Cars!

All dressed and ready to go to Logan's birthday party!  The prettiest girls at the party.

 Logan loves Cars the movie, so Stacy made these great cars out of paper boxes from school.  The kids got to decorate them with their name, a number and a sponser.  Carys and Ava still love to run around and race in them.  Carys is ready to run with Brodie and Lincoln.

 And they're off!  Logan's dad is a Deer Park police officer, hence the cop car was really a guest at the party...he wasn't ticketing the kids for speeding.

 The following week, Carys and Ava helped me wash my car.  Little did I know they would love it so much.  Carys was singing "Teamwork" from Wonder Pets the entire time.  My little helpers, I love them.

Super Hero Party

April marked a birthday extravaganza, the two boys that are close in age in Carys had their birthday parties a week apart.  The first was Lincoln's superhero birthday party!  Lincoln loves Batman, so the theme was set.  The first order of business was to choose a superhero cape!  Carys chose blue and Ava got yellow.  Here is Captain Carys being followed by her trusted sidekick Ava!

 

 Carys decorated her cape and then colored her very own mask.  She also made superhero bracelets.

 Ava also colored her mask.

 The Amazing Ava!  You can almost see the wind gust kicking up her superhero cape.

The girls got soaked playing in the water toy with Logan.  Carys enjoyed the obstacle course on the other side of the pool.

 

Carys and Ava also had their first taste of water guns, hosing down the enemies with water.  Ava liked drinking the water out of her water gun better. 

 Yum food for all the superheros that saved the day!

The real super hero was Cassandra, Lincoln's mom.  The kids were playing in the pool at the end of the party.  Carys was having a great time playing on the step when all of a sudden she slipped off.  Cassandra did not miss a beat and jumped straight in to save her.  Carys was fine, but not Cassandra's new iphone 4s.  We are forever thankful to Cassandra for selflessly saving Carys with love.

Stellerama 2012

The second annual Stellerama fishing tournament, Harborwalk, Texas 2012.  Stellerama was a name coined by my brother for the annual party my parents would host for my dad's group at Shell.  The party retired with my dad, but was reborn a year ago when my father coordinated the first annual Stellerama fishing tournament, open to all the families of Harborwalk.  We missed it last year, but we were geared up and ready to fish this year.  Look at all those kids!

 But there are the two cutest participants!

 We got up early to make sure we were there when the fish were hungry.  TJ left super early, good thing, he hit a keeper Flounder early in the day.  Carys and I had a great time fishing off my dad's back porch.  We knew that quantity mattered and to check in as soon as possible.  The first to check in would place!

Grams Cathy was visiting from Florida and took her first try at fishing along with Auntie Kim that drove down for the day.  Both of them enjoyed the food and fun.

Carys loves her shiny metals!

 Me too!  Says sweet Ava.

 The girls placed!  Carys came in 2nd for most unusual and 1st for having the most croakers.  Ava came in 3rd for having the most unusual.

 The unusual fish were really the "trash" fish of Harborwalk...if only we had caught a lizard fish!  Silver perch and pinfish are easy to catch.

 Ava taking a look at her 3rd place goodie bag.  She wanted to eat her goldfish right away.

 Great toys for Ava!

 Carys showing me her tacklebox, a great second place prize.

 And for first place, her very own fishing rod that lights up!

 Someone made a comment about how many times they heard "Markiewicz" as a winner...my simple response..."They do have Steller in their blood." 

As for TJ, he has become a true Steller, learning to fish, keeping our hooks baited and tied.  He also came in 2nd for heaviest flounder, giving us awesome prizes and gift cards.

 Everyone left with something, including a full belly of delicious food and a t-shirt.  We also get to see the Astros play from club level seats in July.  Now to start planning for next year!  We may have to bring in other Stellers to dominate the leader board.

Carys' Big Girl Haircut

Carys had her first haircut before she turned 2.  That time the entire family went, especially Daddy because Carys was a daddy's girl then.  This time, I took Carys and she watched me get my hair cut first.  We were both surprised when we said, "OK Carys it's your turn" and she headed towards the sinks to get her hair washed.  Carys has always been shy but boy did she love Erin washing her hair.

 Carys even sat in her own chair and wore the smock.  Mickey on her itouch helped to keep her in place.  I instructed Erin to cut off Carys' blond baby hair.  Carys went through a stage of straight light colored hair that was followed but really curly roots.  I never could explain it but her hair was curly at the root and straight on the ends.  Erin cut off as much as she could and it helped her curls bounce.  I did not know how to deal with curly hair and got lots of advice from my curly haired friends  on how to control her frizz.  So cute.