Yard Work/Yard Play

Hmmmm...I wonder where she gets her skinny legs from?



The best part about when daddy mowes the lawn is when he waters it afterwards! That's the best time to run through the sprinkler!


I just have to say, it is so nice to not be pregnant this summer! I remember being so warm and uncomfortable last summer that after Chris would mow the lawn I would run (well, waddle really) through the sprinkler myself! It feels so good to move, take a deep breath, and be comfortable again!

A Spoonful of Sugar

Yesterday I had to take my ACLS class, which stands for Advanced Cardiac Life Support. It's the renewal class I have to take every two years and it's generally a big yawn. BUT, I was more anxious than I normally am to get done with my class because after it was over Sydney and I got to go see the Mary Poppins play in Portland! My friend Jill was super generous and gave Sydney and I tickets! I have been looking for some one-on-one time with Sydney, something super special, and this was perfect! And let me tell you, after a full day of CPR recertification, a play was a very special treat!

Here is Sydney and I (and Rapunzel, of course) outside of the theater.



She can't just stand for a picture, she has to pose! She looks like she's trying out for America's Next Top Model here! Look at this hip action!



Thank you, Jill! The play was amazing and we had the best time!

I Realize This is a Random Picture

I realize this is a random picture, and that it's out of focus and the lighting is off. I realize that her eyes are closed, and it looks like she's hovering in mid-air. BUT...can you see how adorably cute and happy Savannah is?

Here's what happened here: The girls have these matching ballerina jammies. Somehow Sydney's got in Savannah's drawer and Savannah's got in Sydney's drawer. Chris was putting jammies on Savannah and I hear him call out, "Hey babe? Savannah's jammies are a bit big." Yah, you think? Because they're SYDNEY'S! So this was the picture of her in her sister's jammies. What a cutie-patootie.

The Future Mrs. Michael Phelps

Well, sort of. This last week Chris and I took Savannah to her first ever swim class. We did this class with Sydney when she was 6 months old and really enjoyed it, so we decided to try it with Savannah, too. That first class she was very solemn. She didn't cry, but she didn't even crack a smile until the last 3 minutes of class! However, at the second class she really got into it! She was paddling her arms, kicking her legs, and splashing a lot! She was so cute in her little swimsuit and wetsuit!

Sorry this first picture is blurry, but you can really see that cute, cheesy grin!

First Recital

Last weekend Sydney had her first ballet recital! She was SO.STINKING.CUTE in her little poofy green outfit. They danced to Tiptoe Thru The Tulips (a newer version, not the creepy Tiny Tim version). She did such a great job with her routine and stayed in sync (not to be confused with NSYNC) for most of the dance. Closer to the end she spotted Melissa in the crowd and had to point her out to Madison! We ordered the video so when it comes I'll be sure to try and figure out how to post it on here.

She was so excited to get some flowers!





Little bestie ballerinas!

Easter Pictures

We have traditionally had pictures taken of Sydney every year at Easter. This year was fun to have Savannah's first Easter shoot, as well. The girls were in matching dresses, which was way fun for me! Here they are, I was so happy with how they turned out!

The Frying Pan

Have you seen the movie Tangled? It's a favorite here in our house. Sydney loves that movie and can quote it almost entirely. In the movie, Rapunzel carries a frying pan around as her weapon of choice. So, Sydney carries a frying pan around our house and has even whacked Chris and I a few times with it (with the result being the frying pan spends the night on top of the fridge). Here she is with her frying pan.

And no, she doesn't always wear that old cheerleader dress, but it is her favorite dress-up outfit currently.

And here is Savannah, isn't she cute? Do you see that circle under ler left ear that is swinging dangerously close to her head in the background?

Yep, the frying pan. It didn't actually hit Savannah, and Sydney wasn't trying to hit her, but it was close enough that the frying pan went on top of the fridge anyway.

She was so cute in Sydney's hat!


Ah, that gummy little grin, I just love it! Still no teeth.

9 Months

I realized when I posted the adorable 10 month picture of Savannah that I never posted her 9 month picture. Here you go! She's so cute.

Little Ballerina

Tomorrow is Sydney's very first ballet recital and I have to admit, I might be more excited than she is. If someone would have told Melissa and I 15 years ago that we would have daughters who were best friends, and who were in ballet together, we probably would have been bursting at the seams with excitement! This is what having daughters is all about. Here are some pictures of Sydney at our recent photo shoot with my cousin Katie. I'll post recital pictures and the video of it later.

Hair Flair

I feel like an era has ended with the ending of Oprah. No longer will we be able to say, "Oh my gosh, did you see Oprah yesterday?" Well, a few months ago there was a lady on Oprah who had sparklies in her hair. Then a few weeks ago the girl we have come and watch the girls while we go on the all-too-rare date night came over and she had the hair flair, too. So today, Rachel came over and gave Sydney hair flair!

Here is Sydney in one of her many strange assortments, she comes out many times a day in different combinations of clothes!


Tying on the flair.

And here is the end result. I love it! It's super cute and girly, but very subtle. It can be washed, curled, and cut like normal hair.


And what's a girl to do after putting on yet another outfit and getting sparklies in her hair? Why, dance of course!


And while you're dancing, be sure to do some moves that make your mama worry.


And what is dancing without some props?


There will be more pictures of Sydney and her hair flair in the days to come!

What The Heck Is Going On Here?

Here was the scene in our house two nights ago...

What is going on here? Let me explain. Two Christmases ago, I got Chris a back scratcher. He was always wanting me to scratch his back and I HATE SCRATCHING BACKS. It makes my nails feel funny and I just don't like it. I finally put my foot down one day and refused to do it anymore. So I got him two of these handy little back scratchers, one for the car and one for the house. Random and weird, I know. Well, turns out Sydney is just her daddy, yet again, and she loves to have her back scratched. And she knows just who to go to...her daddy! So Chris was outside BBQ-ing (he doesn't normally wear socks with his sandals, by the way, those are his "outdoor sandals" that he threw on to go and turn the steaks that were on the grill) and when he came back in, Sydney was stretched out on the floor with Chris' back scratcher, just waiting for him! I love Savannah in this one, like "what are you doing, sis?"

10 Months

Zoo Day

We went to the zoo yesterday for the first mid-80's day of the year. If you know me at all, you that mid-80's is essentially hell for me. But, I digress. The zoo was lots of fun and we hadn't been there since last August just after Savannah was born. We brought Madison along with us because her twin brothers are potty training this week so the poor girl has essentially been stuck at home. The girls had so much fun!



Savannah just chilled in her stroller the whole time. She looked around and did lots of people watching. This is my latest favorite outfit for her. The leg warmers are perfect for her and that shirt says, "The Bigger the Bow the Closer to Heaven." Ha! I just love it!


She took a nap with her feet propped up on the front of the stroller and this was my view of her cutie-patootie feet.

Say CHEESE

Yesterday was the end of year picnic at Sydney's preschool. We went and had so much fun! It was mid-70's and just right. They had a bounce house and lots of kids were there, so Sydney had a great time. Before we went Sydney and I had some time together and we went and got pedicures. Here she is, soaking it all in!


Yesterday was also big in Savannah's little world. While not quite up to getting a pedicure, she did have cheese for the first time which I was excited about.


Ok, this is the kind of picture she will hate me for one day, but I couldn't help it! When we were getting ready for the zoo this morning (pics to come tomorrow), her hairbow flew off and it left her hair CRAZY wild. That crazy hair coupled with the biggest, cheesiest grin I have ever seen, and you get this...

It makes her cheeks look HUGE, which they're not! What a cutie. She had her 9 month check-up and she only weighs 15.5 lbs! She is a full 2.5 lbs less than Sydney was at that age, and I thought Sydney was super small!

Long Time, No See

Sorry for the long delay since my last post. Last Thursday our computer literally went haywire and got crazy infected with a nasty virus that wiped out everything. Thankfully our pictures are backed-up, and the computer guys were able to find and restore most of my files. I am a little worried, though, because we specifically asked them to make sure to restore the photos and there are some birthing photo-ops in there (nothing south of the border, but some boob shots made it in). I don't think they saw them since they managed to make eye contact with me today when I picked it up, but you never know! Anyway, the last week marked a memorable moment in the Wills' house: Sydney's last day of her first year of preschool! Here she is getting ready to go in on her last day.


And of course we must have a picture with her bestie Madison and their teacher!


Sydney is such a daddy's girl that it makes me extra especially happy when she wants to me a mama's girl for a while. Lately after her bath she has been wanting to wrap her hair in a towel "just like mommy." I heart her so much!


I got this picture today of Savannah. She loves to just sit on the floor and play with her toys, and she was just looking so cute and happy! She has had the nose crud this last week so what you can't see in this picture is the snot crusted all over her nose and cheeks. Doesn't she look adorable?


She is more and more like her mama everyday. I detest peas and it seems she does, too. She just chews and chews and chews but doesn't actually swallow, then she spits the whole spitty, green mess out and it gets everywhere!


Last week for my bookclub I made these brownies:

They were truly heavenly. Get the recipe here. These are the Knock You Naked Brownies from the Pioneer Woman. She is awesome and we have been making lots of her recipes the last few months.

Last weekend we had a baby shower for a friend having her third baby girl, baby Claire. Melissa made this cute banner, isn't it so cute with the monkeys?


I had 15 small baby diapers left over so I busted out this diaper cake to match the banner. Melissa gave me the monkey topper and I had the perfect little blankets to match. wouldn't this make a cute little centerpiece? I've been thinking of selling diaper cakes, I really enjoy making them.


I'll post more pics soon, promise!