August was BUSY!

What a fun and extremely busy August. The pictures are in reverse order for some reason, but we started out with their 4th birthday party at Noah's Ark. This was our 2nd year at this place and it was even better the 2nd time around. We all had a GREAT time with family and friends. Mark and Ella were very sad that the party actually had to end.

Next was their actual birthday at home. Ella loved her new Barbie house (about as much as mom does) and Mark is seriously hard to keep up with on his new bike. That kid is fast!

Finally was our 2nd annual trip to Galveston with the Trull family. Yet another fun trip for everyone. Our kids get along just as much as the adults! And this year, Valerie and Steve came down with their cousin CJ. More beach fun with CJ (who is a big fan of sand!) and even an afternoon at the train musuem. It doesn't get much better than that for Mark! If only it was 20 degrees cooler, we would have stayed longer. I don't recommend it at 4:00 in the afternoon in August!

Lots of Firsts...

So we've had a lot of "firsts" these last few months. Mark and Ella rode their 1st camel at the rodeo as well as riding their 1st roller coaster without Mom and Dad. They attended their 1st Astros game with their friend Cooper from school (it was in a suite, so that was a 1st for all 4 of us)! They flew on their 1st airplane to Colorado Springs!!! Such a fun trip. We rode with Michella, AJ, and Jack and were able to spend lots of time together while the hubbies worked. We had lots of 1st's in CO. First view of mountains, 1st smores, and many 1st animal experiences at the Cheyanne Mountain Zoo (feeding giraffes, seeing hippos, moose, gorilla, petting a baby wallaby, and many more)!

5 months....

....in summary form! I have no excuse for not updating this sooner, but here are the last several months in summary.

Halloween! Ella as a cat and Mark as a train *driver* (not to be confused with a conductor)

Riding the Polar Express

Merry Christmas!!! Mark and Ella enthusiastically helped with the decorations.

Ella in her favorite winter hat and Mark insisting on being in the picture as well.

Loving on sweet Oatmeal!

What happened to August?!

I don't know what happened the last month, but it was a blur! Too much fun I guess. Mark and Ella celebrated birthday #3!!! We took a great trip to Galveston for a week with our friends from Austin. Their little girl Ava got along perfect with Mark and Ella (all 3 shared a room) and it won't be long before Baby Parks is joining in the fun.

Mark and Ella then had their party at Noah's Ark with all our friends and family. It was so fun and so incredibly HOT. Luckily the kids were all swimming. We had a fantastic time. Then school started back up. Whew! Now we are getting into the swing of the new school year and all our fun activities again.

Ella has resumed dance (for the time being at least) and Mark has started soccer. I need to get some pictures because it is pretty darn cute. Thats it in a nutshell!

Rain and Shine

It seems like this summer has either been crazy hot (not really a surprise) or rainy for days. We've made good use out of our little pool this summer, thats for sure. And I now can take the two of them to the neighborhood pool without fear of falling in the big pool. Here are just a few pics of our summer so far.

Oh and the 1st is Ella's dance recital from the end of May that I forgot to post. It was HYSTERICAL!!! Ella loved wearing makeup and getting her hair curled, but when the curtain opened and the music started (Mary Had a Little Lamb) she froze completely and did not move an inch for the entire dance.

Conversations between Mark and Ella

I had to write some of these down before I forget how funny these are.....

Riding in the car:
Mark: Thats a bulldozer.
Ella: Thats not a bulldozer, thats a tractor.
Mark: Thats not a tractor, thats a bulldozer.
Ella: Thats not a bulldozer, thats a tractor.
Mark: Thats not a tractor, thats a bulldozer.
Repeat for about 15 minutes.....

Walking Oatmeal in the stroller:
Mark: Mommy, Ella hugged me.
Ella to Mark: Its because I love you sweetheart.

In the car:
Ella: Mark, you're a doughnut!
Mark: I'm not a doughnut.............I'm a kolache!!

Watching The Jungle Book:
Mark: Ella, what movie is this?
Ella: Its Jungle Book. I just told you. Don't ask me again.
Mark: What movie is this?
Ella: I just told you. Don't ask me again.
Mark: What movie is this Ella?
Ella: Mark....I just told you. Don't ask me again.
pause
Ella: Mark, what movie is this?
Mark: Ella, I just told you. Don't ask me again.

Mark: I tooted.......oh that smells wild!

New Toys

Well another school year is over next week and I can't believe its summer time again. I got some new toys for the kids, so we are all set. I got a bouncy house from someone in my Mother's of Multiples group and the kids had a blast. And then I loaded up on pool toys from Walmart and I think the pool is going to be one of my better purchases. Especially since its big enough for mom and dad, too!! Oh and the 1st pic of Mark is just a silly one that made me laugh.