Strawberries

Last week we went to a strawberry patch with friends.  This was a fun year with the girls since they really understood how to pick the berries.  Sophia seemed to enjoy eating them more than picking them to take home.  I loved the stain around the mouth the kids had from eating the juicy berries.  It was a fun filled morning that included a playground, hayride and a picnic lunch.  

Strawberry Picking 2012

Farmer Bell

Taking a bite...

....not sure their faces are a good reaction!

See Mommy!

I love strawberries!

Make a wish

Sophia is the sweetest berry in the patch

Ellie, Cora, Madelyn & Isabella

Sophia and I on a hay ride

The afternoon after picking berries we were enjoying them outside on our deck and Isabella said "Stop, we need to save some for Daddy, PopPop or anyone who might stop by!"  So thoughtful.

Hair Cut Adventure

Sophia- Before hair cut

Isabella- before hair cut

The girls have only had a handful of hair cuts in their short life.  In fact, Sophia has only had 2 hair cuts and Isabella about 4-5.  I was also due for a cut so we made it a Schaefer girl family event.  My friend Kristen ( who is also my hairdresser) opened her own salon so we headed over there for a morning of beauty.  Isabella was eager to go first and requested a super short hair cut like her friend Cora or Daddy.  Since that was not an option we decided on hair like Snow White.  Sophia wanted hers to match Bell . Somehow I think we all kinda match.  Here a few photos of our hair salon adventure...

Bella loved having her hair washed  in the chair

Sophia checking her self out in the mirror

Bella looking in the mirror at her new cut!

Cheese!

After being cooped up the salon the girls had pent up energy and HAD to run around a bit before going inside.  Thus, I snapped a few more photos. 

After hair cut!

New hair cuts!!

Cheese!

Muffins With Mom

Isabella's preschool hosted "Muffins with Mom" last Thursday.  Isabella made a super cute flower pot for me that was painted like a watermelon.  She also put her hand print on a poem for me.  I loved it!  It was nice to have special Mommy/Daughter time!

Muffins with Mom!

Isabella with her teachers

Later in the afternoon we played around the house.  Sophia loves playing with the wooden doll house which was mine as a little girl.  Its amazing how the doll house keeps the girls occupied.  Isabella loves playing dress up so we did a bit of that too.  Bella dressed up like a "rock star" so we had to have a little dance party!  Notice Sophia also wanted to be a rock star, but used the pretend hair dryer to sing.  I love my silly little girls.

Sophia with Mommy's old dollhouse

Rock stars!

A rock star needs lots of BLING!

Mulch Mountain & The Fountains

Mom, can I really play in the dirt?

We have a mulch mountain outside of our house.  Well, maybe not quite a mountain but it is 15cu of fresh mulch for our yard.  The girls thought it was so cool that a big dump truck delivered it right to our house.   They also thought it was pretty great that Daddy let them roll around in the dirt and play queen of the mountain.  Dirt play made for an extended bath time which was a huge perk for the kids.

Wednesday we hit up the fountains at the mall with our playgroup and enjoyed a picnic lunch.  All the kids had fun running around and Will stopped by the mall to surprise the girls with a quick hug!

Isabella loves to get wet!

Sophia loves running around the fountains

Wednesday Playgroup

Robins Egg Blue

 It really is nice to stop and smell the roses.  The girls and I spent some time enjoying the simple pleasures in our backyard.  During the "adventure" we came upon a tiny blue egg on the ground.  Isabella and I discussed how birds make a nest. Since the blue egg did not have a home the girls made a nest of mulch, twigs, moss etc.  Enjoy the photos of the simple beauty in our backyard.

Robins Egg Blue

Spongy Green Moss 

The sun illuminating the leaf...

Speckled beauty in a rock....

The scent from the velvety rose...

The sun though the trees...

The smell of fresh cut grass...

love.

Lets make a nest!

Sophia snaps the twigs

Isabella layers twig for the nest

Ta-Da...The finished nest!

Park & Swim

We went to a new park last week that was great!  They even had a nature center to explore.  The girls enjoyed watching the turtles swim.  Here are a few photos of  our trip to Three Lakes Park.

My 4 year old Monkey likes to climb

Sophia likes to "fly" on the swing

Fifi and the Frog

Bella & the Turtle

Cora & Isabella are queens of the mountain!

Checking out the turtle swimming!

Neat view into the lake aquarium

 Thursday was Isabella's last swim class and she had a blast.  She loves the water and enjoyed putting her head under.  She is confident and wants to "do it myself".  The instructor said he liked her "can do attitude". Since the class is over we will need to practice her skills and work on new ones.  Who knows, maybe she will take after Mommy and swim team will be in her future.

"I can do it!"

Kick Boarding Bella

Daddy & Sophia snuggle during swim class

Abby & Isabella