Our Brown Girls.

We had some FABULOUS visitors last week, The Browns.  Even better--The Brown girls.  =)  These girls (Emma, Elle, & Lily) are so sweet, cute, fun, and entertaining!  Even their mom.  They needed a break from the bitter Chicago weather during their spring break.  Too bad they didn't know that with them would come some random freezing weather.  We had a great time with them, regardless of the weather!

Sorry I only got a picture of Elle doing it, but we all played Xan's Kinect.

These girls were GREAT babysitters and cousins to Nora.  We went for a walk, even in the freezing temperatures.

The girls played hard in "the soccer ball".  Sorry I didn't take pictures because it entertained all weekend long!

We love you girls & miss you already!  (Especially Nora...she likes having a fan club!)

Sneak Peek

Since every big event needs a sneak peek to build up the anticipation, here ya go:

polka dot balloons

 

 

pink tissue paper pom poms

Vintage paper straws

 

 

 

 

 

LOTS of filled cookie jars

 

milk

pink, brown, & of course polka dots

plenty of mustaches

Here's the invite:  (thanks to Dimple Prints & Winkflash)

I cut out the address part...since we have a public blog

Those are just a few hints...there's so much more!  I can HARDLY wait!  Seriously.  Like I dream about Nora's party often...to the point where I get so excited I have a hard time going back to sleep!!  A week and a half more!  =)

Birthday Wishes.

(Disclamer:  This post is for all the family that keeps asking me what it is that Nora's heart desires)



Nora's been whispering some things to me lately.  Sweet birthday wishes.  While we do not speak the exact same language (yet) this is my best effort in translation...


A sit-upon.

Whether it's a bean bag

Or a just-her-size chair.

Some church things.

Activity books

Quiet book

Church books

A backpack to carry her necessities.

An outside toy.

Something like this

or maybe this.

Walking shoes.

A good pair from somewhere like Stride Rite.

Summer fun.

Clothes

Basics

Toys

Need more ideas?  You can always check out her Amazon wish list.  =)

GREEN Day!

We  I  LOVE holidays!!

So of course we had to do something to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

Here's what we did:

Nora dressed for the occasion.  She kept the headband on  most of the day, too!

We bought Daddy some green treats.  Yes, a good portion of that was consumed that evening.  I'd say he liked them. 

For dinner, we had rainbow blueberry pancakes.

Here's our pot of gold!  Nora enjoyed pancakes, too.

We also had a special green cheesecake dessert, but I didn't take a picture.

 We had a great day, hope everyone else did also!

We are so LUCKY to have such a great family!! 

Recent Adventures with G-Pa & G-Viv.

In the past few weeks we've managed to squeeze in TWO trips to Charleston to see my Dad, Xan, and Step-mom Vivian.

The first trip was Friday, February 18th--Sunday, February 20th.

My Dad has decided to raise chickens and the shipment of 25 baby Dominique chicks had just arrived Friday afternoon.  As soon as the chicks hatched, their original farmer packaged them up and shipped them.  They were so cute & tiny.

Here's some pictures of them in their warmer/home until they can regulate their own body temperature, maybe about 8 weeks or so.

This is me holding one of them.  They were so small and soft.

Farmer Knudsen My Dad also has some white chickens.  (Sorry, I can't remember what kind they are...something that starts with an M...?)  They are pretty much 'chicken' when it goes to people or dogs.  If they are really hungry and you hold their food really still they will come eat though!

This is me feeding the 3 hens and 1 rooster.

2 weeks later, while Niki & Millie were here, we went again!  This time we went on a trip to the SC Aquarium.  It was something we rarely do--but it was fun!  Oh and the chicks were like triple the size, growing lots of feathers, and jumping out of their "house".  I didn't get a picture of them though.  Actually, their feet looked way scarier this time, so I didn't even hold one.  =)

Here's some pictures of our aquarium adventure:

Here's the girls in the car...trying to hold hands.

Dad, Niki, & Millie.  Maybe by the baby alligators.

Me in front of the huge sea turtle!

The girls LOVED the Toddler Cove play area.

Millie's crawling through.

I think they're racing to go into the tunnel.

Nora & Ashleigh (our step-sister) playing.

The girls looking at the huge tank with sharks and fish.

The girls reflections "looking" into the glass.

Our little shark-y girls.

They loved playing in the boat.

Nora & Ashleigh looking at the bright fish.

Going under the manta ray.

Nora and G-Viv.

G-pa and Nora.

Miss Millie

Girls. Giggles. Cousins. Friends.

Nora's cousin, Millie, has been visiting from Utah.  Nora has been in HEAVEN!  I never would have guessed she'd have this much fun with a little friend.  As soon as she sees Millie she lights up with a huge smile and giggle!  Whether it's when we first come over to visit, when one gets up from a nap, or just when Millie is hiding from her around the corner of the couch.  It's so cute & funny!

Playtime.  They did more giggling than watching Baby Einstein.

Their favorite game...steal-each-others-bow.

Aren't they cute??

"Sharing" 

Playing together in Nora's room.

Here's a few videos of them "playing":

Playing in the Pack 'n Play

Playing at Nora's House