some visits

I think I ought to be congratulated about updating in a relatively timely manner. I suppose I won't be...I just think I ought to be. (The word of the day...is "ought.")
For those of you who might not know, I've been O-Ding on Sesame Street, lately. We were in the grocery store today and Kaylee is getting very curious about letters and what they say and why, why, why, why...well anything. But every aisle we went down...she'd identify the number...count up to it...complete with Count Von Count's "ha ha ha--thunder, lightning" and then proceed to tell me that that number was in fact the number of the day. Very cute...up until around aisle 12...and naturally I had to double back because I had forgotten things a few times...
Anyway...that's today's story. Here are some recent pictures.
On Monday, we had a little extra play date with Henry and Harrison (you'll have to trust me on the Harrison part...as I didn't nab any photos because Kaylee and Henry were being so darn cute!)
Can you believe this...they are both actually looking and smiling!
They were being awfully cute and having a good time and I actually remembered to bring out the camera before it was all over...only just though.

On Sunday, we went to our neighbor-friends and Kaylee and Rowan had another little double play date with Bailey and Sam. Poor Rowan has very few female friends--all of Kaylee's friends had little brothers...not little sisters! Blame poor photo quality on Daddy--he was in charge of the camera that day. He did alright though...not as good as Mommy...but adequate.

Unlike previous visits, the girls actually managed to occupy themselves without constant intervention for a little while. They are growing up so fast!

Here's Kaylee with Sam. She just loves him. She's more interested in him than most of her other friend's little brothers...however, he is also older than most of them too, by quite a margin.

Don't forget Rowan. She might not really be up to playing with Sam...yet. As he's starting to walk and she's still pretty stationary, but that didn't stop her from trying out all of his cool toys.

She's never tried a ride on before...but she really liked it.

And that, as they say, is that.

Family Visits

Before heading off to Israel for the next 5+ months, Auntie Diana headed over for one last visit with the world's best, cutest, sweetest, smartest (insert favorite superlative here) nieces.

Kaylee was not feeling particularly photographically cooperative, but Rowan, in that she cannot yet say "no" obliged.

Auntie is making a silly face here...but at least they are both looking at the camera!

And then last Wednesday we took a visit to see Great-Grandma Chip...but of course, Grammy never gives up an opportunity to see her girls...I mean, really, who would?

Kaylee loves "Grand-Mommy Chip" (that's Kaylee's creation, not mine.) They had a good time reading.

And coloring!

Of course, eventually Kaylee thought Grand-Mommy chip was being a little silly...

Rowan wanted to get a little time in with her great-grandmother too.

I know this picture isn't particularly attractive of my grandmother--but the expression is priceless, its just so her.

Yay for family visits.

Last Playgroup in March

Let me start by saying this is my fourth post today, so make sure you scroll down so you can catch all the action from the last 2 weeks in March...
These pictures are all from this morning's playgroup. Kaylee wanted to wear a "dancing dress" today so she chose her new apple dress ensemble. With the little kerchief I think she looks like she's ready to audition for "Fiddler on the Roof."
Playgroup was at Emily's today and Kaylee had fun playing on Emily's big wheel.
That smile told me she wishes she had one...but unfortunately our land doesn't have any flat part to it...so I don't think its going to happen.
So she'll just have to enjoy her turn when she's at Emily's house.
This next series of pictures was really cute to me...fast forward 12 years and picture the girls discussing the latest high-school gossip.
"Emily did you hear about Bobby and Susie?" Kaylee grins.
"No, tell me, tell me!" insists Emily.
"OK, well you didn't hear it from me, but I heard..." continues Kaylee.
"No way!" says Emily, "that's one bit of juicy gossip Kaylee!"
But since they are still 2 1/2 and not 14, I had to leave that little flash-forward and mediate the turn-taking on the big-wheel. At this point, I'll take the fighting over taking turns over the fighting over which boy is cuter!
Meanwhile, Rowan was enjoying her part of playgroup too. She and Oliver are definitely aware of each other.
They spent a good amount of time exchanging toys,
Gurgling and babbling at each other,
And just plain staring at each other.
Good friends in the making, to be sure.
And that brings us up to date (finally.)

Peek-a-boo

Who needs Mommy and Daddy when you're big sister can entertain you for a long time by being the best peek-a-boo partner ever? I am not sure who was having more fun, Rowan or Kaylee?
With a simple washcloth, Kaylee managed to entertain Rowan for a good 10 minutes.
Putting it both of Rowan's face and her own.
The shrieks and giggles were priceless!
And did you know that peek-a-boo is a game that comes with different props?
When the washcloth grew boring...quick-thinking Kaylee brought out her bucket.
Again, the bucket went over both Kaylee and Rowan's head.
But you can see that smile, Rowan thought it was great either way.
Is there any doubt that Rowan loves her big sister?
I don't think so.

Rowan

Here's a post dedicated to the smallest member of our family, all from the last 2 weeks of March. How can I not post this cute little smiling picture?
The previous picture is cute because she's smiling, and this one is cute because she's making a silly goofy face.
She is a very smiley and giggly baby these days...as long as she can see Mommy! Just ask Daddy, when Mommy has to go shower the water works are both in the bathroom...and out! (Nyut, nyut, nyut...man perhaps I should be taking a nap instead of posting to the blog...)
That whole sitting up thing on soft surfaces is still not necessarily her forte.
But she's usually happy no matter where her center of balance is.
"I'm ready for my close-up!"
"OK, that's close enough!"
"Look at my St. Patrick's Day garb," exclaims Rowan,
"And by 'my' I really mean Emily's, cause we all know Mommy doesn't buy this stuff!"
"I bet Mommy wishes she did though, cause I ain't I stinkin' cute?"
"Well, I suppose as long as she has Emily's closet to scavenge, Mommy won't change her ways...for now!"

Kaylee

OK, as the title suggests, these are a bunch of pictures of Kaylee from the last 2 weeks of March.
Kaylee almost always requests painting as one of her daily activities...and while sometimes I try to steer in another direction, I generally like to let her express herself artistically. On this day, she wanted to finger paint which we usually do on the table...but she wanted to do it on the easel. Well, who am I to argue with the artiste!? Kaylee wasn't so interested in showing off her finished masterpiece, but she did think I should take a picture of her hands!They were the most fun part of the experience after all.
We've finally started to warm up around here and consequently we've been able to play outside a lot more. Kaylee didn't mind smiling for the camera while she colored our driveway with chalk. She was just so happy to not be couped up in the house on a sunny day!
You can even see the natural sunny filter my lens had...
We drew all sorts of shapes on the driveway and then to practice shape recognition, I had Kaylee jump to them in the order I called. Kaylee is very advanced. How many 2 1/2 year olds do you know that can differentiate between a hexagon and an octagon...not to mention identify a trapezoid?!
I was just fooling around with the camera but I caught a few action shots of the jumping with minimal blurring.
These 2 pictures for Auntie Abbie and Bampa...check out that form! Is there a new skier in the family?
Don't get too excited though, I am still not planning on putting wooden slabs on this one's feet for a few more winters.
"Hooray" shouts Kaylee, "I love playing outside!"
Daddy caught these shots of Kaylee marching around the house in her princess crown (courtesy of trick-or-treating thank you very much!) shouting, "Rosie's a princess."
Rosie is the little sister on one of Kaylee's favorite television shows, "Caillou."
We tried to get her to say, "Kaylee's a princess," but to no avail. We don't care though...we know she's our princess!