Galveston

 We had a busy week this past week! I was busy looking at rental homes for a friend who is moving down here from New Jersey and Tony was working a lot.  We had swim lessons and gymnastics and on Friday, we all celebrated my brother's birthday at Pappadeaux's. Here are my girls ready for some yummy dinner! These outfits were given to them from their babysitter, Carolyn!

Kaitlyn, Jillian, Kennedy

Group photo! (Sorry mom! Caught you with your eyes closed!)

Saturday morning, we loaded the van and headed to Galveston! A very sweet family let us stay in their beautiful condo for the weekend!

Finally there!  Waiting for daddy to unload the van!

 Here's a picture of the condo!

 Do you think we brought enough stuff???  It doesn't seem to matter if you are staying 1 night or 10 nights...you still have to bring the same amount of luggage etc. when you have kids!

Here is a picture of the kitchen (Please don't mind the weird shadow of Tony....didn't see that until I had already uploaded the pictures! ha!)  They left the girls a surprise on the kitchen counter!! So nice!

 The girls were super excited to open this!!

 Living/dining room

 Master bedroom

There was another bedroom with large bunk beds that they twins slept on. (They slept together on the bottom bunk) Jillian slept in our room in her pack n play.

 Opening the goody basket!

 Before we headed to the pool, they played a little with toys I brought along. These kept them busy (and quiet!) for a long time!

 Our view from the balcony (We were on the 25th floor!) By the way, the twins have been terrified of elevators but obviously, we weren't going to climb up 25 flights of stairs, so I'm happy to say that that fear is conquered and they LOVED the elevator! Yipee!!

Before we headed to the beach, we had lunch and then actually played in the swimming pool! Kennedy and Kaitlyn feel so comfortable swimming around (floaties and shallow water, but still!!)   and it was so nice to see them having FUN and not being scared! :) I think I'm gonna love year FIVE!

After we got back from the pool, we had snacks, played a little more at the condo, then got sunscreened up (again) to head to the beach!

 Kennedy!

 Jillian (this picture cracks me up!)

 Kaitlyn

 Our long walk to the beach! (Tony was behind us lugging a huge cart of toys, towels, umbrellas etc!) Poor Tony!

 Kaitlyn

 Jillian loved the mud!

 Daddy took her out in the water! She loved it. (She wouldn't have anything to do with the water back in October when we went)

 Sand! The sand kept them occupied for HOURS!!

 Kite flying time! (Kennedy)

 Kaitlyn's turn

 

Jillian didn't move from this spot for about 45 minutes. She sat here and played in the sand and was soooo content! 

I think they could have played all evening! We finally went in, had dinner, baths and all crashed. Jillian woke up the next morning and the first thing she said was, "Beach?"  In fact, since we have been home, she keeps asking to go.   We had such a fantastic time!!  The girls are already ready to go back :)

5th birthday party

For Kennedy and Kaitlyn's 5th birthday we did a swimming/princess party.  We set out lots of pools, water table and slip n slide in the backyard and the kids played and played!

Kaitlyn sliding!

Kaitlyn and Gabrielle

Can't believe they are FIVE!

Kennedy and Gabrielle

 Cooper and Liberty

 Enjoying the cupcakes!

 Opening a Rapunzel doll from Aunt Jenn, Uncle Chris and Cooper!

 Pretty jewelry! (Kennedy)

The girls had a great time and they are really growing up too fast!  I love you Kennedy! I love you Kaitlyn! You will always be my baby girls!

What the girls are doing at 5 years old:  gymnastics, swim lessons,  princess anything, drawing and coloring, crafts, dressing up, pretty dresses, learning to read (sounding out letters etc), babies and lots and lots of pretend play.

What they don't like: trying vegetables and new foods, getting their hair fixed, change, getting too hot (such girly girls)

I don't mean to lump them together, but they really are doing all the same things right now and they both don't like the same things! :) There are very big differences in their personalities but their interests are the same!

Happy Birthday Kaitlyn! Happy Birthday Kennedy!

Moooooo!

Yesterday was "dress like a cow and get free food day" at Chick Fil A! So, guess what we did??? :)

 My little herd

 Tony was working but still came and took pictures with us!

 Even my parents got dressed up!

 We all got free meals and dessert! 

 Chris, Jenn and Cooper came too! 

We had a fun time and this event made for some cute pictures :)

Elephant Bath and Happy Birthday Kennedy and Kaitlyn!

 Tony had a wonderful opportunity to bring all of us to watch the circus elephants get a bath! This was an event with Chick Fil A and it just happened to take place on Kaitlyn and Kennedy's birthday!!! 

 The birthday girls!

 We waited in a little room for a while and the girls got a birthday message from their Aunt Dar while we were in there! 

 They also passed out stuffed animals and spin lights for all the kids!  :)

Finally, it was time to move outside and wait for the elephants! The twins were pretty nervous and I was not quite sure how they would react to all the CFA cows that were there to promote this event.  They are usually terrified of any costumed creature, but they surprised us today!

 Tony with one of the cows!

 Couldn't believe they were hugging the cows!!!

 Cute pic!

 Here come the elephants!!!

 First, they spray them down

 Then they told the elephant to lay down

 Cute clowns

 Then they soap 'em up!!

After the baths were done, it was back to hugging the CFA cows.  Jillian loved them!!!

 We told her to kiss his nose, but it looks more like she is biting it! 

 

 

 

 

 Taking it all in

 Jillian had a great view! :)

 Group photo of the firemen (they had to use their hose to wash the elephants) and the CFA cows!

All clean!!! Walking back inside

We were all hot and tired after being out in the sun but we had SUCH a fun time!!!  The media  was there and they tried to interview the twins, but they didn't want to talk. Oh well!  That's kids for ya!  A photographer from the Houston Chronicle snapped a pic of them and told us it would be in the paper tomorrow!! :)  Their birthday party is on Saturday and they are very excited about that!