Yak, yak, yak

Over the last couple of days, something clicked, and all of a sudden the girls want to talk on the phone at length. It is hilarious to listen to (though I'm not sure Nana or Grandma on the other end are as thrilled about it! ;) ). Ellie started it, and asked, out of the blue, to call Nana. So, I dialed for her, and off she went. Ellie would tell a bit about what is happening - Lia playing in the sand table- but then she would go into this "pretend" conversation with someone other than my mom, just on and on. The next day, Lia wanted to join in on the fun and talked away to Grandma too. It's just hilarious to watch her mill around the house with the phone to her ear. We hear her do this regularly with pretend phones, and occasionally daddy's cell, but to know someone's on the other end listening makes it even funnier! You could hear her answer Grandma's questions..."yep...yep...yep". Our favorite thing she's saying lately is "I no know" for 'I don't know'. You sak her where something is, or where someone is and she'll say "I no know". And, just like Ellie did, but it still sounds so cute, everything is "me" instead of "my". So, it's "oh no, me eyes" (when the sun's shining in them), and "oh...me stuck." Makes her sound like a pirate :).

Starring....

The Gawryk Girls! Live on stage! :) Here are my dolls, "performing" for the entire fourth grade, on the stage, while they ate their cake. It was an impromptu performance, of course, and I was shocked! I mean, you would have thought that 125 big kids would be somewhat intimidating. Nope...not for mommy's girls (shocking :) We had brought cakes over to the school on Tuesday to help them celebrate Arizona's birthday. (We do it every year, the fourth grade.) So, with the mention of cake, and "kids", of course the girls were in. Well, they just had a blast. After a little nap in the car on the way, they rolled their tiny strollers all over campus, had the ladies cooing over them, loved licking just the icing from their cake, and then, dancing to the Arizona song playing while the kids ate their cake. The kids in my class got a kick out of Lia's little voice saying "Bye guys!" as they filed out. I was definitely proud of these two little cuties.
What a big girl she looks like here! Ellie has had me laughing lately with some funnies.. telling Lia, when daddy knocks on her window from outside in the evening after putting the trash can out, that "that's just daddy. He's just crazy." (Like, not to worry!) And then her line to tag on to many things lately is "all the single day". In the car she asked me, "Mommy, why does Lia like my kitty all the single day?". She is also continuing to be serious about the baby. I think now that we've found out it's a girl, it makes it even more real, and we're connecting to this mysterious "baby" more. Tonight, she was asking about our wedding photo, and if she and Lia were there. After telling her that no, they weren't out of mommy's tummy yet, she really contemplated and asked if she was a baby. So then, I had fun showing her the pictures in the hallway of her at two weeks old. It just all seems to be sinking in. I love it...it's fun to have this side of expecting this baby, that I never had before because she was so little when Lia was born.

Lia vs. the kindergarteners

The stage...

What hams! Just soaked up the attention!

Valentine cuties...

A couple of weeks ago I took the girls to get their pictures taken at Picture People. I love that place. I just think it's really neat that there's no sitting fee, and you just pick what you like to buy. Most of the ones we have hanging in the hallway here of the girls are from there. Good thing I like it 'cause their competitor Kiddie Kandids went out of business!
So, I dolled the girls up in these adorable poofy satin pink dresses, with little white sweaters, and paraded them through the mall (much to the delight of the older people walking around that morning) to the place. I've learned my lesson that gone are the days when I can get them dressed when we ge there (or even, when it was just Ellie, do a couple of dress changes!). So I stuffed Lia into hers (not happy! but smart move on my part since by the time we got there I htink she forgot she was in it! ;) ) while Ellie was delighted to put on her "princess dress" (Yay! :) ). Once we were there, the lady took some time getting Lia to warm up, and we got a nice one of them together (always the hardest part), and there were a few of them individually that ended up to be cute. I adore the one of Lia on her own, standing, with her hands at her sides. It's the one I chose to add to our hallway. Her expression and pose are entirely Lia...

http://www.picturepeople.com/sso/publishconfirm.sso?data=X0OSdi4Ykx8%2fdClB2Y%2firnXoWmkH%2bqCvj%2brSPRI1kZAatryvYwNlVwIe4ADptB3YPlFmYYNUVjHVCt%2b6tppcvQ%3d%3d

Think Pink!

Ellie and Lia have a baby sister on the way!!! We found out yesterday at our ultrasound with such a nice lady who did both of the girls' ultrasounds. All looks good, and she's rarin' to go in there (I told Bill I felt her already!). The baby's due date is July 18th. Boy, it's going to be a busy place around here!

Smiles!

Though, it's more sniffles you can hear around our house right now. The girls both got hit with a horrible cold quite suddenly...poor little Lia just looks miserable with red, watery eyes. Despite that, they both are in pretty good moods for the better part of the day, and had some fun on their new (supposed to be outdoor) bouncy toys.
A hug from loving sister Ellie. She has some really sweet moments being very tender with Lia. I am thinking she'll have us melting when the new baby comes, and she shows this side with them.

Daddy's Superbowl Experience :) (He said he wouldn't trade it.) (It really looks like she's watching, doesn't it?)

Fun with our paints. Lia loves painting...except when it gets all over our hands! (I wonder who she takes after...?) (Not mommy!)