Turning 2

Last night was Alaina's birthday party.  We just had family over for cake and ice cream.

She LOVES Elmo!

She loved the blown up balloons too.  Who knew it took something so little to excite her so much.  Before everyone got there, she ran around and around chasing them and hitting them.

She wasn't sure about everyone singing to her.

But she did a great job blowing out her own candle.  It only took a few tries but she did it all by herself!

She loved opening her presents. 

She was extremely thorough and made sure she got every little scrap of wrapping paper off each one.

She didn't understand why we didn't open each one so she could play.  Here she was trying to use her teeth to open the bath toy.

She got an Elmo doll.

She LOVED her babydolls and stroller.

Thank you to all the family for the wonderful gifts, phone calls, & emails on her special day!

This is a house in my neighborhood

Happy Birthday Alaina!

Today Alaina is TWO!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

Mommy/Caitlin time

Caitlin wanted to go to the Discovery Center for some more mommy time.

She made several friends while playing.

Helping change a tire.

Rock climbing.

Felt Playhouse . . . finished in time

Several months ago I posted my beginnings of a playhouse for the girls - here.  I had two sides completely cut out and pinned together and had it that way for a month before I got out my sewing machine.  I was procrastinating.  My sewing machine and I have a love-hate relationship.  I love to think I can learn to sew and then hate it when it proves me wrong.

Anyway, a week ago, I finally got it out.  I was afraid I was running out of time to have it ready for Christmas morning.  I put the girls to bed and started sewing.  My stitches kept coming out and it was too loud for Caitlin to go to sleep.  Since the only time I had to sew was when the girls were sleeping, I had to come up with a new plan.

Thankfully, Heather, my sister that seems to have no problems at all sewing like I do, agreed to help me.  Seriously, in three days, she had everything sewed together.  (Is is sewed or sewn?  I don't know.)  It was ALOT of sewing!!  I wanted it to be interactive not just decorative so that added to the amount that needed to be sewn.

Anyway, she did a FABULOUS job, don't you think??

It hangs over some on the floor but I think the girls won't mind.  I obviously have issues with measuring and cutting as well.  OH WELL!!!

The flowers can be picked (they are velcroed on).  There is also a watering car that they can "water" the flowers with.

Front door.  I can see Caitlin writing many letters to leave in the mailbox.

The apple tree.  The apples can be "picked" and put into the basket.  Heather had the great idea to leave the top of the basket unsewn so they can slip them in to the basket.

The doghouse with a doggy door.  Caitlin will LOVE this one!! 

THANK YOU SO MUCH HEATHER!!!!!

Comparison

I've been organizing all my photos recently and I am shocked how much Caitlin and Alaina look alike.  See if you agree:

Sock Puppets

Every year, I put back a few of the gifts Caitlin gets for birthday/Christmas to pull out at random times.  Otherwise, she will play with all of them and get overwhelmed or tired of them.  This seems to make them last longer.  Well, sometimes, I put them back too well and lose track of them.  This happened with the sock puppet kit.  Sorry to who ever bought these for her!!

We found the kit the other day and I felt bad that we forgot all about it.  Caitlin was so excited to make these.  She made them yesterday all on her own.  By the time I got home from work, she had them ready to play.  They turned out SO cute!