McCormick's Creek State Park

Now that we are semi-mobile with baby girl, I thought it'd be nice to go exploring with the bigs. They love to explore and go on adventures, so we took off today to McCormick's Creek State Park. I have vague fond memories of this place from when I was little- I remember exporing with my big brother and swimming near the water fall. I am not one with a great memory, but I do have bits and pieces, and I wanted to share this place with my girls, and see it for myself after so many years. 

What a great decision. The bigs had a BLAST exploring and climbing. I'm thinking that this year would be a great time to start doing a tour of the State Parks... who knows if this idea will take hold, but it's an idea none the less. So, here are some pictures of State Park visit number one... 

I absolutely loved watching the girls climbing from rock to rock, trying to find and figure out a path to cross the creek to the other side. I remember doing this when I was younger... I had no fears. Now that the role has been reversed and I'm the Mom... watching my kids climbing from rock to rock- letting them figure out which ones are wobbly, and which are sturdy, without checking for them... it's not an easy position to be in! LOL... I remember one summer, when I was in high school, we went out west and stopped at the Badlands, and as I started climbing down- not a very wide part, my mom couldn't handle it and went to the car as some lady next to her said that she would see us on the seven o'clock news because of a girl falling.... yeah, that was me. We never did make the news, and now, my girls are just as adventurous, and I LOVE it!!! (although, I may not like it so much in a few years!) 

Winter 2014

What a winter this has been! We have had a crazy amount of snow this year, and temps colder than Alaska! We have 'made' snow (throwing boiling water up in the air in the negative temps), blown bubbles and watched them freeze, haven't done the snow ice cream, but that's on our list for the next snow... T has missed five days of school so far, and countless two-hour delays... But I can not complain. I love that our kids have had this many chances of playing in the snow! If I would let them, they would stay out all day! But, I suppose they don't mind coming in, especially when there is hot chocolate on the table! I love that they would rather go outside and play, than sit inside and watch t.v.! KD, however, has a difficult time just watching them outside! So, today, I thought I'd let her 'play' with them a bit.

Today, I bundled the little one up, and let her go on the sled with her bigs.

She wasn't quite certain what to think of it, but was okay...

then I let her sit in the snow....

that, however, wasn't her favorite! ;-)

Here are some moments from earlier times this winter...

Pretty sure this is the girl who will be dared to put her tongue on a frozen pole... or she will just try it because she is curious... I catch her eating snow alllllll the time! :-)


And this girl made this snowman all by herself! When did she get so big?!


Can't NOT post a picture of my husband in the Arctic Freeze... shoveling... this day was one that the city of Indianapolis was closed, we were on travel restrictions- only Emergency vehicles on the road... the temp without the wind chill was around -14.... it was not warm


Here's a try at our bubbles


Pops came down and took the hubs to the Colts' game... the day before our big storm....
He got snowed/froze in...



That's a quick recap... hopefully I can work backwards and fill in some gaps!
Have a GREAT day! :)

It's Been Toooooo long

Wow, I can not believe how long it has been since I last posted on here. I have written posts, that I keep as drafts- that I just haven't quite finished. So hopefully today can kick start my old blog, so I can keep up with what is going on. I'm not quite certain what caused the lapse in blogging... we moved back to IN... had a horrible beginning to moving here, and since we were here, I wasn't as on top of posting on here because we now lived here, and the main purpose was to keep the family updated on our life, I didn't find it as necessary. However, I am really bummed that I have left out such a block of time of our lives on this blog because I enjoy coming back and reading the entries. So, here we go... hopefully this will kick me back into staying on top of this!

1.5 Years...

Kalina. 18 months. What a ride!

Kalina, eighteen months already... what a beautiful little girl, and such a sweetheart. I remember when I was pregnant with her, I worried that I wouldn't have enough love to share between the two... how silly I was! I can not believe how much my heart swells when I think of either them, when I look at them, when I catch a small act of kindness between the two. We are so blessed to have two beautiful, healthy girls...

Kalina at 18 months is so cute, yet, such a stinker! She has that look... you know the one... the "I'm an angel" look... that behind those beautiful blue eyes, you can see the wheels turning as she plans her next move. She also has that smile... you know... the, "you know you want to just smile back even though I am purposely dumping chocolate syrup all over the carpet" smile. (She hasn't done that.... yet.... but you know that smile... and I'm sure she will do that sometime)

She keeps us on our toes, but definitely brings us smiles everyday! She is talking up a storm, and repeating everything we say. Her favorite words are- Frog, dog, duck, quack, Mom, Daddy, Sis, Tay, Look, Here, POCK(y)... she says many more, but those seem to be her favorite and this moment in time. She loves to dance, and when we listen to Sugarland while eating breakfast/lunch... she is often caught dancing... along with her big sister and mom! It's so amazing watching her learn about the world around her. And it amazes me how much she takes in and understands. I love this stage. She is so fun, and can actually follow directions. (take your shoes off at the front door) Favorite foods... steamed carrots, cucumbers, yogurt (prefers the drinking kind), milk (bilk), strawberries, bananas, muffins, anything else that may be on mom's plate or in mom's bowl (of cereal) or in dad's hands. :) She's a mooch! :)

Nicknames... well, I often refer to her as my Cling-on... for obvious reasons... but a very fitting nickname given by Lola & Pocky- Rocket... and a rocket she certainly is. She often falls because she gets moving too fast for herself... and takes some dives... but she's a runner! Runs everywhere... usually away from Mom & Dad around bedtime! And she's usually laughing while moving too fast!

Ahhhh, good times. Life is great. I love my toddler. Even when I catch her sitting in the middle of the table playing with an apple (healthy choice at least, right?)... Even when I can't find my shoe because she wore it around the house and it is hiding under some toy. Even when I go to get her after her nap... and she is laying there on her back, arms straight in front of her, a look of horror on her face while there is poop all over her hand, her bed, her bedding, her in general... Even when she needs me in the middle of the night, when I have just fallen asleep...

I love my toddler. Life is great.

Our little BIG girl is FOUR!!!

Okay, so a little late in posting, but here is Tatum's four year blog... :)

Words can not describe how I feel about my little girl... my little BIG girl. I look at her and wonder... when did you get so big? Legs and arms so long, feet and hands so big, ideas so big, interests so varied, opinions so big.... I remember vividly, struggling to hold her still as I attempt to clip her nails hoping she does not jerk and I clip her finger instead of her nail... now, I just let her know what I am doing and she sits with not problem at all! I love this girl so much... she is so sweet and funny and smart... she does not have one mean bone in her body, and is always concerned about everyone else. She is so smart- she has an answer for everything... if you tell her something can not be done, she will find a way so it CAN happen... "so, maybe if.... or what if we..." she could be very successful as a lawyer or in politics- she knows the right questions to ask to stump you! She loves puzzles, and painting, and water! She loves to help... with anything... even cleaning! :) She is such a happy girl, it's hard to find something that she does NOT like. But, here is a list of some of Tatum's Favorite Things...

1. Kalina

2. Movie: Cars

3. Lightening McQueen & *Red* (from Cars)

4. Music: Sugarland- Stuck Like Glue and Want To ... and every other Sugarland Song :); Fire in the Sky (Knee Deep) by Zac Brown Band; Honey Bee- Blake Shelton

5. Color: Pink and Purple have the edge right now, although, she loves all of her colors

6. Food- PIZZA- let me be more specific... Black Olive Pizza :)

7. Dancing and saving her animals

8. Playing with Play-doh, painting, doing puzzles, coloring, using her easel, crafts...

9. Dogs- even though she's allergic

10. Reading- this girl LOVES LOVES LOVES books, and enjoys every book she has in front of her -kind of like her Momma :)

T can write all of her letters, knows how to spell (and write) her name, Mommy, Daddy... knows all of the letter sounds... can count to twenty... loves to help with anything and everything! Enjoys playing hide and seek, and has figured out how to not say "HERE I AM!!!" when we play :) LOVES to help with her little sister... and is all around just a happy sweet girl.

I love her.

Easter 2011

What a fun weekend! We colored eggs, made Easter cookies, went to a local Easter Egg Hunt, had a wonderful Easter dinner at the Thompson's (Patti's sister's family), and the Easter Bunny came to our house and hid our eggs!!! Can it get better than that? Here are some 'highlights'... although I'm sure there are going to be too many ;)

Talking Strategy :)

Sharing her 'bounty' with her little sister :)

Chilling... on a very important phone call telling whoever it is, probably her frog, how awesome she did at the Fishers Easter Egg Hunt :)

Want some cookie with those sprinkles?

Looking for the last egg... he he :) Can you see it?