Carli Turns Two!!!

Can you believe it? Our little princess has turned two.

The day started with cupcakes in Sunday School. Carli brought plenty to share. White funfetti cupcakes with white icing and an Elmo on top. She even was able to share with others since there were so many left over.

Lunch was at her favorite place to eat...McDonalds! She loves the french fries there and was able to play (or "pay" as she says) when she was done. She even acccomplished two hurdles while there: she climbed into the car all by herself and climbed on top of the turtle.

After a good nap, Carli met everyone at the church for her party. The theme...ELMO of course! I think she was a little overwhelmed at all of her family being there when she arrived. She laughed, ran to me, and then saw her Elmo on the table, swiping him off.

Then it was time for cake. The face in the picture is priceless. Carli seems to be saying, "Mine, all mine!" After two candles were lit, Carli (with a little help) blew out her candles. But when they were out, Carli was a little upset. I don't think she liked that the candles were out, or maybe it was that Daddy had helped her do it.
Carli really enjoyed the cake! She used her hand, and her mouth, to enjoy every drop. She was a wonderful, gooey mess when she was done.

After her snack, was her favorite part, presents. We were curious to see how she would do since she loved opening gifts at Christmas. She wasn't as wild, but she did enjoy opening them. Among her gifts were: building blocks, an Elmo hat and backpack, books, clothes, and more. Of course, she sat right down and began to read the books.

The only thing missing on the day, was "Aussie," her big brother, whom Carli loves with all her heart.

After all was said and done, Carli was a wild one running around the house. Guess that is what you get with a beautiful two year old girl who has been pumped with a cupcake early in the morning, cake and ice cream at her party, and all of her family around who love her very much. Joe and I are so blessed to have her in our lives. We can't imagine our lives without her in it. Carli, so you are so loved!

Carli's Two Year Old Photo Shoot

December 30th, Carli had her own photo shoot on location at the Fourth of July Park in Kernersville, to take her two year old pictures. Joe and I didn't want to do the in-studio pictures that are so posed. So we decided to have them done at the park. Joe commented, "You know she won't be still for any of them, right?" That was perfect. We wanted shots of Carli doing what she does best...playing and having fun.

After contacting Jordan McGee, a colleague of mine at a different school, we headed to the park. It was a beautiful day, a little chilly, but nothing like normal for late December. Carli had a blast playing in the park and letting Jordan get great shots of her. Below are just a sample.

Merry Christmas 2011!!

Another Christmas has come and gone, but this has been the best by far! Carli really has gotten into the holiday.





The Christmas season began when we were asked to light the Advent wreath at church. Carli did such a good job helping Mommy to light the candle as Daddy read the verses from the Bible. She was fascinated with the flame, but didn't like it when I blew it out.

To help Carli begin to understand why we celebrate Christmas, I bought her her very own Nativity by Fisher Price. She loves playing with it! She can identify most of the characters. She has trouble with the kings. But she likes the angel, mommy, and the baby. She even carried it over to my Nativity and found the donkey and sheep.



The following week, Carli went to Piney Grove to watch the PTA program put on my Mommy's fifth grade students. I'm not sure which she enjoyed more...playing with my kids before and after the program, or the music during the performance.


After school was out for the holidays, Carli entertained with her first ornament making playdate. Cora Panico, and the Burnette kids (Gabe, Eden, & even baby Silas) came over to make hand print ornaments for the tree. We had a good time making the ornaments, eating sugar cookies, and playing.




Then there were the family get togethers! First was at Aunt Cheryl's. Carli was very shy at first, but then wound up and played. She didn't eat much, but did like the chocolate kisses she found when I dropped it on the floor.




Christmas Eve was with the Laws family. Everyone descended upon our house. All day long, Carli enjoyed "helping" Mommy cook...or rather get into everything that she could get into! She did enjoy helping to add the sprinkles to the cookies.

Carli enjoyed the cousins being at her house and really played it up! We discovered real quick that Carli enjoyed opening presents (and knew the word) even if they were not hers.

Carli hamming it up before the gifts were opened.

When everyone left, Austin helped Carli put out cookies and milk for Santa. Then Carli passed out cold, she was so tired!


Christmas morning, Carli was so excited when she walked into the living room and saw more presents. We finally had gotten her to say Santa Claus (or mostly Claus when someone else said Santa), but she didn't understand who he was.

ELMO!

Next up...Carli turns 2! Can you believe it???

Photo Card

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Carli Makes Her Stage Debut

Today Carli was in her first of many Children's Christmas Programs at church. Each year the two year olds ring the bells to begin the program.

on our way to church

I was a little worried about how she would do, especially if she saw me in the audience. As the program got started, Emily led her out and onto the stage. Carli was great. She loves to go up and down the steps and onto the stage in the gym. When Susan brought the basket around, Carli took her bells out. Then the music started. Carli just looked at the bells and around the room. She didn't ring the bells, but she didn't cry either. She just looked around the room and at the bells.

Cody, Carli and Grant ring the bells

Towards the end of the program, she did see me in the audience. I cringed, waiting for her to want to be with me. But just like a big girl, she just went "Mommy," and kept right on going. We were so proud of our little girl!

Carli's big debut

On our way home from church, Carli got into her treat bag from church. She kept going "apple, apple, apple" and then we heard "crunch". Carli had gotten into that bag and was munching on her apple. Guess she was a little hungry!

mmm good!

Carli's First Haircut!

Looking at Carli's hair the other night, I thought, "Enough of the rat tail and the hair all in her eyes!" So Joe called a friend of his from the Civics Club, Jenni Lynne, who came over tonight to do the deed.

We had Carli stand in a kitchen chair and Joe held her hands. We were not sure how she would react to a strange person cutting her hair. We were really surprised. Carli just stood there, not moving much at all. She let Jenni Lynne cut away. Of course Mommy took pictures to capture the event.

When her hair was cut, Carli enjoyed showing off her new do. I must admit, I really like it! It frames her face and makes her really look like a toddler.

"Look ma, where is my rat tail now?"

All that is left of Carli's rat tail. Saved for her scrapbook!

A Jam Packed Month of October!!

Pumpkin Patch Time

Saturday, October 15th, we took Carli to a pumpkin patch in Winston-Salem. This was a fun afternoon of running around. Of course, she had to kiss the ghosts & pumpkins. She also had to touch most of the flowers that were for sale. She loved to climb on the wagons and in the "shed" built from straw.

Carli even picked out her very own pumpkin. It wasn't big enough for her, but it was the one she could pick up on her own.

"Boo-uh"

The weekend before Halloween, a little puppy was brought to school that had been abandoned. One of the students took him home, but found he was not a match for their family. Not wanting the puppy to go to the pound, I agreed to take him home to see if he would get along with our dogs and Carli.

It didn't take Carli long to learn the new word "puppy". She ran around the back yard chasing him along Jake & Lucy. A friend, Teresa, suggested the name "Boo" but we didn't really like it. Joe came up with "Boomer" so that became his name. By the end of the long weekend, Carli had learned to say "Boo-uh" and loved playing with him-except when he kissed her in the face!

Trouble is...Boomer was so little that he could easily slide under the gate. We had to rig a contraption to keep him in the back yard with Jake during the day. When we would get home, Boomer would sit at the back door, whining until someone let him in. Guess he decided he needed to be with Carli and play.


I'm not touching that pumpkin

Joe got a big pumpkin for him and Carli to carve into a Jack 0'lantern. After cutting out a hole in the top, he proceeded to get Carli to help him clean it out. Carli would have no part in that venture! She looked at him as if it say, "You want me to put my hand where and touch what?"
She did kiss it (of course) and did finally touch the top.
But she wasn't happy with the guts that stuck to her finger. So she just watched Joe clean it out and then became fascinated with the end result. She told it goodbye every morning when she left the house.

Halloween

This year for Halloween, Carli was a dalmation. The idea came to me one night when I was folding her laundry. We had bought a pair of "spotted" pants because they were so close to being dots, which Carli LOVES. As I was folding them one night, I thought they looked like dalmation spots. Joe was easy to convince, since he is a retired fireman.

After finding fabric that matched so closely that it was scary, I made a hooded cape, complete with ears, and a tail to match. Carli loved wearing them so much, they will have to go in her dress up box.

Before Trunk or Treat at church, I had Austin come home and get into his turn out gear so I could get a picture of "A Fireman and his Dog". Carli didn't like sitting on the ground with him and quickly got up to run away. Austin grabbed her and I was able to quickly snap this picture. I love it!!

At church, Carli loved running around in the empty parking lot. She ran to all the decorated cars checking out all the decorations. She wasn't afraid of any of them. Inside, she went up and down the stairs on the stage and ran around and around the tables, checking out the various costumes. I was a little afraid she would be scared of some of them, but the scary ones are the ones she loved to check out. She didn't win the costume contest :( but I thought she was the cutest little dalmation in town! After trunk or treating around the parking lot and a quick visit to trick or treat at Grandma & PawPaw's she was one pooped out little puppy!