Nite out

To celebrate one of our neighbor's birthdays, we all got our parents to watch our kids and we ALL got to go out together to dinner for the first time! We've known each other for 2 years and we see each other at our own houses all the time, sometimes the women go out together, and sometimes the guys go out together but finally we all got to go to dinner as couples!

We got to have sushi! Yum!

After dinner we went next door to play darts...I WON the first game for the ladies! HA!...the winning throw was preceded by me throwing the first dart and it falling on the floor! So lucky!

Let's Celebrate

The kids got applesauce, fishy crackers, and ice cream cone cupcakes. I tried to make it a tiny bit healthy...most kids just ate the cupcake and then ran out to play again!!

Last year Ali and I bought trick candles for Chris' birthday and she thought it was so funny. So, this year I bought them for her birthday! Poor thing had to keep blowing and blowing and her friends had to help her finally get them all out!

Party time

Ali's first birthday party away from home! Turning 5 calls for a special friend party and Ali chose Rainbow Recreation where she and her friends could play on tons of playground sets inside the showroom. It was fun to have some of her preschool friends and neighbor friends there to help her celebrate!

Ali turns 5

Happy Birthday my big girl!! You are the sweetest little girl and you brighten our days with your curious questions, pretend playing, sweet hugs, and kind heart. You have grown into this thoughtful and sharing little girl and I am so proud to be your mother!

Ali loved her Zhu Zhu pets, new clothes, and stuff for a new kitten (which we are going to adopt from the Humane Society after our vacations!)

So happy Nana was here to celebrate! Thanks for taking us out to lunch for a girls' afternoon!

Family picture in front of our new tree! I am in love with this pear tree...it provides us much needed shade for the sun that comes through our kitchen doors. Thank you Granny and Nana & Poppa!!

Potty party

We had a little family celebration for Lizzie going potty. She told us she wanted to go to Grant's Farm to feed the goats botttles of milk!

Big Girl Panties!

It has been 2 weeks and Lizzie is doing great! Everytime she goes potty it's like a tiny miracle and I get SO happy! I am SO happy to be done with diapers!! YAY YAY YAY!! She loves getting fruit snacks and M&Ms each time and she even had like 4 days in a row with no accidents! Ali is such a big helper and encourager! I'm so proud of Lizzie...she is 2 years old and 3 months!!

Happy Birthday Chris!

Chris turned 36 years old! It's amazing that we now have known each other for exactly HALF of our lives!! Hard to believe that we were once young and innocent 18 year olds when we met...and now look at us with these 2 beautiful girls that have joined our lives! We love you Daddy!! We celebrate you!!

Bathing Beauties! "Look at the girls! They are wrapped in their princess towels and they are sitting on the chairs." Caption dictated by Alexandra

"I haff a Tod-yer Bed"

One day last week when Lizzie was supposed to be napping, I heard her on the monitor saying, "Help, I'm stuck!" When I went into her room, she was lying across the top and side of her crib! Fortunately she didn't try to jump down! So we thought we'd try her toddler bed. Chris just removed the front of the crib and installed the board across the front and PRESTO--she can climb in and out. Now...we'll see if this is a good thing or not!! :) Last night was the first night and she stayed in bed all night (although she did half-way fall out in the middle of the night!)