Josh and Friends

The kids have been visiting with the animals lately. We went to see Josh the Camel last weekend who has a grassroots following and is somewhat of a local celebrity. At 9 feet tall, I guess I would stand out in a crowd, too.

Giggles and Laughs!

Nothing like a little girls weekend for some fun! Ella came to visit recently and there were alot of giggles and laughs...and hair conditioner.

Perusse Postcard Challenge

This won't be a surprise to those of you on Facebook but the Perusses have laid down the Perusse Postcard Challenge and it's starting to gain momentum.


How did we get postcardmania? We had saved a postcard that my cousin Paul sent from Australia last year and one from my friend Tamara who sent one from her honeymoon in Honduras. The girl's daycare spent February traveling to world and virtually-visiting places like Machu Picchu and Saint Basil's Cathedral. They would light up telling us about all the fun facts of where they went. Chad and I learned a few things, too!  So we, or me, decided it would be fun to try and collect a postcard from each of the 50 states and beyond! Facebook seemed liked the logical place to start. So far we have....


Of the 50 states:

1. Minnesota
2. New York
3. Colorado
4. Florida
5. Georgia
6. North Carolina
7. Hawaii
8. California

...and beyond

1. Australia
2. Honduras

We have a few more postcards promised or in route. I'm trying not to be annoying and reach out to people. That said, it looks like we are gaining some speed and people are jumping on the cause...or just anxious to see it end so I'll stop posting pictures of the girls with postcards on Facebook . I anticipate middle America and some southern states will be a challenge but we're going to give it a shot. On a side note, I've enjoyed chatting with some old and new friends who are helping us out. And the girls seem excited when they count and sort all of their postcards.


We grandfathered a couple in but here is the first one to kick off the challenge: MINNESOTA!
 

Delicious!

This is the response of a two year old who was given cold, leftover pizza for lunch.



DELICIOUS!

Happy 2nd Brithday Marin

Marin is 2 years old now!

She was the happiest girl on her big day and kept saying "Happy Birthday to ME!" all day long. ...and in the last two weeks since her birthday. ...and whenever I mention it's someone else's birthday. Well, pretty much all the time.  

She's grown so much in the last few months. She went from speaking a few words in December to full-on sentences in January and has been chatting up a storm ever since. She's now 32.75 inches tall and weighs 25.5 lbs. She went from being in the 11th percentile for weight to the 50th. You grow, girl!

Marin makes us laugh all the time. She has the best facial expressions and can speak volumes with one look out of the corner of her eye. She's really helpful around the house and is diligent about making sure Abby is fed and given treats. She loves to be outside, on the swings or riding in her buggy.

At daycare, Marin is an active participant of circle time where the "big kids" discuss the calendar, weather, patterns, etc. She's always raising her hand and saying "I got it!" but then falls short of a response.  She loves to do crafts and color with her markers. 

Marin loves to snack and isn't afraid to let you know she is hungry.  We hear "nack" often. She's an equal opportunity snacker and always gets some to share with her big sister "Atie". We call Katie and Marin Pete and Repeat. They are as thick as thieves.

She's still our little cuddler and will pat you on the back when she hugs you. It makes my heart melt when she says "I wuv you!"

She isn't a huge fan of waking up and is a little cranky during that time. I'd say her most difficult time of day is dinner time. She's very focus and determined when she wants something. If she doesn't get what she wants, she'll let you know...loudly and forcefully!

Marin will be joining the Little Nemos Swim Class this spring and is practicing using roller skates. She loves to climb the ladder of our swing set and go down the slide. When the neighborhood kids come over, Marin is only a few steps behind the rest of gang.

Marin is a spitfire and we are really enjoying watching her grow! Happy Birthday Marinator!

Thank You Santa

We were writing thank you notes to friends and family who gave the girls gifts for Christmas. Katie suggested she write one to Santa too....

...and don't forget the stamp!

Winter Activities

It's been unseasonably warm this year but if you want it to feel like winter, you hit the rink! Nana and Papa gave Katie ice skates last Christmas and they fit like a glove this year.  We signed her up for lessons. By lesson #5, we weren't seeing much progress from Katie and her class. By #8, it was a totally different story. She loves it and is making some great progress now. We wanted to capitalize on her momentum so we are heading into round 2 of lessons. At least she won't be subjected to the "Are you related to Nancy Kerrigan?" question.

Marin is dying to get on the ice but watching is the next best thing. 

The girls play "Cars" alot when they are shunning the cold weather. I'm flabbergasted at how long these kids can play with these cars. Marin is a little destructo and Katie is type A but somehow it works out.

Valentine's day brings the Daddy Daughter Dance and one happy Katie. She was very excited about her date and corsage. They had a great time!

Not to be outdone (now or ever) but Marin had to put on her fancy black shoes too. She's too young to go to the dance this year but she still wanted to be part of the party.

After that was my 36th birthday...

Marin has suddenly developed a love for books and Abby is a great audience. I always thought winter was the best time to cuddle up with a good book.