Sissy

Oh Lila. Sweet, sweet Lila. We just love this girl. Not just because she is the worlds best toddler-eater. Not just because she has the most beautiful blue eyes. Pacific blue. Not just because she's turning into a sweet little singer or has dance moves that grown women would be jealous of. Not even because she is the perfect combination of girly-girl and her brother's best bud. Also not just because she cooks with her mama, digs in the dirt with Lincoln, kicks + throws the balls with daddy and cuddles + chases Jezebelle. She's funny. I mean seriously funny, and cracks Brian and I up all the time. And her language?! Oh my word does this girl talk. Sentences people! And so clearly too! Don't get me wrong, we love all these things about our sensitive little girl.

But the reason we love her so much...

Because she's our Pearl.

Buddo

Our lil' dude is falling in love the football. It is his ball of choice lately. (Dear God, THANK YOU!)


He loves hippos, monkeys + bees.


He talks in silly voices, makes sound effects during stories and running is his speed of choice. He throws everything, bangs on anything, pushes trucks all over our house, smashes ants with his fingers, falls down hard but keeps going, holds his sissy's hands, likes to put clothes on by himself and crawls up on our bed when we are not looking to jump.


(Oh yeah, he makes funny faces at the camera too.) Boys Rule!

Spraygrounds, Blackberries + Marshmallows

Sorry for the blogging hiatus. It's finally summer up here in the NW, and it will be gone before we know it. So we have been out and about doing summer things, and blogging has taken the back seat for a couple of weeks.

Spraygrounds might just be one of the coolest things ever. The modern day open fire hydrant. We have gone to a few this summer, and they definitely do not disappoint.



Blackberries are perfect for picking right now, and there are plenty all over the place. We walk down our road every night and choose a few. Lila + I sing a little blackberry picking song and we try to keep up with Lincoln. Berry sounds like 'boo-wee' and we all come home with purple-stained fingers and faces.





We don't offer these 2 many sweets. I mean hardly any at all. They think fruit is dessert--and in the words of our man, DJ Lance Rock, we think that is awesssoommmeee. They have had a nibble of a treat on a couple of *special* occasions, and tonight, well they hit the jackpot. We roasted marshmallows! Or as the twins called them, 'marsh'. It was super-adorable and Lincoln was in heaven. Lila thought it was cool just to hold it, but wasn't a huge fan. Next summer, SMIGLETS!

Happy (End of) Summer!

Love,
The Swishers

Readers Are Leaders

Well at least that is what I'm gonna tell these 2.

It's Official

It's official folks. The twins now know that I am no longer just some random chick that has spent every waking moment with them for the last 18 months. I am officially 'mama'. Lila has been saying it for a few weeks now pretty regularly, and then last week it was mama everything. Puppy mama. No mama. Outside mama. Up mama. It was like the period at the end of every sentence she said. B + I could not stop laughing. Also last week, probably because of the constant 'mamas' from his sissy, Lincoln picked it up too. More mama, Hi mama, cracker mama and on and on. My favorite from my girl, of course, is 'I luh you mama!' And my dude, well it just melts my little heart when he says 'OK mama'.

I know sooner than later it is going to be the most annoying word on the planet. I was a teacher after all. I wanted to die at the end of the first few days of school when the little ones would say teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher all. the. time. But for now, I want to remember this sweet moment. The moment my children started saying my name. It feels pretty freaking good.

Artist

True artists have NO boundaries. Go Lila Pearl!

Milestones

Tonight our sweet Lila gave us her first, unsolicited, 'I luh you!' All. Three. Words. We were carrying the twins up the stairs for bed--saying and doing all of our usual things. B was holding Lila, and she just said it. Clear as day. And then we melted. And then she said it again--but this time, she said 'I luh you dada'. And then in just a moment, today became perfect. Language development is so, so fascinating!

Here is the Pearl a few minutes before bed tonight.

Projects

Lila + Lincoln, (aka Ms. Lefty + Mr. Righty,) painted yesterday. I love doing art projects with the turds. I love messy, colorful projects that allow the twins to explore their creativity. Do you have some brilliant ideas for 18 month olds??? The messier the better. Do share!