Christmas Preview

Here are a few of the pictures we took the other day. Caroline's turned out really well. Sophie, of course....was more interested in the tree.

Sophie Birthday Lunch

This is just a teaser cause I don't have time to do the whole thing right now. Here is a picture that Sarah took this weekend of Caroline blowing out Sophie's birthday candle.
SO CUTE!!
More pictures coming soon.

Miscellaneous Kid Pictures

Dinoland

2 weeks ago we took the kids to Dinoland. It was a special exhibit held at the Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin. They had some lifesize replicas. Grandma Bobbie was able to come to this activity and we were happy about that. It was a cool, overcast morning and we had a great time learning about Dinosaurs.

Caroline
Family by the Falls

Caroline by Falls

Sophie Sandwich

Guarding Eggs

Girards

Butterfly Benches

Good Behaviour Picnic

In an earlier post, I mentioned that when Caroline gets enough stickers for good behaviour she can pick a family activity. A few weeks ago she wanted to have a picnic at the park....so we packed up our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and went. It was a beautiful day and she had a good time.

12th Anniversary

Our 12th Anniversary was on November 16th. A few weeks ago we went to the Antlers for a weekend. It was the first time we had been away without a child for over 1 1/2 years. We go every year but missed last year because I was so close to having the baby.
This year we stayed in the Red Caboose. We did all of our regular activities: eat at Coopers, eat at Bluebonnet Cafe, sleep, watch movies in Marble Falls, sleep, etc.

Inside the Caboose

Red Caboose

Small Update

OK, so I know that I have been bad and not updated....please don't tell Santa.
Truth is, We have alot going on like everyone else and then the kids go to bed and I am tired.
Anyway,
This past month was really busy. We had a Halloween party at Caroline's school. Caroline can fully read now. She amazes me every day.

In November Chuck and I got to go away for a weekend for our 12th Anniversary. Sarah and Jarrett kept Sophie and Bobbie kept Caroline. We had a really good time doing our "regular" stuff. Eat at Coopers and Bluebonnet Cafe, Go see a movie, Sleep.

We have been busy on weekends doing family activities. We started a behaviour chart for Caroline and if she gets all of her stickers she can pick her family activity. One weekend we had a picnic at the park she frequents near her school. Last weekened we went to "Santa's Ranch." It is about 1 mile up and downhill in the woods of Christmas lights and decorations. We also went to Dinoland at Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin. It was really neat and had full sized replicas of some Dinosaurs.

Sophie is getting so big. She is still such a sweetie as we approach her first birthday. She pulls up and walks around furniture all of the time and lately has been letting go and doing a balance check. I think she will be walking within the month. She is trying to say more words...they aren't all coming out but she is very into her Baby jargin. We have also been letting her try a few more real people foods. She loves it.

Well, that is a small update. Since I am off work for a few days, I will try to post some pictures to go with the above activities.

Also, look for an email soon with a new cell number.....I am probably getting a new one.

Love,
Deanna

Pumpkin Extravaganza

Yesterday we went to the Pumpkin Extravaganza in Devine, Texas. They have a little farm with a train ride, hay ride, activities for kids, pumpkin painting, playground, goat feeding, etc. We went last year and had fun. The weather was much better this year. It was a gorgeous day. Bobbie came with us as well.
Here are some pictures and preview of the unedited pictures I will probably use for their Halloween pictures. Caroline wanted to be Dorothy so we got her costume. Sophie was going to be a pumpkin but the costume we had was too little. She is growing so fast. So, someone had given me the infant Dorothy costume a few years ago and so this year I have 2 Dorothys.

Sophie and Daddy Feeding the Goats

Mommy and Caroline

Pumpkin Painting

My little Dorothy's

Playing with dirt

Visit With Cousins

So, my other sisters are way ahead of me, but a few weeks ago (In Septemer ), the girls and I took a trip to see my sisters that live in the Frisco/Mckinney area. We had a great time and my girls LOVE to play with their girls. Caroline can't wait until Christmas to see Angie's girls again.
We stayed with Lori Ann. Bethany and Sophie are really cute together. Sophie eventually will learn manners and not to crawl all over Bethany. I was a little stressed because Sophie decided that she could climb stairs. Caroline had fun playing with Angie's girls and special thanks for letting her have a sleepover. She had so much fun. One day we went to see Mama Judy and Mom. We really enjoyed seeing them even for a short time. Unfortunately, the babies were not in a very good mood that afternoon and we had to cut our visit short. Hopefully I will get to make that trip again in the next few months since the sisters are only a few hours away. Here are some pictures.

Cousins

Looking for trouble Susanna was so good with the Babies

Sophie climbing the Stairs....AGAIN

At Mama Judy's house

Babies in Jammies....who can resist

Sophie Roo
Bathtime

Somebody Has to Win

Well, a few months ago, Chuck entered the "Coke Rewards" contest about 190 times to compete for a $5000 Best Buy gift card. He was notified that he won but we really didn't believe it until he received the gift card in the mail a few weeks later....no strings attached. We were able to get quite a few things with the card. We got all new appliances in Stainless steel for the kitchen. Pictures will be below. We also got a new Router for wireless, a new laptop and a Sony Playstation 3. I absolutely LOVE the new refridgerator. It has French doors and the freezer on bottom. We never win anything so this was quite amazing. I am sorry this has taken so long to post. We have had this complete now for about 1 month.

BEFORE

AFTER

Sophie at 9 Months

Just a quick update from Sophie's 9 Month appointment this morning. She is 21 pounds and 29 inches long. She is in the 75thish %tile for weight and the 95%tile for height. She is growing up so fast. She also got a flu shot today. Daddy took her while I stayed home from work this morning with Caroline. She has had a virus the last few days but I think she is well enough to go back to school tomorrow.

Caroline Update

I am soooo far behind with my posts. Caroline has been busy. She finally got her big squishy Ariel doll for becoming night-time potty trained. She has been dry in pullups for months, but a couple of weeks ago, she said she didn't want to wear them anymore and so she threw them all away. She has been in panties at night ever since. The doll below was her reward.
She started Dance class last Wednesday. It is a ballet/tap combo class. She had a good time and we go again tomorrow. She loves her shoes.
Her first day of school was 2 weeks ago. So far so good with that.
She loves Sophie and still plays so well with her. Caroline is becoming such a big girl.

New Ariel Doll

With Sophie

After Dance class