If at first you don't succeed

Kate is kind of at an interesting developmental stage right now in that she is pretty obsessed with figuring things out on her own and will spend 30-45 minutes doing something like trying to thread the velcro strap through an opening on her shoe or pulling on a pair of shorts.  It's interesting to me because normally Kate is a non-stop walking tornado of activity, so it's refreshing to see her sit down and focus on something so intently for such a long time.  Once she succeeds at whatever she's practicing, she'll undo it and try it again.  Maya will focus on books, toys and such but doesn't have such an intense desire to do things on her own and she's perfectly happy still letting me dress her, put her shoes on her, etc.

Maya painting.  I think she got more paint on her face and hands than on the paper...

Every time I bring the camera out now, Kate puts on a cheesy smile.

Kate is trying to figure out how to open the paint container.