Story time with Papa Chuck...

Occasionally...

... they really seem to love each other!

Introducing Cooper...

I recently realized that we have not mentioned him on the blog yet... and since he is due soon, I guess we should hurry up and do that!

So here he is... the newest addition to our family...
The reason we are remodeling and frantically rearranging! The reason why I am tired and not always in the blogging mood! The reason we are washing tiny baby clothes and pulling out little blankets and burp rags... and pacifiers, bottles, bottle brushes... and so on! The reason I have HORRIBLE indigestion! The reason we are terribly fearful about how much Carinna LOVES babies and attacks them when she sees them (she's the reason we fear for his life). And most importantly the reason we have started 2011 with a renewed sense of excitement and anticipation.

We can't wait to see what new adventures he will bring to the family!

Excuses... excuses...

So... I fully intended to really get back into the blogging again with the new year... but obviously that didn't happen. I could say that it was because I was without my camera for several weeks after Christmas. Or I could say that it was due to the fact that we have been remodeling for a couple of months and things are a huge, HUGE disaster that I am still trying to dig out of. But... those would just be my excuses... who cares about those!

This year we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with just our little family doing whatever we wanted! It was so fun!!

As is our tradition, we kicked off Christmas Eve with baking cookies for Santa. Carinna had her own bottle of sprinkles... it was a bit frightening!

I think she liked decorating cookies!

So did he!

Carinna had to sample each one! I barely snagged Santa's cookie away before she got to it.

After cookies we read the Polar Express.

Then we laid out the cookies and carrots. We left Gatorade for Santa because Caden had been running fever and we were banning milk at the time!

I think Santa likes Gatorade... because there was not a drop left!

Santa's gifts were such a hit that we couldn't get the kids to open the gifts under the tree!

Carinna got babies... of course!

It was a great day! Such a blessing to spent the entire day playing with the kids, eating and making memories!

Pumpkin carving and a Happy Halloween!

The men did all the hard work!

Ewww!

It looks like she is enjoying this, but in reality she was totally grossed out!

Trunk or Treating!

The first house of the evening!

Carinna went a little crazy in the candy!

Randomness...

I have been doing such a terrible job of keeping things in blog world updated! I just don't have enough hours in the day... or maybe I need a class on time management. Anyway...

I have a ton of random pictures that really don't fit into any category, but they are a great glimpse into our current life... (they were all taken with my phone- so please forgive the quality)...

Carinna is always in my stuff... for example Randy found some of my make-up in the fridge this morning. I never used to understand how people lost things in their own home... until I had kids. Here, she is sporting a headband... backwards.

Almost every day lately Caden has fallen asleep in the chair while I am prepping dinner.

Carinna got some new sunglasses.

Happy plate... easy to do on Chick-Fil-A Tuesday!

Every girl needs a little animal print in her life!

Good morning bedhead!!

Carinna and her frog hat. She made it at school and wore it until it fell apart for the millionth time!

Occasionally some strange pictures show up on my phone. The other day I was so pleased to see this picture of a toilet. Glad my phone stayed dry!

Carinna likes to read to her babies!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

I had to wait until we reached a point in the day when Carinna wasn't crying so much. We just barely squeezed it into this window! She is not happy today.

Happy Birthday Grandma! We love you!

Happy Birthday Pawcaw!!

Now... it's time for the happy dance!

First day of preschool... sort of

The kids just started to preschool again. Well, except for the fact that Caden went last year and has gone all summer... so really it was just the first day for Carinna.

Again, I have no idea why I even try to get photos!


The girl could not have been less interested in getting her picture taken!

Her shirt is all wet from brushing her teeth. It's her favorite thing to do, but it makes her drool a bit.

At least in this one they are both smiling!

Then they got distracted... so I gave up.
They both did really well in their new classes! Caden likes his new teacher, but doesn't understand why he can't go back to Mrs. Julie's class!

Catching up...again...

Back to the boy's birthday...

We had a small party here at our house with some family.

He was so excited about everything he got!
Especially Woody!


I have no idea what the deal is, but this was the grin he was giving me... could it be any cheesier?
Icing mustache...
And we discovered that the girl does in fact like cake. I guess the problem was that her birthday cake didn't have any chocolate on it!
Later in the week we went to Grandma and Pawcaw's house. They have a great bounce house place just down the street. We went with some cousins and I think they all had a blast!
Then that night there were MORE presents! He got a Jessie doll this time. We have since learned that Jessie is way better than Woody. Caden often refers to her as "his girl"!
Then we had MORE cake too! What a great birthday! (And yes, that is a candle on the cake... we forgot to get birthday candles.)
Then the next day we headed to The Greatest Show on Earth!
Notice Jack's face... he had wanted a sword... he didn't get it.

Caden and Jessie watching the show! (The girl had to stay with Grandma and Pawcaw!)
He said he was ready to go home about 10 minutes after the show started! But I think he enjoyed it overall! The rest of us sure did!