Triking It

So, remember the tricycles the girls got for Christmas?  Their legs finally reach the pedals!  They still need to do a few squats to build up those quads for pedaling, but they are so close.  We took them out a few weeks ago to try 'em out.

Uncle P - we need a workout regimen for the girls ASAP.  Mommy & Daddy are tired of pushing the tricycles.  ;)

The road warriors in action.

Can't. Push. Pedals.

I like that she's all about the dots.  On her helmet and on her shirt.

Taking a swing break.

Go Braves!

We took the girls to their first Braves game in August, and while they still haven't quite mastered the Tomahawk chop, I think they had an excellent time.  It was blazing hot, because of course, it's August in Atlanta - but they got their ice cream in little Braves helmets and were such troopers.  Mommy & Daddy were actually the ones who called it in the 5th inning.  Heat stroke ain't pretty, people.  And carrying toddlers all the way back to your car parked in Lot Timbuktu?  Not pretty either.  Perhaps a nice spring or fall game next time?  Really though - they had a blast and their favorite parts were definitely the ice cream and the fireworks.  Though Kate did keep asking "Where is the pitcher, Mommy? I don't see him!"  So maybe she'll be our little sports nut!

Hanging out before the game

She loves her sunglasses!

It is amazing how much ice cream fits in those little helmets.

Daddy had to help out.  Don't worry - Mommy did too.  :)

Go Braves!

Puerto Rico

Oh, Puerto Rico.  Will you be mine?  Tyler and I were able to take an "adults only" vacation here and fell in love with it.  Thanks, Khaki & Ben, for letting us tag along on your 10th Anniversary trip and BIG thanks too, to Mimi & Grandbob, for taking such good care of our little squirts while we were away!

This was the longest both Tyler and I had both been away from the girls, and apart from crying a little bit when the plane took-off, Tyler handled it very well.  Hmm?  It was me who cried when we took off?  Oh, right.  Maybe it was.  And then I watched a movie about rescuing whales.  Were they TRYING to make me have an emotional breakdown? 

Moving on.

We stayed in an apartment in Old San Juan that was quite lovely - minus the air conditioner that did not work in 2 of the 3 bedrooms.  Tyler and I ended up in the one room that did have it.  Khaki and Ben?  We owe you. 

San Juan is beautiful and charming and relaxing and I would go back yesterday.  We visited the birthplace of the Pina Colada.  We ate mofongos & empanadas.  We toured the Bacardi factory.  We had delicious fish tacos from Jersey Mike's place.  We visited the Old Fort.  And at the Old Fort?  We sweated.  We sweated much.  But boy was it awesome and beautiful.  We laughed.  We had awesome travel companions.  Mostly, we just relaxed and enjoyed.

And we missed our girls.  But we are so thankful we were able to take this trip! 

First Day.  First Pina Colada.  Not our last.  :)

Old San Juan

Ahhhhh

Enjoying one of our free drinks at the Bacardi factory

Tyler getting all artsy with the camera.

Giggity. This just makes me laugh.  And it's a great picture of Caty.

I want to go to there.  Again.

Waiting for dinner.  And by waiting, I do mean W-A-I-T-I-N-G.  The scenery helped.

Fort!

 

More fort

View from our balcony.  That's Ben driving down the road in our awesome Jeep rental. 

So much fun.

Hello Sunshine!

We took our annual trip to the beach a few weeks ago with my family and had a lovely time!  We had some quality time with Mimi, Grandbob, Uncle P & Mallory, some tasty seafood, lovely weather and of course, Pina Coladas (made with love by Uncle P).  :)

I am so excited to report that BOTH girls loved the sand this year.  I was hoping Kate would outgrow her tactile issues with it and she definitely did!  She had fun being "buried" in the sand by Daddy and playing with him in the waves.  I hung out with Elle, who played and dug in the sand most of the time, as she was not cool with all the seaweed that had washed up because of a big storm.  

The pool was a big draw too, though it was COOOOLD.  Again, didn't bother the girls one bit!  Daddy was the biggest chicken about getting in.  :) 

Unfortunately, Elle was sick most of the time we were there, but she so tried to be a trooper.  You know your toddler doesn't feel well though when she just lies on the couch without moving and watches 47.2 straight hours of Dora.  But she managed to make it to the beach and the pool and in an effort to convince us that she was fine, would happily exclaim "I'm AM feeling better!" at the top of her lungs.  And then she had an "episode" that resulted in the pool bathroom looking like a scene from CSI.

Fade to black.

Kate had a grand ole time - she was ALWAYS ready to go to the pool and had a lovely time splashing around with everyone.  She was such a silly, joyful little waterbug! 

Can't wait for our next trip!  Thanks, Mimi & Grandbob!

On the road to Eufaula, AL (the halfway point) - Elle is WAY into High Five magazine.

Breakfast at the hotel.  They thought they were SUCH big girls.

Kate was so worn out, she fell asleep in my arms at dinner.  Nothing much better than sushi for dinner and a sleeping doll in your lap.  No really.  It was so sweet (and delicious).

Mother's Day!  Happy to be snuggling with my girls even though one is sick and the other looks like she just smelled something disgusting.

Elle & Grandbob

Big fan of filling up and dumping out.  Lather, rinse, repeat.

Mommy & Elle

Kate framing Daddy

So much fun.  Sand is my friend!

"Daddy made a hole for me!"

Still diggin'.

Of course Elle had to have a hole too!

Mimi & Kate

Kate & Uncle P

Bless her heart.

Please find the similarity in this picture.  :)

Christmas Extravaganza! Part 2

What Christmas would be complete without Christmas lights and a visit with Santa?

Cut to....

Waiting to see Santa.  She is deceptively cheerful here.

Whatevs.  It's just Santa. 

Wait.  He gives me candy?  Um, awesome.

Kate: Still not sure about the big guy, but I totally want Elle's candy cane.

Elle: You don't fool me with your candy cane, buddy.

All in all, a much better reaction to Santa this year than last. 

 Kate would not look at or talk to Santa, but was perfectly content sitting in his lap with a candy cane.  Elle was momentarily distracted by the candy cane, and then just whimpered the rest of the time.  Yay, Santa!

We also checked out some local Christmas lights with our dear friends and neighbors.  The girls thoroughly enjoyed it and I am officially adopting our neighbor as our family photographer as she is the only one (apart from the actual professional photographer) who is able to get the girls to look at the camera AND smile.  At the same time.  What?!

Merry Christmas from The Burns!

Me & my girls

3 cuties.

Santa and his sleigh were the highlights.

Touchdown....Christmas!