be your Mom. I love you very much!

Some pictures of Mommy enjoying the day with her girls.

Funny self-portrait.


On the steps...Mark dressed the girls in skirts to match Mommy. Notice my new shoes a present from my family. The girls also made me some artwork.


This morning, Mark also made me a fancy breakfast. Then we headed to the park to play.

Quick Update

The girls had fun chasing balls around the field while Daddy, Jeff and Drew played catch.


Elsa runs home, while Jeff fields a ball. Unrelated to the picture, Elsa's vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds. This morning she said "pink stripes" while Mark was getting her dressed. We were pretty impressed.


Lily found a ball. Lily has a pretty amazing pitch. She can throw overhand. She's also an amazing helper. She likes to help her sister get dressed in the morning, she also likes to help me shut the doors on the dishwasher and dryer. She even sweeps floors.


Evidence that my girls like to clean. They get really into it. (E,L)


Lillian Ruth, monkey child.


The girls did some art with me yesterday. They were pretty funny. Finger painting was a little TOO messy for them. Here they are fighting over who gets to do the cleaning. (L,E).


Fight averted by a decision to put their buckets on their heads. For some reason, the girls think buckets make a great hat. (E,L) Toddlers!