Seven Months and Sitting Up

These girls are seven months old! 

Here are a couple pictures of just Cami. 

Well, this one has Catarina too.  BUT...look at that silly face on Cami. She is a funny baby for sure!

It is so easy to make Cami smile and laugh.  She smiles so much that almost every person who sees her comments, "Oh wow, she's smiling!"  Cami isn't rolling over yet but she does the cutest little baby sit-ups, or at least she tries to. 

Now a couple pictures of just Catarina. 

Look at those eye lashes!

Catarina has a tooth now and she is constantly reaching for and contorting her body in any way possible to grab every. single. thing. in sight.  She is so fast and good with her hands that she frequently grabs things before I even register their nearness, and she gets so frustrated when she can't quite reach or we take something away. 

Finally, here is the beautiful big sister, who is now four years and seven months! 

I had no idea how much Katy would enjoy her twin sisters or how little she would resent their non-stop neediness.  She is such a wonderful little girl, and a very loving big sister.

I look forward to watching these three build a lifelong friendship.

Trying to be Graceful

One final post about Layla and Nolan's visit.  We took the kids to the trampoline park. Layla, who has taken gymnastics and loves doing cartwheels, jumped very gracefully.  Katy tried to copy her but lacks the same grace.  The result was pretty comical. 

The Cat in the Hat

While Layla and Nolan visited, we took a trip to the beach.  I don't see Nolan and Layla a lot, but I do think the three times they have been to the beach were all with me.  So I've got that. 

The twins in their adorable bathing suits!

Grandma Dorothy made it down to the beach.

These kids had soooo. much. fun.

It was dark by the time we started the drive home.  As we were leaving Blanca Isla park, a cat ran in front of our car.  Chris exclaimed, "Oh, a cat!"  As if it were normal, Katy asked from the back of the car, "Was it wearing a hat?"  What?!?!?!  What kind of cats does Katy think live near the beach?

Fancy Dinners and Parties

For several months now, one of Katy's favorite activities is planning parties and fancy dinners.  A party or fancy dinner for Katy consists of setting the table with paper plates, plasticware, colorful napkins, some kind of disposable cup, and paper straws.  I used to have a basket full of paper goods.  All of Katy's parties had depleted my supply.

Sometimes Katy writes invitations for her parties and fancy dinners, which are really just papers of various sizes, with or without scribbles for writing, folded unevenly several times and sealed into an envelope much too large.  Sometimes she sets the table with fake food.

Last weekend Nolan and Layla visited with my parents.  On Friday afternoon, I was in the baby room rocking one of the babies to sleep.  Nolan opened the door, handed me a small piece of paper folded in thirds, and said, "Here's your invitation."  "To what?," I asked.  "To the party," he replied.  And then he left.  I smiled at the thought of Katy in the other room with someone to join in her party planning.  Perhaps Katy has found her soulmate, I thought.

After leaving my sleeping baby, I found Katy and Nolan excitedly making more invitations.  When all the invitations were made, Nolan asked me for paper plates to set the table for the party.  Yes, I thought, Katy has found her soulmate.  We were out of paper plates, but I wasn't going to let this moment pass.  Finally, Katy had a playmate as excited as her about one of her absolute favorite activities.  So we made a quick trip to the dollar store.

Eventually Layla joined in the party planning fun.  Chris ordered Pizza and Gigi iced caterpiller cupcake cake.  Katy was exploding with excitement when it was finally time for everyone to sit down at the table at their assigned places.  Boys had napkins with balloons, girls had napkins with flowers.  Pops had the checklist with everyone's names, so after prayer he started the party by taking roll. 

After dessert and tasting a few Mexican candies, Nolan announced that the party would end with a game of tag outside.  Katy wanted to play hide-and-seek instead.  Perhaps they aren't soulmates after all, which is probably good because they are cousins. 

We planned to go out for Dinner on Friday evening, but I think our party was much more enjoyable.

The place settings.

All present, thanks to Pops taking roll. 

Ready to play tag.