For starters, on Penelope's actual birthday we went to a train festival/rib cook-off. We each paid a dollar or two for a train ride (it was like a real passenger train) that consisted of 10 minutes loading and unloading and about 5 minutes of actually riding on the tracks at about 5 MPH. So Andrew and I weren't very impressed, but Eleanor and Penelope were loving it!
Penelope is 1!
After de-training we headed over for some ribs and corn.
They also had a cute little old train for the kids to play on. I think Eleanor could have spent the whole day playing on it.
And of course Penelope wanted in on the fun
On a side note, here's Penelope giving her baby hugs. She is such a sweetie!
A balloon and some cotton candy for the ride home and we are good to go!
Next up: the zoo. Before summer ended we headed to the zoo with our friend Katherine before she had to go back to school. She is a great helper and so good with the girls (kind of makes me wish I had a 10-year-old sometimes!) They just love her!
Next: Penelope got Hand Foot Mouth Disease. This picture is at the doctor's office and I think it is so indicative of my kids personalities. First, Eleanor is wearing a crown, she can't leave home without some type of princess paraphernalia; Second, Eleanor's "dog" Cookie is with us (you should see her "walking" him down the hall), she has such a vivid imagination; And third, Eleanor is exploring/probably about to do something she's not supposed to be doing and Penelope watches with great curiosity.
Next: Papi (my dad) sent a birthday package for Penelope and my girls were absolutely delighted.
Next: Time for a beverage.
Next: A visit to Toys R Us. I'd like to think that by taking my kids to Toys R Us and letting them play with the toys and leaving empty handed I'm allowing them to learn discipline and delayed gratification. Haha. I should probably try to be more consistent though, because somehow we ended up leaving Hobby Lobby yesterday with a magic wand and a Dora coloring book that we didn't need!
Doesn't she make a lovely Strawberry Shortcake?
All tuckered out
Next: Story time/music time/art time at the library.
Next: Meeting Dad for lunch at work. Kind of sad that the only picture I have of Andrew from the past 2 months and his eyes are closed. In an attempt to get done with school faster he's going full-time this semester and working. Needless to say, we don't see much of him these days so we try to meet up for lunch at least once a week.
Next: Hanging around the house. This is usually what both of these girls can be found doing. Penelope playing with dolls and/or purses. And Eleanor gathering stuff from all over the house in her shopping cart (kind of like a homeless person, now that I think about it haha).
Next: Dress up. I don't think a day goes by without Eleanor dressing up as something or someone. Here she is as a doctor. I think she's spot on. She's got a clipboard (back of a picture frame she disassembled), stethoscope (cable chord), doctor coat (hooded towel), and dress shoes (mom's shoes).
Luckily we have some good friends down the street and Eleanor is quick to make her self at home there. I think she loves using her imagination with new toys and things at their house. Not sure what she's dressing up as here, maybe an underwater firefighter? And notice her plastic grocery bag filled with things from all over their house. I told you, this is her thing, she's a gatherer!
Next: Apple orchard. For playgroup we went to an apple orchard and they had a fun little hay maze that the girls loved. Even Penelope got in on the fun and actually found her way out before Eleanor did. I think Eleanor was just having too much fun running up and down the aisles screaming and giggling with her friends.
Then we went and picked some apples.
And you guessed it, Penelope didn't waste any time getting her hands on an apple!
Next: Coloring time. I'd say Eleanor's art is a little abstract with a touch of minimalism. She'll use each color and draw just a little squiggle with each one. It is so neat to see how her little brain works. And Penelope is happy to just bite the tips off of the markers when I'm not looking.
So, do you feel like you've relived our last couple of months? It's a lot of work and super exhausting being with these two girly bugs all day everyday but I think we have a pretty good time together!