Here's Carolyn's favorite hairdo- CRAZY hair! Crazy child, too- she's now figured out that she can take her shirt off- and on this day she elected to practice this skill instead of taking a nap. :)
She has enough hair for a ponytail now!
I can't believe how grownup it makes her look!
We found a new park, thanks to our friends Kelly and Isaiah and it is our new favorite place. It does bother me that I have to pollute the earth with my carbon emissions just to get to a park 7 minutes away- but there are no parks within walking distance of our house so I don't really have much choice. Next time we get a house we will make sure there IS a park we can walk to!
But this park is perfect in every other respect. There are age-appropriate play structures, bucket swings, lots of open space and some trees- and even a small pond with a whole bunch of ducks! Carolyn has fallen in love with ducks. She loves to stand close to the water and watch them swimming- and gets so excited when they come up close hoping for a handout. There is, unfortunately, a large sign warning us not to feed the ducks and geese (who would feed the geese, I'd like to know?) and oh how badly I wanted to bring a bag of bread to feed the ducks- but my conscience got the better of me... and I flashed ahead to a day a few years from now when Carolyn will be able to read that sign and then she will ask me why we got to feed the ducks when the sign said no... and so the decision was made. I hope someday we can find a sign-free place to feed ducks because it is one of the fondest memories I have from childhood!
Our backyard is even becoming a more fun place! The across-the-yard neighbors have a small swingset for their 2 1/2 year-old and they've graciously allowed us to use it when we're outside- and now Carolyn is big enough to climb all the way up the ladder and go down the slide! SUCH a big girl!!!
Peek-a-boo! I have more pictures to post (it's been awhile!) but not now because we're going to the park!! [again!] :) I love it!!!
It took a few days, but she's finally back to her usual self- but with perhaps an enhanced appreciation for the Pipes, which made a comeback to daytime use while we were on the airplane... we immediately returned to nighttime use only when we got home, but she still looooves her pipes. Yesterday when I went to get her from her nap, she was trying to give Ernie a pipe. :) Considerate, and generous. :)
Carolyn has discovered a deep and abiding love for blackberries- "bla-booeys!" She ate about 20 of them last night!
She was sooo purple!! HAD to have a "baf." :)
The first flowers of spring have sprung. I got back from Texas to see my garden full of crocuses- even more than there were last year! And my daffadowndillies and tulips are growing into nice green plants that will surely bloom soon! I think I love spring even more than fall because it feels sooo good to watch the world begin to awaken from the long, cold winter! (extra emphasis on the LONG this year!)
Saturday night we went to a wedding for a friend of mine from work. I wish this picture didn't make us look so washed out, but we had a great time. It's funny how you see weddings differently as you get older and have been married longer. I used to see myself in the bride's shoes because I know what that is like- but increasingly as I go to weddings I find myself watching the brides mama, able to at least imagine now what that must be like. I tear up for different reasons now, because I know that it won't seem like so very long from now and Carolyn will be digging through my thousands of pictures from her early years to find the right ones for her slide show at her wedding. And even now, there very well may be a little boy out there somewhere who will one day win her heart. We pray for that little boy- because we know from experience what an incredible gift marriage to your best friend is!
There was a toast at the wedding about hard times and good times, and as we danced a little longer than we used to be able to in the "through the years" dance (now we can stay when all the couples married less than 5 years have to leave the dance floor) , we thought about how the ups and downs we've been through have really sealed us to each other in an even closer way than we would have imagined 6 years ago when we were getting ready to say "I do." :) I am so blessed to be married to this wonderful man.
Carolyn felt like such a big girl because she could sit next to me instead of on my lap. Increasingly, she is beginning to crave independence in whatever ways she can- she didn't even want to hold my hand (though I insisted because of the risk of what might happen if she suddenly decided to "git-down" and I wasn't holding on to her!). I heard many cries of "Self!" today. :)
After our train ride, we went shopping to try and find Auntie Laura some shoes. While the inept clerk (who had only been on duty for 2 days and was apparently ready to handle the shoe section solo) searched in vain for the desired shoes, our toddlers systematically destroyed the shoe department. :)
After Naps came the Big Event of the day. Uncle Jack took us all to the Place Where Goats Come From to have a look at not only goats, but also many other fascinating barnyard creatures. :)
Here Carolyn stands in front of a cage of baby chickens.
She got to pet a bunny.
Peyton loves the animals! Carolyn is a bit more cautious. :)
There were many, many goats available. Uncle Jack obtained two more, and visited the donkeys that will soon be joining the family when they are old enough to leave their mother.
Carolyn liked to look at the baby goat, but didn't want to touch it.
It was a little sunny and hot- and little girls who like to run up and down hills don't care so much for being held- but she liked the turkeys very much- even though Ammy had to hold her to look at them.
Cookies helped a lot. :)
The funny face she's making is her saying the "f" sound- either "four" or "five." She was counting bluebonnets- and with a little help she could make it all the way to ten!
Love this sweet baby.
We briefly visited a field of mixed flowers. There are so many beautiful colors all together! I love the Texas wildflowers! :)
Sunday after church we went to a fun playground with lots of equipment the right size for toddlers.
She had a great time!
Lately she has been "into" going up and down steps. Much like her daddy before her, she gets it in her head to practice a certain new skill and proceeds to do it over and over and over. One simple step keeps her busy for a surprisingly long time! But woe to the man (or woman) who tries to keep her from the step!
Tunnels are also fun. :) We have had a great time being OUTSIDE so much this week! Michigan will be a lot colder, but warmer weather IS coming, and before long we'll be able to play like this even at home!
Peyton celebrated after Nap with a new 'do! Isn't he adorable?
The day started out rainy yesterday, but we went outside anyway- Carolyn was just dying to try on her new raincoat- even though I bought it for next spring and I had to roll up the sleeves about 4 times so you could see her little hands. :)
We went to visit Granny and Papa at Grace House. I like this picture of Granny because this smile reminds me more of the Granny I knew than most of the ones I see in pictures- it doesn't look quite so "vacant" as some pictures I've seen of her. She didn't know who we were, but I didn't expect her to, so I wasn't disappointed. She seemed really very contented and smiled a lot, so I think she was glad we were there. We will probably go back tomorrow.
Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jack, in addition to the aforementioned Goat and two "outside" (wild :)) dogs, also has a small lap dog named Jessie. Carolyn loves Jessie very much. She wishes we could take her home. I'm pretty sure Aunt Nancy wouldn't trade Jessie for Baggins. ;) She's a very sweet little doggie.
Here Carolyn has just enjoyed her very first Blue Bell ice cream sandwich. It was a very moving experience for her- one she is anxious to repeat! :)
I just love how bright the colors are here- and how precious Carolyn looks just standing there with her hair blowing in the breeze.
We did go visit the bluebonnets yesterday. Carolyn wasn't so much into having a romp through the flowers- she almost immediately started yelling "All done!" as soon as we put her in them, so we only got a few shots and this is the best one. Next time we will bring cookies with us. :) I love how she looks next to the brightly colored flowers! :)
After we saw the bluebonnets we let the kids walk over to the park. They had a great time playing Ow-Side! :)
Erica brought bubble blower, much to the delight of the Toddlers. :)
Last night, I got a Night Out! My cousin Mark (Peyton's daddy) got tickets from work for us all to go to the Casting Crowns concert. It was a wonderful concert and I enjoyed myself very much. I felt a little "old" because concerts have changed a bit since the last time I went to one! This picture is of all the lights of the cell phones and cameras in the audience! Throughout the whole concert, you could look around and see people "texting" others! At the end, they asked everyone to get out their cell phones and shine them in the air- I seem to remember they used to do this with cigarette lighters! Now it's LCD screens. :)
Carolyn was very tired today because we dragged her out of bed before 5 this morning! But she was a very good girl on the plane. She really enjoyed sharing this pear with Ammy. :)
She got a little nap on one of the flights; on the other one, I installed the car seat wrong and I had to hold her feet the whole time to keep her from kicking the seat in front of us... but 101 Dalmatians and lots of snacks saved us! :)
We were all very excited to see the cousins- here is my cousin Kelsey and Peyton (Carolyn's second cousin). We all had a fun time bouncing on the trampoline. The kids kept saying "Whoa! Whoa!"
Then Carolyn had a ball running back and forth to various family members on the trampoline.
Incredibly, we even got to see a goat (Doat!) It's a long story, but Uncle Jack ended up with this goat that is ultimately destined for life on his "ranch" and it came home tonight to spend the night in the backyard.
Everyone was much interested in the arrival of the Goat.
Uncle Jack took Peyton and Carolyn down into the gulley behind the house to follow the goat. :)
After such a day of fun, the kids really needed a bath! :) They had a blast playing in the water... until the inevitable consequence of a day of travel, excitement and waay too much apple juice happened... and I had to fish Snickers bars out of the water and then clean the tub with Chlorox! I love being a mama! (I really do. :))
