Happy Easter 2015!

 Easter time is here again! This year we went full-on Easter-EGGS-travaganza!

We dyed Easter eggs which was confusing for Tommy.  He thought they were dead now since we "died" them.  I can see how he was confused.  :)

We cracked most of the eggs so Charlotte got a few snacks from the ones that weren't salvageable.  

 This was my favorite egg by far.  My ninja turtle egg turned out better than I planned!

 The next morning, the Easter bunny came! Tommy had his first chocolate bunny and dinosaur.  I found this company called Divvies and they have great cookies, candy and popcorn all allergy-free.  Very exciting. This was Tommy's first chocolate for Easter!

 We played with the new fun things in their Easter baskets... like glow-in-the-dark Spiderman and Minnie Mouse masks.  We took this mixed up selfie and I didn't realize until later that that is Charlotte's nose sticking through the eye hole.  Hilarious.

 Then we had our mid-morning sugar crash!

 The family came over and we played outside in the beautiful weather until the food was ready.

 It was then time for the Easter Egg Hunt! I offered the "little girls" (who used to actually be little but are now nearing their teenage years, it's just what we've always called the youngest cousins) Lilli and Isabel, to actually organize the egg hunt this year.  They agreed happily! So it was just Tommy and Charlotte hunting for about 50 eggs.  They LOVED it!!

 Charlotte found this nice spot to sit to take a break during the hunt.  I guess no one can get to her eggs that way!

 Charlotte was an instant pro at finding eggs! Tommy still left in the dust.  But he always came back and handed her every other egg. Such a kind hearted brother.  Charlotte, you are one lucky lil sis! :)

The whole family followed the kiddos around the entire house to collect all the eggs.  (I'm sure we'll find a random egg or two throughout the year that we might have missed)

 This is just one basket! That's a lot of eggs!

 Even though there were only two participants, I think the whole family had a great time hunting!

I know Tommy did! Especially the Mickey Mouse eggs!! Eggs with ears? Wayyyy better than mom's eggs that had random stickers on them.  Mickey Mouse always trumps stickers!

 Also during the day, we celebrated Lilli's birthday.  Lilli has picked up sewing as a new hobby so we all got her sewing stuff for her birthday presents.  Grandma enjoyed sharing her sewing skills with her granddaughter.  I looked over at them during this moment when they were sewing together and said, "Sheesh! Do you think they are related??" HA!

We had a GREAT time on this wonderful Easter holiday.  We were so blessed with such beautiful weather! Happy Easter, everyone!

A Typical Saturday

What you are about to see is a very typical Saturday at the T-burgs. The following pictures perfectly describe a day in the life... 

 Yep. 

Joey's Second Birthday Party!

Joey turned 2 in March and had a super fun birthday party!

Charlotte stole his chair shortly before cake was served.  Yes that's her shoe on the table. We're such polite house guests. ;-)

 Back to Joey.  Charlotte liked Joey very much! It didn't hurt that there was cake on the table in front of her too.

The birthday boy enjoying his cake!

 Charlotte in her pigtails is enjoying the fireplace that wasn't on. ;)

 ALL the kids enjoyed watching Joey unwrap his presents. How hard is it for a little kid to be so patient? I can't even remember the days.  I'm sure it was darn near impossible.

 Charlotte was not interested in the presents.  She was interested in the toys that were already opened!

She certainly made herself at home!

 Charlotte and Joey enjoyed some time together at his table.  Oh my gosh, does this mean it was their first date??? Haha!!

 Joey, Charlotte totally does the same thing. All trucks are ride-on trucks. ;-)

 Joey had a great time at his birthday!

  

 So did Tommy! But especially Charlotte!!

You know you had a great time at your party when you crash in the corner!! 

Happy Birthday Joey! I can't believe you are already two! Happiest of happy days to you!

Charlotte is 18 Months!

 I really don't like how fast time is slipping away from me.  Charlotte is turning into a little girl more and more every day.  I love it and I hate it at the same time.

For example, these pigtails really make her seem so old.

 But then she's my baby again.  This picture was taken long enough ago that she doesn't even want bottles anymore! Aaahh!!

 Look at this picture with a headband.  Growing up so fast!!

 Then she's back to being a baby who sticks both her hands completely into her ketchup and wants me to eat it or something.  I love this.  But I don't like cleaning it up. :-)

 She's so big and so little all at the same time.

 I haven't taken many of this baby profile shots.  I need more! She won't always have those beautiful baby cheeks.

She's such a little lady crossing her legs while brushing her teeth on the counter.

 Such a gymnast! Splits? Are you kidding me?

 She picked out this necklace and these shoes and made me help her put them on.


She could walk in them! It was amazing.  What is she, a teenager??

She still throws fits like a toddler.  (Don't judge us.  She was screaming in Macy's so we put a frisbee on her head. What would you do???)

Oh wait, teenager again.  Makin' calls on her cell phone!

Baby time.  Santa beard!

She loves Dada's hat and her pacifier.  

She loves to pick out her own clothes and be like big brother.

She loves selfies!

She really loves ketchup.

And RUNNING!!!

Her latest doctor's appointment determined her height to be 32 inches long in the 50th percentile but our doctor thought that was wrong.  She threw a fit and kicked the paper underneath her right before they took the measurement.  It's definitely not the most scientific thing.  Anyway, her weight is almost 25 pounds in the 75th percentile and her head circumference is around 19 inches in the 85th percentile.  One of these days, I will measure her again to see if our doctor was right.

Our dear Charlotte, we love you so. You are a surprise every day.  Your daycare teachers tell us stories all the time about you.  You are too smart for your own good.  You have figured out how to make the bigger kids give you toys.  Biting, or even just the threat of biting, has make you queen in charge even though you are one of the youngest in the class.  We haven't gotten a bite report in a long time but somehow you are still in charge.  You also know which teachers will let you climb on the tables and which will not.  You know lots of animals and the sounds they make.  You know several colors.  You know ALL your body parts except for chin I think.  You know lots of words but your favorites are NO and YAAYYYYYYY!!!  You know the words down, all done, bye bye, night night, peeaasss (please), dada, mama, dy dy (diaper), peepee/poop/butt (the important stuff), eyes, nose, wawa (water), chicken, baby, puppy... I'm sure there are so many more.  She wouldn't talk and I figured it was just normal second child stuff.  But as a parent, you can't help but wonder.  My brother sent me this article which is a mom writing about her situation which was similar to Tommy and Charlotte. http://thelittlestories.com/this-stuff-works/
I realized I needed to find something that might motivate Charlotte to talk.  What would be Charlotte's greatest motivation??? Food, of course.  I would make her say whatever food she wanted to eat.  That night she said chicken ("chigan") and rice ("icy" Hey, works for me!).  Two weeks later, with the right motivation she knew like 30 words! Awesome!

So anyway, Charlotte, you are growing way too fast and are so much fun.  You laugh randomly and often which makes me so happy.  You are a little joy and we're so happy to have you in our lives.  Happy 18 months!