what we've been up to

Our second summer in NYC. It's not been as hot as it is in Arkansas, but anytime it gets close to 90 degrees here in the city it starts to feel like an oven. The sidewalks are baking and the tall buildings don't let any airflow in.

Hence, this is why the girls never seem to keep their clothes on. No central A/C in our apartment!

A photo Audrie took of Jamie and I waiting for the subway the other day.

Audrie and I were walking down the sidewalk and we came across some hopscotch... had to stop of course!

I took Audrie to work with me the other day. I had one week off at the end of June, but since have been back in teacher workshops all month. It's shorter hours, so that's nice. And I occasionally get to sneak Audrie into hang out with me for a few hours. I'm really looking forward to my second year being much easier.... right??

Jamie showing Audrie how to snap green beans.

Annie still likes to get in her sling every now and then.

The other night I took the girls out after dinner for a walk to find the ice cream truck. Annie can spot those things several blocks away and squeals so loud when she sees them!

We sat on our front steps of our building, ate our ice cream, and ran around a bit. Our "front yard". :)

Annie had dropped her ice cream on the sidewalk so Audrie was nice enough to share hers.

Our friend Emily got the girls these adorable Arkansas dresses! Cuties!

Last night I took the girls to see a musical theater production of The Little Mermaid. And the whole evening was one of those times where I felt like I'm living on a movie set. We took the A train down to Harlem (isn't there a jazz song that starts like that??), switched to a C train (the girls are MUCH better on the subway and Annie even asked me last night in her tiny two year old voice "Is this our stop?"... I haven't heard her say that before- cracked me up!), we got off at Central Park and walked through the park to get to the theater. As we were strolling I couldn't help but smile at the cliche of my life. I never imagined I'd be walking hand in hand with my two daughters through Central Park just like any other New Yorker on their way to somewhere. I had one of those moments where I thought "do I really live here?".

I had Audrie stop at this cute bridge in Central Park to snap a pic.

After the show (which Audrie and Annie LOVED... and as we walked out Audrie said with a sad sigh "I want to be in a show, mommy.") we stopped at Columbus Circle to eat hot dogs and drink lemonade.

Just hanging out in Columbus Circle.

Don't worry the water in these fountains is only about 2 inches deep!

When someone asks what my favorite part of living here is I have to say (aside from the Broadway shows, of course!) that it's how you can just wake up on a Saturday morning and do something super fun. If you can think of it- you can do it. This city has everything. Alway something new to try.

Adventure is out there. :)

a little about annie

 I was telling some of my friends (who also blog) that I think my blogging days are slowly coming to an end. I think the only thing that keeps me going is that I feel like I blogged SO much about Audrie as a baby/toddler that I want Annie to have her 'time' in our blog books, too. But I realize that I'll never be able to even the score, so I'll just throw a few extra posts in about Annie every now and then! ha! :)

 So, Annie. This girl makes me laugh out loud several times a day. She is so much stinkin' fun. And she is SUPER sweet and loving and cuddly. I think before God sent her to earth to be our baby, He must have pulled her aside and said "make sure you HUG everyone that comes within a 50 foot radius of you". Because apparently she believes it is her job to ensure that everyone gets their cuddle time with her.

 She also doesn't like to wear clothes. (and oh my goodness I realize how skinny this little girl is, but I promise we feed her. LOTS. But she just won't fatten up!)

 The past couple of weeks she has decided to start talking non-stop and it's so cute to hear all her new personality come out in her conversations. Such a fun stage! When every day you hear her say new sentences.

I was away at a music conference this past week and when I called to check-in with Jamie one evening (the day before I was coming home) Annie got on the phone and said "HI MOMMY! PRESENT TOMORROW? I YUV YOU. BYE BYE!"

So precious.

Annie is still hooked on her blankies (which for some reason she calles them "wockies"??).

She loves playing with dolls, coloring (mostly on her arms or furniture), helping me bake (aka lick the bowl), playing games on the iPad, and she really just loves to follow Audrie around all day like a loyal little puppy. Those two are inseparable. Whenever they are apart, Annie walks around saying "Ahdee? Where Ahdee?"

Anyways, I know it's tough to be the second child and get all the hand me downs. But Annie makes our family so much more complete and we are all so in love with her.

Jersey Shore

Last week a friend invited us to come spend the day at her beach house on Jersey Shore. Of course we said yes! It's about an hour and half drive from our apartment. We rented a car, got our carseats out of the closets, and drove to the beach.

 The front porch of their rental house walked right out onto the beach. It was so nice!

 Audrie and Annie were so excited. They took off running as soon as they saw the water.

 We snatched them up long enough to put their swimsuits on them. Cuties!

 Ok, Jamie is a cutie, too. :)

 I was excited to get a little sunburn.

 Our friend's daughter, Carina, is one of Audrie's best friends from pre-school so they had a blast playing together all day.

 Audrie was much braver this year about getting in the waves.

 And, oh, my mom was in town visiting so she came along for the day, too!

 It was such a beautiful beach and the weather was just perfect that day!

 I still couldn't get over how much Audrie was just jumping right into those waves with no fear!

 Jamie did have to go in a few times and drag her closer to shore.

I thought since it was such a popular beach that it might be more crowded, but it wasn't.

 The beach divas took a break every once in awhile to refuel and rehydrate.

 Annie was pretty brave with the water, too, but only if her big sister was there to protect her.

 Annie did spend a lot of time rolling around in the sand. I'm pretty sure she will still have sand in her hair until Christmas.

 It was so great to have my mom there to help coral the kiddos. She has a little experience doing that. :)

 Annie's swimsuit is super cute but did have a couple indecent "wardrobe malfunctions"...

 We stayed all day (and took a walk on the boardwalk where the show Jersey Shore is filmed). Then threw the kiddos back in the car to sleep all the way home.

It was a fun day on the beach!