Happy Birthday Laura!

Laura had a wonderful 3rd birthday. It started off pretty low key with some yogurt for breakfast, but then she got to watch dad work on making the cake, and then it was time for some presents!

Hmmm, what could be in the big bag?


A DOLLHOUSE! WOW!


Laura and I are a little overwhelmed by all the parts & pieces to the dollhouse.


Daddy got her a kayak that goes along with the dollhouse.


A little lady in heaven.


It, of course, HAS to have a minivan.


Make a wish Laura!


2 out of 3 isn't bad.


Laura was emphatic to tell anyone who would listen that she's THREE YEARS OLD!


We asked what kind of cake Laura wanted, and she consistently said she wanted a Jellyfish cake (Yes, auntie Mandi, I told her you prefer 'sea jellies').

Somehow after last year, cake making has become 'Daddy's Job', so it was up to me to construct her Jellyfish cake. A trip to the craft store and some advice from the only marine biologist I know, I made a plan.

It started out with a soccer ball cake mold. Add some cherry licorice strings.


Put the frosting on the sucker... which was trickier than I thought.


Move it to the table.


Here you go, the final product.


Anna enjoyed the festivities. Here I dressed her up as Indy-Anna Jones.

Tis the season

Tis the season for holiday cheer. Laura is really getting into the Christmas spirit this year. She can remember some of the excitement of last year, and now the anticipation is really building.

Here is Anna elf.


Laura was really happy to help me carry the tree into the house.


"I'm helping daddy!"


Laura even mad a christmas card. "BUTQRM" is a word in 'LauraLand' that means merry Christmas. But she did do the "LAURA" herself, so I have to give her some credit.


She is quite proud of herself.


Laura even gets to decorate her very own tree with kid-safe ornaments. She'd had to have redecorated the tree 20 times by now, but it is a great distraction for us.


Can't forget the garland and tinsel.


Now you put on the ornaments!


Even a curious george ornament... which wasn't as drop-proof as we thought. Don't worry, George got glued back together and is with the rest of the breakable ornaments on the big tree.


A very, very proud almost 3 year old.

Anna celebrated her first birthday with all her Aunties (including Auntie Mandi who came all the way from from California)!

Here is the happy birthday girl. I think she could get used to all the attention and presents.


Where's this cake I've heard Laura raving about?


Ohhh, there it is! Yum.


Anna's going to be 1 year old already (11/24)!


Laura took a liking to Anna's boa.


The cousins just attacked the toys.


Anna must be happy... she's clicking.


Laura giving a nice smile to Auntie Mandi. Laura told Mandi all about her dolphin book.


I took Mandi to the Vikes / Seahawks game, so Anna and Laura helped her her in the cheering spirit.


Laura singing skol vikings.


Laura is just about done with her Halloween candy... Still some blue blow pops left however.

Pigtails!

It is swimming lesson season, so Laura wore pigtails to keep her hair out of her face.

Laura showing off her pigtails before swimming lessons.


After swimming, Laura made sure her baby got all cleaned up in the baby tub. She did it all herself, and not a detail was missed.

Let's made some bubbles with the soap.


Wash that hair!


Time to play!


Warm the baby up!


Baby is all squeaky clean.


Anna sitting like a big girl in the Dora chair.


Anna exploring the house.


Out of the tunnel! What fun!

Trick or Treat!

Laura loved the Halloween holiday. She got a special jack o lantern pizza and went out as her "small fat white cat with colored spots on it". I am not sure where she came up with the idea, but she was very specific.

The family at the first Halloween stop. It is hard to see, but I dressed up as a marathoner. I know, I real stretch.


I made a Jack o' Pizza for dinner.


I made Emily buy the shirt. I just suits her. :-) The cat whiskers are courtesy of Laura.


Since Laura loves 'spooky houses', I decided to carve one into a pumpkin.


Anna Tiger - Remarkably similar to Laura Tiger


Anna on the prowl.

Halloween Season is here

Ah, the season of creepy people dressed up going from door to door.

Usually that is left to the Jehovah's witnesses, but this time of year I don't mind because it's Halloween!

Laura and the daycare gang celebrated with a pumpkin carving, apple bobbing, pin the nose on the pumpkin and Halloween bingo.

Don't be fooled, Laura thought the pumpkin innards were disgusting. Sophie did fine with them, but Laura... not so much.


Pin the nose on the pumpkin. A little to the left, LJ.


Bobbing for apples? Why not! They loved it.


Sprinkles are the best part.


More apple bobbing.


BINGO!


Anna was content to watch over them.


She's always willing to give a flash of a smile for the camera.

Happy crawls to you

Anna woke up in a great mood this morning and posed for some pictures.

Time to play daddy!


Look out world, here I come.


Nice pose cutie!


Good morning daddy, let's find Laura!


There she is, she and mommy are having story time.