Wednesday, July 25, 2012

July

We started off July with some swim lessons.  On the first day, James was a swim school drop-out because he just wasn't ready to participate.  I tried my best to be brave and by the end... well... I was getting there.  Check out my hair-do for my first swim lesson- double french braids!  Mom was pretty excited that I finally had enough hair for this hair-do.  She'd kind of been waiting for this moment for four years.


Take a good long look at the hair, because a couple of days later it was time for a hair cut for James.  I begged to have mine cut too and mom finally gave in.  

James was a little unsure of the hair cutting process.
I'm a pro.
I'm a pro... at getting a lollipop.
Next, we drove to Culpeper for a visit with Grammy and Grandad.  Cousin Wes was there helping out and Aunt Beth came out to see us too.  Granna was also up for a visit so we got to see lots of people that we love.  The best thing to do when you get together with the people you love is go out for ice cream.  So that's what we did.

Grammy loves this hat we painted for her and she wears it everywhere.  She calls it her Easter bonnet.  Grammy isn't afraid of silly things as long as they make her grand kids happy.  We love that about her.


Mint chocolate chip... as always.


Nothing but strawberry here.


I may have the smallest cone, but I'll take the longest to eat it.

Believe it or not, this is the "small" sundae that Granna ordered. 

Cousin Wes got a milkshake.  Milkshakes don't make for great pictures... but cousin Wes does.  I've heard this is where I get my dashing good looks.

In Culpeper, we tend to wake up about five hours before the next person in the household.  This means mom and dad get to wake up with us and rush us into town for breakfast or a trip to Knakal's Bakery or the park... and sometimes all three.  One day, Granna joined us and we walked down to the train station and got to play on Culpeper's very own Little Red Caboose.  Now that's worth getting up before the sun!
  


  
 

When we got home, it was time for one of our favorite past times... dressing up.

The mail man delivered this great box to our door.  We have no idea what was in it, but the box was so much fun.  Thanks mail man!  We could sit in there and giggle for hours... well, minutes.

We debated about whether or not to include these pictures, but really, what is cuter than two little bummies in the tub?


Granna sent us "I Spy" blankets for our dolls.  We promptly decided that they would make better smocks for when we play hairdresser.

I've been so great at doing hair that I decided I should be doing my own from now on... what do you think?


This next picture really shows what the majority of our July has been like.  Poor Caroline got a stomach bug, then I lost my voice for several days, then James got a cold and Caroline ended up getting another stomach bug.  I keep thinking that we're getting all of our sickness over and done before Henry gets here.  Certainly we have to be immune to all the summer germs at this point right??!  Knock on wood.


Speaking of Henry... poor neglected third child Henry... I realized today that we haven't asked for any guesses as far as his due date, weight, and length go.  We're usually guessing gender, which is really the fun part, but we don't want him to miss out on any of the other fun guessing.  If you have any guesses about what day he'll arrive, what time he'll be getting here, how much he'll weigh or how long he'll be please post them in the comments section and Daniel will add a handy chart on the side.  The winner's prize is always the same... braggin' rights.  In addition to that, if you live nearby or just come to visit, we'll also take you out for ice cream.  We simply don't get enough of that around here.

My original due date is August 21st, but I've heard ones as late as the 24th based on ultrasounds and such.  Caroline and James were both about four days early depending on what due date you used.  Caroline was 7 pounds 4 ounces, James was 8 pounds 3 ounces.  The rest is up to you... keep those guessing coming!

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

April and May 2012

It seems like we start out every posting with an apology for taking so long in between posts.  Get ready to take up some time reading this one because I think we have about 50 pictures to make up for not posting in the last several months.

We started out April with a visit to Grammy's house to celebrate her 80th birthday (April 8th).  Many of our friends and family members were there for the special occasion.  Granna was wise and bought this bounce house ahead of time and had it shipped to Grammy's so it would be ready for all the kids to enjoy and BOY did we love it!  Here are some fun pictures of everyone enjoying the bounce house.  Thanks Granna!



Cousin Lachlan doesn't ever take a bad picture!

Cousin Scott... or Little Scott, we were buddies the whole time.












Even Dad joined in on the action

Slam dunk!

Another slam dunk!

Double slam dunk!

Granna made Easter baskets for all the kids and grandkids and also had Easter egg hunts for us.

Grammy got me the beautiful Easter bonnet.

Everyone had to wait patiently to be told the eggs were ready.

Finally, I couldn't stand it any longer and just started hunting all by myself!

The other kids eventually joined in on the fun.


Cousin Iain

There's that photogenic cousin again.

Lookin' good Scottie

Iain on the move

Cousin Curren and Aunt Susi

Grandad just loves to let me boss him around... here I am helping him find all his eggs.

Granna didn't mind giving me a few pointers either.

Got one!

Family Picture

All because two people fell in love...

We also celebrated my second birthday... I was born the day after Grammy.  No one needs to tell me to smile- I've got this!

Blowing out the candles

I'm not really sure what the story is behind this picture... all I know is sometimes, it's worth running to get the camera even if they're crying.
Aunt Leesee got me a basketball hoop for my birthday!  I was so excited when we got home from Virginia and she had it there waiting for me.  Here is a photo shoot of my new favorite past time... naked basketball.  We couldn't post most of the pictures for obvious reasons, but here are a few good ones.




My favorite picture yet!

True story of a conversation I overheard from our playroom:
James: Let's play basketball.
Caroline:  I'll be Davidson and you be Duke.
James:  NO!  I don't want to be the bad guy!

Love those kids!


We don't usually throw big parties for birthdays... we kind of learned our lesson the first time around with Caroline.  Traditionally, we have a nice small family party with any family members that happen to be in town and I make the kids a special birthday outfit (I haven't quite learned my lesson on that one yet).  All James wanted this year was to be a "brown cowboy" so that's what he got.



Even baby Olive joined in on the cowboy fun!

When I heard James was going to be a brown cowboy I decided I needed to be a pink cowgirl.

Yee Haw!

One other tradition is a Bruster's ice cream cake!

I really know how to smile when it comes to cake!

Caroline had her first dance recital in mid May. Here are some of the best shots:



tendu

arabesque... yes, really.


Aunt Leesee, Uncle Porter, and Olive showed up to watch me.  Anyone who knows ballet recitals knows that it takes a lot of love to come watch a three-year-old's recital so Thanks Guys!  They brought me this beautiful balloon and Daddy and James got me these flowers.  I must have been really good.


One last picture...
We'll call this "Too many kisses."



Okay, one more "last picture." I was done posting and then Caroline and I realized that Henry hadn't been featured in this blog at all... so here he is!  Love you little guy!