Fabulous Sunshine!!

Chloe is always interested in helping in the kitchen. She helped prepare a dinner for the family by stirring the sauce for the pork chops that were put in the crock pot. It turned out quite tasty, I'm told, and today the girls ate a bit more of the leftovers for their lunch.

Precious little Christopher is doing what 1-2 week old babies do best, eating and sleeping! He is such a good baby his Mommy and Daddy report. He had to undergo another procedure this week which had to really be uncomfortable for him. He was a trooper and we are hoping and praying that his problems will be resolved very, very, soon.

Papa and Chloe, and then Papa and Claire, are reading a really special book about being a big sister. So far, they are terrific big sisters.

The end of the week has provided us with spectacular weather. Warm, sunny days and not so cold nights. The girls have had lots of outdoor time, I'm told, and today was no different. The creek behind their house has, and is, going to be a continual source of entertainment and learning for Claire, Chloe and eventually for Christopher.

Their self designed project for the day was getting rocks out of the creek and putting them into a pile. They likened it to a family of rocks, often describing the rocks as certain family members, daddy, mommy, brother, sister, etc. They also told me they were finding fossil rocks and would describe the rocks as "very special" or "this one is a beauty".

Oooppps! Chloe sat down in the creek!


After a good amount of creek time we ventured to the front where they decided to work in their garden.

Lunch was left over spaghetti (from Uncle Superman's birthday dinner out), left over pork chops, and fresh pears. Claire is showing us once again how Uncle Superman taught her to twist her spaghetti on her fork. I think she did a little too much twisting on this bite.

To top off this week we enjoyed a great Superbowl. Congratulations Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers!!!

Welcome Baby Christopher!!!

Introducing baby Christopher Norman born January 27 and weighing 7 lbs and 13 oz !

Christopher is lucky to have two big sisters who already adore him.

Below Claire and Chloe are ready to go to the hospital for their introduction to their new baby brother. They each brought him a gift that they had chosen for him.

Waiting in the waiting room with Papa until just the right moment to see Mommy and baby Chris.

Daddy and Nonie showing the girls their new brother.


Precious, sweet little face.


Claire and then Chloe get a little cuddle with, and attention from Mommy.

Keeping busy at home until Mommy and Chris come home. Aunt Suzie and Uncle Superman came to play one evening.

Papa is turned into a "baby princess" for this play time.

Finally Chris and Mommy come home!!! Christopher had a couple of rough days in the hospital being tested for a little problem he has. We are so thankful for the good doctors who are taking such excellent care of him. Now home for some tender loving care and no more "pricks and pokes for a while".

Papa gets a turn to hold his namesake.

Big sister Claire holds Christopher with a little help from Mommy.

Now the fun and work begins. The adjustment of having a brand new baby and the adjustment of two little three year old girls who have been the center of the universe for so many family members. Welcome little Christopher!!

What a Party!

Claire and Chloe came to Papa and Grandma's house mid-week to spend the night with us. We had such a great time, as evidenced below.
We had not been back to their house more than 10 minutes and they had built a "nest" in their driveway and had turned into birds. They were gathering worms and berries to feed each other.

The highlight of the week was the birthday celebration for the soon to be three year old twins. The fun began early with the gift from Uncle John and Cousin Richard. This ball was a HUGE hit with all of the kids that came. Below Chloe and Claire try it out before all of the guests have arrived.

Paula is an awesome hostess and not only did all of the kids (ranging from about 12 years old down to 11 months old) have a wonderful time, the adults did as well. Below are the beautiful tables of food and birthday cakes.

Chloe and Claire are enjoying a cupcake.

Mommy Paula and Chloe, followed by the girls getting ready to blow out their candles. Grandma thought she was filming the whole birthday song but apparently had the pause button on instead. Grrrr! I don't think I will ever forget the expressions on their faces as all of the guests sang to them.

Opening presents with a little help from Mommy, and with Cousin Richard and friends Katie and Carter watching.

Claire gets some assistance from Cousin Alexa.

The party was a great success. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful sunny day and the kids ran and played and explored all around the property and the creek. Happy Birthday Claire and Chloe!

We are looking forward with great excitement to the arrival of Baby Boy this week! Pictures and details to follow next weekend.

Papa's Girls!

Our schedule for being with Claire and Chloe has changed some since Paula is now on maternity leave. Papa, for one thing, doesn't get to see them as much, because Paula's checkup day is Wednesday every week, and Papa works with his students on Wednesday. Fortunately however, Wednesdays work great for me, so I continue to spend time with them on Wednesday afternoons.

The pictures below show their excellent hand washing habits after going potty. They are both pretty careful to scrub them up with soap. Claire, particularly, will remind you sternly if you happen to leave the water running while she soaps up. They both tell you that we must not waste water so there is enough for everyone and the animals.

A couple of close up pictures while we were talking and playing. As I have mentioned the past couple of weeks, Chloe is getting tired of my camera so I have to be very careful not to snap her picture all the time. It is so hard to resist and doesn't she know I need pictures for my blog?

Papa celebrated his birthday this week. He has been sick with a bad cold or bronchitis and so was unable to see the girls on his actual day, Monday. Mike and the girls called him and Chloe announced that they were going to sing happy birthday but she ran off and Claire ended up singing a solo. I listened in and she sang it perfectly. Papa was so tickled. When I was with the girls on Wednesday I asked them if they wanted to sing to Papa on camera so that he could see them singing. They said yes and proceeded to sing as follows.

We had a great time with a family dinner for our birthdays on Friday night. When Claire arrived she went to Papa and said, "We came here because we love you Papa." This week we are looking forward to a birthday party for the girls on Sunday. Imagine, 3 years old the following Saturday! The baby should be here by then, and so an early party is in order for this year. I know we will have lots of fun with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Let's party!

January Begins!!

The first week in January brings my birthday. This was the great surprise that I found when I arrived to spend the afternoon with Chloe and Claire. They had helped Mommy Paula bake me a cake and had made and colored cards for me. What a treat! It was a yummy lemon cake with delicious frosting. After a good lunch of pizza and salad the girls sang a very hearty 'Happy Birthday' to me and I blew out my candles. How fun!

Later they modeled their new warm and furry coats that Nonie got them for Christmas along with their new fluffy scarves that Aunt Suzie made for them. Pretty cute, I'd say.
We skipped nap time that day so we could just play and have fun. Below you see Chloe on the trampoline. This week she thought it was OK if I took her picture while jumping and it also shows her willingness to share at this particular moment.

Below in this little clip, Chloe is asking me to tell her a "Once Upon a Time" story. That is often a clue that she might want to cuddle and rock while we make up a story. The story she is talking about is one about some bees that moved their home shortly after they discovered their two favorite little girls in the neighborhood had moved. The problem with Grandma is, I can't always remember the exact way I told it before, and that is important. :):) The story ends with the bees locating those two special little girls in their new home in a new town.

Papa's birthday is next, followed by Uncle Jon's, maybe a new expected baby brother's, and then Chloe and Claire's at the end of the month. Turning three is very exciting and January is a great month of celebration for our family.

Happy New Year 2011 !!

Papa and I made a little visit to Claire and Chloe's house on New Year's Eve to see some of the Christmas toys in action. Claire is totally enjoying their new trampoline. Wow, can she jump! She kicks her heels together when up in the air and just laughs. Chloe did not want me to take her picture jumping, so of course I obliged.

I thought I got a bit more action on this film but apparently I shut it off too quickly or something.

You can also hear Chloe's horrible cough which wasn't helped by her jumping on the trampoline.

Chloe is carrying their new "Mama tiger". She sleeps between their beds at night and keeps watch over the room.

The girls are tending to their babies. The latest names for these dolls are Bradley and Isabella. Claire maintains, however, that you "shouldn't name babies until they are older."

As Claire is feeding Bradley, she is telling Chloe that she wants Chloe to "share" with her. I'm not quite sure what she is referring to.

Here the twins are enjoying their new colored pencils. They definitely have enough new things to keep them busy for a long while.

We are looking forward to a new baby brother for Claire and Chloe in a very short time. Oh how their world will be changed! They will be turning three years old this month as well, which just doesn't seem possible.

May your New Year be blessed with good health, contentment, and lots of joy!