Playing in the Rain

They played for about an hour AFTER it started raining on the trampoline and swings. Crazy kids!

One Sunny Morning

Jerry went outside a found this turtle in our yard. He was in the front yard and we caught him digging a hole.

We decided to take him the next street over to the lake.


Ariel was going to pick the turtle up and carry him to the car, but she chickened out.

So, Dad to the rescue! He used a floor mat from the car. He was working in the garage, which is the reason he looks like Hazmat worker.

Happy Christmas

No matter how many times I say, "Merry Christmas"- Cailin always says, "Happy Christmas". After all, it is "Happy Birthday" and "Happy Halloween".

We got to see Santa during the Mother Goose Hour at the library. She went right up to greet Santa. I didn't get to hear her reply when he asked her what she wanted for Christmas.

And she gladly accepted the candy cane at the end.

Halloween 2009

I love Halloween and always start months ahead brainstorming different ideas. Initially, when I was thinking of Ariel's costume, I was thinking Hippie. However it started to morph, while I was shopping around for accessories. I almost brought her a pair of clogs, but didn't think that really meshed with walking around all night Trick-or-treating. As we were leaving, we stopped by my neighbor's house and he said, "Angela Davis"! And I thought, "Bingo" she is dressed like the 1960-70's!

Cailin got to be Minnie Mouse this year. She always give me this smile. It always makes me laugh, so she keeps doing it. She will say, "Momma look at me!" and I turn around and I am greeted with this face. Jerry says she looks mischievous. No farther comment from me!

Notice anything different in the last two photos? She broke my DIY bow and insisted on taking the leggings off. The story of my two year old!

Ariel got a lot of compliments on her costume. This child was a witch like 565 times in a row, until I started making suggestions for different costumes last year.

Doesn't it make you want to sing, "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy?

Cailin was so upset in this photo. She is in the "Can't catch me Phase"- meaning she will just take off running and you running after her only makes her run faster. I have tried everything to get her to stop doing this, but she just thinks it's all a game. On this day she was running straight towards a 4-lane street. She got a few seconds lead on me and with my 8 month belly- well sometimes she is the winner of the race. I send Ariel instead chasing after her and I am yelling at the top of my lungs for her to stop. I'm sure we thoroughly terrorized her in the process, but when I think of the alternative.....

Anyway big sister made her feel better.

In the interest of keeping all things fair around here, Jerry painted belly baby for me!

Zaniya's Birthday Party

I was invited to shoot a birthday party by Amanda. It was for her niece, Zaniya. She invited Ariel and Cailin and I was concerned about Cailin being clingy and not being able to take pictures. The truth was Ariel took care of her little sister. She kept Cailin busy sliding down the slide with her. I was pleasantly surprised.

Cailin didn't mind the pictures but Ariel said she gets enough pictures taken at home and that she didn't need to take any while at the party :0)! It made me think (only briefly) that maybe I take too many pictures!

Cailin was up first for the pinata, because she was the one of the smallest there. Ariel never got a chance because the little guy in front of her burst the pinata.

The end....

We were at the beach until well after sunset.

Cailin in the pool with Daddy

The Blue Wall

Once we got downtown, I spotted this cool blue wall. But just look at the pictures I managed to get. Cailin is about to run off in this one.

And Ariel started doing push-ups on the wall to get Cailin to stay put.

I was playing with flash and my new camera and I told Cailin to get on the couch with Ariel to take a picture. And you know what? She did it! I couldn't believe it! Then she looked right at the camera and smiled. What a big girl!