Kevin and Alison

I hosted (with a lot of help!) a baby shower here at my nest for my cousin Erin this past Saturday.  It was a Hoot. Also, the theme was owls. In case you weren't catching my bird references :) Aunt Laura, Uncle Bill, and Connor stayed with us and I want to be selfish and say:  "You should stay with us every time." :) How cute is this cake that my mom brought? The-one-and-truly-only-Aunt Michelle giving directions about an activity: Friends! Girls like to eat! This is the lovely Mom to Be :)  And that's Baby Clara in her belly :) Hard at work on a nursery rhyme game..... While Aunt Nancy was cheating by asking a three-year-old :) Gifts! Erin looking through some photos of when she was a baby! My immediate family hung around after the shower was over to have a birthday dinner for my grandma.  She played a few games (this is Chutes and Ladders) And we sang Happy Birthday (with a few harmony parts!)  It was a fun weeken

One time, this past summer, I took the girls to the park for a picnic and the high school marching band happened to be outside practicing their halftime show. So of course, we have picnics indoors with a pretend marching band. I put in my "Chimes of Liberty" cd (which is the Navy Band) and Chloe creates a grand set-up. April usually decides to join the band at some point:

Happy Birthday to our favorite nephew!   (Since you are our only one, I really mean it :)) We love you when you are happy and sad you are a great cousin and that makes us very glad we love hanging out with you in good weather and in bad! (really, snow isn't bad, it just rhymes well) :) Hope you have a great 2nd Birthday!! :) Love, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Alison, Chloe, and April

At least, that's what Chloe calls them :) We were blessed with some hand-me-downs from a family at church and Chloe found a "dancer girl outfit" and of course, we dug one out of the stash for April too :)  Chloe was moving a little too quickly for the camera....but just imagine her doing a lot of this pose: April on the other hand was just THRILLED that she had her own leotard and loved every minute of posing for the camera.  Just take a look: This was a popular move (which involved some assistance from the wall): And, this classic: They got their exercise for the day! Fun to watch them dance around :) 

Some of you may know that April doesn't really like anything but a clip in her hair.  A pony tail is acceptable as long as it's with the hair that is normally in the clip. Well, I'm trying to change this.  Mostly because....I don't like her hair to be in her face! I haven't trimmed it in a while and it's long enough to pull back....but only if I do it quickly :)  She usually comes around to the new style....after she complains for a few minutes saying "hurt. I not want it." This picture cracks me up because her shirt says "Who's Cute?" and she's making such a pouty face :)

Yes, I realize it's the 11th.  I'm a little slow, and yesterday wasn't a good day for taking pictures....so I'm starting a project to do 10 pictures on the 10th of each month a day late.  Let's hope for better next month :) Here you go! Breakfast 8:30 Play Doh - we did this for a while! 9:30 Chloe and April sang Jingle Bells while marching around the coffee table, with instruments....at the top of their lungs, of course.  I took video and then snapped this picture. 10:30 Lunchtime = dishes time 11:30 After lunch show.  Chloe was being Minnie, who is holding a magnifying glass. 12:30 Play time before naps 1:30 Nap time nail polish for Mom 2:30 Sewing project 3:00 Squeezing in a little Bible Study homework before the girls wake up!   We were encouraged to color :)  3:30 The reason I painted my nails.....Date Night!

You can tell we were with Aunt JungMin and Grandpa S. over Christmas..... My girls are now saying "Kimchi" for pictures and doing this for the camera: (April is working on the V....this time she got one finger working!)

One of Chloe's recent works: "Daddy pushing me in a stroller" April's latest: "Purple Scribbles"

Where were all the pictures of Kevin opening presents?? Did anyone wonder?  He did have presents to open, but mostly.....he got this: An iPad. and he couldn't believe it....but then this happened: So, I think he wants to keep it :)   Thanks to both sets of parents and all the siblings for contributing to make this "dream a reality" :)  Also, it makes us 10 times more advanced in technology than we were previously.  But I don't think we'll be up to date on anything else, ever. ;)