Back to School Photo

We are taking a year off of preschool due to different cut off dates between California and Tennessee school districts. This won't stop us from taking the first day of school photo in front of the house. You go girls!

Noelle's Birthday Festivities

It has been a roller coaster of a birthday for our now 2 year old little girl. We started the festivities off on Thursday at The Monkey's Tree house with our little friends Jackson and Gavin. After a whole lot of monkey business, the troops moved and set up camp at nearby McDonald's where we had lunch and monkey cupcakes. On Friday evening, we brought more monkey cupcakes to a summer concert to share while the girls danced to catchy kid tunes. Then on Saturday, we attended the RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival which was tons of people outside in sticky 100 degree weather, all eating sugar covered and fried foods. Thus, it was pretty fun! We finally finished up the celebration at Noelle's favorite restaurant; Old Spaghetti Factory where she happily tore into her mac n' cheese and ice cream. What I haven't mentioned is that Noelle exhibited symptoms of a festive birthday stomach virus after being at Monkey's Tree house. The problem was that it seemed to come and go at will, for 8 hours or more at a time, so it left me thinking that maybe it was just too much junk food. This makes us thankful that our kids are hardly ever sick. Well, happy birthday and get well soon Monkey!

Noelle is almost 2!

In anticipation of Noelle's second birthday next Sunday, I have created a montage of her last year, age 12 months to 24 months. Hope you enjoy viewing it as much as our family does!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Girls these Days

Natalie's Common Phrases:
1. (After being scolded) But I was just.. (substitute lame excuse here)
2. I said..(current demand at that minute)!!
3. Momma/Dada, I have a question..
4. Be quiet Noelle!
5. Today? (Questioning about a fun activity discussed for future)

Noelle's Common Phrases:
1. I help you!
2. It's old. (in reference to her milk once it is empty)
3. I touch it? (in reference to EVERYTHING)
4. Milk peas!
5. I do!

Some Funny Recent Antics:
1. Natalie said "I'm an anteater. I eat ants!" Since I am used to Natalie saying she is all kinds of animals I said "Yes, you are an anteater." As her grin broadened I noticed something between her two front teeth.. a dead ant!

2. Noelle was in the car with me while Natalie was in preschool. As I looked in the rear view mirror, I saw Noelle pinch her own belly and then yell "Momma, Nah-ee pinch me!" Ah, already a master of the blame-sister game!

3. As Natalie was picking up plastic Easter eggs that she was playing with she said "Momma, me and Noelle are egg officers!"

4. Noelle spotted a toll booth style building and exclaimed "Look Momma, a baby house!" Then she saw some sort of factory with large cylinder shaped structures and said "Look Momma, big drums!"

5. Natalie in the car randomly said "Momma, I am not a fan of wipes..I am a fan of candy!"

Likes and Dislikes for Natalie:
Likes pink, cats, dogs, The Nutcracker, baths, and the spinning poles at parks
Dislikes eggs, not being the center of attention, automatic flush toilets

Likes and Dislikes for Noelle:
Likes monkeys, bubbles, balls, trucks and tractors, and doing things herself
Dislikes bread, sharing, time out, wearing shoes, and staying in the stroller

The Best Thing about Natalie Right Now: Her creativity and sense of humor
The Best Thing about Noelle Right Now: Her affection and curiosity about the world

Noelle's First Haircut

Yes it has finally happened. Noelle got her first haircut. Oh I know it seems a little late since she is one and a half but both my girls have just basically been baldies for the first year of their lives. We thought that evening things out may help stimulate hair growth. We took her to Chloe's Carousel which is a great children's hair salon complete with a play area and barber seats that look like carousel horses although you can't really tell in the pictures. Noelle opted for "Uh-Boots" when asked what she wanted to watch since each child gets a movie put on while they get their hair cut. For those of you that don't speak Noelle-ese, "Uh-Boots" = Boots the monkey from Dora the Explorer. Noelle then sat glued to her favorite Dora show for the whole 5 minutes that it took to even all of her 15 hairs (give or take a few..) She also was given a sweet little fabric covered clip which she promptly flung out of her hair upon arriving at home for dinner. All in all, it was a great success and I think the haircut looks great. She actually seems to have more hair now that it is even! I also now have a snip of her hair and a groovy certificate for her baby book.

Noelle: The Little Mommy