Pool and P&B Sandwiches

What goes with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? Swimming of course.
While Matt mowed the grass this afternoon, Natalie and I went outside to play in the back yard. With the weather getting warmer each day, we've started going out to the pool and dipping our feet in. Natalie just LOVES to be outside and especially out by the pool. Today, the water actually felt pretty good - still alittle cool but the sun was nice and warm. So instead of just dipping our feet in, we stood on the steps and got up to our knees. Natalie decided she had to have her shirt and shorts off (she never takes her clothes off) and I thought - why not just get out suits on and sit in the water. So we did that and gradually made it waist deep in the pool. Can I just say that it makes me soooo happy to have a little water baby. She LOVES it! I was like this growing up so I'm really happy to have a daughter that can share my love of swimming pools with me.
We played in the pool for almost and hour and finally had to pull ourselves out (due to hunger - I told Natalie that mommy was hungry and she said "Nana hungry"). But, we had to take a bath to wash the chlorine off first so we didn't eat until almost 7pm (we always eat at 6pm - and she didn't have a snack). Needless to say, we were both famished! I have never seen Natalie eat so much before! She had 1/2 a banana, 1-1/2 P&B Sandwiches!!!! and a glass of milk.

She was very tired so we did a short video, read some books and went to bed. She is loving her collection of Little Critter books right now (thanks Aunt Cathy!). Tonight, she also did something she'd never done before (or at least since she was a baby). About 30 minutes after I put her down, she was screaming and when I went in to check on her, she had gotten her leg stuck in between the slats of the crib and had little tears coming down her cheek. Poor baby! It scared her more than anything so I just picked her up and rocked her back to sleep. I hope she sleeps well tonight.

Running Around with Mom

So Natalie and I have come up with a new game of "chase" that consists of me pretending that I'm going to catch her (or catch up with me) while we run around the kitchen wall. It's so much fun - I just love hearing her squeal and surprising her when she runs around the corner. Here's a handful of videos from earlier this weekend.

What Does a Zebra Say?

Always wondered, now I know.....

Mothers Day Adventures

Okay, the day started well. We got Natalie up and dressed for church and major cuteness was achieved:

then she wanted the camera...

then Mom hopped in to take some LOVELY Mother's day pics!! (this one is so bad I love it. I don't know what's up with Nat's face but I hope it does not stick that way...)

I don't know whats going on in this one but I promise there was no wind machine used.

Finally Natalie decides to just bail out...

After church, Grandma Cadden - AKA "Mimi" - took Natalie out to the pool. She'd bought a butterfly net for Natalie the day before to help her, well, catch stuff. First Natalie caught a duck:


but then she had a better idea......

Zook Videos 3-Fer

Here's three new Zook videos for the price of ...well...nothing actually. Enjoy!

1."The Space Out". This is great because my Dad use to "space out" when he was eating in the living room while watching TV. He would zone me and my mom out and be completely oblivious to everything. Well, like Father, like Son, and maybe, like Granddaughter! :

2. "Nat's Zoo". Thanks to the generosity of friends and family we have amassed a stuffed animal zoo in our house, not least of which is "Poo-Poo Bear":

3. "Reading is Fundamental". After her bath and before bed a couple of weeks ago, I put Nat in a fresh diaper and then had to leave her room to get something or other. When I returned, I found her hard at work educating her "little sister":

Random Family Pics

Fashion Tips from a 20-Month-Old

1. Always wear Mom's heels with red socks and shorts.



2. Always wear your sunglasses inside.......and at night.

3. Carry around a mirror at all times, and if you're looking good, feel free to make out with yourself.

Yard Help from Nat

Here's my little helper......donning work gloves (almost) to help dad in the yard.


Of course, she wound up in a tree instead (see previous post). I'm throwing this vid in because it shows off one of Nat's new tricks: asking for help and then refusing to let me help her (insert any number of jokes about women here).

Natalie's fascination with Erica's shoes

Natalie has been very fascintated with all things "momma" right now and is going thru a copy cat phase. One thing she loves to do is wear my shoes. Here are a couple of examples.

Hanging out with our Church Friends

This past Thursday, we got together with our church friends to hang out and have dinner. Thankfully, someone had a camera so below are some pictures from that night. Needless to say, we all had a good time and there's never a dull moment with so many kids around. I think when we're all together, there are about 15 kids under the age of 4!!!! and we're still growing!

Zane, Natalie, Dakota, Jocelyn, Jayden

Natalie, Allison, Dakota, Jayden, Zane

Zane, Natalie

More Easter Pictures - Little Hands DaySchool

Here are a couple of pictures from Natalie's school - Easter Party.

Natalie made mommy and dadddyan Easter Egg card for .

They are have alot of arts and crafts projects where they learn about the theme of the month (April: Letter of the month is "U" + April showers = painting "u"mbrella)

Easter 2010

On Thursday, my office had a really fun Easter party. It started off with a easter bonnet decorating contest, followed by an Easter Egg hunt (I won the prize! - a $10 gift certificate) and snacks and goodies and last, pictures with the Easter Bunny. It was one of the first really fun work parties we've ever had.

On Sunday morning, the Easter Bunny had left Natalie some presents. She enjoyed opening up the eggs (with gold fish crackers), her new sunglasses and beads and the bunny that Grammy sent. she also enjoyed reading the Easter book that Grandma got her. Lucky Natalie!
Don't you know? The sunglasses go on the bunny!

I wish we had gotten some better pictures before church - especially with the 3 of us. We may get lucky once Grandma develops her film and actually have a family picture.

Climbing Trees with Dada

Last weekend, we were hanging out in the yard "helping" Matt with yardwork and I decided to put Natalie in the tree. She thought this was the BEST!!! Thankfully, Matt needed to take a break and he posed for a few pictures with Natalie. He even got up into the tree at one point.