The Portraits Are Here!

This is my favorite picture ever of Katelyn. She looks so little, sweet, and innocent. This is her 18 month portrait taken a year ago. They take the picture and then paint it to make a painting. It is incredible.

This is Katelyn's 2 year portrait. We have one the same size of Jordan taken when Jordan was 2 years old. I absolutely love these two portraits!

The funny thing is I have no living room furniture in this room where the portraits are hung. It is our formal living room that currently houses two old couches of my husband's and toys everywhere for the girls. I always joke around that I can't afford furniture because I'm buying portraits of my girls. However, I think it is well worth it! These pictures I will have forever and they are excellent.

I love them and can't wait to show them to CHH!

PS Put your mouse pointer on the picture and left click once to enlarge the portraits. You can really see how beautiful they are of my baby then. I'm excited! :)

Katelyn Just Cracks Me Up

I put Katelyn to bed and I can hear her in her room singing. She is singing this song:

Row, Row, Row your boat, gently down the stream, If you see an alligator don't forget to scream!

She then screams! She is singing it over and over and screaming each time.

"Up" and More Fun

Grandpa took the girls for doughnuts on Saturday. After doughnuts and swimming lessons, Jordan went to a birthday party for a little boy in her class. It was to see the new Disney Movie, "Up".

I took Jordan and her friend, Alyssa, to the party while Grandpa stayed home and watched Katelyn. Thank you Dad!!!

The movie was cute but a little too grown up so I will not be taking Katelyn to it. For me, I'm a little disappointed the new Disney movie is geared somewhat towards adults. I know as adults we go see these movies with our kids but isn't that the whole point -- we go for our kids? Anyhow despite me thinking it was geared a little too much for adults than kids, I did enjoy the movie but most importantly so did Jordan. The cutest darn thing was to see Jordan and her two girlfriends, Stephanie and Alyssa, all sitting in the movie theater together with their 3D glasses on. We sat behind them and it was so cute to listen to their conversations during the movie.

Jordan and Katelyn ready for school last Friday.

Katelyn viewing the dolls her Aunt Barbara sent the girls. She carried the one baby doll laying on the counter all around this weekend.

Sunday, we went for Dim Sum with Alyssa's parents and her sister. Talk about delicious!! It was outstanding and I cannot wait to go again. Here is Jordan eating her usual -- rice with soy sauce :)

Katelyn enjoyed the Dim Sum as well. She was good in that she tried a few things. Both girls did not seem that hungry but Mommy sure did enjoy herself -- good friends, good food!

After running errands Sunday afternoon, the girls (even Jordan!) fell asleep and took long naps. Because of this they were wide awake after dinner so we went swimming at our pool. This is the first time we went to the pool this year and it was really nice. The girls loved it.

Katelyn enjoying the water.

After dinner when I told my Dad I was taking the girls swimming, he decided to go with us. He later confirmed he was worried about me being able to keep an eye on both girls at the pool. He felt better after seeing us (I made them keep floaties on and stay in the shallow pool for my own sanity) but stuck around for "guard duty" anyhow.

Jordan with her Grandpa.

Aunt Barbara's Dolls - Thank You Barbara

We arrived home tonight after dinner and gymnastics to find a big box from Jordan and Katelyn's Aunt Barbara. Barbara had packed up her doll collection and sent it to the girls to have. Can you believe it?!! Words aren't enough to express how much we appreciate this. There is even an American Girl doll, Molly. I especially loved the one on the left because of its brown hair and brown eyes like my Katelyn. I told Jordan that one needed to be for Katelyn. Jordan, as always, was so good and agreed.

Besides Molly, Jordan's favorite was the one on the far right in the gold colored dress. The dress is fancy and she has a parasol to go with her outfit. Not surprised Jordan loved this one because of her love for fancy outfits!

Barbara, Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! We will treasure your dolls and take good care of them. It is something the girls will always have from their Aunt Barbara!

Blanket Tents

Jordan latest favorite thing to do is to build blanket tents everywhere. She loves it. I was getting ready to clean the above "tent" up when Jordan told me how much she loved her tent. No cleaning for me! :)

Jordan built another "tent" on the couch about a week later. I finally did have to move this one because CHH and I were having to share the other couch along with the cat, dog, baby sister, etc.

She is so funny in her tent with all her princess stuff. When I cleaned this tent up, I found little pretend food items inside like she really was on a camp out. It really was cute and she loves it. When I took this one down in order to free up the couch, I showed her how to build one using her little table and a couple of chairs. She loved that!!

I just can't help myself but I have to tell this. A couple of weeks ago, I was in my bedroom next to our living room changing my clothes. I suddenly heard the back door open and immediately went out to the living room. Little Katelyn knows how to unlock the back door, open it and go outside -- not surprising at all for Katelyn because she always is figuring things out.

Anyhow when CHH arrived home, I made sure to tell him in order for him to know that she now knows how to leave the house. Well, my sweetie proceeded to give me the biggest lecture on how he never ever takes his eyes off of his kids and how could I be in the next room without them -- granted he was probably right on that aspect and I should have had them in our bedroom.

Fast forward a couple of weeks... Mommy is really sick laying on the couch praying she doesn't throw up again. Miserable. I suddenly hear Jordan and barely open my eyes. She is saying "Mommy, look I painted my nails." I manage to say "Oh they are nice" and then I ask, "Did your Daddy paint them for you?" Jordan replied "no" that she did it all herself! I did note her nails were red and she actually did do a pretty good job. I then closed my eyes and concentrated again on not throwing up (Katelyn had been sick over the weekend so it hit me all day Tuesday and Wednesday!)

The next morning, I woke up feeling good (yeah!) and went downstairs to our master bathroom to get ready for work. I walk in and find our nice expensive creme colored bathroom towel covered in red finger nail polish (see picture above)! What happened to "I never ever take my eyes off my children"????? See you should never use the word "never" because it is always going to get you!! Plus....don't lecture the Mommy! Ha! Big grin.

Happy Memorial Day 2009!

Jordan wanted to make cupcakes for Memorial Day so we did. She is Sleeping Beauty Hula girl for the cupcake making/baking event (that is what she told me!).

The girls got Grandpa to join in the fun.

Having fun licking the batter off the spoon...

Each girl had to have 12 cupcake holders to put in their pan. It had to be equal! They were counting. Grandpa supervised :)

The best part! Using spoons to get the last of the batter out of the bowl to eat.

Jordan decided she wanted blue frosting. Thanks to my friend, Christy, who sent frosting for Valentine's day and food coloring. When I told Jordan the frosting was white, she reminded me of the food coloring Christy had sent to us to make Valentine cookies. Jordan made her blue frosting. Thanks Christy!!

Jordan with her finished cupcakes. She loved decorating them!

After making breakfast on Memorial Day, Grandpa and I took the girls to the park to play.

Jordan got tired and had to have Grandpa carry her to the car.

After the park, Grandpa, Jordan and I went to Michael's. Jordan got several ceramic ponies and butterflies to paint. She loved it.

Katelyn wanted to paint to and painted her Dora the Explorer painting pages. Katelyn did really well at her painting. I can see the change in her every month on how much she is advancing and growing up. Christopher and I were just saying again this past weekend that it is going so fast. I guess that happens when you are having the time of your lives!

I did want to finish up since it is Memorial Day to say again -- thank you Dad, my Uncles, our cousin, Troy, Christopher's Dad, Cym, and all our other family members, friends and others out there who have served in the armed forces and are continuing to do so today. It is people like you who help make this country as great as it is and a wonderful place for us to live. Thank you!!

Where does the weekend go?

Katelyn and Jordan going to school on Friday for "pretty dress" day (that is what Jordan calls it because she loves wearing dresses and she doesn't have to wear a uniform on Fridays). Jordan loves rainbows right now. She was thrilled with this dress plus she found one of her bracelets and necklaces that matched perfectly.

Friday night, we attended another Barnes & Noble book reading event. This time it was Dr. Seuss. Katelyn actually sat and listened a majority of the time while the stories were being read.

The sisters in their nightgowns listening to a story. Jordan's friends attended as well. She is sitting in between Katelyn and Alyssa in this picture.

Katelyn and Jordan with the "Cat in the Hat".

After meeting the character, they always do some sort of craft. This night it was making hats like the "Cat in the Hat". The girls loved their hats.

They gave out cookies with green frosting on them. Here Katelyn is eating her "Green Eggs and Ham" cookie. Please notice, she now has Jordan's rainbow necklace on that Jordan started out with this morning. Katelyn is so funny. She loves to do what her big sister is doing.

Jordan and her friends listening to another story read by Sarah's mom.

Jordan and her Daddy at the bookstore.

Saturday, Jordan and her friend, Alyssa, have swimming lessons together. After swimming lessons, Alyssa came over for an all day playdate. The girls love to make this craft. It is putting little tiny beads on these animals designs. They will sit and work on them for quite awhile. I was surprised when Katelyn joined them and was doing one as well.

A playdate would not be a playdate without dress-up. Jordan's first dress-up outfit of the day was Snow White. Her Aunt Jill and Aunt Kara gave her this outfit and she loves it.

Minnie Mouse Bride and Cinderella -- I was told to not address them by their names but to please call them Minnie and Cinderella.

I love those big brown eyes!!