My Girls and their Stories: Weekend in Corpus Christi

Kylee,

This weekend dad was working in Corpus and since Sunday was Father's Day we decided to go with him. Saturday morning we went to the beach and played for several hours. You enjoyed going out into the waves with dad. You didn't want to go near the water without being held though, even just to let the waves hit your feet. But you eventually were able to sit at the edge of the water and let the waves come and clean off your hands after you would bury your feet or draw in the sand. Your hait got so curly in the water. I love your little curls. They are precious. After we left the beach we went back to take a nap and then drove out to the King's Inn for dinner. It was about an hour away but I wanted to take you and Kenna there. My Grandy and Granddad (Gran's mom and dad) used to take us there when I was little. They lived in Kingsville when I was a little girl so going to Corpus/Kingsville reminds me a lot of them. I wish you could have met them. They were very special people and I know they would be so in love with you.

Grandy's sister Aunt Valeda lives in Corpus near her 2 daughters Ann and Martha. So on Sunday we went to church with Martha and then went to visit Aunt Valeda. I was worried that you would be a little nervous around Aunt Valeda because she uses a wheelchair so I tried to prepare you by telling you that she has a special chair. But as soon as you saw her you were amazed and said, "That's her bicycle!" You were very warm to Valeda and I was so happy. You will probably never know how much your big hug and kiss meant to her. I know she enjoyed having you around playing in her house even for just a few hours. You and your sister made her day much happier just by being there. You also got to see a few pictures of Gran's sister Carol Jeanne, who you are named after. I never got to meet her but I know that she was a special person, and a wonderful sister to Gran. I pray that you and Kenna can be as close as Gran and Carol were, and your Aunt Becky and I am.

After dad got off of work we went back to the hotel to give him his Father's day present. You decorated the bag for him with markers and stickers. The card you picked out was a singing Tinkerbell card and you could not wait for him to open it so that you could play with it some more. You also made dad a tie in Sunday school. It was really cute.

Today wasn't nearly as fun. Daddy had to go on to another city to work and I drove you and Kenna back home. You had to sit in your car seat for the long trip and were not happy about it. We stopped and bought you some Cheetos at one point and that made you a little happier, but not for long. You wanted me to hand you the bag so you could pick out one chip and then hand the bag back. And then about 5 seconds later you would want the bag back again. After about the 5th time passing the bag back and forth I explained that you would have to hold on the bag if you wanted to eat the cheetos. You agreed, but changed your mind as soon as you picked out the chip you wanted and tried to hand the bag back to me. So I let you cry about it for a few minutes (which seemed like forever) and I thought you would give up and just hold the bag. But instead you handed the bag of chips to Kenna, who was in a rear-facing carseat that I could not reach. I could hear Kenna's delight instantly. By the time we stopped again Kenna had cheetos all over herself in her carseat and on the floor and was just as happy as she could be. But you were upset that she wouldn't give them back. It was a long trip! You were so happy to be home.

Another funny thing that you did tonight was that you got your head stuck in your potty chair. I don't know how it happened exactly but I don't think that it will happen again. You came into the kitchen with the seat around your neck asking for help. And after I helped get it off you kept saying that you shouldn't put your head in the potty. I guess that is a good lesson for a 2 year old!

We watched Beauty and the Beast tonight before I put you to bed and I was asking you questions to see if you understood the movie. At the end when the beast turns into the prince I asked you if that was the beast. You acted like that was a silly question and said, "No, mama, that is her grandmother." I don't know where you get these ideas!

Kenna,

This was an exciting weekend for you too! You are officially crawling. No more scooting on your belly. And what motivated you to crawl? Seaweed! When we were on the beach I kicked some seaweed away from you so that you would not eat it and you kept trying to get to it. So I kicked it a little farther and off you went. And you have been crawling ever since. I guess you just needed the right motivation. You really did enjoy the beach. I don't know how much sand you injested, but I think it was quite a bit. You wanted to taste it all! But you would get frustrated when you wanted to suck your fingers and they were all sandy. You were very cute out there crawling on the sand. But you got very dirty! And you were wiped out from being in the sun.

You were so sweet with Aunt Valeda. You let her hold you from the start and were never nervous about it. Although you still preferred mom. And you can crawl after me now when I walk away from you! At one point I had left the room to take Kylee potty and you started crawling down the hall after me. I could hear your sweet little voice echoing down the hall. When I came back to get you, Valeda had rolled up behind you and you had turned around and reached up for her to pick you up. I think you decided it was too far to crawl. But it made Valeda so happy. You are such a joy! Your precious little smile can brighten up anyone's day! And when you are sad it is so sad. When I put you in your carseat to head back to the hotel you were heartbroken! Aunt Valeda felt so badly for you and said, "Well, bless your little baby heart!" But it didn't take you long to get your little fingers and settle down. You took a little nap on the way to the hotel and were happy to play with daddy when he opened his present.

Today, you were so good in the car. Especially after you got your Cheetos! The only time you got sad was when we were in Houston and so close to being home and you were just fet up with being in that carseat. You cried for a minute and then I looked back and Kylee was looking over at you and very sweetly saying, "Shhhhh, shhhhhh, shhhhhh, don'y cry. Your gonna be okay." she just repeated that over and over and you just settled right down. You love your big sister. (Especially when she is buckled up and can't strangle you with her hugs!) I hope that you are always close, even if it is not always easy. That will be such a blessing to both of you later if you have a sister to turn to. You can always turn to me and your dad too, but there will be a time that you will need each other. I pray that I can teach you how important it is to love each other and always be there for each other.

Tonight, you got into Kylee's desk and crawled around with a little crayon sticking out of your mouth like a little cigarette. It was pretty funny. Not that I am encouraging you to smoke! Not at all. But it was cute. Well, you are always cute! No matter what you do. When I lay down with you and try to act like I am asleep so that you will settle down, you just lay there quietly and watch me. If I peek open my eyes you immediately smile, like that was what you were waiting for, and I can't help but smile back. It always delays bedtime a little bit, but you are just such a happy little girl and I love laying there playing with you. I love being your mother!

Well, you and Kylee are in there asleep in my bed. And I better get in there too and get some sleep so we can have another fun day tomorrow! I love you both so much!

Here are some pictures from this weekend.