A great season

Not much more is needed to be said - Wow! What a season! It was fun and hopefully the fun will continue in Pasadena where Ethan, Liz and I plan to cheer them on if that is the case.

Holiday cards with Shutterfly

I love to send cards - birthdays, anniversary, new baby, just because, whatever the occasion I enjoy sending cards. At Christmas time I especially love to send Christmas cards and what makes christmas cards more fun than any other time of year is making photo cards on Shutterfly. There are plenty of options to choose from, colors, themes, etc. As well as how many photos to include. I like this option. I also like that they have both a photo card and a flat stationery photo card. I like the durability of the stationery card. I have a hard time choosing which card to do and it usually ends up being a late project but this year I am determined to have my cards by the end of November. Last year's Shutterfly card was one of my favorites. The other reason I really like Shutterfly is because they have great prices which helps me alot when I send over 100 christmas cards each year. I think I especially like this card as a possibility for this year: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/love-2010-christmas-card-5x7-flat?sortType=1&storeNode=93479
This was our card last year: http://www.shutterfly.com/ssc/viewPreview.sfly?fid=9941048296e2c41a328a6b68bbcad23c5625c431369d420afd12f45bbad520ea6677a9b13befc49602114e0d229333f1
To see more choices of Shutterfly cards or stationery click here: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards, http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards

There are lots of other great and unique gifts that you can make on Shutterfly such as mugs http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts/photo-mugs, calendars http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars/desk-calendars, or holiday invitations http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-invitations.

Blogging friends check out this opportunity to possibly receive 50 free photo cards from Shutterfly, http://bit.ly/sfly2010. Thanks to Christy for making me aware of this offer! Definitely not something to pass up if you enjoy sending cards.

The Princesses

This past Sunday we traveled to Germantown, WI to see our friends and between them their 4 girls. So 6 adults and 6 little girls ranging in age from 5 to 1. Christy and Paul were very nice to host, what I believe is becoming a winter tradition for all of us, and told us we could plan on a Princess lunch. This was the last time it will be all girls as Jen and Glenn are expecting a boy in February. We will now have a Prince who may or may not be overruled by the Princesses in years to come. After a yummy lunch of chili for the grown-ups and chicken tenders for the Princesses. Christy had arranged an art project of making what every princess needs most - a crown! The girls enjoyed putting the crystal colored beads on their shiny silver crowns. Emma and Grace I believe tried to make it a competition of who had the most crystals on their crown. I am not sure who won but as we tried to them it is not a competition. All the crowns were unique and beautiful. Grace, Lydia and Ella have some great play toys - especially the jump-o-lene. Our girls really enjoyed this. I have made a collage of photos but one photo that is not in the collage is this one of Katherine and how she attempts to get in the jump-o-lene.

In she goes

Right side up!

Jenalyn and Glenn with 3 of the Princesses (Lauren, Emma, and Grace)

Laundry baskets are full of fun! And 21 months...

Katherine is 21 months today. Wow! I cannot believe in 3 months she will be 2 years old. I don't want her to be 2 years old. I want her to remain little forever with her humor, smile, and joy for life. Her words and speech are progressing. Just this morning she tried saying "Good Morning" while we were out running. Yesterday she said "boy". And the other night I realized she is sometimes putting 3 words together "All Done Dada or all done milk". She finds ways to tell us what she wants or needs. When we do not understand she gets louder, in your face, and insistent. We have noticed she has amazing balance and strength. The other day Ethan, Katherine and I were walking into Target all holding hands. I thought it would be fun to count to 3 and swing her. She liked it of course. But then what we were not expecting was when Katherine on our way out took our hands, started walking, and then picked her legs up from the ground and hung on for almost the entire walk to the car. I am the one who had to put her down! She loves to go to school and see Emma. I, personally, think how she tells us she is hot is very cute. She will take something off and I ask her why - she blows with her mouth to tell me she is hot. I do believe she took this from us blowing on her hot food. When I say I am going to clean up the kitchen Katherine yells, "me, me" and off she goes to find her broom, map, dust pan, bucket and vacuum. She really likes to help me clean. She is becoming more and more independent and persistent on being independent. It started with simple things like walking down steps (that was a long time ago) now we have moved on to jackets and clothes. I taught her last week how to flip her jacket over her head to put on. A trick Emma's old daycare provider taught her. She can put her own shoes on and if you tell her they are on the wrong feet she will take them off and switch. Now she has moved on to her clothes - pants and shirts. She is still working on doing this without any guidance because if we were not around both legs would end up in the same leg hole or her shirt would end up upside down with no place for the arms. She loves Bucky Badger ever since we came home with him last week from Build-A-Bear. She is a pure joy in our lives. I have been realizing lately that when Emma was at this age I did not have the privilege to be with her everyday and see her faces or watch her think and play because I was in graduate school. It is very special to be able to have these moments with Katherine.

This is my favorite!

Look at me balance!



Cheese!



Bucky Badger!

I recently received an email informing me that Build-A-Bear would have Bucky Badger for a limited time. I was excited and the girls were even more excited! Emma loves build-a-bear and Katherine just loves Bucky - she has no idea, yet, what Build-A-Bear is. So we decided to take them as soon as possible, even if it was late on a school night, to assure they would both have one. I was not sure how hot of a commodity this might be. I think they did a great job of making this Bucky look the most realistic of any Bucky stuffed animal I have ever seen.  The girls had fun. Katherine enjoyed the "bath" part for Bucky. They both went to bed with their Bucky and Buckingham (we couldn't name them exactly the same). After we left I decided I wouldn't mind a Bucky so I may have to go back and make one for my bed. I was not surprised when Emma came into my bed this morning with Bucky - I expected her to still have a hold on him. But Katherine is known to change her loyalty depending on her mood. When I went in her room this morning she was proudly clutching Buckingham. It was too cute! Here are some photos of the girls with their Bucky's. Emma wanted to take Bucky to school but knew she couldn't. Katherine actually became sad for Emma that she would not be able to have her Bucky.
Isn't she starting to look more grown up?

A great photo of Emma and Bucky

Madison Weekend

Last Thursday and Friday Emma did not have school for Teacher's Convention. We decided to take the girls to Madison for a Badger Hockey game and an overnight trip. Emma really enjoys hockey and we weren't worried about Katherine either. They both enjoyed the game and did quite well. Katherine was tired without a nap and walking a lot that day but she held up very well. Friday we arrived in Madison with just enough time to make it to Kids Day at the Kohl Center where we had our photo taken with Bucky Badger. Now Katherine waiting in line was very excited to see Bucky. Whenever she sees him she says "Go Go Go Bucky, or go go go Dada or Mama". When it was our turn and I was going put her on his lap she freaked and tears came next as you will see from the photo.

Saturday morning we enjoyed a breakfast at Mickey's Dairy Bar across from Camp Randall Stadium. Emma thought it was great that we were eating near the football players. It was a nice, sunny day so a trip to Henry Vilas zoo was definitely next. We enjoyed the animals, the carousel, and the playground before it was time to head back home to Green Bay. Katherine was asleep by the highway and Emma didn't quite make it to Sun Prairie.

Here is a collage of photos from our visit. The first photo is Katherine in the car on the way to Madison entertaining herself by taking off her socks and putting them on her hands. She is a goof!

Another side of Katherine

These shots are the most recent I have probably ever posted. Katherine does not like to be scolded. Earlier today she got into my wallet, and I told her no and to put it back(my fault for leaving within her reach). She got a really sad look on her face and then did this. She likes to crawl onto the couch and cry into a pillow. It doesn't help that she seems to be very tired today. It was only 12:30 and the next shots are where she went next without any fight. Usually the only fight for nap time is whether she is carried up or she walks up. She insisted on her new pillow and soft fleece blanket from Aunt Kimberly. This is her first time actually using a pillow in her crib. She looks so sweet especially with Cookie Monster.

So sad ...

On the couch crying

Big tears

Nap time

So tired...

The Real Deal - Halloween!

Little Bo Peep and her lost sheep were off and running on Halloween afternoon. Katherine caught on very quickly to the trick or treat scenario. Since she cannot say trick or treat I told her to say "baa" when she went to the door. I had to prompt her, but a few times she did it all on her own. She and Emma both enjoyed the walk around the neighborhood especially a few leaf piles with friends that they found. Here are some photos from our adventures.


Look its Little Bo Peep and Donald Driver!

Our little sheep was too busy checking out her stash to look at the camera

A great photo of friends. They are all smiling!

Belle was handing out candy at this house.


Look at how she is carrying her bag.