She's turned 2!

It's time for a BIG 2 Year old BIRTHDAY Party!
Man has it flown by!
I got up early Saturday morning to make her ducky birthday cake.
It was lots of fun!
15 eggs... and 12 cups on confectioner sugar later... and this is what we got.

2 Years goes so fast!
We were laughing when we were ordering the Sonny's BBQ...
glad that she was having a birthday...
and thinking of what is it going to be like when we are ordering catering for her wedding.
Yikes!
Lets just enjoy the next 20 years first!

We bought her her first little bracelet... of which she has already managed to break. (Nice). I also made her a hand painted piggy bank from Do Art... which took several hours... and is also broken... guess I have to go back and try again.

The birthday girl played outside for hours! She loves it OUTSIDE...
especially playing in the sand and slide!

Megan was really excited when cousin Livy got here.
They played in the sand before everybody arrived for the party.
Livy is our snuggly one... loves to give hugs!

Megan snatched a hug too!

Samuel was all smiles... all day! He tried out his own way down the slide.
"I think I'll try it sideways!"

Apparently it was "girls only" inside... and "boys only" outside...
did they get the boot... or were they just ordering take out?

Megan had lots of help opening her gifts.

It turned out to be a great day for an outdoor party!

Time for cake... Ready Set Go! She was ready to blow out some candles!
"2 DUCKS!"

Talk about biting off more than you can chew...

hmm... "this looks like a good spot for a DUCK!"

Silly goose!

... At the end of the day... her little feet were ready for a bath... and a night night!

She had her 2 year check up this morning!... She as usual screamed the whole time... even though they never even did anything to her. She checked out great!
26 lbs. 12 oz.
34 inches
and 95% for her pretty big head

I made her wash the dishes after lunch... she said they were "dirty"
She's got to start pullin' her weight around here!

Easter Sunday and more swimming updates!

24 Weeks! ... He's growing fast... and so am I!

... 2 big boy bellies!

Megan was a cutie pie today... but... of course wouldn't look at the camera.
(She has been on strike with it lately!)

so... we took our family picture without her.

After church... we headed over to the Bainter's house for an Easter Bash!

... the Mommy's...

... the big kiddos...

... the gang...

... bocci ball... one of our Easter traditions!

... We like to eat too... Mmmm... Yum!

... a cool drink or 2 or 3 by the pool too...

... we even had new egg hunters...

... and old ones too!

... Livy was the most aggressive hunter! Gregg was helping her spot em out!

... SUCCESS!

... Megan was more interested in what was inside!

... Mmm... more snacks!

... "boy this one is real tough to spot... do they think I can't see that?"

... "next year I'll be even faster!"

It was a great Easter Sunday! "We love you Chris and Renae!"


Swimming Lessons Continue...

"I'm kicking really hard now! I'm getting to be a pretty good swimmer"

"I'm holding my breath under water... and swimming to my teacher...

... and climbing out onto the stairs too!"
"I still cry the whole time... but improving on my swimming each day... that is the most important part anyway... one day I'll learn to like it!" (It's a tough workout for now!)

"Here's a quick video of me swimming forward... and flipping over to my back to rest. I'm learning to flip back and forth."

Charlotte Trip and Swimming Lessons

"Look who's makin' pancakes!"
Lyric and Megan were in charge of breakfast Saturday morning!

... An afternoon of playing games

...Zoe was on my team

...then we watched some movies!

It rained all weekend... so we went to the mall for some Cold Stone ice cream. We all loved it! Cake Batter was the BEST!

...then we went shopping for girly clothes.

... unsuccessful at finding the girls Easter dresses... but still lots of fun!

"Thanks for letting us come Uncle Doug and Aunt Kristin!"

"SURPRISE... look who came to town!"

Sunday morning... Megan and I decided to surprise the whitlocks with a visit. We woke them up bright and early... and invited ourselves over for a quick morning visit. It was nice seeing Jimmy and Katie... and of course... Megan loved playing with her long lost buddy... Isaac.

... she showed him how to use his toys!

... then we all got hungry and went out for some Arby's! Boy was that a good idea! I haven't had an Arby's sandwich in forever! ... Then we had to say our goodbyes!

... Jimmy showed the kids how to play with the flower petals in the parking lot. They were piled up like feathers... I'm pretty sure Megan thought they were bubbles!

... Hugs goodbye! "Hope to see you soon!"

Back to Doug and Kristin's!

... Uncle Doug put her up on the banister... and left her there!
Glad she was still...

... he came back and got her down! She had a blast going up and down the stairs. They have a 3 story house... and 4 different sets of stairs. I was a nervous wreck with no baby proofing gates... but she only fell down them once. (Major wipe out!)

Gammie loved seeing her girls! They are getting SO BIG! They had big bowls of ice cream... then gave hugs goodnight... and goodbye!


Monday afternoon... only minutes after making it back to town... we Kevin and I took Megan to her first swimming lesson.

She waited at the gate patiently... and unaware of her turn!

...heading in for her lesson!

"You're gonna do what with me?"

...she pretty much screamed the whole time... but did great! They spent a solid 5 minutes getting her to learn to grab up for air. Then... it was time for some floating on her back.

She was scared to death... but did better than I expected for a first try. She floated several times unassisted by the end of the lesson.

She was pretty proud of herself when we got out and headed to the car. She was ready to do it again. (I think she was just happy to be out of the water.) When she was in the pool... she kept saying... "Mommy... Daddy... NO POOL... ALL DONE POOL... NIGHT NIGHT!" in between each dunking... but in a few weeks we hope she will be able to Love the pool and swim safetly... It will be worth it! I guess this is what they call tough love. She is a little trooper!