In Her Own Words

Instead of some long story or explanation of these events, we'll let Nat tell you in her own words:


While making a craft for Mother's Day: Very grown-up voice "We will glue this here and then... Are we like Martha?!"


While talking with Daddy: Daddy: "You know, you are very lucky to have a mommy and daddy that love each other. It helps us be parents and have a better family and ..." Nat: "But Sana speaks English." ??????


While sitting on the couch one morning: "Mom, go get dressed. Go get dressed!" "I will," I said. "Mom, go get dressed NOW!" "Ok, ok, why?" I said. In her excited, but telling a secret, soft voice "Because when you go back to get dressed.... we're going to sneak in and look at your boobs!" "WHAT!!??" "Yeah, hurry up, go back and get dressed."


When frustrated with Julia: "Mom. Sometimes it's hard with a sister!"


In the car the other day: "Sometimes it's hard with a mother."

While at Giant, I'm in the check-out and have scooted the cart (w/ the girls inside) to the end of the aisle. I hear fussing from Nat: "What honey, what," I said. "What about this?" she siad, handing me a 1x3" piece of plain white paper... "Yeah, it's a piece of paper," thinking she had found it on the floor there, "we don't have to buy it." "But for my donut," she said. Then it hit me. She had brought her purse with her and that strip of paper was one of the "dollars" I had cut for her Dora cash register. "Oh oh oh!," I said, "Yes, you need to pay for your donut." So I picked her up and she handed it to the cashier. =)

She frequently runs to mom and dad and excitedly announces: "Jules said her first word! (insert word here)!"


And one for Julsie --- whenever she is really REALLY irritated with her Natalie: "ROAR!"
She actually looks at her sister and says "roar" in her loudest angriest voice. Too cute.

Sunday Pics

Daddy wasn't home to do his usual Sunday pics, but they looked so cute this week that I had to do it. Nat is wearing one of her favorite dresses (picked out and bought for her by daddy's friend Tim) and Jules is wearing a new dress from Nana that she got for her birthday =) Both girls are wearing their new flower clips I made on Monday (pic to follow).

"Foreshadow of a Fatality"

Alternatively titled: "Better than a Butterball"

Now, those of you who know John, know that he has always been a very motivated and disciplined person. He succeeds in life and in reaching his goals by harnessing his inner drive and using proven techniques. In addition to his persistance (which is how he obtained both his lovely wife and his fulfilling job), he uses visualization and planning. He has always been a strong believer in writing down your objectives and goals, reviewing them, and assessing your progress. Just ask his personal training clients and students

Case in point: About 6 weeks ago, Toby wrote the ominous message you see here (see the 28th) on our April calendar. Oh, not the "8pm - 6am OT"..... the "I Kill Turkey!" part.

As you can see by the pictures below, including the date-stamp. I think he can check this "goal" of his list as "completed."

BEFORE: AFTER:

Parties 3 and 4

Here are a couple pics from the party we had later Thursday evening with Daddy. Once again, we opened presents, sang Happy Birthday (4th time), and ate more cupcakes. Natalie even got a present for being a great big sister - a Tinkerbell jewelry/treasure box. Very cool.
Then on Friday, her actual birthday, we headed up to Nana and Pop-pop's. [we had to stop about an hour after we started because I was completely falling asleep. I think it was partly due to the sunlight. I got an iced coffee at McD's and the girls got (free) ice cream cones. We played outside at the PlayPlace as it was a gorgeous day and I was hoping the caffeine would start working. Then, we sat parked on I-80 in construction induced traffic for a while, finally getting up to 40 mph -ugh! I just wanted to make it home for dinner!]
When we finally got in, we had another little party for JJ. We sang before the presents (5th time) and also again before we ate the birthday cake (6th time). Here is a video from us singing. =) Does she enjoy being the birthday girl???

WARNING: This may be hazardous to sensitive ear drums.

J's B-day Pt 2 - "Meet My Little Friends"

Thursday morning we had Julia's friends over to celebrate. Big sisters were invited too so Nat was loving the play time as well. (I was loving the time with the moms.) The kids played and downed some snacks while a Barbie movie played in the background. Finally we brought out the cupcakes, candles and presents. Julia LOVED being the birthday girl. Absolutely loved it. We even sang "Happy Birthday" to her three times - she just ate it up!

And they ALL ate up the birthday cake..... (they didn't seem to mind that they "weren't much")

Oh, and smart moms strip their kids when eating =)

And we finished up the day with presents (which she loved as well) and playing outside. See the scooter brigade? A sign of the season to come. =)

Julia Turns 2!!

That's right. On Friday, April 24, my little Julsie Pulsie turned 2! Since we were heading to Nana and Popop's that day, we celebrated with Daddy and our friends on the 23rd. In total, we had three parties for her =) I will show you pics and tell you stories from each one, but here are some pics of the cupcakes I made for her big day.

Luckily I did not delete them (like Nat's). For only my second time using a pastry bag, I think they came out cute. I'm starting with easy =)

I told Nat she could help me make the cupcakes, but timing just did not work out well and I ended up working on these during the night. When she woke in the morning, I was in the shower. She came to me sobbing. After deciphering the cry-speak I realized she wasn't in pain or in danger. "Mom, did you make the cupcakes without me?!" "Yes, honey, I had to get them done last night before the party, but I left 7 cupcakes for you to decorate." "Seven?" "uh huh" "That's a lot"

When I got out of the shower I found she had pulled up a chair to the high kitchen counter and was looking at the cupcakes. I came out to her and could tell she liked them. With her serious and soft voice she looked at me with those big doe eyes and said,

"Well mom, they're not much.... but you did a great job."

"They're not much" ..... hahaha Where does she get this stuff?