Gas and lollipops

There is a full-service gas station near our house where I usually
fill up my car's tank. The men at the station know me and love seeing
Belle and Emily. They always give the girls lollipops. Belle quickly
caught on to this and she sometimes asks me if the car needs gas (so
she can get her lollipop fix).

We refer to pacifiers as "babbas." For some reason, Emily calls
anything that she is allowed to put in her mouth, besides food,
"babbas." So, though Emily knows what a lollipop is, she will call it
a babba.

Yesterday, I told the girls that we needed gas and little Emily asked
excitedly, "Babba?" Yes, I told her, she'd get a lollipop out of the
deal.

Serious vs. Smiley Emily

"Peese"

Emily: Ah, min [more].
Seren: Emily,  say,  'Please.'

Emily: Peese

Such a sweet voice!  I'd give her almost anything! 

Future Cornellians?

Belle and Emily joined Nathaniel, Eva, Josh, Emma and Ayla (too little for even the kids table) for a fun Cornell reunion of sorts. All the kiddos played nicely. Emily really enjoyed playing with Nathaniel.

More fun with Charlie and Marielle

Holding hands, being silly, playing "Ring-Around-the-Rosy"

Big little girl

Belle is so grown up that I am often shocked by her vocabulary and by the level of conversation she is able to hold.  Belle can recite the Pledge of Allegiance, knows when she is engaging each of her five senses, ask interesting questions (frequently), and said to me today, "Let's not talk about this anymore."  When did Belle become a little girl?  She was a baby only a second ago?

Old friends are the best

With Belle's first friends Charlie and Marielle.

Two Rupunzels

Belle and Marielle: both four-years-old and never had a haircut.

Happy Emily

Two Princess Annas

At Jenny's "Frozen" themed birthday party.

Emily enjoys the escalator with Grampy

Belle helping Emily eat ice cram

Playing with dolls

Jordan, Belle and Emily played together with Jordan's "babies."

A picnic dinner with Jordan

Babysitter and haitstylist

Belle, Margeaux, and Emily are eating dinner. Checking out the mini French braid Nadia put in Emily's hair.

Lil sis

Emily in Cousin Mia's hand-me-ups:)

Belle's first ballet class this fall!

More bubble fun!

Aunt Carla helps the girls blow their own bubbles.

The joy of bubbles

Uncle Joe and Aunt Carla visited.

Helmet- loving girls

First day of school!

Cousin playdate to beat the heat

Seren mostly stayed in bed, while Craig hosted a cousin playdate. Izzy and Owen and even little Isla joined Belle and Emily for some sprinkler fun and dinner.

Happy Belle

Did you ever see such a smile? I think one little girl is enjoying a special visit to Avon all by herself!

Belle and Grammy

Playing, snuggling, and reviewing ancient history (my baby pictures).

Belle and Gagga

Hair!

Belle brushes Emily's hair. Grammy puts Emily's hair in a full ponytail.

Emily is so busy

Emily will have her people call your people.

Soaking up the last rays of the summer sun

The last day of August

Belle and Seren stayed home sick. Craig took Emily to meet the dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural History. I'm pretty sure Craig chose that location due to its proximity to Shake Shack (Emily is holding the vibrating remote that indicates their frozen custard treat is ready).