Chronicle

Since me and Ella are getting older, Mommy thought it would be a good idea to give everyone a rundown of what we do all day. We're very busy toddlers you see. First thing after we get up and have our (non-chocolate but still brown with prune juice) bottles, we have to wave at the neighborhood.

Sometimes our neighbors need a smile when they're walking their dogs or going off to school...we like to make that happen. Then I usually walk around in Daddy's sandals for a while, you know, to figure out what weird thing I'm going to make him do once he gets home.

Then I usually try to kiss the dog a bunch.

She's not very fond of that. And when I'm busy annoying the dog, Ella's usually getting her hair done and then humoring Mom when she takes a million pictures of her in piggies...yet again.

Then we do some teeter tottering.

Before we know it, it's time for our pre-nap snack...one of our favorite times of the day.

After we nap, have snack, and run with Mom, we play outside.

Then, on really awesome days, we get to have bathtime! But guess what comes before bathtime...NAKED PLAY TIME! Apparently Daddy's relaxed rules on clothing have worn off on Mommy because she's starting to let us play with less and less clothes on with each pre-bath time.

Tonight, Ella decided to show off her naked hoops skills.

Then, after checking out Daddy's office for awesome stuff (while completely naked mind you), we play in the tub and fight Mommy off when she tries to clean us.

Once we're clean and dry and dressed, it's time to play a little more before bed. Phew! Well, that's our day. Think you can keep up?

Hoops

Dunk you very much!

Happy Final Four week!

Signs

I don't know why Mommy and Daddy don't think Coopy and me can communicate. I know all the important stuff. See?

And for the record: I know my "bye bye" looks like "milk", but to be fair, those are "bye bye hands" at gym class...and I don't often ask for milk. It's yucky you see and not at all chocolatey.

Great

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREAT GRAMMA LEA!

If you were here, we'd share our cupcake snack with you! We love you and we miss you and we can't wait to see you!

Grumpy

Cooper was mega mega super grumpy today. So me, Eloise, being the best twin baby sister ever, was on my very best behavior in hopes that my exemplary mood would rub off on him. Unfortunately, the only things that cheered him up were Daddy wearing his hat and sneakers (not flip flops), and Gramma Polly giving him her undivided attention. On a side note, grilled bacon makes the very best post-breakfast, pre-nap snack snack.

Hearts

Sometimes Mommy can't ignore a tourist trap...

fortunately for us, we're usually the beneficiaries.

Kicks

We got some new shoes in the mail today, and fortunately there was a long enough break in the rain and gloom for us to go for a run with Mommy, and then do some playing in the yard.

It was pretty fun. And just for the record: yes, I was up to something,

and my mood did in fact match my shirt.

When the mommy is away...

...the toddlers (and the daddy) will play! Mommy spent the past weekend in New York with Aunt Sue, cousin Ashley, cousin Vicki, and Gramma Polly celebrating Gramma's birthday. At first, I was a little confused about why I wasn't included. I mean, Daddy kept saying Mommy was spending the weekend with "the girls" and I was all "But I'm a girl...what about me, Ella?" Well...I quickly established that even though I could've been included, I'm glad I wasn't! Staying home with Daddy in charge is so much fun! Did you know that we finally got to play with all of his Kwik Trip cups?

We call them "gop" and they're so much fun! We fill them up and dump them out and hit each other with them and fight over them. It's a good thing Daddy goes to KT so often...that way we'll never have a shortage. AND, did you know that when Daddy's in charge, pants and shirts are optional?

For once I didn't get told that "shirts stay on" when I decided that I no longer wanted to wear clothes. Coop took advantage of Daddy's slightly more relaxed views on clothing necessity and spent much of the weekend without pants.

We may love Mommy...but the house sure seems a little more fun when Daddy makes the rules.

Sunshine

Today, when Daddy got home from work, we got to go outside and enjoy the sunshine and nice weather. It's not that Mommy doesn't take us out...we did go for a run with her after our awesome naps you see...but when we go play with Daddy we always know we'll get away with just a little more. Anyway, it was amazing! We LOVE outside! We got to run along the front walk and driveway,

I waved at some neighbors who were copying us and out walking too,

and I even did some hand-holding with Daddy...just to make sure he was being safe and staying out of the street.

We were so happy to be outside, we even did some posing for Mommy.

Outside is the best place ever!

Ponies and Piggies

Mommy and Daddy and Liz really try to treat me and Coopy the same. They love on us, play with us, spoil us, and even discipline (when they can) us equally. But sometimes it really pays to be the little girl.

Chores

Since we're toddlers now, Mommy and Daddy said we had to start helping out around the house so we could "earn our keep."

It may look like we're having fun, but laundry is tough work!

Play doh!

Last week, Daddy got this awesome putty stuff for his physical therapy, and we got so jealous every time he played with it, that he finally gave in and got us our own.

We're not too sure about it yet, but the containers sure are awesome!

Showing off

It's always nice to have a fresh audience so we can show off our skills. Sometimes Mommy and Daddy get sick of reading to, and us reading from, the same books over and over and over...

good thing Gramma Polly is always there to indulge us.

Fingers

We've always been pretty skilled and talented babies. And now that we're toddlers, we're getting even more skilled and more talented with every passing day! It's pretty amazing what we pick up. Like yesterday, Daddy swears that Coopy said "bagel". And whenever someone sings one of our favorite songs (or really makes any kind of melodious noise) we dance and sing along. Sometimes, we even learn skills that aren't necessarily the most productive or beneficial for every day life. Like, we're really good at taking off socks...just ask Gramma Betti! And yesterday, I was enjoying one of my new favorite snacks, when Liz showed me the most awesome-est new skill of all: Bugle Fingers!

Ok...so I was a little crabby and not the most cooperative for pictures, but you get the idea. I can't wait until I learn the next greatest thing I can do with food...I wonder what it'll be?

Gramma and Pops!

We spent most of the weekend pretty bummed that Daddy couldn't pick us up, and that we had to be gentle when playing with him. So imagine our surprise when we woke up from naps on Monday and Gramma Betti was here to play with us! We were so excited! We didn't have to be gentle or anything and we had a whole new audience to show off all our skills for. We made sure to ham it up during meals and snack, especially when we had chocolate cupcakes.

We also made sure to snuggle with Gramma lots and lots...and we even entertained her by giving each other kisses.

Apparently our kissing skills need work so Gramma doesn't laugh at us. Then last night, Pops came in town. Me, Ella, I was a little hesitant at first, but Coop decided right away that he was going to be Pops' best friend.

Then this morning, before they left, we decided to be extra cooperative and pose for a few pictures.

I don't know about Gramma...but she sure tired me out!

Thanks for a great visit!