284/365: Kate's first day of MDO

{Kate's first day of MDO} Kate started a Mother's Day Out program today! We originally thought we would wait until next year to start her, but because we found a great program that offers a one day a week option, we decided to get her started now. We were thrilled that they had a spot for her! She did GREAT! When I dropped her off she even reached across the door to go to her teacher. And when I picked her up, her teacher reported, "You'd never have known it was her first day." Woo hoo! I wasn't sure how she was going to take to the whole "nap mat" thing, but they said she slept for about an hour. Impressive!

Kate with her teacher...

And her craft from today...

283/365: window watching

{window watching} The dog next door likes to stick her head part way under the fence. Kate likes to shout, "A dog!" and wave hi to her.  I love the light coming in on Kate's face. I also love her new cow PJs!

282/365: Sunday Best

{Sunday Best} Ignore the wrinkles. They're impossible to prevent when the dress gets crumpled in the car seat! :)

281/365: Clickin Walk

{clickin walk} I'm a member of an online photo forum called Clickin Moms, and today was their first annual Clickin Walk. These photo walks took place all around the world today! My photog friends and I met the Clickin Moms group down in Dallas at the Bishop Arts District. What a fun day it was!

friday phone dump 10.7.11

280/365: my little butterfly

{my little butterfly} We opened her closet, and instead of coming out with normal play clothes, we came out with wings and a tutu.

279/365: TOGETHER!!

{TOGETHER!!} Woo hoo! A pretty cute shot of our girls together! Kate looks as though she's being so cooperative when really she was struggling to get up. Maybe that's because I had my feet planted around her middle, pinning her down. But, hey, it was worth it!

And keeping it real...

Storybook Ranch

The moment we pulled into the drive of Storybook Ranch, Kate excitedly yelled, "A farm! A farm!" over and over. She climbed on pumpkins, pet and chased the animals, and even rode a pony! She didn't last long on the pony, though. After about one minute she began earnestly repeating, "All done. All done. All done." She also snatched the pony's brush, and although I tried to show her how to gently brush the pony, she was more interested in using it on her own hair. Nasty.

It was hard to juggle feeding and tending to Caroline and chasing after Kate to keep her from terrorizing the ponies or running into the barbed wire fence. Oh, and take pictures. Kate was unhappy when I had to hold her or put her in the stroller while I tended to Caroline, and Caroline just hung out in the stroller with very little interaction the whole time. I'm so thankful for the other moms in my group who helped me watch both girls.

I honestly thought I might not have gotten a single good shot. I was so thrilled to find several "keepers" in the bunch. Gosh she's cute...

278/365: lens baby @ storybook ranch

{lens baby @ storybook ranch} The girls and I met our friends at Storybook Ranch today. More in a post to follow in a few minutes...

277/365: lens baby tent scene

{lens baby: tent scene} Kate and I met our Lens Baby group in the woods today for a themed shoot with the cutest handmade tents you've ever seen. Someday my girls will pose for me like this & this, but for now, I'll take this "peekaboo" from Kate holding the bird cage she was a little obsessed with. And here are a couple other shots just so you can see the tent a little better...

Cute setup, right?? When the girls are older I'll have to try again.