Thank you Uncle Steve!

These cute kitties are Pounce and Snip!

(Anna sometimes calls them Bounce and Snap)

The Girls!

Masterpiece!

When I found myself offering Anna a show and she said "no thanks", instead of the reverse, I thought we should do something fun! Notice the stylish art smock -- from when I was a little girl!

Carla Smily Mae

Thank you Aunt Lori!

Our new friends -- Hal and Holly :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

The turkey and the party of 26 wiped out Anna! We found her asleep on the couch in the midst of lots of noisy fun. She NEVER falls asleep like this! When she was full of energy 4 hours later and the crowd was gone, she helped herself to the pumpkin pie!

Thanks for coming to visit Grandma J!

We had so much fun with Grandma while Daddy was working on the bathroom. Grandma was so impressed that Anna made this house out of pebbles all by herself! There is even a roof top and a "stick" (chimney). Carla was sitting all by herself; she is getting pretty good...though Mommy was too scared to move too far away, especially with the hard floors! The one of both girls together is cute because it's fun to see any interaction between them; there isn't a lot yet. Check out Anna's new hair cut! Thank you Grandma for your great hair salon skills! Thanks for all of your help and your great company these last few days!

Let the bathroom renovations begin!

Rollie Pollie Ollie

Care Bears are a captive audience

Reading to her friends. So precious...

Happy Birthday Uncle Michael!

So very serious!

Loving Daddy and Mommy

So snuggly with Daddy.

Also, it was so cute how when she heard my (Mommy) voice, she smiled in her sleep...every time. I could barely get out what I wanted to say because each time I began speaking, she would grin :) And she didn't even wake up the whole time!

Happy, happy baby

Daddy and his girls

Dionisio's 4th Birthday Party!

Please click to enlarge!

It would be better if I matched everything up, and I will try to, but in the meantime, here is a photo of Carla at Dionisio's 4th birthday party, at nearly 4 months old, and it reminded me of an old photo of Anna on vacation in Cape Cod, at a little more than 4 months old!

Carla has a bit less hair, but I certainly see that they are sisters :)

Happy actual birthday Gramma and Dionisio!

Carla had her 4-month appointment a few days early. She is 14 lb 14 oz! Hard to believe, but she is smaller than Anna was. For some reason, we always think of Carla as so much bigger than Anna was...oh well. As Mike says, they are allowed to be different :) It was a really quick appointment - Carla is perfectly healthy. The big quote from the doctor to report is "Wow! She has great control!" Oh yeah, and immunizations apparently treat Carla well - she was in a super giddy, giggly mood, and all smiles the rest of the day, after FOUR shots and an oral vaccine!...and no Tylenol!

Click on collage to enlarge.

Gramma's birthday party!...whoops, no photos...how did that happen?

This girl is a crazy climber! (earlier)

Then she was so fussy at Gramma M's birthday party until Uncle Billy cuddled up and rocked her to sleep, soooo cute! Cozy Godfather and Goddaughter :)

A perfectly perfect day at the zoo

We went with Alana and Gabby and it was a gorgeous day! The picture of the sky was to try to remember the perfection. Anna was SO good - she walked the whole time, and we even hiked all the way up to the Primate House and back!...except to the car - last photo - when she finally collapsed into the stroller.

Click on collage to enlarge.

Dressing up as Daddy!

El Rodeo - Yum!

"More 'spicy' Daddy!"

Sisters playing!

Oh, they're really going to have so much fun together, you know, in the next month, year, decade...I'm so happy for them that they each have a sister :)

Cooing and Carving

Sometimes it's just easier and more fun to make a collage than to pick.

Better late than never :)

Spoooooooky!

Happy Halloween!

Geneva Trick-or-Treat with Cousins!

Today revised :)

Oh, Carla sure is our little MOVER!



There was more to this day...Daddy took our little leopard to the town Halloween party. Also, I went to see Dr Roizen speak (I'll spare you the crummy photos with no flash); it was really cool!

Visitors!

Today Candace was with us, and Aunt Ashley and Uncle Nick came to visit!!, but Daddy didn't get home until midnight! 7 1/2 hours late !! :( We're happy to have him home now!

Fun day!

Grandma J spent the day with us, playing and reading, and we had a book club party! I forgot how quickly you can grocery shop without kids -- thank you Jackie :) The book was The Color of Light by Karen White, great characters and some mystery -- everyone liked it! Thank you Mom for baking all of those DELICIOUS desserts! And Ashley came, what a wonderful surprise!

What a day!

Some dress up, Carla found her tongue - hilarious!, Stroller Science (check out those huge Sycamore leaves and can you find the wild strawberry?), and dinner at the "pizza shop" and a sleepover with Gramma and Pas!

We miss you already Daddy!

Look how Anna colored in the lines! Then she wanted to specifically color "out of the lines"! The things kids come up with!

Mommy won a brick!

That's right, I was the top female in a 5k race today! I won't tell you my time, but I will say it was my best since Carla was born :) Anna, Carla, Daddy, Gramma, and Pas were a great cheering squad! Thanks for coming out in the cold :)

Funny benches in Lttle Italy

Cousins had a day off of school - Yeah!

Anna pedalled down the street...

...and Carla and I strolled :)

Apple and grape picking - SO fun! and delicious :)

What a poser!

Hanging with Mom

Happy 5th Birthday Joey!

and Marview Street Party! What a fun day! Anna won the race according to the Police Officer, probably because she and Anna had the same name. Anna even got to sleep over at Gramma and Pas' to make the night even more exciting! Check out Sheriff Joey's bike - it has his horse on it! We made him a personalized Joey-Spiderman video which everyone enjoyed, especially the star! We missed you Aunt Sara, Uncle Dan, and Max!

At 2 1/2 and 3 months, they're both learning so much!

It was so sweet seeing Anna want to help set up Carla's farm animals for her. She is so eager to help, and "play" with her sister! Carla just loves her new toys! She will sit in that chair for an hour at a time, just batting away at her new animal friends. She even pulled the handle that makes music! It seemed like forever before Anna could do that. She's our little muscle woman. She's a mover too. She rolls over the second I lay her down. She is really trying to wiggle out of that chair now too! I don't even remember Anna ever doing that.

Getting BIG!

Cozy Carla :)

Candace brought a craft!

Thanks to the English Nanny and Governess School, Candace will be spending the next 10 Fridays with us. Both girls are really enjoying her, and I enjoy the help! Here they were making teddy bears, and they sang a song to go with it :)

Quick scenic stop before Gramma went to school!