Fashion Show

As we approach March I know some random warm days will pop up and the kids will have nothing to wear!  Luckily they aren't growing quite as fast as when they were babies so some items can be reused from last summer, but for the most part a new season means a whole new wardrobe (only the for the kids- not the adults!). 

I am having a hard time deciding whether to get Charlotte 2t or 3t clothes this summer.  She is in 2t and some 24 month clothes for the winter, but I want to make sure what I buy lasts all summer and into warm fall days.  However, we plan to be finished with cloth diapers and into big girl underwear by the summer, which is a lot less bulky.  This past Saturday, I went through a few tubs of hand me downs from a friend to check the sizes.  Luckily Charlotte was "helping" me and was willing to try on any clothes I put on her. 

I see her as a fashion blogger in the future. 

I love this rainbow stripe Carter's dress.  It is a 3t and fits her perfectly!

Charlotte liked the pretty flower and called this a "hairbow" shirt because of the ribbons on the shoulders.

This dress has a funny story.  I got Charlotte the same one for $3 at Walmart 2 summers ago when she was 9 months old.  My aunt also got the dress in size 24 months at the same time, which she wore all last summer.  My friend's daughter had the same dress in size 3t and gave it Charlotte.  It was by far her favorite on Saturday and she didn't want to take off the purple dress for a while!  There were also shoes in the clothing tubs and Trey was helping Charlotte try some on. 

I think I will err on the size of caution and go ahead and get 3t for Charlotte.  It is much easier to wear something a little larger than too small.  Plus with dresses, which is mostly what she wears in the summer, the length is really all the matters and all the 3t dresses were the perfect length even if they were roomy in the body. 

Now onto getting Trey's spring wardrobe ready. 

Silly Girl

Charlotte is in an extremely silly phase.  Anything and everything makes her laugh and giggle.  She knows when she is barely pushing following a rule (like sitting on the very edge of her seat at the table) and will just look at you and giggle. 

She also loves to wear other people's hats and shoes.  Anything you leave laying around is fair game for her to put on!

The other day she found Trey's old sunglasses and had the best time wearing them around the house.  She told me to get the camera so she could "say cheese and take picture."  I also love this shot because you can see all her teeth! The dentist told us to start saving for braces now because you can see her baby teeth are already crowded, which leaves her no hope for her adult teeth! 

Charlotte loves to smile and pretty much walks around like this all the time! 

Saturday morning she got up really early so I took her downstairs to play.  Daddy left his laptop out and before I realized it Charlotte had gotten on the sofa and turned it on.  I told her to leave Daddy's computer alone and she said, "I dont wanna, I hit buttons!"  Oh that silly girl.... 

Tonight at bedtime her prayer went like this, "Dear God, Thank you for food.  Thank you for peoples.  Thank you for laughing.  Thank you for paci and blanket.  Thank you for Charlotte. Amen"

Train Day

The Transportation Museum was having a special "Train Weekend" this weekend.  One of Trey's friends from church invited him to come to the museum.  Just Trey and I went and we had a great time together.  Often we do stuff as a whole family, but it was really nice for me to have this one on one time with Trey.  Jay and I want to make sure we take quality time with each child by themselves.

Trey had a blast with his friend Isaiah from church.  They got together last summer for a play date at the park, but Trey didn't really interact with Isaiah too much.  This time they giggled and played together the whole time.

The first room we went into had this gear thing, a train table converted into a track for match box cars, and a bunch of model trains.  After we left Trey said the race car track was his favorite part of the whole day. 

 In the room with the big cars they had face painting.  Trey said he wanted to paint his face and he didn't mind waiting in line.  I was completely shocked because he has never wanted anything to do with face painting before.  He stood in line and watched the other kids and then sat really still when it was his turn.  He got a train on his cheek.

 

After the face painting he looked in the mirror to see the train and then he was off again!  He didn't mess with it all after it was on his face!

We went out to the rail yard to take a train ride.   Trey's watching for the train to come back into the station so he can board it. 

 I love the expression on Trey's face in this picture.  He had the best time and couldn't stop grinning with his friend!

When the train pulled in, Trey started to freak out and say he didn't want to get on it.  This happens anytime there is any type of train/ ride to get on so I knew it was coming.  Isaiah and his mom got on and Trey didn't want to even walk onto the train to look around.  I knew he would have a good time once he got on the train so I bribed him with a treat in the car (I was planning on giving it to him anyway as a fun way to end our time together) and then he got on the train.  Not my finest moment, but as soon as he saw Isaiah on the train he was so excited and never once asked to get off and he kept saying how much fun he was having!

The boys spent most of their train ride looking out the window together. 

 They also loved pretending to sleep on the bunk!

  Does this look like the face of a boy who was forced on the train? I don't think so!

 After the train ride Trey wanted to do the train puzzle.  The one thing Trey loves more than any other toy is puzzles.  This one was the perfect challenge for him because he had to think, but he could still figure it out on his own. 

Trey and I loved our special time together.  We look forward to going back to the museum sometime with Daddy and Charlotte!

Three Day Weekends

Don't be jealous, but Jay and I have only worked one full week since before Christmas and we haven't worked on a Friday since January 11th.  We will have to make up all these crazy Friday snow days so you can laugh then. I am definitely getting used to these three day weekends.  Instead of trying to cram cleaning, extra cooking, laundry, church and family time in 2 days we can space it out.  Plus the extra time at home with the kids is so much fun.

On Friday we made Valentine's with the kids.  They loved painting their hands (as usual) and we had a great time.  

Saturday I spent a lot of time cleaning out their closets to give away some clothes that didn't fit anymore. We have friends at church who have a girl Trey's age and a boy Charlotte's age.  Every 6 months or so we swap clothes.  I give her Trey's clothes for her little boy and she gives me her daughter's clothes for Charlotte.  It works out great for everyone!  While I was digging through closets looking for sandals to give our friends, the kids found some fun clothes to wear.  

The week ahead looks clear weather wise.  I don't know if we can make it through a whole 5 day work week! 

Snow Day!

Today is the third Friday in a row we have had a snow day.  Instead of one big snow this year, it looks like we are getting a bunch of small 1" snows.  Not that I am complaining.  It is just enough to play in while not keeping us stuck at home for days on end. 

 Getting ready to go outside and play in the snow is a bit of a chore.  By the time we all four squeeze in the mud room with our snow clothes there isn't much room for anything else!

The first time we went out in the snow this year Charlotte just followed Trey around.  She doesn't remember the snow from last year, but this year she is much more mobile in her snow gear.  I don't really worry if she falls since she has on so much padding!

Trey's favorite part every time is just making footprints in the snow.  

I tried to teach them to make snow angels, but the first snow we had was very icy.  

It wasn't the best for making snowballs, but everyone still tried! 

 It was, however, the best snow for sledding! The icy top layer meant the kids went flying down the hill!  Jay had to stand at the bottom ready to catch them or they would keep on going down!

The second snow we had was much more powdery and perfect for snow angels! 

The first thing Trey said when he came down for breakfast this morning was that he needed to put his snow boots on to go out in the snow.  We managed to hold him off until he at least at breakfast, but I imagine we will spend most of our morning out in the snow!  Charlotte usually says she is cold after a little bit and wants to come inside (such her mother's child!), but Trey would stay out all day if we let him!  He never says he is cold and LOVES being in the snow!