More garden time and a wren in the house.

Okay, first I have to share with all of you how we spent our Saturday night.

Russell walked out the front door and this little friend flew in. My facebook friends might remember that this happened to us another time about a year ago. Forty-five minutes later, we escorted him out the upstairs window. Russell has mad skills with a broom. The ruckus woke up Caroline. Though I'm wasn't happy about that, the little birdie didn't poop anywhere in the house. And that's more than I can say for last time. Does this happen to other people?

On to today. We had so much fun last week, we jumped at the chance to go back to the Botanical Gardens with friends. I promise my next post will be about something else.

Just seeing him get in this position hurts my knees.

Isaac wasn't into looking at the camera. But he was into putting the colander on his head.

Catherine and Isaac checking out the koi pond.

Isaac liked to press the button and Daniel and Catherine were delighted to "take a shower."

The butterfly house was open! Daniel was terribly amused by blowing on the butterflies on the milkweed and making them flutter around.

Not bad without any knowledge of macro or equipment?

And this is just cute.

Morning at the Botanical Gardens

A morning of rain was in the forecast. Which means a morning of fussy was in my forecast. Much to my delight, this morning I woke up and the good people at the Weather Channel had decided the front wouldn't be here til this afternoon. That made for a perfect opportunity for a quick outing to the Botanical Gardens. Cloudy so we didn't have to worry much about sunburn, cool enough, but not too cold to get a little wet at the end. All in all, a perfect day for it!

We were joined by our friends Daniel and Andrew (who are the girls' ages, almost exactly). What fun!

 

Giant Garden, Little Me exhibit

The fun really started when Mrs. Svitlana discovered this black button that made the dandelion blow bubbles.

This was unposed. They just decided to sit down together. Sweet kids.

You can "count" on Daniel. Sorry - corny.

Catherine's already kissing frogs . . . watch out, Daddy!

Andrew running. All the pictures of Andrew look just like this. Thankful for a high shutter speed. He's a moving target!

Caro wants to do what the big kids are doing!

Happy girls make for a happy momma! 

An aside - Blogger's picture placement bewilders me. Oh well, here they are, even if not perfectly arranged! 

April happenings

My aunt Rosey (and you've never met a woman with a more fitting name!) famously once said, "I don't have Kodak moments; I have Kodak hours." Well, I think I'm starting to get it. I'm having Kodak hours these days. Maybe even Kodak days. Or months. Or years. Wait, isn't Kodak pretty much bankrupt? Oh well, I'll use the expression until no one I'm talking to remembers. Yes, I am starting to say things that make me feel . . . well, old.

Catherine likes to talk about how old all her friends are. She'll say, "I'm two, Caroline's one, Alice is three, Luke is four." And then she'll ask me. I tell her "31." Her eyes just get big. Like that's a number so big she's never even heard of it. (An aside, when she counts past ten, it usually goes "eleven, twelve, firteen, fourteen, eleventeen." Her math teacher mama is working on that . . .) She also regularly calls me, "A very very big girl." And she told me that I had a "nice big bottom" last week. This kid thing is humbling, really.

Anyway, so back to the Kodak hours. Here are a few pics of April around here. Ciao!

Daddy and Catherine on Easter

These are "capri pants." They touch my feet.

 

Caro watching Sister play peek-a-boo

Do all kids like to play under the table? Mine do. And they always end up whacking their heads. Every time.

Stomp rockets are so fun!

It's like a zoo around here.

This lovely lady made a nest in one of our shrubs. I can't wait to see the babies!

All in the family, part II

And now, here was some fun with R's parents! Thanks for a great visit!

Two girls in Caro's new birthday chair

Standing up skills

Snuggles!

Caroline enjoying her birthday macaroni at Nothing But Noodles

This one-year-old loves to put stuff on her head!

About to get frozen yogurt with Grandpa. Oh she doesn't even know the yum that awaits her

Catherine loved Caroline's birthday treat!

The closest we could get to everyone looking at the camera on Caroline's birthday

Puzzles are a latest fascination

Grandpa is so silly!

I guess we have to say goodbye after all? :(

All in the family

The past two weeks, we have enjoyed visits from all four of the grandparents. Nana and Paw Paw came week before last and Peaches and Grandpa were here last week. Thankfully, everyone stayed well through the visits and we were able to enjoy the company.

The main attraction, other than just enjoying the grandbabies, was Caroline's first birthday. I really can't believe we've survived a year of having two little ones. The little punkin enjoyed being the center of attention, but I think she really enjoyed the cupcake most of all. I can't believe my 6 lb 6 oz baby has grown so much. (Um, can you say 75th percentile for weight? Her well-check is tomorrow, but I'm guessing she's around 23 or so pounds.) I am getting really weepy about not having a baby anymore. I cried after giving her her last bottle. I'll miss all that baby snuggling and cooing and sweetness. But maybe I'll start getting some more sleep at some point and it will soften the pain of their growing up.

Here are a few photos from Nana and Paw Paw's visit, including a trip to the Birmingham Zoo. The other set of grandparents will get another post.

Paw Paw read about a million books to Catherine. Her idea of heaven.

Nana and Catherine making Caroline's cupcakes

Caroline after her birthday cupcake. Did I mention she loved it?

Catherine demonstrating her signature "silly walk."

The girls enjoying their new picnic table

This was Caroline for the whole trip to the zoo. She wasn't too excited about the whole thing.

Does anyone know how to flip pics in blogger? We have this saved. Oh well, look at it with your head cocked to the side.

More zoo fun.

Turn your head to the right this time.

Adios, winter!

So this week Catherine got the flu. We are so over you, Winter 2012-13! Seriously. RSV. Ear infections. Staph infections. Vomiting. And a dog who had to have his toenail surgically removed (which has actually been as big a pain as any of the girls' ailments...). Yes, we are done. We are ready for healthy everyone.

And now this flu which prevented a visit from two very dearly missed family members. It's enough to make me want to cry!

Anyway, here are a few pics of the last few months. The girls are growing. Catherine's been potty trained since January (hurray!). Caroline pulls up to standing and has said, "uh oh," "mama," and "dada." And she loves to stick out her tongue and "dance" upon request. Sometimes at the same time.

This speaks for itself.

Bath time is the best time. These two would stay in til the water gets cold and they are totally pruney. I love it!

 I had to share Catherine's impressive bedhead. Her hair is completely out of control. It's not long enough to restrain in any way. (Yes, she's almost two and a half and she's never had a haircut or even a little pig tail.) But it is long enough to be CRAZY when she wakes up.

 

Hanging out in diaper boxes in matching pjs

 

Looks like Caroline is getting to that magical age where she can "help" me with that messiness problem from my last post . . .

Okay, I promised cute pics in this post. I hope I delivered.