Grandpa's 71st Birthday

We traveled to New Bern this past weekend to celebrate Grandpa's 71st birthday.  We had wonderfully warm weather and a great time!

Atlantic Beach

I love it Grandpa!  (about his "tar")

 We, of course, had to feed the ducks at the local park, but as an added bonus were able to watch the Shriner's Parade as well, which both girls enjoyed very much.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Cute as can be

Katie thinks everyone should be a princess and was so incredibly proud that she made Minnie and her doll one from borrowed crowns.

Swiper no swiping!

Raleigh and Caroline's "snack" cup . . .enough said!

Caroline Mackenzie at 15 Months

Words can not describe how much we love our "sissy."  You're getting to be such a big girl with such a fun personality

• You're currently in the 80th percentile for weight, 25 pounds 8.2 ounces and 90th percentile for height 32 inches.
• Our sensitive girl, when two people tell you "no", your bottom lip turns under and starts to quiver.  You cry like your heart is broken and we relent, holding you close.
• You can wave bye and give us kisses
• Boy can you EAT!
• Say more and please in sign language
• Verbally say hi, all done, bye, mama, dada, thank you and more
• Your laugh warms our hearts, when we tickle you it's non-stop.
• You know the motions for wheels on the bus
• Love reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear and the Hungry Little Caterpillar
• Climb stairs and even make your way back down them. 
• When Katie is in timeout you use the opportunity to snag something that is hers.

You continue to LOVE the kitchen set, so much that we moved it from Katie's room into yours.  Apparently it can be used in multiple ways!

Your fun-loving self is always up for a ride on your 4-wheeler!

You can be mischievous and give your sister a definite run for her money!

You can never get enough water, bath time, shower time, washing your hands - you enjoy it all.

We find you simply amazing!

The Plague

Uggg, have we been ill!   On the 18th, I woke up early a.m. with the stomach flu, unfortunately Katie followed suit within a couple hours.  Dave, now having to take the day off and confront this germ-phobia, rose to the occasion like a champion.  I felt better within 24 hours, but upon getting ready for school that next morning Katie started getting sick again. 

Now Katie, you've had your share of illnesses, but even when you're at your sickest you always act perfectly fine - running around, sleeping and eating well.  Not this time, you laid on the couch all day . . .I could tell that you felt horrible and it made me Daddy and I sad.  You did however, "spit" up each and every time into a plastic bag, simply amazing.

To add insult to injury, Katie was on the mend and in good form Friday, only for me to come down with the flu AGAIN.  Caroline went to school, David to work, in between getting sick I laid on our pull out sofa bed while Katie played around me and watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse double and triple counts.  When I finally saw through the fog, I was holding my zip-code book, a passey, covered with a Barbie sheet and Katie was leaning over me taking my temperature with her doctor kit . . .my sweet girl!

A long time ago . . . .

This picture was taken the summer of our Senior Year at Arizona State University (Club Rio) - 1 9 9 8.  Before graduation (or perhaps just after Lindsey's), before careers, before multiple moves, before countless vacations, before the loss of loved ones, before marriages, before children . . .amazing what that next 14 had in store for us! 

It doesn't seem as much time as passed, but when I look at this picture I realized how young we were . . . how young we looked, how we lived in the moment, lived to have fun with so few constraints on our lives.  Naivety perhaps in it's finest form, youth. 

One thing is for certain, not only did I enjoy every second of my time at ASU but of the past 14 years as well!

Let it begin . . .

. . . the birthday party planning! 

Katie, being two, you were a little indecisive in regards to your party theme . . .Dora Party . . .Minnie Party . . .Baseball Party?  Okay, Dora and Minnie I completely understand, but Baseball?  We don't watch baseball, we've never taken you to a baseball game, but for about two weeks all you wanted was a baseball party.  Luckily we moved passed this and as you teetered between Minnie and Dora I made the executive decision and settled on Minnie.  You love your (four stuffed) Minnie's and ask to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse more then any other show.

I also made another decision, to have your party at an outside location!   Due to sheer number of children we'll be inviting, you're EPS2 class and neighborhood friends (current count 37 kiddos), we need a larger venue, one that's accommodating rain or shine.  So Monkey Joe's it is, which you love!  Your mommy's only issue the party room is bright ORANGE, which doesn't go with your Minnie decorations at all.  But keeping life in perspective, if that's my biggest concern at the moment, then our life is pretty darn awesome!

Love you Bucket, I can't wait to celebrate your 3rd birthday!

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

A gross post to say the least, but I hope that one day when you girls are grown and mother's of your own, you'll look back, read this and laugh . .because you can absolutely relate to this situation (or perhaps hopefully not)!

Last night upon giving you ladies a bath, your father starts yelling for me . .as I race into your bathroom he exclaims "Caroline pooped in the tub!"  Just a bit of poop, but still unsanitary (and gross) to continue bathing there, so you were picked up soaking wet and deposited into our bathroom to finish up.

Daddy and I are watching you both happily play in our bigger tub, when Caroline stands up and goes number two a second time.  I yank Katie out of the tub and place her in the shower, quickly following suit with Caroline.  Daddy jumps in the the shower with you both and finishes your "bath," while I clorox and scrub both of the tubs.   Third time was the charm for cleaning you girls this evening! :)

MORE (Part Deux)

Is this not the saddest and most pathetic face ever?  Our youngest is an eater, she can even put some adults to shame . . .so it's no surprise that she's learned one sign immediately, MORE!  She is just adorable when doing it, perfectly by the way . .and when I reply back (by giving her more) she claps with sheer delight!

This morning she asked for "more" time on the rocking horse.  I'm quite sure that "more" will soon branch out to all faucets of life and not just while dining.  As I've written in the past, Katie was the same way, and "more" transitioned into any activity she loved and we couldn't be happier that Caroline is following suit.  Love of life is a gift and I'm certain it's because you both are so loved from your entire family, friends and teachers!

Caroline signing for "MORE."

The Secrets of a Women's Handbag

Since approximately a year old, Katie has loved her pursues, putting things in, taking things out . . . .over the years the items have involved, but still, every morning she comes in our room holding a purse filled with passies, picture cards (photos of our family) and Minnie Mouses.   All items that she holds dear to her heart, things that are important to her.

Yesterday I was in the process of cleaning up and picked up one of Katie's purses.  Upon looking inside I immediately knew that I now had two girls into their handbags.  Everything in that bag were items that SISSY loves; her passies, her cups, her lipstick, her wooden fish.  For no reason in particular it warmed my heart.  We always think of Caroline as a "baby" but our little girl is growing up and developing such a cute personality.

Beauty Afternoon

On Saturday, while Sissy napped, I took Katie with me so that I could get my toenails done.  I was secretly hoping that she would want hers done too . . AND SHE DID!

Not a first though, she patiently sat while my feet were soaked, scrubbed, rubbed and painted, upon completion she took off her shoes, socks and was ready to go.  I took her up to the front and she immediately picked out a bright pink color.  Being her excited self she held still the entire time, looking up every 15 seconds exclaiming "Mommy it's pink!"  Just another reason why I'm so thrilled with our girls, such fun the three of us will have together.

Rite of Passage - First Movie for Katie

With the New Years holiday being observed  today and since Dave and I were both off, we decided it was the perfect opportunity to bring Katie to her first movie - Alvin and the Chipmucks:  Chipwrecked.  She sat still during the 15 minutes prior to the movie starting, the previews and the entire movie like a champ, eating her popcorn and taking "sips" of Mommy and Daddy's sodas! 

With each preview I could see that she was getting discouraged and nervous; fingers in her mouth, hands over her eyes during the scary parts as she snuggled up to David and I saying she "didn't understand them" more then once.  We held her hands and told her to hang on until the Chipmucks started . . . once the movie did and Alvin, Simon and Theodore busted out in song Katie couldn't have been happier.  Our girl had lots of questions, but not as many as we thought and did fantastic!  Can't blame her for talking during the film, she is after all my child.