We're Back! Christmas 2008

Hello there. So, I've been super slack about the blog for a few reasons. I can't stand sitting at the computer for too long after being at work, yada yada yada... Casey got me a laptop for Christmas this year, so right now I am comfortably curled up on the couch while updating the blog. Hopefully this will help me get back on the bandwagon, we'll see. So, here are some photos of Christmas...It's been a great day so far. Hope all are well, Merry Christmas. We'll keep you posted on the babe.. 2 more weeks to go and feeling great!

Super heroes at my house...

GUESS WHO WE SAW TODAY?

North Carolina Mountain State Fair

We went to the North Carolina Mountain State Fair this weekend. Violet rode 3 rides! This is a big deal. She is normally timid when it comes to anything at all adventurous outside of home or the backyard.

It all started with the bumper boats. She saw them and said, "Ina ride dat." So we went with it, putting her in line with Eleanor. We assumed that by the time she had to hand her tickets to the woman (a carnie) and be lifted and placed on a boat in a huge pool of water, that the fear would overcome her and she'd be right back by our side. Nope.

She willingly handed over her three little tickets and even lifted up her arms to the stranger to be picked up, (this is huge for Violet) and off she went. I was okay with it, as long as her boat was on the outer edges of the pool, within my arms reach. When she would steer into the center of the pool, I would panic, but I'm pretty sure I did a decent job of hiding it and smiling and encouraging her and all of that good stuff... She had a blast.

After the bumper boats she saw the circus train, and cried until it was her turn to go. She didn't even care that she was on her own on this one, no Eleanor. She insisted on the front car... Again, she had a blast.

Just when I thought my little girl had gotten over her wimpiness and was becoming some sort of daredevil, we saw the carousel. We all got on, and just as I began to lift her onto the 'pity pupple hoowas' that she had chosen, she screamed- "Pity pupple hoowas eat me! No, he eat me!" (top photo) I guess she's still a wimp!

The Biltmore Estate

We took the girls to the Biltmore Estate yesterday for the first time ever after living here for almost 6 years. We had free tickets from the Mom of a student who rides to school with me. Anyhow, it was fun. There is so much there. The house didn't really do it for me, but Casey and Eleanor really liked that part. There is also a farm and horses and so much pristine land there, it is truly gorgeous. You could spend days and days there and never see the same thing twice. We ended up buying season passes, so we'll probably end up going quite a bit. Here are some photos of the girls. I didn't take any of the house or anything, oops. Oh well, the girls are cuter anyway.

Eleanor's first day of 1st Grade

Violet's 2nd Birthday!

I feel awful that I didn't post these photos after her party. She had a great time, but was not thrilled when everyone sang to her. Violet, unlike her big sister, does NOT like to be the center of attention. We spent her actual birthday in Louisville visiting the Peytons.

Ocean City 2008

Violet and Landon
Violet and Riley Eleanor and Lily

These photos are from our trip to Ocean City, Maryland in June. All of my siblings (and a lot of my cousins) were there as well as both of my parents. We had a blast, the kids really loved spending so much time with their cousins.

SWEET BABY GIRL

HOPE YOU CAN MAKE THESE OUT... I HAD TO TAKE A PHOTO OF THE PRINT OUT SO IT DOESN'T LOOK AS CLEAR, BUT IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING... SHE IS REALLY CUTE, ALTHOUGH I MAY BE BIASED. HER LITTLE ARM IS COVERING PART OF HER FACE BUT IT'S A GREAT SHOT OF HER NOSE AND MOUTH.

AN ABSOLUTE MIRACLE

If you don't know, Casey and I have a weakness when it comes to our children and sleep. What I mean by this is that when the girls were babies they NEVER slept in their crib, they slept with us. Even now at 2 and 6, they usually sleep with us in our California King. If not we have to lay in their bed for atleast 30 minutes before they fall asleep, and then they each end up migrating into our bed sometime in the middle of the night.

In Violet's 2 years of life, she has NEVER fallen asleep without snuggling one of us (or the occasional babysitter)


With littlest girl on the way, we've realized that they need to not only sleep in their own beds ALL NIGHT but also fall asleep without Casey or I.


Hallelujah! After 3 long evenings of crying, whining and a lot of guilt on my part... it worked!

So this photo may appear to some of you as a pile of little girls, baby dolls and stuffed animals, but to us it is nothing short of a miracle. Maybe now we will have our big bed to ourselves, that is until January, of course.

#3

I realize it has been forever since I've written or posted photos. I guess maybe it's because I do actually have a life, believe it or not... I'll try to put some pictures up soon, but wanted to get this bit of big news out there first.

We went for our Ultrasound yesterday and all is well. Unfortunately for me, my original due date has been pushed up 2 weeks because the baby is measuring everywhere at 15 weeks instead of 17. It is frustrating, because I feel like I've just taken a GIANT step backwards, but in the grand scheme of things a healthy baby is all that matters and that is in fact what we have!

So, the new due date is January 8, 2009. So much for the tax credit for 2008! It is official that not only will we be welcoming our third child into the world, but also our third baby girl! Unbelievable! Eleanor and Violet are thrilled and excited about having another sister around, although Eleanor did say, "Oh man, another little sister to take my stuff." Little does she realize that a little brother would have done the same.

I can't stop imagining the amount of bitching that will go on about Casey and I over the next 60 years! Anyhow... we are excited and cannot wait to meet our little girl, even if we do have to wait an extra 2 weeks!

A Busy Week

The past week has been a busy one with both Eleanor's school and mine closing up for the summer. Woohoo! I have quite a few photos to post, hope you enjoy! Oh yeah, and Eleanor lost a tooth today!



Violet in the back yard trying to play softball with Eleanor and Daddy, so cute.

Eleanor and her buddies at the Artspace Star Ceremony. All of the kindergarteners were given stars from the first graders, super sweet. They were so excited to be official 1st graders!
Last Day of School at Hanger Hall. We surprised the girls with Hot Air Balloon rides. They had a blast. Hello summer!
I did not go up. I am afraid of heights during pregnancy. It may sound weird but it's true. Casey pushed me on the swing the other day and I completely freaked out because I went so high. I'm not normally like that, it's very strange. So hopefully there will be another hot air balloon somewhere in my future. It looked like a lot of fun.
Violet in the baby pool.

Eleanor and Violet singing Happy Birthday to their new cousin, Holden. (George and Jamie's baby!) They are so excited to meet him this weekend, so are we!

I couldn't resist. She is such a cutie pie, I could eat her.

Good News!

Here is a recent photo of the girls, sorry it's not great. I tried to get some good ones tonight but they were not being too cooperative. Anyhow, for those of you who haven't heard, we found out last week that we are having a baby! The due date is December 27, so by our calculations and considering our past experiences, we are placing our bets on mid January. Eleanor is thrilled and cannot wait to "teach" Violet how to be a big sister (her words). Violet doesn't really get it, and when anyone mentions the baby in Mommy's belly she points at it and says, "Open it!"

Hope everyone is well. We are looking forward to summertime and hanging out at home and the pool. Especially now that things are about to get crazy in December!
Take Care-

JUMPING!!!

March Wrap-up

Here are some photos from home and a few from Easter weekend. The girls had a blast as usual in West Virginia.

Violet is such a big girl these days. She has quite a personality and learns a lot from Eleanor. Our current favorite is "oh, man!"

She came home from school today fascinated by the idea of "up and down" and at dinner she marveled at the way the ice cubes in her cup went up and down as she took sips. This lasted for about an hour or so, until they melted.

There are so many things about Violet that remind me of Eleanor at that age, yet just as many new things that are unique to her and her personality. She is a complete goofball and is constantly trying to come up with ways to make all of us laugh.

Eleanor's reading has taken off incredibly. Her homework tonight was to read Casey and I a chapter from a Polar Bear science book and she did so beautifully. She is mighty proud of herself and loves to tell people that she is a bookworm.

The girls are sharing a room now, and so far so good. They love to snuggle. We'll see how long it lasts...

Our Visit from Flat Stanley

Jack Murray (my brother Pat's son) is in the first grade and his class recently read the book "Flat Stanley". Each student made their own Flat Stanley and sent him to someone they knew who lives far away. Jack's Flat Stanley came to stay with us. We have taken him on a few adventures and have had a great time with him! Monday he will go back to Jack's school and tell the class about his adventures and show off his photos. We will miss you, Flat Stanley!