Quick Christmas Recap

Merry Christmas! I hope that everyone had a great day. Our family enjoyed a wonderful holiday. I wanted to post a few pictures quickly to just give you a glimpse of the excitement around our house on Christmas Morning. Santa did visit- and boy was he good to the girls. Santa brought Cale a Barbie Dollhouse, Play-doh and a flashlight among other things and Leah received an adorable Giraffe toy to ride on. Leah had lots of fun opening her gifts from Santa because she likes to eat paper! It was a great day with our families- thanks to all of you who made it special. I will work on more photos soon!
Happy New Year!

Visit with Santa Claus 2008

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Another fun Snow Day!

I posted a video of what Cale said today while playing with a new toy. We needed an activity to keep us busy today since we are "snowed in."
The picture of Leah is a good example of how much we all love her! Cale tries awfully hard to "hold" her- so I spend a lot of time making sure she isn't holding her by herself.
More about our day later!

Gingerbread is a tough word to say!

I couldn't resist sharing these videos...Cale is talking non-stop and most of the time she gets the words right...but Gingerbread gave her a run for her money.
She kept trying though!
Also, she loves to talk about her "best friends." These change each hour or day- and usually are Daddy, Nanny, Sissy, Emma or Cole. She doesn't usually say MOMMY!!!
Today her best friend is Daddy, and in case you can't understand her talking... she says, "I want to play in snow with him" then she says "I want to write his name, do you have any paper?"

Kaleidoscope

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Erin and I ventured out today with the girls to Crown Center. We wanted to take them to Kaleidoscope to have some creative fun. It is possible that this journey was more for me than Cale because Kaleidoscope is one of my favorite childhood memories...I can vividly remember the melted crayon area... where you use what seems to be a big QTIP paintbrush to color on paper. Needless to say, I have been anxious to get back to Kaleidoscope and today was the day!
Cale loves to paint and do any art projects- so this was right up her alley! Erin had fun showing Cale how to make the projects- and gave her a little help and encouragement along the way. Leah loved watching and tried to grab everything in sight! Next year she can create too!
Cale had so much fun that after the 40 mins were over- she cried when they said we had to leave!
I suppose that just means I will get to re-live my childhood once again on another day. It is really a neat place to take kids - different from anything else- and it is FREE!

Happy Thanksgiving 2008

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Our day was just perfect. The girls were good- and we had a lot of fun with each family. Andy and I know that we have so many things to be thankful for - especially our families who help us a tremendous amount with our girls. We love you all very much!

A quick update on the girls... Leah pulled up to a standing position for the first time on Thanksgiving! She was just playing in her crib- and then started fussing- so when Andy went in her room- she was standing up looking at him! WOW!

Cale says more phrases constantly. Her favorite things to say the past 2 weeks have been, "Baby Jesus is for Christmas" and also thanks to Dora and Leap Frog... Vamos Bebe. She also really likes to say her whole name now. I'll try to get a video of her saying it- it is pretty funny. Cale likes to tell us Leah's full name as well which is, "Sissy Lucille Cox" not Leah Lucille Cox... I suppose that is what little sisters around the world are referred to for years and years.

More soon!
H

The Zoo and the Buddha Belly

I love that Cale gets a kick out of rubbing the Buddha belly at the zoo. This is her favorite part of the day. I just don't know why she likes it so much- but thought I would post the pictures to share. Today was a fabulous day to be at the zoo- all of the animals were out- and very active. It was a riot to see Cale's reaction to the different animals- and I took my Dad with me- so it was fun to see him enjoy it too.
Now- if we could only have a few more 60 degree days! I feel like it won't be much longer and my posts will include snow pictures!

This week in our life...

I am having trouble accepting that Leah is already 7 months old. I am just amazed at how fast her "babyhood" is going! I would have to say that Leah crawls now- technically it might be a scoot- but she is FAST- so I am going to give her crawl.
She is a happy girl and loves anything that she is not supposed to have. Leah is also very tolerant of Cale- who loves to pull and prod at her like she is a toy.
Cale is getting funnier by the day. Her favorite things to say right now are, "I'm going to play a game with you" and "sure." She is really interested in her Barbie doll and still loves to play with Mr. Potato Head. At the mall this week, Cale liked to grab shirts and pants and then say, "mama, these are CUUUUTE- You look sooo CUUUTE" Cracked me up! Cale has seen Santa a few times- but has not yet made the leap of faith to sit with him. However, she has discovered that she does not like the candy that Santa has (peppermint candy cane).

Cale as a Cook and Leah's 2 bottom teeth

We had a fun Wednesday at home... Cale played with her kitchen and cooked Leah and I lots of yummy food. She is really into her pretend play- and loves to talk while she plays. Cale is really into pretend play- and she talks to herself the whole time... just chatting away about what she is doing. She repeats the adult things we tell her, like, "don't worry ducky, mommy is right here- and there is your friend Moo-cow to help you. Don't worry- it is okay."

The picture of Leah is to show off her bottom two teeth! I hope you can see them. She is growing up fast! Leah can scoot/almost crawl all over the place. She is getting faster by the day. Leah's favorite activities include chewing on anything and everything she can grab as well as splashing water everywhere while taking baths. Leah is very fond of her big sister and loves to play on the floor with her.

Happy Halloween

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Hope everyone had a fun Halloween! Our family was a bit under the weather- but we managed to make it out for a little while. Cale dressed up as a flower girl... and Leah got to be a pea in the pod. Cale enjoyed wearing her dress- and had fun walking around during Trunk or Treat at our church. Leah didn't love being all bundled in her outfit- but she was a good sport as usual!!!

Another day at Paradise Park

Jessica and Duke get hitched!

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October Update

What a month so far. We have just been having so much fun. Leah turned 6 months on the 14th- and she is growing fast. She is now 15lbs and 13 oz and 26 inches long. (she seems smaller by far than Cale- but Cale was only about 1 lb bigger at the same age) Leah can sit up and play now- and she scoots (it is almost crawling) all over the floor. She has 2 bottom teeth on their way in already.
Cale is just being her normal busy and silly self. Her vocabulary is growing everyday- and she does repeat or say everything we say. She loves to paint, color and do anything crafty. Recently, my mom bought Cale a Dora Memory game. Just this weekend she started bringing us the cards and saying, MATCH! I personally LOVE the game memory- so I need her to hurry up and figure out how to play so we can have some Memory competition. This weekend Cale has the honor of being a Flower Girl in her Aunt Jessica's wedding. I should have some wedding photos to post soon.
She told me this morning she is excited- so say a prayer that she will still be excited at 5pm today!
Have a great week!

Our precious girls...

Messy Play and Pumpkins

Cale is very into her Daddy right now. She wakes up every morning- and says, Momma, mommy, momma until I go in her room. Then she asks about her daddy. It is really sweet. Even if Andy is still sleeping- she will walk by our room- and say, Hi Daddy.
Cracks me up. Cale is also most intersted in repeating everything we say.
If I tell Leah in the car, "don't cry-we are almost there"- next thing you know- Cale has taken over and is now saying- "almost there sissy- don't cry" She is growing up too fast! A quick Leah update- she is getting so close to sitting up. Leah is still a sweet little baby- who just loves to watch her big sis.

I am trying to use a new program to create slideshows and movies- so it might be a bit before I have a good slide show up- but i wanted to post a few photos from our week and weekend. Cale really enjoyed playing at Faulkner's Ranch and Pumpkin Farm. Leah loved the fresh air and took a little snooze.

Laughing

This is one of Leah and Cale's favorite things to do right now. Cale will laugh and then Leah will just crack up. This is a great activity for car rides- and came in handy during our trip. You have to listen pretty closely for Leah's little giggles- but she gets going pretty good. She usually ends up with major hiccups after this game-but its worth it. Hope you like the video!

Family Vacation to Destin, FL

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Leah 5 months old

Leah is so grown up now- she has graduated to her big girl bath seat.
She loved it. She spent the whole bath reaching and grabbing for her toys. She is also really into peek-a-boo right now. Once you get her going, she laughs- even chuckles- and then gives herself major hiccups. As you might have guessed- we find this to be absolutley adorable and will share a video very soon!

Cale's first Haircut

On a whim last night- I called up Beauty Brands because Cale desperately needed a trim for her bangs. She doesn't leave any sort of hair accessory in her hair for more than 2 minutes- so this was necessary. I didn't have my camera for the actual cutting- but it went really fast- and she even sat pretty still. I promised her a blue lollipop when it was over- and that was the clincher to keep her still. Trying to get a photo of the "after look" was about impossible- but here are a couple. In the first one she is demonstrating the cutting. the other picture- is just Cale being Cale (with her sweet little sis in the background). Now Cale is vacation ready! Only 4 more days!

Party time

Cale has been looking forward to the "Elmo Party" for weeks. We went to the party yesterday. One of our friends little girl, Lauren had a great party at Gymboree. It was a blast- and Cale got to do a few new things, like run under a parachute and jump on a trampoline. Leah did not get left out- as she was able to roll around on the mats and chew on some great chewy toys. It was fun to watch all the kids play together. Cale is also getting more into pretend play with her dolls- so I am watching her super close as she sometimes wants Leah to be her dolly.
The best thing that Cale is saying a lot these days is, "I love (insert name here)" she/he is my best friend. She particulary loves to say, "I love Lucy dog, she is my best friend". Not too sure that Lucy agrees though.
Leah will be 5 months this next weekend. Only 2 more weeks of work and we are off to Destin, FL for a week of fun with the family. Yes- you should expect massive amounts of photos upon our return!

August Highlights

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Girls Day

We had a fun day outside on Tuesday. Cale is now into finding Grasshoppers- so we spent a fair amount of time searching for Grasshoppers. Leah loves to be outside and just loves to watch Cale and the other kids playing. Cale loves popsicles- so we were having a little purple popsicle this afternoon. A perfect summer afternoon and evening.

I love YOU momma

I couldn't resist posting these photos. We are having so much fun these past 2 weeks. I am back to my part-time schedule- and the girls and I are just loving it.
Cale is enjoying the out of doors again (flies are not near as scary as they were a month ago) and Leah just loves to hear the sounds of Cale and the neighbor kids playing. Leah loves her exersaucer- and she is just full of smiles. I am really working on Cale and the ponytail. In fact, I told her a little white lie. I told her that she needed to wear her a ponytail for the doctor today. IT WORKED!!! She left the ponytail on top of her head in ALL DAY! It is a small step- but her hair is out of control. We also had a playdate today with 2 friends of mine and their little girls. It was really fun to see them play- and amazing to think how fast the time is going by. I hope you enjoy the video of Cale. I love her new words that she learns everyday- and I love that she speaks in sentences. My favorite sweet thing she says right now is, "I hold you momma" when she wants to be picked up. It is just too sweet- so I don't correct her- I like when she says it too much!!! I figure that it won't last too much longer.

A Special visit