2 year old pictures and party

Yesterday couldn't have been better. All day was fun and exciting. Corinne kept a great attitude with the day being about Audra and they were sweet to each other all day. We started out the day taking Aud's 2 year old pictures. The first one is my favorite. It reads the sweetness of her.
After we took some pictures at a park, I took the girls to get a donut.

For dinner, Brenda, Ali, Kamo, and Amanda came. I grilled a few ribeye steaks, and we sliced them thin, topping a salad with "the works" (tomatoes, cheese, avacado, red onion, and black beans) Mom joined us later for some cake and to open presents.

I bought a cake this year, due to time constraints. Epic Fail.
We also couldn't find any candles, so we used matches. No one speak of this to my father.

For her birthday, Audie received a few books, and her donkey (pictured below). Amanda, Ali and Kameron read the books (complete with voices) and then put on a Dora skit for us. :)

Yee-haw!

Happy Birthday Audie!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful and sweet little Audie!

We had a photo shoot this morning for her birthday, but I will save most of the photos for a full post when we have cake and presents later on tonight.
After we took pictures downtown, we stopped for a birthday donut....
(click on photo for a bigger version)

Corinne ended up being the perfect model for me today! I hope she's getting the hang of being my guinea pig for pictures ;). I'm really looking forward to her pictures on her birthday!

New babies, mini golf, and hot air balloons

Our friend Jamie had a baby girl 2 days ago! Little Paige was such a cute little munchkin, I could have held her all day! We went to see her in the hospital this week, and the girls just loved her.

I think I am going to write a book on potty training titled: "Potty train your kids in public places". How is it that kids always want to use the potty while at a restaurant, or the mall, or some other public place? Well, of course Audie saw this potty with "handles" and she had to use it. I suppose I'll take what I can get with potty training, eh?

A few weeks ago, we took Corinne to play mini golf. Unfortunately, we had to dodge a thunderstorm, but I think Corinne had a good time spending one-on-one time with us. Below is a picture of how she got the ball in the hole. Who needs a golf club anyway?

At the sports complex, they also have kids rides. Matt and Corinne took a ride on this mini roller coaster. I'm still not sure if Corinne liked it or not. She says she did, but the picture below, tells a different story. She clenched that handle bar so hard, bowed her head, and closed her eyes tight. She didn't open her eyes until the ride stopped.

And finally, a hot air balloon ride. This ride took her up and down and around in circles. She enjoyed it a lot. She had to ride it twice though, because she said she needed to ride in a pink hot air balloon. Of course.

Due to the thunderstorm that night, they offered us vouchers to return at a later time! We're looking forward to going again!

While the girls were playing this morning they called me in to see what they had done. Corinne said, "Look mom, a double stroller...it saves space!" She attached her baby carseat/carrier to the handle bar of their baby stroller. I was pretty impressed. It functions perfectly!

curlers and kitty cats

Who would have thought that as curly as my hair is, we'd have to put curlers in the girls' hair?

Last night Corinne asked me to put curlers in her hair (not a rare occasion), and Audie decided she wanted her hair in curlers too. I love my girls.

This little girl loves her (wait, this used to be my cat) kitty cat. We're lucky Zona is so tolerant of Corinne. The picture above is typical of every day. Corinne carries Zona around like this, spins her around, jumps with her and falls down on her. Not to mention pulling Zona up on her lap, petting her fur with force, squeezing Zona tightly while clenching her teeth saying "Zonie, Zonie, you're a good cat. Zonie, I love you. Oh Zona, oh Zona."
Who knows, maybe Zona likes the attention. She will jump to Corinne's lap and make herself comfortable. She doesn't try to squirm away when Corinne is squeezing her. Zona takes it all like a champ.
Zona is still my cat. Matt reminds me of that quite frequently. But I'm glad her and Corinne have become such good buddies.

Changing diapers usually is a thankless job.

Audie just thanked me for changing hers.

::::

totally made my day.

Blackberry Picking

This morning we finally made it to the berry farm. I have been wanting to take the girls for over a month now, and the time hasn't been available to do it until now. I knew it was going to be pretty warm, so we headed out early. Not early enough, I guess. The girls were complaining of being hot and itchy just about 20 minutes into the outing.
Really though, I just wanted the girls to experience it and get a few shots in doing it.
I thought a desaturated/vintage look would suit these pictures best!

A few pics from the 4th

It rained on the 4th of July! But the rain cleared up just long enough for us to do some smoke bombs, sparklers, and poppers.

Here's a pic of the girls and me in our matching tie dyed shirts!

On Monday, we went bowling. Corinne enjoyed it A LOT. We'll definitely have to take her back soon. I tried to get more pictures of her bowling, but it was just too dark in the bowling alley. Here's a good one though, of her bowling shoes and striped socks.

Up up and away!!!

Audie said bye bye to her friends today. We sent away her "fier" (pacifier). After doing some internet research on the best way to wean kids from pacifiers, I decided it was easiest to go cold turkey. (and because I'm too much of a softie and I knew I would give in too much...) I came across a suggestion from someone to "send away" the pacifiers on a helium balloon. This person said that as the balloons were floating away with the pacifiers attached, she told her 2 year old that the pacifiers were going up to the babies in heaven.

I thought this was a cute idea. I don't like fibbing to my kids, so I left off the babies part. But I thought Audie would remember letting go of her balloons and it would be a good way to talk about them being gone.

So that's what we did today. We headed to the store and bought some pink and purple balloons. After bringing them home, we attached the 3 pacifiers that we had and went outside to send them away. I sent the first one to see Audie's reaction. She was fine. Corinne cried. Audie sent away the last 2 and waved good bye.

one last suck.

holding her balloons

"bye bye fier!"

and the results: so far, so good. She asked for her pacifier when I put her down for a nap, but I reminded her that they were up in the sky. She asked for a doll instead and I haven't heard a peep since! Fingers crossed, I hope this is an easy success!!

Florida/Sanibel 2010

We had a WONDERFUL time on our family vacation. It was excitement from the very start. Heading to the airport at 4:30am was fun only because Corinne was chatty in the backseat. Who would have thought someone could be so happy at such an early time?
It was a total new experience for everyone. Corinne and Audie's perspective on things made it fun and new for Matt and I. Running down the runway to get on the plane, putting our toes in the sand, and splashing in the water was all fun and new for all of us.

We did everything from a sunset dolphin watching cruise, to riding a kids train at a local park, to renting a 4 person bike to building sand castles on the beach. We got our fair share of wildlife...from lizards to dolphins...starfish to parrots.

I'm still working on editing some pictures, I will post some when I get more done. In the meantime, check out a few more on facebook

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=183613&id=610627065&l=e876b96087

Mothers Day

Mothers Day 2010

Thank you, Matthew for allowing me to be a mother. Thank you for helping me raise great kids and to be able to enjoy motherhood. I am a blessed mommy!

I love you Corinne and Audie. You two are everything to me!!

new dress

I was thrilled today at the selection of fabric choices Joann Fabrics had! Typically the florals are pretty "granny" and not very bright. When I came across this I couldn't get over how pretty it was! Corinne loved it too, so we bought a yard- and a few hours later, came up with this!

I love maxi dresses....I don't think I would wear one myself though. I am glad I have girls I can live vicariously through the clothes I like. :)

Jeeps, GPSs, and the UPS man

About a week ago some friends of ours made a switcheroo with some vehicles and we ended up having our pastor's Jeep parked outside our house for a few days.

Corinne asked "Why is Kent's JeePS (GPS) parked outside our house?"

I informed her that it was called a "jeep" and she was thinking of a "GPS"... the little machine that gives people directions.

Today we were talking about a package that would arrive soon at our house.

Corinne asked "Is the GPS (instead of UPS) man going to bring it?"