It's been a while...

Sorry it's been so long since my last post, but we have had a lot going on; thanks to Mom breaking her finger, haven't been able to use the computer in any efficient way, so posting blog pics hasn't been at the top of the priority list. With some mobility back in her right hand, she promised she would do her best to give everyone a quick update:

After Macie's 2nd Birthday Grandma Judy flew out to Arizona to spend some time with us.

We spent MOST of that time swimming like fish in the pool, and Macie learned to hold her breath and dunk under the water.

Since the beginning of Summer my swimming abilities have skyrocketed, and I no longer require help from anyone, in ANY way. Check me out as I jump of the diving board and go down the slide:

This past week I passed the Lifetime swim test (I swam 25 meters unassisted), and no longer need parental guidance in the kiddy pool (although Dad says I still have to be supervised in the pool). Macie is still working on her swimming, but has no fear, and can't wait for next summer to come so she can swim along side me!

It was fun spending time with Grandma at the house, and Macie finally sat still long enough for Grandma to do beauty shop on her hair- Macie looked like such a grown up with her new do:


Grandma was only able to stay for a few days, and when she left Mom informed us that due to a sewing deadline, we would be housebound for a while. It was NO fun being stuck at home, and both of us did a LOT of pouting when coloring and playing in the yard became dull and boring.


I have to say, I know how to pout and pitch a fit, but Macie deserves an Oscar for some of her recent performances. Here she is giving Mom the "hairy eyeball" upon Mom saying NO to one of Macie's absurd and demanding requests:

Some afternoons Mom would let us paint outside, and from time to time we would nicely create works of art at our stations.

Most of the time we used each other as a canvas- it is MUCH more fun that way!

On day, while looking at Macie reading a leap book across the room, Mom decided that she was no longer a toddler- in fact, overnight, she had become a big girl and apparently that meant that it was time to learn to use the potty.


Macie was pretty excited, but I knew that it meant MORE time housebound. It went as good as one could hope for. There were good and bad days, but Macie really had a fun time. I was lucky to be included in the "treat" portion of potty training and enjoyed that immensely. Here is a sequence of Mace as she sits down to pee and afterwards runs to show it to Mom and receive her treat.





Staying at home didn't end up being so bad, both Macie and I came up with fun, new games to play. A lot of times we played games with one another. Here I am decorating her with tattoos(stickers):

She really liked her new look!



I came up with this sweet outfit one night and told Mom I was on my way to a costume party!

Potty training Macie was going well, Most of the time she walked around the yard naked and went inside when she needed to use the potty.





After a few weeks Macie was well on her way to being a potty trained big girl...too bad she had also developed a big girl attitude...


During our time at home, Dad purchased and brought home a new member of our family: It's name is Les Paul, and apparently he is quite a "big deal" around town...




I really enjoyed our new addition, and Dad's rock out music sounded AWESOME coming out of the amps. The whole family is really having a good time rocking out together!



Aunt Hayley also brought home a new addition to our family; only this one required a LOT more work. His name is Eddie Axl Fluffy Van Halen, but goes by Eddie Van Halen for short. He was so tiny, and only 6 weeks old!

Ironically, he is great with Macie and I, and could care less that we pull, pick, and poke at him constantly...




Mom says we lucked out, because Eddie Van Halen has been the perfect pet- it's almost like he was custom made for our family- he has even managed to charm Dad whom is NOT a cat person...



Mom finds him in the oddest of places, and is not looking forward to the day when he starts messin' with her sewing stuff...


With Macie almost completely potty trained, it was time to re-join society. Dad took Macie and I to Kids Fest to give Mom and her newly broken limb time to rest, but before we left she insisted upon dressing us up in some new outfits she made for us and taking pictures:

We met our friend Bella at the event, and the three of us had a blast!

We went from booth to booth, eating snacks, playing with toys, and modeling new gear:

One of our favorite things was the petting zoo:

After a full day at Kids Fest Mom took me to a birthday party where I got to climb a rock wall and play until I was too exhausted to move...




All four of us passed out and got a full night's rest. In the morning we dressed up in more "Mom" outfits and went back for another full day at Kids Fest.

Although we had been there the day before, we still found some new and exciting things to do and see.

After stuffing our face full of Kids Fest Food, Macie spent tons of time coloring with friends(not many activities keep her sedentary for that long).

I loved sitting in the race car, and all of us took turns posing...

Half way through our photo shoot Macie started to breakdown...

I guess she wanted it all to herself...

When she finally got her way, she was too tired from all her crying and screaming to enjoy it...

We all enjoyed our first weekend "back" in the real world and hear that there is tons more fun in store for us in the very near future...hopefully mom's dexterity will improve so that the next post wont take another 10 years...

Macie turns Two!!!!!

Macie slept in on the morning of her birthday, so Mom and I woke her up by barging into her room while singing our very own rendition of the birthday song. It probably wasn't her preferred way to wake up, but when she opened her eyes and "came to" she began to sing right along with us! Happy and ready for the day she immediately made her way downstairs and went straight to the table to eat a special birthday breakfast!


As requested, Macie was served pancakes and eggs with raspberries (one of her favorite fruits). AS you can see, she didn't waste anytime at the table...


When our tummies were full we all sang together again, and talked about the fun day we had planned!


Getting dressed took a while since we were both filthy from breakfast, but we rushed to get ready and off to the train park before the extreme heat set in (it is in the 100's before 9am, so if we don't get to the train park early we won't be able to play outside once it gets over 110).



We made it to the train park as the first train was pulling into the station, and Macie was SO excited!!!

Our friend Bella and Miss Jackie met up with us to join us for a celebratory ride on the train.

We had a blast with each other as we rode around the park, and when we came back into the station got a surprise visit from Aunt Hayley:

After exiting the train we bolted straight for the princess carousel for ride #1.

We were all starting to feel the heat coming on, so we took a break and got a snack at the station.

Miss Jackie treated us to ANY treat we wanted, and Macie chose an ice cream!!!

Macie was SO excited she could hardly contain herself, and after singing to her,
she dove right in!!!

Aunt Hayley joined us for our second ride on the train,

While we were riding Macie opened a birthday card from Aunt Hayley.

It was a panda mask!!!

In the tunnel all of us yelled and shrieked with excitement!

After the train ride Aunt Hayley had to head to work, so we gave her big hugs thanking her for joining us and celebrating Macie's special day.


We rode the carousel again with Bella, and then thanked her and Miss Jackie for spending the morning with us- they are awesome friends!!!!


On the way out we each got birthday balloons, and Macie was SO happy as she strolled to the car.


Determined to walk up and down the tracks a few times before getting in the car, she handed her balloon to Mom and set off on her mission. She made it up and back once before realizing that the heat had gotten the best of her.

Mom, Macie, and I made some pit stops before heading back home for lunch;

We bought a ton of mylar birthday balloons, rode the toy carousel,

and rode some toy cars too!

Once we were done eating at home, Macie got to open a birthday present! She was SO excited she tore right into it...

It was a wooden toy train with little animals that ride in the train cars- AWESOME!

Check it out:

Unfortunately, it didn't take long for the novelty of the new toy to wear off...

After the screaming and crying for "more presents", Mom realized that Macie was exhausted from all the morning's fun, so we all laid down and took some naps. Once we were rested and ready for more fun, we got dressed and went to AirTime to meet up with Boy Riley from California(who lives in Arizona)!

Macie strutted into AirTime looking like such a BIG GIRL!

Here we are playing Dodge ball together ( I didn't like being told I was "out" since I am in an "emo" stage, but Mom talked me off the ledge and back into the game):

After a couple hours of jumping fun the family went back home to meet Dad and go for a birthday swim!

When dinner was ready we cleaned up and sat down at the table for Macie's birthday feast.

We scarffed down dinner quickly, knowing that a yuumy birthday dessert was sure to follow!

Mom brought out her birthday cupcakes and Macie was so excited to see them!!!

Macie politely waited for the birthday song to be over so that she could dig in...

Macie did a better job blowing out her candles this year than last (last year she used her fingers and almost got burnt).

When I detected Macie having some trouble, I jumped right in to help my sister!



Once the candles were blown out we grabbed a cupcake and started our path to gluttony:

Macie refused to take a bite while the cupcake wrapper was on.

I wasted no time getting mine off,

and going in for the kill:

Because Macie was concerned about getting messy, Mom gave her a fork and she started shoving in the food.

Before long she discovered that getting messy was inevitable and jumped in face first.


Once each of us had eaten two whole cupcakes, it was time for presents.

I helped Macie open the ones she had difficulty with,

But on the whole, she did a pretty great job all on her own!

Once she opened all her presents Macie sat at the table and colored.

Macie had an awesome 2nd birthday, and couldn't have asked for a better day of fun!

Our family is so proud to be sharing our lives with such a strong willed little lady- we are looking forward to watching her continue to grow and bless our lives with happiness!