Pants?!? We don't need no stinkin' pants!

So this is what I found when I checked in on Ryan and Kate playing this morning.  No only had Ryan managed to take his pants (almost) completely off, he was also waddling around with Kate's pants in his mouth.  Whether she gave them to him willingly or not, we will never know...after all, what happens in the pin stays in the pin!

Lake Trip 2011

 Last Friday we made our annual Bell Family trip up to Lake Keystone.  With all of the issues with algae this year, we decided not to let the babies get in the lake.  They did, however, really enjoy their time in the baby pool on the back deck.  It was perfectly shaded in the evening, so we took our drinks and chairs outside and had a great time swimming every night! 

 Of course there were deck races too.

 Kate and Ryan LOVED the boat this year!  We rode around with the top up giving us shade, drinking lots of water, and spraying everyone down with spray bottles.  All 4 little kids enjoyed the plums (a Bell fam tradition on the boat) and Naomi was even kind enough to share bites with Kate!  We also fed the ducks potato chips and had lunch at the Pier 51 Cafe.

 And there was lots of helping drive the boat.  By the end of the trip, the babies had even figured out that Papa had to push the throttle down to accelerate.

Such a fun trip!!!  Looking forward to even more fun next year!

Toll House Pie

Take it from Ryan: this stuff is YUMMY!!!

If you've never had Toll House Pie, we highly recommend it.  It is super easy to make too and requires no chopping to prepare (a big plus in my book!)  I didn't take any pictures as I was preparing it but the evidence was all over Ryan's face.  So if you're looking for a new dessert idea, here you go!

http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/28218/NESTL%C3%89-TOLL-HOUSE-Chocolate-Chip-Pie/detail.aspx

family fun

 This weekend we had a mini-reunion with my dad's family here in Stillwater.  In this picture are my Uncle Jim (dad's brother), Aunt Becki (dad's sister), my dad, and Jerry (cousin to Jim, Becki, and dad).  Along with several other family members, we spent Saturday catching up while the kids ran around playing.  Since my mom was in Brazil until Thursday, planning this shin-dig fell to my dad and I, and I must say, I thought it went really well.  There was plenty of food, space to visit, and we got it about as cold inside as a 108 degree day would allow (thank God for extra fans!).  Matt was so gracious to take babies home for naps and then again to put down for bed, so that I could stay and visit with my family.  It was really nice to have that extra time, and I really am appreciative.

 On Sunday, Uncle Mitch, Aunt Becki, mom, dad, and I went to OKC to tour the bombing memorial museum and then went out for supper to a tapas grill.  I had never been out for tapas before, but was excited to have the opportunity.  <>  I enjoyed most everything we ordered, but was especially excited to try paella.  It was quite good!

 Today is mom's b-day!  We celebrated with dinner at Texas Road House.  

A big "Yee-Haaaaa!" from the birthday girl!!!

cute dress for a little cutie

 I really loved the pillow case dresses I was seeing on Etsy, but not the price tag!  So my Nana (who is a very skilled seamstress) and I got to work last Saturday on this one.  I did sew a little of it, although Nana did most of it (which is definitely for the best!)  Pretty cute, if I do say so myself!

Daddy's #1 fan

Lately, Ryan has been really loving his time with daddy.  So much in fact, that he is now starting to yell for Matt instead of me when he wakes up in the morning and from naps.  Ryan has always been daddy's pal, but his most recent obsessions include sitting on "dada's" lap, having daddy put him down to sleep, asking about Matt all day when he's at work, and asking to read the books "Just Like Daddy" and "My Daddy and Me."  Today he insisted on wearing his ball cap to the gym nursery, I'm pretty sure because Matt wears a hat anytime he's not at work or church.  And here they are in their matching black polos: my two guys!    

Botanic Gardens

This morning, while it was still slightly cool, we headed over to OSU Botanical Garden.  I have wanted to go visit there for awhile now and today was one of their open house Saturdays.  It was really pretty!  A nice lady at the entrance offered to take our picture.

 The babies really liked looking at the fish in the water garden...

 ...and putting their hands in the cool fountains

We stayed until just after this picture, when Ryan started splashing LOTS of water out.  Such a boy!  I'm really glad we finally made it to the gardens, this will be a great place to come back when the weather is more tolerable!

hit the road, jack!

Thanks to Meemaw (Matt's grandmother) for our 2 new cars!  We will be enjoying driving them indoors until it gets a little cooler outside.