The Halloween of Many Princesses

This year, Halloween seemed more like a "season" than just a day. Thanks to her recent birthday, Cassidy had a different costume for each event. Here's the breakdown:

Last weekend we attended a Halloween party and Cassidy was "Ariel" from the Little Mermaid.

This was on Friday, lining up for the parade at Alex's school. Here, Cassidy is sporting the "Sleeping Beauty" costume. Oh, and the kid on the right is a bucket of green slime!For this one, the whole family gets into it. This was a neighborhood Halloween party, and Cassidy is a sort of fairy princess.

And finally her Trick-or-Treating costume, her "super, super, fancy dress!" Alex was a Power Ranger.

Ponytails!

I've pretty much been waiting for this day since I was a little girl. Little tiny ponytails today, but curls and braids tomorrow! I had to find the most miniscule little elastic things and they are not easy to put in...let me tell ya! But Cassidy was a good sport and held still on these two days while I put the ponytails in. I think she likes them too, for a little while at least.

Somersaults!

I'm not sure how Cassidy learned how to do this on her own. One day, all of a sudden, she could do somersaults! She tucks her head and everything. Alex is still working on it :- )

Preschool starts again!

Boy, what a difference a year makes! At the beginning of preschool last year, I would ask, "Alex, what did you do today at preschool?" Usually he'd say, "I don't know." This year I asked him the same question after his first day and he told me about the pretend games that he and Amelia G. and Amelia S. played in the Big Room, that it was Carson's birthday and he brought cupcakes and Spiderman toys, and that at show 'n tell, Mrs. Wampler said his Chinese Yo-Yo was "cool." He is learning and growing up so fast. So here are some pictures of the kids last September and now.

Sept 08

Sept 08

Sept 09

"It's a monkey!"

This is Cassidy's first three word sentence!! She woke up this morning and I brought her in our room. She looked across the room to the picture frame on the dresser, which had a little monkey on it, and exclaimed, "It's a monkey!" She has been saying other little sentences like "Where's Daddy?" "Where's Awecks (Alex)?" and "Where's binky?" but I thought this one was worth blogging about. Way to go, sweetie!

More Easter Pics

Alex checking out the eggs in his basket.
Pretty bows now stay in Cassidy's hair for .33 seconds.

Cute little bunny.

Alex enjoying the Easter Egg Hunt in our town.

Celebrating Easter

We had a great Easter weekend! My mom and dad drove down to babysit the kids while John and I attended the JMU ROTC military ball on Friday night....and here's the kicker - we treated ourselves to a night without the kids by staying at a local Bed & Breakfast. It was pure bliss to be served breakfast in your room, not have to fix breakfast for anyone else (or wipe yogurt off of the floor) and watch the news! Thanks Mom & Dad!

Grammy & Pap Pap smiling but the kids not cooperating for the camera on Easter morning.

Alex enjoying his new Leapster from the Easter Bunny.

Cassidy and Grammy playing.

Walking with Reindeer

News Flash! Cassidy took her first steps! She's not walking everywhere yet, but it's a fun game for her to walk a couple steps to John or me. Here's the video:

Secondly, we have a rare sneak preview of Alex's preschool Christmas program on Friday:

A Balmy December Day

Yesterday, it was in the 50's around noon so the kids wanted to play outside. After a couple weeks indoors, the swings, slides, and sand almost seemed new again!

Whatcha doin' Cassidy?

"Havin' fun Mom," she always seems to say. Whether she's crusing down the hallway, playing hide'n seek, or exploring Alex's toy closet, this girl knows how to have fun.

So we sat in the house all that cold, cold wet day.

Alex loves The Cat in the Hat, so now that I have it practically memorized, it comes in handy now and then. Well, winter did not waste any time getting here. All of a sudden, we have to get completely bundled up to play outside, and when it's wet and cold.....forget it. So, here are some pictures of what the kids do when we are stuck in the house. Yeah, sometimes they play with toys too :)

Princess Cassidy of Rockingham County

Although Cassidy was a princess for Halloween, she probably felt more like a princess this morning. John took Alex to preschool, and I let Cassidy spend the morning however she wanted. She chose to crawl around and play on the big bean bag chair, enjoying my full and undivided attention. Cute baby giggles are the best way to warm up on a cold November morning. She is so much fun to hang out with!

What a difference a year makes!

Today, I was just reflecting on how things were a year ago.

Alex was almost 2 and a half. He was potty trained, but still needed 100% assistance in the bathroom. He could scribble. I still spotted him going up ladders at the playground. He asked for a toy when we got in the car. He rode in the stroller.

Now he's almost 3 and a half. He can go #1 completely by himself from start to finish (thank you sticker chart!). He's starting to write letters. He can climb up the ladder faster than me. He asks me why the sun is following us as we drive to preschool. He rides his tricycle.

Cassidy was 1 month old. She nursed every 2-3 hours. She stayed awake 10 minutes and looked around. She cried when she wanted more food. She grunted. She went wherever you took her.

Now she is 13 months old. She can sit and eat goldfish at the snack table (she still nurses though). She only naps 2 hours a day and plays with everything. She signs "more" when she wants more salmon (yes, she ate salmon tonight!). She says "up," "bye-bye," and a few others. She has an opinion now.

I'm still home with the kids, but life is so different than it was a year ago.