The winter that wasn’t….only the second snow storm of the entire winter so we made the very most out of it. Snow snacks all morning in our yard and then off to Finley and Elizabeths for more fun with friends outside followed by popcorn and a movie. A most perfect day.
An email I received from Kennedy…after a long time spent “designing” her kitty on daddys ipad. :)
Mom,
I love you and hope you like your picture.
Love, Kennedy
Man, I could just eat that kid up.
I love the way she sits….clearly so natural as she gets all embarrassed when I giggle and grin watching her.
Nothing better than good friends…and an oreo truffle or two. :)
Man, I just LOVE those pouty lips….I could smack ’em all day and night.
There will be no complaining here my friends. I’m lovin’ this.
Going cold turkey. We shall see how this goes!
It’s no doubt that Kennedy is pure John and McKenna takes much more after her momma. The first significant snowfall since October and Kennedy had her snowpants on at 7:15 a.m. I had to send her out by her lonesome while I coxed McKenna into joining us as she just kept insisting “too cold!!!”. She lasted a little while given it was over 30 degrees and was allowed to consume an insane amount of snow. As much as I loathe the winter months, I have to admit it was pretty fun watching them so thoroughly enjoy themselves. :)
>Despite the ridiculously warm winter temps, little ol’ Maple Ridge was able to whip up enough snow for ski lessons to begin this week. Kennedy has been wavering between excitement and timidness over the last few weeks, but the second her feet hit the snow today, the switch was flipped and she was beside herself with pure joy. It was so fun to watch her out there…without us by her side, being such a big, big girl. The only tears shed today were by Missy Lou, who “want kennedy back! want ski too!!”. But she finally looked on at her big sister with pride and love as we promised her she’d be joining her in one short year. We are all very much looking forward to the next 6 Saturday mornings!!
I just adore the way she sleeps…so peaceful.
Very first successful sleepover between sisters (after no less than a dozen previous attempts).
No better way to ring in the 2012.
As much as I treasure my pictures, I vowed this year I would put down the camera and spend more time just playing, relaxing and actually engaging with the fam. I did snap a few (because I can’t not take ANY pictures)…just enough to preserve a few sweet moments…
Sweet Kennedy decided she wanted to get McKenna something “super special” for Christmas this year so John took her to build a bear and she poured her heart and soul into making the very best bear a sister could ever hope to receive. Of course, while there, saw a hello kitty she claimed Santa would just HAVE to bring her. So the following week, I brought McKenna back to buy it. We decided it would be a wonderful tradition for the girls to buy each other special presents each Christmas and exchange on Christmas Eve.
Except for a teeny snafu involving a misunderstanding about the outfit Hello Kitty was wearing (apparently, Kennedy is more of a prom dress high heeled kinda girl than a bathrobe slippered one…who knew?), the exchange went just splendidly.
Perfect Christmas Eve. It was awesome to watch Alex soak in the surprise of his new pet Gecko…dress the ladies for church and back to Bubbles for some wrestle and relaxation time before heading home to prepare for Santa. This is the first year I think both the ladies really GOT the concept of Christmas and it was so much fun to watch them revel in the magic…
That shelfy was very good to us this year. Leaving treats in your stocking and playing cute little tricks on you each morning. You girls are always so sad to see him go each year and cheer with joy at his return the next. I personally wish he could stay all year. You certainly do shape up a bit knowing he’s watching and reporting. :)
These two little ladies sure do love their Uncy Ryan…
As you can see, Disney on Ice was a huge hit with the littlest Bagyi…
We love Thanksgiving, but we really love it because it means that tree decorating day is almost here…and that’s a day we really REALLY love.
What a pretty, pretty tree my little ladies picked out this year. May be my favorite yet.
Holiday pictures went much, much more smoothly this year. I’m hoping it’s a continuing trend!
Our ride to school conversation today went a little like this…
Kennedy: “just because you love someone doesn’t mean you want to be like them right?”
Me: “that’s right Kennedy!!”
Kennedy: “because we should always be ourselves and that makes us happy right?”
Me: “Yes! You are so smart Kennedy. How’d you get so smart??”
Kennedy: “you know if you sit on a balloon it’ll pop.”
Yep, wise but still very much 4. :)
Kennedy: “I wanna go to kindergarten in Candy Land”
Don’t we all baby girl….don’t we all.
Happy Birthday to me! As a surprise, John booked a weekend in Boston with our two little ladies. The hotel was amazingly adorable and perfect with a separate room just for the girls. Now, given they are not so good at sleeping in the same room, it was a bit of a struggle getting them finally down, but they loved every second of the trip….and I loved every second of watching them.
No clear card winners (John shot down the “real kiss” pic despite the fact that I LOVED it), but definitely blog worthy nonetheless. :)
Love our Friday night pizza making’ tradition. Just wish McKenna would sulk less than 3 times throughout it…
I love images that tell a story. I have no doubt this will be one that will always remind me of exactly how they were at this moment in time.
Just as I did a little happy dance the first snow squall had melted, bam–back it came. As much as I hate the cold and snow, I will admit I do light up seeing how happy our little snow bunny is. I think she could have eaten every flake in the yard had we let her…
Puss in Boots in 3D…stoked!
Maybe this one will last more than 10 minutes…
Me no likely.
After almost 10 years of searching, we finally found “our” place.
I may or may not have squealed when I hit the shutter on these….
Yes, I rock her to nap every day. It’s the only way she’ll go down (my fault) and besides, I love having a few completely silent sweet moments with her in the middle of an otherwise crazy and hectic day.
Thought we were past this…
No better sign of a good GREAT day at the Bronx Zoo.
She’s officially graduated into toddlerism…
I love summer. Like REALLY love summer. But I’ll admit that there are days (when the temps are still above 60) that I welcome everything the fall has to offer. This day was one of those. The perfect Saturday. Just perfect in every way.
Pony rides for all!
>We officially have two school aged children now. Well, ok, fine…maybe two hours two days a week isn’t fully considered “school”, but it’s still a big step for a kiddo who has been with me full time since birth. It was a bitter sweet moment watching her break from me and go her own way…excitedly nonetheless.
>So hard to believe my baby is in pre-k already. One more year before she’s officially a school aged child. CRAZY! She continues to amaze me at every turn. She hit the ground running today without skipping a beat diving right into the new school year…some new friends, some old. I left her a little sad and lot more proud.
Old Friends!
>Well not quite yet, so we are soaking up every last wonderful moment we can!
>I’m not sure if Kennedy could love him any more if he were her brother rather than cousin…
>Very first ponytails ever!!
>After not going once last year, we were determined to make up for it in 2011. We met up with some friends (old and new) and had a super great day. The girls were so obsessed with the horses, we came back up that weekend at the crack of dawn to watch the horses warm up. I had forgotten how much I love it up there…
Since moving to the big girl bed, McKenna has flat out refused to nap. Which, after putting her back in bed more than 2 dozen times, leads to this just moments after I give up the good fight…
>First time the girls tried s’mores. I thought they’d be all about it. Two bites in and guess who ended up eating an awful lot of s’mores this night? Yep, this girl. Though I was lucky there was any marshmallows left. For they certainly enjoyed eating just those.
>I’m an Auntie!!! I wasn’t prepared for how emotional I’d be when Sean finally left the safety of his mommy’s belly and entered our world. I knew I’d adore him, but my heart literally swelled with love and emotion for both him and his wonderful momma the second I heard the news he had arrived. He’s lovely. Just simply lovely…and I cannot begin to describe my excitement to be a part of his family and watch him grown under the watch and care of such wonderful loving people.
Congrats Colleen and Brian! We love you to pieces!
>It’s amazing how much she’s changed in two short years. Yet her fishy kiss form remains flawless…
>Upon returning from vacation (and catching Missy Lou scale the pack-n-play time and time again) we bit the bullet and dropped the crib in lieu of a big girl bed. I’d like to say it’s going well…and I’ll admit almost a week later, it’s going better, but man it’s like having a newborn in the house again. I simply keep reminding myself that yes, yes, yes I want an independent, strong-willed child. I really, really do… (convinced yet??).
>I think it’s safe to say they thoroughly enjoyed themselves in the fountains today…
>McKenna has turned into a total and complete daddy’s girl. If daddy is around, I am not allowed to come within 5 feet of her without the warning “I want dadda!”. When I tried to put her to bed a few nights ago hoping to coerce her back to my side, she began screaming (and I mean SCREAMING) for daddy. Hoping to still win the battle, I began to pretend cry….to which she promptly stopped screaming, started at me, pointed and with a little giggle said “sadddddd….”. Of course, softy Kennedy came to my rescue:
Kennedy: I love you so much mommy. Do you want to put me to bed 1,000 times?
Me: Yes please Kennedy. Mommy loves you so much.
Kennedy: Why are you sad?
Me: Because McKenna doesn’t want me to put her to bed.
Kennedy {with a completely straight face}: She loves you mommy, she just doesn’t like you much.
>I think someone is hinting she needs a bit more independence….or she’s just being a punk. Either or, I’m not a fan.
>
it’s so nice to get some quality alone playtime with the Bean while McKenna continues to take her marathon naps in the afternoon. I cherish this time as I know in a few short weeks, school will once again take her from me 4 full days a week {wahhh!}
>Did you know we had a cat? I sometimes forget myself to be honest. She was given to John as a housewarming present at the very start of our relationship and she’s never taken well to me. Kennedy, however, has won her heart and is about the only family member allowed to get within 5 feet of her without a warning hiss. A fact Kennedy takes much, much pride in. :)
>There is more to this empty field than meets the eye. And if luck is on our side in the following weeks, I may just explain…
>Bare bums are not the only thing McKenna is a fan of as of late. Her sisters big girl bed is the hot spot these days and I think I’ll finally cave and, when we return from vacation, she may just get her wish and have a big girl bed all her own….
>Man do I love summer evenings full of sun, fun and most importantly…snacks!
>The answer I get more than any these days from Missy Lou is “no”. Even when she means yes, she often says no. I’m convinced her gut reaction is to say no since she believes it’s the safe route, and then re-think the question and answer more accurately a few moments later. And she’s not without a hand gesture for almost everything she says these days. And of course, the word no is no exception. I snapped this while trying to get a series of her hand gestures for her animal sounds (which is too cute for words) and she promptly folded her arms and sternly replied “NO.” Guess the animal sound images will have to wait for another day…
Us Bagyis really love our summers…
I love having their birthdays so close together (and in the summertime). I know they won’t always be a fan of joint parties and celebrations, but for now, it’s glorious. Despite the on and off rain on party day and a soaked bouncy house, the girls had a blast and certainly didn’t mind getting a wee bit wet. Two years in a row now…I think we’re going for a water slide bouncy next year. :)
We spent Kennedys actual birthday scooting around Saratoga doing all the things we like best….lunch, carousel, quacking at the ducks and another round of ring around the rosey (this summers game of choice quite clearly).
And I’ll wear what I want. :)
