Hold Me Closer Tiny Dancers

Aunt Tracey sent the girls these adorable tutu outfits for Christmas and they are just starting to ask to wear them. Of course, there is the never-ended fight over who is going to get to wear the pink one, but I think they are so sweet that I could not resist taking some pictures. They even slept in them one night this week.

Cate posing out by the pool.

Cate showing off her ballet moves.

Playing in the living room.

Pouty face

Park Days . . .

The Flying Devlins

The kids love to be thrown in the pool and to jump off the wall and spa into the water. Claire and Brant are absolutely daredevils and Cate is starting to become more and more adventurous. It is so funny to watch them jump over and over.

Claire getting a lift from daddy.

Brant jumping off the high wall.

Cate being thrown by Brian.

Claire jumping off the spa.

Girls on the high wall getting ready to jump.

Brant heading down the slide . . . he is looking so big on that slide these days.

A smiling, happy B-ster.

Daddy being the shark and getting ready to chase the "purple fish". Brant is the red fish, Cate is the yellow fish and Claire is the purple fish. This is a game the kids love to play.

Zoo Trip with the Millers and Splash Day for Brant

We ended up having a cool-ER week at the end of July, so I wanted to try to get the kids out for a morning at the zoo before it got too hot. I took Cate and Claire and we met Mitzi and Reese and Collin at the zoo on Friday morning. We had a fun time as usual and the girls loved having Reese-y and Collie-e there to follow around. They love their big cousins. We saw a few animals, had a few snacks and then took a ride on the carousel before it was time to leave to go get Brant from camp.

The last day of camp at Oakhill they had a splash day, which all of the kids enjoyed. They wore their swimsuits and were able to slip n slide, throw water balloons and use the hoses to squirt each other. Sounded like a good time and Brant was ready to kick back when we got there to pick him up.

Arriving at the zoo . . . everybody was ready to go.

Everybody on the turtle sculpture

Checking out the elephants--I think they may be the kid's favorite.

Cate watching the otters swim


Cate insisted on holding Claire's hand and I thought it was so sweet. "Sissy hold my hand."

Hollywood! Wearing her oversized sunglasses.

Stroller sweeties

Cate and Collin getting and up close look at a gorilla. It is so cool when they are right up by the glass.

Riding the carousel--everyone's favorite part of the zoo trip!


Brant getting in the car after splash day

Kickin' back for the ride home. Ahhh--a morning of fun followed up by nap and rest time.

The American Idol Concert

We went to the American Idol concert at the AAC this week and had such a good time. I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy it, but the company was great and the performers at the end of the concert did a great job. Adam was by far the most theatrical and I really enjoyed his performances. Fun night, but unfortunately I didn't take many pictures.

Brian and I with Vicki after the concert.

The JFK Museum and Founder's Plaza

One thing I love about having people visiting from out of town is that you end up doing things that you wouldn't do on your own. Tracey and Kaylan wanted to visit the 6th Floor Musueum while they were here, so on Friday we headed downtown. Brant had school that morning and my mom was supposed to keep the girls, but she got sick so Cate and Claire made the field trip with us. First we walked over and saw the Memorial in Dealy Plaza, grassy knoll and checked out Founder's Plaza. Then we headed inside. Unfortunately, it is really something that 2 year olds cannot enjoy, but Tracey, Brian and Kaylan listened to the audio tour while I corraled the girls. Then we headed over the pick up Brant from school and we ate lunch at Chuys. It was fun being back in the uptown area and seeing some of our old stomping grounds. I wanted to take the kid's over to Wild About Harrys for some custard after lunch, but I think by that time everyone was worn out and they were unenthused. They did enjoy Chuys and Brant thought the Elvis statue was pretty cool. Kaylan won the girls a ballerina bear stuffed animal on of the games inside and that was a huge hit and they had to share back and forth over lunch.


Tracey, Brian and Kayla in front of the Dealy Plaza Memorial



The Book Depository Building and 6th Floor Museum


Devlin's overlooking the "grassy knoll"


Founder's Plaza with the Red Courthouse in the background




Kaylan and Cate in the lobby of the 6th Floor Museum

Lunch at Chuys

Claire with the ballerina bear

Brian and Brant checking out Elvis