Happy Birthday Caroline!

I'm a little late in getting an update on Caroline's birthday.  What a fun weekend we had.  It was so nice to be able to spend time with friends and family that came to visit.  We know it makes for a lot of driving, but we really do appreciate the effort for the kids!  Here are some fun photos of her birthday weekend.  On Saturday, we had her a party here at the house.  Her actual birthday was Sunday the 20th, so we let her open the presents from us that day.  Jack's gift to Caroline was taking her to Build a Bear to make her own monkey.  As you will be able to see, she had some mixed feelings about the process.  She was so excited to leave with her monkey though!

Check out her cute shirt.  My friend Melissa (a college roommate and sorority sister) made it for her!

Fun with Grammy

Daddy, Nana, Popa and Aunt Beverlee

Getting a good smile out of Grandpa

So happy our neighbor Ashley could stop by.

Caroline swiped a corner of the cake before we were ready to sing.  Here she is with the evidence all over her hands.  She does not like dirty hands!

Still holding still b/c of the icing.  See the closest left corner?

Digging in with both hands.

Taking a break to pose with Mommy.

Ready to stuff her monkey.

Not so sure about the stuffing process....

Glad to have her monkey back in her arms.  We won't even mention the fluffing process!

Opening her gifts from us.  Really liking the opening!

A potty baby!  Maybe this will help in the potty training process starting in June.

"open Daddy!"

Birthday Season

As I sit here the day after my birthday, preparing for Caroline's party this weekend, I am trying to figure out how we got from this...



This was taken a day or two before Caroline was born

to this....

just days before turning 2

I know I've said it a million times, but where does the time go with kids?  How are we looking directly at 2 with Caroline while this sweet guy,

at the cirucs last nast night with his snow cone!

is 4.5 years old.  I keep trying to remember to slow down and just enjoy these moments with him.  Everytime Jack says "I like you mom" or "thanks for taking me there/doing that with me," I just thank God for the blessing that they are in our lives.

Here's a few more fun pictures from this month:

breakfast for dinner and all Caroline wanted was the jelly on top of it!

Jack being silly

Enjoying these moments when they WANT to hold hands.  Having a brother and a sister, I know this time is limited!

Trying to jump together.  Caroline hasn't quite figured out how to get both feet off the ground at the same time.

My birthday date to the circus.

So You Think You Can Dance?

Caroline really loves to dance.  And Jack has started to join her.  He has always liked music, but his dancing has really started with Caroline's moves.  Here's what our evenings look like...dance party!

Sick Day

Caroline had a fever all weekend, so it was a girls' day at home today.  Here are some fun photos I caught of her this morning.  Hard to believe my littlest is going to be 2 in a few weeks! 

Love that sweet face!  Looks like she's really feeling bad, huh?

This is her new thing.  Trying to scrunch her eyebrows and look serious.  Then she breaks out laughing.  Actually, we all do!

Another serious face.  How can you keep from laughing?

Where's Caroline?

There she is!

Here's a harder one.  Where's Caroline?

Oh, we found her!  So silly!

So sad that she's sick, but nice to have some one on one time.

"What does she need?"

Haha.  What a question.  NEED.  Jack likes to use this while in the store somewhere and beg for something.  "But Mom, I NEED it."  For some reason, the whole "let's appreciate what we have and be thankful for that" line doesn't seem to mean anything just yet!  So as we approach Caroline's birthday, (yes, how is she about to turn 2??), here are some thoughts for the family members that have been asking.

-She is going to need some new clothes this year.  It's odd having a child that can't re-wear clothes for at least 2 seasons!  I'm seeing the pain of clothes buying.  I think it would be safe to do 24month or more 2T for the spring and summer.  I'm so excited for summer clothes.  It really is true that girl clothes are so much cuter than the boy stuff.  And summer clothes, I think they really are the best!  Maybe even a swim suit?

-Toys.  Have you been to visit lately?  The kids are so blessed with grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc that love to spoil them.  That means there are lots of toys here!  I can't really think of anything she NEEDS (or we have room for...ha!).  She's got babies, baby station, kitchen, etc.  The only things I can really think of are those toy vacuums, broom/cleaning sets that look real, etc. I know, I know...stereotypes. 

-Maybe something for outside play for the nice weather?  I've seen those tables that have sand and water and thought that was a neat idea.  Although she really enjoys the basketball hoop, dump trucks, bull dozers, etc, there might be some girly outdoor toys?  Her own gardening tools?  I think this year she might like getting in the garden with me (and might be more controlled than last year!).

-She does seem to like Dora.

-And I always like to mention, the gift of college is always great too!  We have an account started for the kids and keep trying to tuck money away to be ready for what they decide in the future.

I hope this helps some.  I know you all have mentioned before that this seems to help.  And more importantly, I know my ideas of too many toys will be thrown out the door.  I love to hear my mom tell me about their trips to Toys R Us with my Dad.

How did this happen?

I find myself looking at Jack and wondering where did the time go?  He is getting so big.  He is carrying on full, long, drawn out conversations.  He is a good helper.  He puts his dishes in the dishwasher, helps fold laundry, and other tasks around the house.  We'll just concentrate on the good things that I've been noticing as he's getting older!  He does still like to get snuggles from him mommy though!  I'm going to hold onto that for as long as I can...even though Tommy says it makes him soft!

Some Wii tennis with Daddy

So much fun!

Through Jack's eyes

We got Jack a camera back in September for his birthday.  We finally downloaded the 200 pictures the other day and got tickled by some that he took.  Probably 3/4 of them were of the wall, floor, or so blurry we could only delete them.  Here are some of the best of the group.  Again, the camera does have the best picture taking ability and the taker doesn't like to be still for too long!

Yep, that's me!

Caroline is one of his favorite subjects.

Daddy

Up close of Caroline

Shrek

Some of his artwork on his bedroom door.

Racecar track in his room

Trains

More trains

Caroline again