Thursday, October 7, 2010

Little things

Last week I went through and read our blog from the beginning. It was amazing how much I had already forgotten. So, it made me think about all the recent little things about my growing girls I want to remember. With that in mind, here are ten things about each girl I just need to jot down so they don't get lost with time.

Sara.
1. She is still obsessed with Snow White and insists that she too is a princess. We've at least convinced her that Snow White went away to the University of Texas for college. Guess where Sara now wants to go?!?
2. Sara has three best friends. Madeliene - a daughter of friends that we have, Olivia, our next door neighbor. And, her very best friend at school is an adorable little boy named Brody. She can't stop talking about Brody.
3. At dinner every night, we let Sara lead us in prayer. She always thanks God for her food and also for "Daddy, Mommy, Sara and Georgia". She adds in that last part all on her own :) Very sweet.
4. She knows her address, including what state and city she lives in. Chad has also taught her how to spell Texas.
5. She loves playing pretend and her favorite activity, as of recent, is playing with her dollhouse. She even has Brody playing alongside her at school with the dollhouse up there.
6. She is such a scheduler and always wants to know the plan for the day, and sometimes the week.
7. She feeds El Paso every morning and frequently asks if he can sleep with her. We've tried a few times, and El Paso just isn't into going to bed at 7 PM quite yet.
8. Whenever a song comes on, she wants to know what instrument the person is playing and what the song is called. If it is a woman signing, she will then tell us that it is her "wedding song". As of recent, she's said her favorite song is "Jolie" by Dolly Parton.
9. Sara insists that Uncle Craiger is really just Alicia's brother. We've tried to explain that they are married but she won't buy it. She also thinks that Alicia lives in "Winter Wonderland" and among the polar bears.
10. Sara likes to help me fold clothes. And, frankly, I let her have at it when it comes to her own clothes. She does a pretty good job, too.

Georgia Ann.
1. When she is in a good mood, Georgia is such a joy to be around. She is full of smiles and goofy personality. She can be quite the little ham.
2. While she loves playing with balls and is a little more "rough and tumble" than Sara was, she still insists on having a bow in her hair before she leaves the house. In fact, she insits on having a bow in her hair before going to bed too (but she loses this fight).
3. Reading books are becoming one of Georgia Ann's favorite activities (yay!) and her vocabulary is really picking up. I would bet that she can say over 50 words pretty regularly. And, she knows her name.
4. She does not like having El Paso in the house during meal times and will yell "no, no" while wagging her finger at him, if we forget to put him outside.
5. While she loves her sister (they are starting to play together!), her favorite activity in the car is pulling Sara's hair. And, yes, she does it to purposely bug her. Georgia Ann is smart.
6. Georgia Ann LOVES to dance. At school, they'll play country music and she'll dance for anyone who will watch.
7. Her favorite game to play right now is "Ring Around the Rosie" and she loves it when Sara will play with us.
8. Georgia Ann is entering into the tantrum phase, and we think she'll be quite the expert. When she gets mad (which usually happens anytime you have to tell her no), she'll stomp her feet, get bright red and do her ugly cry. It is so hard not to laugh at her because, really, it is too precious.
9. She thinks she is as big as Sara and will follow her around trying to do the same things.
10. Apples are her favorite fruit - and she will eat the entire thing. Core and all.

Anyway, what's a post without a few pictures. Here a few from last week.





Kicking off the fall

October came in with a bang, dropping our temperatures by nearly 20 degrees. Brrrrr!! While we are not happy with the changing seasons, the fall does bring some good things like holidays, baking and family time.

Anyway, we've decided to embrace fall this year and spend as much time outdoors as we can stand, because we only know the gloomy days of Winter are just ahead.

Last weekend, we took the girls to Brazos Bend State Park. If you haven't gone, go! It was so beautiful and their are live alligators all over the park. We did a 1.7 mile walk with the girls and we saw seven on the trail. It was so cool.









Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Sara's Birthday Bash!

Whew, I feel like we're still recovering for the whirl-wind celebration of Sara's third birthday. We woke her up the morning of "party" day with the birthday song and promises of a big present downstairs.



She got her very first "big girl" bike. She was very excited about this. It is still a tad too big but we have no doubt that she'll grow into in no time.

After nap time, the real party started. We stuck with the classic "Snow White" theme and decorating was easy-peasy thanks to Auntie Alicia's custom decorations. I even tried my hand at Bakerella's cake pops and my mom tried to make 15 or so candy apples as the party favors. Turns out, neither of these things are as easy as they make it look online.



Everyone was instructed to dress as their favorite storybook character. Sara was Snow White, of course (mommy sewed the outfit!) and Georgia Ann went as "Dopey". They both looked adorable and, yes, these will also be their Halloween costumes this year.



Guests were able to come in and make their very own princess or king crown, color or just jump right into things on the big 'ole Castle Bounce (after it stopped raining, of course!). Sara and Georgia Ann LOVED the bounce-house. I think it was a big hit with all the kids.



We even had a special visitor/guest at the party. The real-deal Snow White showed up to greet Sara and wish her a very Happy Birthday. She stuck around to read a story. Sara was so entralled and excited. For the first five minutes, all she could do was curtsey and smile at Snow White while telling her over and over again, "look, we match". It was pretty cute.



After story-time, Snow White told all the kiddos that the dwarfs had hid a few treasures in the sand box. All the kids went outside, equipped with their own spoon and bag, to dig up their very own treasures. And, then they were off bouncing again.



Of course the party completed with birthday signing, cake and lots and lots of presents - but by that time, mommy was so overwhelmed with all the kids that she gave up trying to also take pictures (I may farm out this duty next year). Everyone had a really good time and Sara was very excited that all her "kids" were there (she referred to her friends as "her kids" that day).

On her actual birthday, Mommy took off work and Sara and her had a "girl's day" - complete with hair-cuts, pedicures and a girl lunch. It was a very nice day.

Thanks for looking everyone!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Sara's Three Year Shoot

First -- attention all grandparents! Grandparents' Day is on Sept 10th at Sara and Georgia Ann's school. Let me know if you will be attending and I will give you all the needed information. I know they both look forward to this day.

Also, Sara's 3rd Year photos are posted over on the photo blog. Check them out here:

http://baldwinphotographytx.blogspot.com

I'd appreciate any comments you can leave over there :) And, we'll be ordering pictures tonight so if you have a favorite, let me know.

Finally, here a few of the outtakes :)