Olivia and Alyssa, 4th of July photos

I almost forgot to include the photos of Olivia and Alyssa. Not the best but after trying to take photos of 11 kids this seemed like a piece of cake!

Alyssa on the left, Olivia on the right.

4th of July

As usual, we had the 4th of July celebration at our house. Here's a few snapshots from that day, plus a few from my birthday celebration--58 years old!

I was surprised with my birthday gifts and cake. I hadn't
really thought about it but the kids surprised me.


Olivia and Alyssa in the act!


Thanks for the gifts, some nice bowls, plates, candles,
and mats to use in the summertime.


I still have enough hot air! Not that anyone is surprised.


My gorgeous cake. Thanks to Tim and Steph for
getting it all the way from KC.


I've complained about trying to get photos of the
two girls. Here's what it's like when you get 11 kids
together. Total chaos!


It's not getting any better!


Meltdown, but at least Logan is getting everyone's
attention so they're not crying, at least not at this
very moment.


Happier moment, everyone is eating.


I thought it was so funny how Janet's twins
were entertaining our twins.
Harrison and Olivia


Alaina and Alyssa


Gavin, enjoying shooting off fireworks.


Harrison


And smoke bombs--Gavin, Raylee, and Hayden


Alaina with Uncle Mark


Janet and Alaina, what a ham!


Night fireworks, nothing better than sparklers.


Doug and Brian helping the kids with their sparklers.


One of my favorite photos--Mike and Tim.


Night Fireworks:

While Julia was on her school sponsored trip to Europe this
summer we got to have the girls for about 5 days. It was
great to have them all to ourselves for a change. But they
sure keep you hopping! We picked them up on Wednesday at
Julia's mom's and then brought them home. Doug, Tim, and
Steph came in on Friday and the girls went home on Sunday
evening back to their own home and Granny Martha's for the
rest of the time.

On Thursday evening some of the Ayers clan came in for a BBQ
including Carol Chappell, Pat and John Cox, Katy and Casey Welch
with Greta and Caden, and Steve and Linn. It was nice for the cousins
to spend some time with each other. They don't see each other much.

The cousins playing very well together.


Greta


Caden


Alyssa eating spaghetti at our house.mmmmm!


Olivia digging in also.


Alyssa, offering us some of her supper.....I don't think so!!!


And after a supper of spaghetti, it's bath time.
I thought they'd love the big bath tub but they
weren't very happy. I guess it was almost too big.


And after bath, it's play time.




Rocking in Great Uncle Max's old chair, and
one that my Dad refinished for our own kids.
Alyssa really got the hang of it and loved rocking
herself, Olivia liked it but still was working out
how to rock. And of course there was the constant
fight over who got the chair.

Alyssa


Olivia


And we even made time for a pool party!
Alyssa and Olivia






Olivia, only time in her life she won't mind
a photo of her little bumm.


A similar pose for Alyssa


Alyssa and Olivia drying off at our front porch.
You can really see here how they are beginning
to look different.


Olivia "driving" her cozy car.


And Alyssa driving hers.

June Visit

Mike and Doug are beginning to build the deck on the back of Doug's house so we're at Doug and Julia's a little more often than usual. I'll take any excuse to see Alyssa and Olivia, tho!

Alyssa will stand on her own but you can't get
her to walk. You can tell by her dirty knees that
she's still crawling. It won't be much longer now, tho!


Olivia is an old hand at walking, but you
can tell from the bruises on her forehead she
still is a bit unsteady.


It's still hard to take photos and have both girls
looking at the camera. Here's the best I got.


The girls have loved to point for months. They love
to point at lights, ceiling fans, just about anything.
I just happened to catch them pointing at who knows
what!


Busy, busy. Now that they are so mobile, it's hard to
keep up with them. Into Julia's cookbooks.


And a shelf with their shoes.


They are really beginning to interact with each
other and realize what they are doing. They give the
other one toys, pacifiers, blankets, etc but at the same
time they are fighting each other if it's something they
want. Here comes the fun! Fighting over the basket of shoes.


Don't know if you can tell but both are crying, not happy
about not getting what the other one has.


This summer Julia has been teaching them their
body parts--nose, ears, eyes, belly button, hair, and toes.
They have the idea but Alyssa thinks she has to pick her
nose every time you ask her where her nose is. Here's
the photos to prove it. Olivia


And Alyssa, what'd I tell you????


Couldn't resist taking a photo of the curls. I don't
know when Julia is going to get their hair cut but
I hope it's not too soon!


Pool Time, but the water kept getting into their eyes.


Olivia


Alyssa


In their wagon


It's Grandma time. I can't ever seem to get a photo
of both of them with me. This was the best we could get.