Cuisin'

Grandpa took us on a week long cruise in June! We had such a great time and he really spoiled us. Derrick and I have taken several other cruises together. Always in the BOTTOM of the boat, with no windows. Grandpa took us in style! We had a grand suite, which was fabulous by itself, but it included VIP check in. Oh my goodness!!!! Just about the time Caroline assumed this position. We were whisked off to a room, given our sail and sign cards and ushered right past all of the lines and on to the boat! WOW! We are so SPOILED!

Our first stop was Montego Bay. I was not very impressed with Jamaica. Really most of what we saw was very dirty, but the beach was really pretty. The morning was beautiful and we were able to play on the beach for a couple of hours before heading back to the ship. We were about 3 steps from the boat when the bottom fell from the sky!

Caroline on the beach in Montego Bay

Derrick and Caroline in Montego Bay.

Our Ballerina

Caroline took a week long ballet class in June. She had such a good time. Mrs. Kathleen was VERY patient!

Happy Birthday

Hi Angel,

Happy Birthday. I can not believe you are 3 years old. It seems like only yesterday that Daddy and I were pulling our hair out trying to figure out what to do with you. Now you are all too happy to tell us exactly what you want.

We have had a really good day. Daddy brought us donuts this morning. We put 3 candles in your chocolate sprinkle donut and brought it to you in your room. Silly girl, you hid behind your curtains. You are developing quite a little personality, but you are shy when you are the center of attention. I know where that came from, and believe me I am praying that you outgrow that.

However, you are never afraid to show off when it is on your terms! This morning while we were getting ready for church you ran into our bedroom, looked at Daddy and I, said, "Look at my bum," and ran through the house naked as a jaybird....You are a fiesty one!

You did look beautiful at church this morning. You wore your black velvet jumper and your black patent shoes. You wanted to wear your "curls" (pearls) but we need to have them restrung. You looked every bit of 3 when you told me that you did not want to sit in church with Daddy and I, you wanted to play with your "fwiends." You are so independent and I am so proud of you.

After your nap today we met Trinity, Will, Christian and Kendall at the park so that you could roller skate with your new princess skates and eat birthday cake. You had a ball. You were so excited when I cut into your cake and it was a rainbow! You saw the layers last night before I iced it and you told me that you wanted "green cake." You ate the green layer and left the rest for me. You are so sure of yourself and what you want!

When we got home we sat on the couch to watch Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving. I made a big bowl of popcorn and sat down between you and Daddy. You got one bite of popcorn then reached over and put the whole big bowl over on the other side of you so that Daddy and I couldn't reach it. You are such a Turkey!

Tonight I layed in bed with you for a while. You have become quite the master at prolonging bedtime! Tonight after I left you called your daddy back in and asked him if I could come in to lay with you. When he said no, you asked if I would lay on the floor. When he said no, you asked if I would come hold you....you see where this is going. I finally did come in and lay down with you. You STILL were not asleep when I got up to leave and you climed up in my arms monkey style and asked if you could "love on [me] just a minute." Of course you could.

Caroline, I love you so much and I am so proud of you. I pray daily that God will give me the wisdom to guide you in the right direction with out diminishing your fiestiness. You are so special!

I love you to the moon and back my angel! Happy Birthday!

Mommy

Let Freedom RIng

America

 

A Few Notes

I haven't updated much lately and wanted to write about a few of the funny things that Caroline is doing now.  

This time last year I was very concerned that she wasn't talking enough...oh what a difference a year makes.  Now she wakes up talking and she goes to bed screaming most nights.  Most mornings I wake up to a very loud, "Mommy, R you?" If I don't answer quickly enough, or show up instantaneously at her door, she gets louder and louder.  Then I climb in bed with her, and if I can catch her before she climbs out, we "wuggle."

A couple of weeks ago she started the funniest thing.  She would ask, "Mommy, wha dat?" and when I answered her she would say, "Oh, ...".  So, we were driving to the farm and she saw the corn in the fields.  She said, "Mommy, wha dat?" I answered that it was corn and she said, "Oh, corn."  So funny!

Her favorite TV show right now is Max and Ruby and as far as movies go, Tinkerbell has been replaced by "Cindelala" or "Cindalelly".  She loves to play dress up and we have a TON of dresses and tutus and stuff like that.  She runs around and asks, "Where my dress?" then she comes back with one of her zillion dresses. She usually has to try on 4 or 5 to see which one she wants.  Then she wants her "birthday tiwawa" (tiara) like Ruby.  She has told me several times that for her wedding she wants to paint her "toemails" and have "Air-wings." (earrings)

She has also gotten very dramatic!  I am not really sure where she has learned about being scared, but she has it down perfectly....especially at bed time or when she is in trouble.  She looks at me when I am tucking her in or getting on to her.  Her lip sticks out and her eyes get big and she says, "I skeered." Then she quickly hides her face in my legs. Hilarious!!!

So things around here are pretty entertaining right now.  I will say that when we hit two I thought other people were crazy.  It was a piece of cake....Well, two and a half, not so much.  So, Caroline is learning all about being a little girl and mommy is trying to find the fine line between good discipline and screaming, I mean stifiling her very big personality....

June Goals

1. Storytime with Caroline weekly.

2. Swimming with Caroline weekly.

3. Gym 3x/week.

4. Finish painting kitchen cabinets.

5. Paint kitchen trim.

6. Clean and stain patio.

7. Sew cushions for patio furniture.