Kara's 23 months old!!

Kara's become a tad independent this month. While it's good, it's easy to see that she is less and less of a baby. I still can't believe she'll be two very soon.

Kara is at that phase where some moments she's completely toddler, and at other moments, she's back to being a baby. I think part of that is because we've let her be a baby, while at this age, we expected Jana to be a bit more independent.

This is my favorite picture (in fact it's the background on my phone right now). This absolutely epidimises where Kara is right now. Here she is running around with a binkie, bib and in a diaper, while wearing sis's boots. She's trying to be big and push into toddlerhood, but still has many baby-ish tendencies.


Kara LOVES babies. Kara wants to give her hugs all the time. However, not being so far about of babihood herself, this doesn't always go so well.

Here's Ari not seeming to be too concerned about Kara giving her a hug.

Then Kara tips over on her - Ari wasn't too happy about that.

Kara is definitely at that age where one moment she seems like such a big girl...
and the next, such a baby.


Kara's vocabulary has exploded this month. It's fun to have a conversation with her now. Her favorite phrase is still "No, Dada." Jana's phrase was when she wanted to be held was, "See me!" Kara's is "Git me." I think it comes from the chase game she plays with Noly and Brenda (I'm going to get you), but it's so stinkin' cute! She's starting to put together sentences, which is very fun... except when she's repeating what big sister is saying. The other day when it was clean up time at Brenda's, instead of cleaning up the toys, Kara declared: "No. I'm not going to." Oops!

Kara loves bubbles: bubbles in the bath tub, bubbles when washing her hands, and blowing bubbles. So the bubbles they got in their Easter baskets have been great, but they fight over them quite a bit.

While her hair isn't very long, she has some amazing hair some mornings.

And even better is, thanks to Jana's photographic abilities, we have proof of Daddy doing hair.

Jana's enthusiasm for umbrellas has rubbed off on Kara. This was one sunny morning after church when we were enjoying our time outside.

Some fun videos

The last few days have produced some absolutely fabulous videos. I hope you enjoy them like I have.




Kara's Birdie calling. She LOVES that the birds are back.

Yard work and a beautiful weekend

We had a weekend of nice weather, so we spent most of the weekend outside and got quite a bit done in the yard.

Saturday morning was a bit cool, but the girls insisted on being outside while we worked. Despite Kara crying the entire time the lawn mower was on, we got the lawn mowed, flower beds weeded, one garden tilled, prepped and planted and the other weed-wacked.

Here the girls are enjoying their lunch on Saturday.

It warmed up significantly after nap time and we enjoyed the warm evening outside, too. Jana's friends came out for a wagon ride.

While Daddy returned the rototiller, we headed up the hill for a little bike ride. Jana is obsessed with flowers right now, so she had to stop to pick a bunch of dandelions. Kara got off her trike to pick some too, but Jana had already picked them all.
Jana proudly showing off the bouquet of flowers for Auntie Meg. They are now sitting in a cup on the patio table because we have to give them to "my best friend Meg."
After Daddy returned home, we finished prepping the lower garden and planted our early garden. We're trying lettuce, onions, and snow peas this year. Here's Jana, despite being asked to stay out of the dirt, making a mess. :-)
And Kara, very interested in what is going on here.

Before the planting.

And here it is.
I'm so excited!!!

And the beautiful weather continued. We headed outside as soon as we got home from church. The girls brought out the umbrellas and had a lovely time in the warm sun.

Oh my sweet baby!


And little sassy pants, "I'm lying on the beach, mama!" (Holy smokes, how did she get so big!?!)

And another picnic on the patio! Oh, we're so ready for summer, can you tell?

Jana's 3 years and 2 months

This month has flown by and I realize how few pictures I have. :-( I guess that's what happens when I'm working and not around the girls all the time.

We're adjusting to a new schedule, a new routine, and a lot less time together. I miss them like crazy, but I can't wait for this summer!!! 7 more weeks!

Jana's started gymnastics at preschool and is loving it. Her teachers say that she is really "active" at gymnastics. I don't know if that's the codeword for a pain in the behind who doesn't listen or if that just means that she does everything. :-)

The adjustment has been hard on Jana. The first week, she didn't want to come home from school on Tuesday (Tuesdays/Thursdays are my short days, so I pick them up after lunch and they nap at home). Mama got her feelings hurt when Jana threw a fit because she didn't want to leave, but it's better now that she's in a routine and knows what to expect each day. We don't think she naps at school and works hard to not nap on Grandma and Grandpa's on Fridays, so by the weekend she's a bit worn out.

Watching a tv show. Oops!


Jana and Kara are playing together more and more. It's amazing how much Kara's vocabulary has grown in the last few weeks, which has made it easier for them to communicate and play together... except when Jana wants Kara to do something that Kara doesn't want to do. And I quote Jana, "I'm a little bossy!"
We think that Grandpa introduced the idea, but Jana's been very into "tea parties" and picnics.

Some days Jana insists on dressing herself, but others she'll let Mama choose. Here was a day she dressed herself. She insists on "matching", so I was lucky to talk her out of the pink pants, but she kept the pink shirt and pink headband. That girl would dress in head to toe pink if she could, but she was pacified when I pointed out that the pants had both the light pink and dark pink. She decided they matched, so it was okay.
This was last Thursday and in the driveway at my friend's house that watches Kara. I put Kara in the car and went back to the front porch to grab the stroller. This was what I came back to... Jana was sacked out and a sweaty mess by the time we came home (it was in the upper 60s that day and that's a warm blanket).

As you can tell this blanket is very special to Jana. This was her special blanket for sleepy time at school, but she's a bit attached to it now, so it goes to Grandma and Grandpa's on Fridays, and then she sleeps with it all weekend too. :-) Here she is at the Tulip Farm all cuddled up in it to stay warm (for the 30 seconds she decided to ride in the stroller).

Jana has a think about anything "new." She even refers to things as new, such as "this is my new blankie, Square Blankie," which she's been sleeping with for about 6 months. Also, anytime she gets something new, she must wear it right then. For example, last Friday Grandma gave all the grandkids their matching Easter outfits for them to wear to the Tulip Farm. Jana insisted on wearing it and stripped down in the middle of the livingroom to put it on.

So proud of herself.
(We won't mention that the step stool is against the back of the couch because Grandma and Grandpa let them climb up the stool, climb over the couch and slide down the side, only to run around and do it again and again and again...)

I know I posted this picture the other day, but I love this picture. (I can't believe I just wrote those words about a picture that has me in it, hee, hee!) Snuggling my big lovie!


Another one of Jana's habits that has become extremely common this month is Jana being a "bag lady." Jana loves to find a bag or some kind of container, fill it with as much crap as she can find (toys, cooking utensils, ziplock containers, spoons, etc.) and carry it around. Here is our bag lady on Easter, who quickly filled her bag with all of her Easter "goodies", Kara's Easter goodies, and even some of baby cousin Ari's. She carried that around and was extremely protective of it if anyone came near it.


Jana sitting on the couch with her "goody bag" and Figaro. (Maiya's vet gave this stuffed cat to her about a year ago and since she discovered a book at Grandma and Grandpa's that is about Minnie Mouse's cat Figaro, she has refered to this cat as Figaro).

I think maybe we tell her she's cute a bit too much because she's such a poser for the camera.

And finally, a new video of her. She begged me to take a video of her and always wants me to "make the pictures talk". So, I started and she turned on the charm. Please note her version of counting to 20... in which she never gets to 20.

Easter

Easter preparations at Grandma's house.
Fridays are Grandma and Grandpa days, so they had a great time with Auntie S, Uncle P and Cousin Ari. Jana loved coloring eggs, while Kara was curious, but not enough to try.


Once they were dry, it was time to decorate them with stickers.
Easter morning was delayed a little as Mommy and Daddy relied on our little alarms, who decided to sleep in until after 8:00. Oops! But, we got dressed and headed out the door to Grandma and Grandpa's for breakfast... and Easter "goodies".

Jana enjoying her "goodies."

Kara and her goodies.
A little argument over what goodies belonged to whom.

The books were a HUGE hit.


Then it was time for the Easter egg hunt.



There weren't any eggs down there, but she had fun looking.
The bubbles were a hit with Kara.

She was so proud of them, she had to show them off to Auntie J.

We had a little better luck today with the pictures. Here are our sweet girls in their Easter dresses. (Thanks Grammy!)