Things that Charlotte likes to do.

Charlotte LOVES to build! And, if you don't know what to do with her for about 15 minutes, stick her in a booster seat and give her a box of crayons! Paper is totally optional!

Girls and Puddles!!!

I would have never known that 'puddle jumping' was intuitive, but when Charlotte was let loose in the driveway - which is full of puddles - she walked straight to the biggest puddle and started stomping! Also, these are the first real shoes that she has worn. She has only worn Robeez shoes or boots up to this point, but she was a natural in rain boots!

Cute girls and Jeannie Bean!

The girls love a sunny day and an ice cream cone. When we were at Ikea on Sunday (all of us love it except Charlotte), the girls were eating a 'reward' ice cream cone. The woman at the table next to us commented on how well the girls managed their ice cream cones. Please! I have raised these girls from birth! They are not rookies in this area! I mean, really! We live in Norwood! The home of United Dairy Farmers!

Here's Ava, drenched from swimming with Ms. Marsha. (darling swimsuit, complements of Wonderful Kira)

Jeannie Bean and Ethan came to help mom with the garden yesterday. The girls loved it because we spent hours outside. The best part was the wagon ride, though! The rest of the time, Charlotte wandered around chattering about outside things, and Ava sat with her feet up in a green plastic chair from Aunt Laura. Ava was playing the part of the supervisor.

Too much fun...

Last week we spent the morning with our friends, the Gilles gang. Here's
how it ended...

Different Girls

This afternoon, as I pulled the car into the garage, I asked Ava, "Are you my girls?" She replied with, "No, we're different girls, and we live in a different house."

Well, there you go!

Formatting

I have lost all control of the formatting on my blog. Does anyone know what to do? Often my pictures end up in the margin...or miles down the page!

HELP!!!

Catch up...

I know. According to my mother, we are tragic blog neglectors...but so are all of you! So, here's my update. You'd better update, too. Otherwise I'll tell my mom where you live, and she'll show up at your door (without her sewing machine).

Ava calls this doll 'big girl', but when Aunt Sandy was over this morning, I think we named her Betsy. There is something written in German on her dress, but we don't know what it is. Maybe Pete will know!
















Wednesday nights are 'Aunt Lynda Nights'! Lynda comes over to read books, play, put the girls to bed, and let mom and dad to go their Reset group (bible study). Last week Ava told Lynda that she didn't have to obey, but this week Ava was so into Lynda. She brought her pretend drinks, acted caring and sweet, and showed her where the lotion is kept. Lynda is very special to us.















Ann and Ladonna came to help mom paint for the weekend. Ann brought baby dolls, baby blankets, baby bottles, pacifiers, and rockin' cool pink camouflage bags for carrying it all. Ava wasn't sure that her baby liked the bottle, so she nursed her...with her Boppy (travel neck pillow). Actually a couple of weeks ago a friend was over and fed her baby some formula in a bottle. Ave kept asking, "Is that milk good for the baby?" Funny little hippie Ava. She also knows about cloth diapers, slings and composting. Sarah Gilles would be so proud!

And, we've had some nicer weather. Charlotte wouldn't hold still for a picture - story of her life - but Ava was a doll!

Precious Monkeys

We've added friends to our blogroll! My friend, Sarah, has started a blog, telling the stories of her days in 'boyland'. Check her blog out at the link over on the right!

Yet another reason that boys are scary to this Norwood Mama!!! (just kidding...all of you with boys are going to teach me all of your Jedi ways!)

Mom didn't say, "Obey Lynda."

On Wednesday nights, mom and dad leave, and Aunt Lynda is in charge. But, tonight, apparently mom forgot to say some 'magic' words when leaving. As Lynda was changing Charlotte into her PJ's, she told Ava to take off her clothes to get her own PJ's on. Ava is a known dawdler in this area and true to form, she wasn't moving fast at all. Lynda said, "Obey Lynda." Ava was looking at the radio, and without even turning, repliled, "Mom didn't say 'Obey Lynda." Oh, that girl is a stinker!

Wonderful weekend with the Henry's!

We have been busy since last Wednesday night with house guests. Danie, Sean, mom and the delightful Havah have been here. It was wonderful! Several nights, the girls were serenaded to sleepiness by Uncle Sean. This is his brand of lullaby! He's hilarious!

Ava and Charlotte love Uncle Sean so much! Ava is drawn to him in more quiet moments. She took a trip to the grocery store with him. About five minutes into the trip, Danielle gets a phone call. "Is Ava allowed to have Pringles? Uncle Sean is asking. Talk about the hero of the day!

Charlotte loves the rough and tumble Uncle Sean. She'd come close to him, hoping for a wild, snuggle hug, full of growling and screaming. She loves it when he's loud and crazy! Once, I saw her walk over to him and sort of hit/nudge him into grabbing her.

Havah was so delightful! Ava wanted to hold her constantly, and Charlotte called her 'Bavah'. Havah was so entertained by the girls, too. She woke up early every morning, excited about playing with and watching them.

It is so much fun to watch Danielle be a mother to this tiny little girl. Little sisters being mothers is really an amazing thing. I guess it seems really special, because Danielle seems a little bit like my girl. I did get to steal a little bit of alone time with Danielle...but not much in this crazy house full of babies, husbands and mom.

And, speaking of mom, Gram was definitely one of the weekend's highlights. This morning as the gang was leaving, Ava started to cry, "Don't leave us, Gram." Gram slept in the same room as the girls, and they LOVED it! They'd wake up every morning excited to see her! Ava snuggled with her on the couch, sat with her for hours of story time and sat on the piano bench with her for almost every meal! This picture is what Ava called 'love together'!

Charlotte Grace...or not...

I know that it seems that most of the stories about Charlotte are not very flattering. Really, she is so darling so much of the time. Just a minute ago, she brought a Little People baby and stroller to me, put it on the floor to push it (it's about 1.5 inches tall), then decided to put it in the silverware part of the dishwasher. It was so cute.

But, yesterday, she was in rare form. My cousin Kristin was over in the morning. She helped me give the girls a bath. After their bath, I handed Charlotte to Kris to dress her. Well, Charlotte started screaming...and kept screaming. Kristin took Charlotte into her room to get her dressed, and Charlotte kept screaming! Finally, Mark went into the girls' bedroom to check on things. He saw what was going on and picked Charlotte up. He sat her on the floor and told her to take her pacifier out of her mouth and say sorry to Kristin. Charlotte took her pacifier out of her mouth, shook her head and said, "No." The girl knows English...and will use it as she pleases!

A day of contrasts...

When Ava goes to the bathroom by herself, she gets a Hershey's kiss. But, first she thinks she has to kiss her mom! I love it!!! Once she even kissed the Hershey's kiss.

Charlotte is the most beautiful baby I've ever seen...but she knows bad words. If I make her mad, she says horrible words that I am sure she'll regret someday. I'd make her regret them sooner if I could understand her. I can't decide if I want her to be able to communicate, or if I'm afraid of the discipline that will have to reign when she really says the things she means.

Ava just said, "Mom, will you please take us to the sea?"

Charlotte just drew on my keyboard with a piece of chalk.

They are such different girls, and I love them so much that it is unbearable!

If you need a reason to freak out...

If you need a reason to freak out a little, just look over to the side of my blog. There's a baby countdown there. Every time I see it, I freak out a little.

We're with the Henry Family!!!

So, after way too many hours in the car, we arrived last night at the Henry house in Kansas City! Hooray!!! Here's what Gram captured on the first day...most of these were taken while mama had a four hour nap. I didn't sleep all of that time...because of the action in these pictures!

Ava has been using her 'big sister' skill on Havah. Havah watches these 'little' girls constantly. She's used to big girls...

Uncle Sean loves to munch on kids...and Charlotte LOVES it! At one point he spun her around in a move called 'eating corn on the cob'. Charlotte's tummy was the corn cob.

Oh, silly Havah! Obviously you haven't seen Charlotte eat!!! Those fingers are in danger!

Also, what you can't hear is Ava in the background saying, "Gram, Danie is sitting on the table."

Snow Day...outside and inside...

Since everyone else is blogging about their snow day, here's a glimpse of ours. We made cookies and frosted them...and played outside in the snow. I almost couldn't get up when I made my snow angel. I don't think you should be required to be flat on your back in snow after the six month mark in your pregnancy! Also, at one point, Ava dumped out of the sled onto her face! She took it like a champ! Charlotte kept taking her mittens off. Didn't bother her at all, but mom couldn't take it. Got her fresh mittens to keep her hands warm. Charlotte took them off, too!

This picture of Charlotte isn't sideways. She lays her head over like this about seven hundred times a day and says, "night-night".

For Laura...

Laura sent an amazing 'dress-up' dress to Ava a couple of weeks ago. There are videos of her spinning and twirling in this dress, but since they're not working on my computer at the moment, you'll have to make do with a picture.

Don't know why...

I don't have any idea why that previous post is so odd. I can't fix it! Computer whiz is at work...

Here are the girls...

Charlotte is a bit of a messy eater. The first picture is at a Mexican Restaurant with GiGi and Grandpa Andy. Charlotte was a bit intense about the food. At one point, I took her plate to refill it. Charlotte screamed SO loudly the whole time! The second picture is later the same day. Charlotte ate more spaghetti than anyone at the table!

Ava is not a messy eater...

This is the welcome that Mark gets...

Here's a picture of Aaron and Ava. They were doing the Ohio State cheer. Ava doesn't know it, but she can spell Ohio now... O H...I O!!!

Whack him with a ...

My parenting style is probably a little twisted. (no need to comment) But, my kids are accustomed to it...and enjoy it! Yesterday, while we were in the car, I was on the phone with a friend. She was telling me about a rotten kid moment. I said, "Just hit him with a stick. That'll straighten him up." Ava immediately chimed in from the back seat, "No, mom! Don't hit him with a stick...whack him with a shoe!"

Yes, this is my daughter... We live in Norwood!

Disclaimer: No child has been 'whacked with a shoe' in the making of this blog post. But, there is always an opportunity in the future.

Harmonica

We gave Charlotte a pink toy harmonica for Christmas. Then, Mark and I bought a couple of real ones. Charlotte rocks it! She really prefers the real harmonicas because they are easier to play. And when we play them, the dog howls! It is great! Ava is always concerned about him, but he is just chiming in.