Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue

We started to get ready for the 4th of July with flags, USA letters, and stars all over our windows! We also modeled our 4th of July outfits -- and can't wait to wear them again!

Decorating the Patio Door

Kylie & Cy

Neela - and the "Knee High by the 4th of July" Corn in our backyard

Brooke in her swing

The Queen of Swinging

Sitting on the swing - but don't get me too high please!

I made my own bracelets at Tracy's -- they all have a pattern! I was very patient making them (Neela's didn't turn out quite so well).

Below are the pictures attempting to get all 3 of us looking at the camera - AND SMILING - at the same time! Which is your favorite???

After all the pictures in the tire swing, Brooke wanted to see what the "mud" was she'd been standing on -- and tried to taste it, too!

A big thank you to everyone who provided us a reason to celebrate our independence, wave our flag with pride, and watch FIREWORKS!!

Brian & Nicole's Party

We went to our friends, Brian & Nicole's, house warming party on Saturday. They were planning on little kids - and had a giant bounce house that looked like a castle! We thought we were princesses playing in the castle - and spent almost 3 hours bouncing, climbing and sliding! By the time we headed home, we were exhausted! We can't wait to go back -- Mommy and Daddy keep telling us there won't be a bounce house next time -- but we like the backyard, the food, and just about everything (just ask!!).

Brooke entertained all of Nicole's family and friends from Illinois - under the table, around the table, across the deck, in the cooler, and everywhere in between!!

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Mom & Dad have been married for 11 years! We had a big summer party to celebrate!

It was the first time many people had seen our home and met Brooke. We had a blast playing in the cul-de-sac with all of our toys, making new friends, trying all the food... We didn't go to sleept until really late - but we woke up really early to play with Grandma Banana & Papa Pizza!!

Brooke's Latest Adventures

On Tuesday, Brooke made a trip to urgent care for a double ear infection and pink eye. After we got her medicine, she was chewing on something... Mommy tried to clear her mouth - and she threw up all over Mommy.

Daddy spent a day home with Brooke - she decided to be a magnet. If she couldn't see Mommy, Daddy or her big sisters -- she cried!

Brooke also is cruising - furniture, your legs, your hands, anything that will help her move upright from point A to point B. However, if the fastest mode of transportation is crawling - she looks around, gets her balance, then drops and crawls.

She's figuring out drawers and cabinets... our old house did not have handles on any cabinets, so she is getting into WAY MORE trouble than her big sisters ever did (and there's only one of her!!).

Happy Father's Day!

We had a great Father's Day!

At Tracy's, the big girls made custom Koozies for Daddy (Daddy's Beer, if you ask Kylie!).

They also colored cards that spelled Daddy!

Brooke bought Daddy a card that said "Da, Da" - no matter how it sounds, it means "I Love You!"

Happy Da-Da's Day, Daddy!!

(We took Daddy and Papa Pizza to "the Apple Palce" for lunch, and had a picnic on the patio... It was a great day!)

Brooke's 9 Month Statistics

Brooke had her 9 month appointment today. She weighed in at 26 pounds (99.7th percentile), and measured 29.5 inches (96th percentile). Her overall location on the growth curve is the 99th percentile.

She's completely proportional - just on the opposite end of the growth curve of her "little" big sisters!!

Kicking It Up!

We had our first soccer "experience" as part of Woodbury Park & Recs PW3's. The class is a combo class for soccer and tee ball. The first two classes are soccer, then we played a game against the parents before we start tee ball.

We were so excited to have Reardon in our class!! Reardon's mommy played soccer in college, so Mommy said we need to learn from her :-)

During our first class, we learned to kick with the magic spot on the side of our foot, and to "trap" the ball with our toe to stop it. We also learned there are no hands in soccer!

Of course, the sisters had almost as much fun as we did -- using their hands to get puffs!!

Dustin (& Erica's) Party

We waited for a LONG time for "Dustin's Party". We couldn't wait to put on our polka dot dresses and do the Chicken Dance! Of course, there were a few other fun things involved with the party, too.

We went to Grandma & Papa's early. We went to the rehearsal dinner - and played with our cousins. Brooke and Hunter enjoyed hanging out at the bar, and Natalie and Neela had a blast playing with the toys Uncle David R. was winning from the vending machine :-)

The day of the wedding, we got our pictures taken A LOT! We took pictures with all of our cousins and our great-grandparents. Don't we look like a great group??? Natalie's dress even matched our's -- and we didn't plan that!

Natalie & Kylie

Hunter & Brooke

Hunter and Brooke -- we really love each other!

Aunt Renee & Neela

Uncle David & Neela

Uncle Chuck & Kylie -- do you expect any other pictures???



Daddy, Uncle Chuckie & the Twins!

Mommy & her girls

The Estochen/Reves Family - from Alaska, Nevada and Iowa... missing Uncle Will, but it's a great picture!!

Grandma & the girls

Natalie & Kylie dancing

All 3 big girls dancing

Dancing with Big Papa

One of Mommy's favorite pictures... Big Papa was spinning Kylie and dancing with all 3 of us, but Kylie stayed the closest.

Mommy & Kylie


Mommy & Neela

The Dollar Dance - Dustin said we were lighter than the concrete and blocks he lifts all day!

Neela doing the Chicken Dance -- she asked ALL night until Uncle John talked the DJ into it!

Big Papa, his granddaughters, and his "granddaughters"

(Kristine, Jen, Renee, Erica & Amber)

Brooke even got into dancing... she's not quite walking, but she loves to hold your hands and try!

All that dancing tired her out, but... she was one sweet little girl!

Sitting with Big Papa -- after I got my PJ's on!

Many Firsts at Grandma & Papa's House

We ventured to Papa & Grandma's house for cousin Dustin & Erica's wedding - and experienced quite a few "firsts" before we even got to the "big party"!

When we get to town, we went to our first baseball game - the Sioux City Explorers. We sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" ALL the way to the game. Chuckie's friend, Shane, got us great seats -- and we loved every minute of the game!

Kylie - showing us the "3 strikes" during the 7th inning stretch

Neela enjoyed the diamond!

Kisses for Chuckie

Brooke loved Slider

...and so did Kylie & Neela! They kept looking for him to give him high 5's! During the 8th inning, we got to go do the Chicken Dance -- ON THE FIELD!!

Good thing we practiced at Little Gym!

The next day, we met our cousin Natalie for the first time. We played with her a little bit and took her to Grandma's candy store. Then we headed to our first "spa" experience for a pedicure and manicure with Mommy, Renee, Aunt Kara and Grandma. (Grandma said we'd have fun -- and we did!!)

The store had special chairs for us - we got to sit on the bears, and watch movies. Neela got purple with green polka dots (Renee got polka dots to match), and Kylie got hot pink with silver sparkles.

Uncle David and Aunt Renee rented a hotel room - which turned out to be a lifesaver with all the overcast skies! Brooke got to go swimming for the first time - and was a HUGE fan!

Brooke's other first... she decided to try to stand all alone. She did not take any steps - but she will now stand alone for 5-15 seconds at a time... watch out world!