GNO!

Yeah for Girl's Night Out!  A couple of weekends ago...actually it was Mother's Day weekend and the fishing opener, I got to go out with my girlfriends!  We celebrated another one of us (umm...I guess it was me) entering the 3-0!  We hung out, went to a Twin's Game and then had peanuts and beer at a Peanut Bar...I guess that's what you do there!  ;) Ha!  It was so fun, as always, getting together and reminiscing! 

Like I said it was Mother's Day weekend AND the fishing opener and my outdoors loving, fishing loving guy stayed home with the kids so I could go out with my friends!  I KNOW I am loved!  AND he had the house cleaned up when I got home! 

Tomorrow is my baby girl's birthday, hopefully I will get some cute pics...post to come...sometime in the future...you guys know me!

Outdoors Gal!

Both girls have been thoroughly enjoying the nice weather we have had lately!  Yesterday we went out before naps for a little bit and as soon as we came in Kara crawled over to the sliding doors and tried to get out again!  Hopefully the video works!!!

There are about 1000 things I could blog about.  Never did Easter yet, then there was my birthday - the big 3-0!  Yesterday was Jesse's, last weekend we had a first communion and a confirmation, this week Allie had pre-school open house and just all the millions of cute things the girls are doing!  Oh, well.  Enjoy what I do actually get posted! ;)

My Baby...Again!

Well, apparently my last post didn't work out so well!!  It was supposed to be some link from shutterfly to post the card announcement invites I did for Kara's b-day...guess it didn't work!  I do remember that I was very tired when I did it and had little patience!  Anyway, here are some pics I snapped of Miss Kara...11 months!!  Where has time gone?!  In just 3 weeks she will be 1!

Yes, she is very busy!!  She stands by herself very well (holding onto nothing) and even bends over and picks something up without falling.  But no steps yet.  Allie walked 1 day after her 1st birthday so Kara will probably do close to the same!  She absolutely loves eating...the more "real" food the better!  And I opened our last can of formula today!  Very happy to be done buying formula!  I will be sad to not give her bottles anymore (but happy to not have to wash them anymore!).  I don't know if I mentioned this last month, but she waves and says bye now.  Says mom ALL.THE.TIME. Points at things, which I think is sooo cute!  I just love her to pieces!!

Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter everyone!  This is my favorite time of year for so many reasons.  I love the Easter Holiday.  The sacrifice Our Father made for the forgiveness of our sins.  Everything feels fresh and new!  I love the Palm Sunday service and the Easter one, of course, but I also enjoy (doesn't seem like the right word, but I don't know how else to put it) going to the Maundy thursday and good Friday service.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, God, for sending your one and only begotten son to die for us on the cross that our sins might be washed away and we might be able to spend eternity with you in heaven! 

We celebrated with my parents a bit early last weekend.  It was a fun day, we flew kites and had an easter egg hunt!  Easter Sunday we will celebrate with the Mages family!  And of course, the Easter bunny will come to our house too!  Maybe the girls will get to see the bunny tomorrow.  If we do, I will try to post a pic then!!  Pics from Easter to come later! 

Swim Little Pike, Swim!

Practicing backfloat

Allison just completed her first round of swimming lessons...ever!  She was in the 3-5 yr old class, called Pike's, at the YMCA swimming lessons.  My sweet girl is not without fear though.  At first she was pretty excited to go.  She does love the water, but likes to be doing what SHE wants to in the water.  And that does not include putting her head under water.  I watched her practice different things in the water with the instructors and for the most part she did great.  But when it came time to jump in, most of the other kids were waving their arms in the air to go first, not my little guppy!!  There was another little boy who wouldn't do it the first day, I think that was part of what got the ball rolling, that first day she was doing whatever the other kids did, but he was right ahead of her in line and when he wouldn't jump in, she wouldn't either and we couldn't get her to the rest of the year.  She would only do it if the teacher held her hands the whole time.  So, we have a few things to work on this summer, putting her head under and being a little more comfortable with the water.  I have or had any premonitions that she would be a lifegaurd, I just want her to know how to swim and be comfortable in the water.  Looks like we have another reason to get to the pool and lake more often this year!!  :)  Pics at top are from last Sat., her last day and the ones below are from St. Patrick's day, my mom's camera, Grandma and Grandpa B. came to watch!

Blowing bubbles

Practicing side stroke.

Ashley trying to get Allie to jump in.

10 months?!

Having green beans!

How is my baby 10 months old??  I actually just told someone she was 9 months when in fact she had turned 10 months already!  I didn't even realize it until I looked at a friends blog who has a baby that is exactly 1 month younger than Kara and saw her 9month post!  Well, she continues to grow and learn new things ALL THE TIME!  She went from crawling all over to now she stands by everything and yesterday I even saw her "cruising" around the coffee table (walking along it, holding on).  I am so afraid this one is going to be walking before her first birthday!  She is also in the process of getting her top 2 teeth.  One is through and I can see the slit where the other one is about to come through.  Her poor gum is really swollen!  She is doing really good with getting all these teeth though!  A little irritable, but some tylenol or motrin here and there help.  So with these new teeth, she has been getting more table food.  She loves it, it won't be long before she won't want her babyfood anymore!!  But she still loves food in general! 

Into EVERYTHING!  She had a hayday in Allie's color box!

Helping unload the dishwasher!

Like I said, into everything!!

Allie

My poor Allie has had a rough last few weeks!  About 2 1/2 weeks ago (pic above) she was sick with the stomach flu (for the 2nd time this winter!!).  I don't think she had it very bad the first time, so unfortunately she got it again.  Then 1 week ago she was sick with a fever!  Poor kid!  That was kind of scary, her fever got up to 105.5+ and she was very lethargic.  But in both cases she was better in about 24 hours!  And luckily no one else got sick! 

And especially lucky, she was better in time to have her playdate with her cousin Emma!  They love playing together, even though there is definitely some fighting among the 3 year olds! 

We have been loving the nice warm weather, in fact it is hard already on the not so nice days to explain to Allison why she can't go outside!!  It was so amazing to watch the differences in the things she does this year vs. last year on her swingset!  Oh, she is growing up too fast!!

And hopefully next week I can (and will!!) post some pics from swimming lessons!  This next Sat. is her last day of swimming lessons.  She is doing good and loves, it but I think we will be doing this level again.  More on that next time!!