Sunday, August 10, 2014

The "Bedtime Sillies"

The girls were in rare form tonight just being extremely silly, so I grabbed the camera to capture their sweet faces! They're growing up so fast, it makes me sad!!! Look at these beautiful BIG girls! 


Mila is famous for this pose right before her dive bomb! Sofia has started mimicking her but is too scared to fully commit to the fall! 


Happy Zoya girl was jumping, jumping, jumping...she's so full of life! 



And since Sofia is such a mimic, she was trying some jumps (on the couch too)...sister got some air!! 











August already? Amusement Park Fun!

Our summer has mostly been taken up by the move-packing and unpacking, trying to find things, fixing up the house and trying to have some fun too....but mostly just falling into bed exhausted every night! When I looked at the calendar and realized Zoya starts KINDERGARTEN in 2 weeks, I told Shawn we needed to try and have some summer fun fast! 

We took the girls to a local amusement park for a few hours today! 

The sight of all 3 little bees walking (in separate directions) was both beautiful and terrifying! 



When Zoya was little she never wanted to go on rides here, she was always too terrified. She's come a long way and was comfortable enough to go on TONS of rides. At times she was anxious but her excitement usually overrode her anxiety and she talked herself into going on rides! Sofia loves adventure but never would have gone on her own, so it was nice that she had big sister Zoya as her partner in crime! Mila watched as these two went on the first ride! 

They both loved it. 

Then it was Mila's turn to take a ride with Zoya. Mila got upset with the loud horns that the kids in front were using and started crying when the ride started. Sweet Zoya comforted her and repeatedly said, "You're always safe with Zoya" while rubbing her back. It made me so proud and brought me to tears! 

Zoya's telling Mila, "One minute and all done." Watching her use so many of the strategies I use with her for when she's feeling scared or anxious moved my heart in a way I wasn't expecting! 

She was able to calm Mila down and get her to stop crying pretty quickly. I stood there so amazed and proud of her! Mila said "more" when the ride was over HA! 

Swings! 

These two cracked me up in this little horse and buggy ride...they fought over who got to hold the reins the entire time. 

Sofia was NOT happy Zoya took the reins from her! LOL! 


They loved these fun mirrors! 

These two were laughing so hard in the mirror! Shawn would stand on his tip toes and make their heads look really long. Zoya kept reaching up on top of her head to see if it was really that long! HA! 





Hopefully we can make it back again before old man winter hits ;)

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Long Overdue Post: Sesame Place Trip! (Part 1)

In June we took a little vacation to Sesame Place. It was about a 6 hour drive, which was the longest we had attempted yet and the girls did great! All of them loved Sesame Place, were extremely well behaved and happy and it was just tons of fun!!! I think the Lord was showing us grace by giving us such a happy family time together! 

C'mon you know you pick your nose in the car too.....
Mila was trying to pass the time in the car. 
It was about a 6 hour drive-the furthest we've ever driven with all 3! 

Cheesin' 

Zoya listening to the iPod

The tunnels we went through were cool! Sofia was scared, Zoya and Mila thought they were cool! 



Silly girls! 



Yay for car naps! 

We set up our pop up tent in the parking lot to give the girls a break and eat some lunch half way through the ride! 

They loved exploring the hotel room! 





Elmo's HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (as Zoya says!)



Can you see whose prints these are? She got down to hug Elmo's square! 

Cracks me up! 

Sofia's first ride! 

Of course she loved it :) 

Teacups! 

Mila like this one the first time with Mama but cried the second time-probably because Mama was in a different teacup that time around :)

They loved watching the shows! 

These are the last pictures of Sofia with her binky....she's graduated from the binky now! 

Hi Mila! 


Zoya couldn't WAIT to run up to the stage after the show! 


Playing pat-a-cake with Zoe (every time she saw her!

This is my favorite picture from the trip! Zoya couldn't have been any happier! 


Big Bird!! 


Mila wasn't so sure! :) 

Abby! 



Zoya really loved The Count.

Mom! LOOOOOOOK! 

Sofia watched Zoya visit with the characters and after a few stops, she was jumping right in too! 





Part 2 to come :)