What's going on lately...

Calli's hair is finally getting longer in the back

Max got a big boy hair cut

Pushing the stroller at the Parade preview

What a HAM

Playing in the playground at a party

Playing at they playground at a party (check out his shoes)

So proud of the dollar he got in his Easter Egg

Proud of her dollar that she got in her easter egg

Grammie and Papa at Easter

Dying easter eggs with Mommy

And Daddy

Easter Egg hunt with the Twins Group, very excited about the stickers

Easter Egg hunt with the Twins Group

Circus in IN with the Hanke's

Our new back yard

Yes, It has been a LONG time since I have updated this blog!!! My sister is on my case, so I thought I would post some recent pictures. We have had so much going on... We bought a new house and moved the same weekend Max and Calli turned 2. We were able to celebrate their party the weekend before at my mom and dad's house and it was great! We moved the following weekend and we are just about settled a month later:) We still live in Fern Creek, just a little bigger home (basement). Max and Calli got their own rooms and they love it! They each got a fish for their b-day and named them Nemo and Dori (they were on a Finding Nemo kick for a while). They are getting so big and doing so many fun things! It is more fun to take them places now that they can understand a little of what's going on. We have done a circus in IN, Easter Egg Hunts, Parade preview, zoo, mall, Barnes n Noble, Gymnastics, and of course our trips to Target! I am looking forward to the summer to do more things. They actually got to swim this past weekend. Max did great, no fear at all. Calli was hesitant, but that might have been because it was freezing cold! We'll see how they do in the pool with some floaties on! They tell me every night in the bath that they are "wimming" by kicking their legs and moving their arms (which you could imagine the amount of water that is on my floor with two of them).

Craig has become a little more spirited about events:) He dyed easter eggs with us and is planning to go to the Derby Parade on Thursday. Of course Max and Calli love every minute of when Craig is home. Lately they will ask "Daddy home in morning" because they are looking forward to spending time with him:)

I also posted a picture of their hair. Max just got a big boy hair cut today and he did so well. He sat perfectly still and even let her use the clippers! He says "Max good boy" and "Max big boy". He is his own biggest fan:) Calli's hair is really starting to grow. Our signature hair style is pig tails (that's the only thing that looks right because she doesn't have much hair on the sides). She asks for "two ponies" for pig tails. Usually Max will ask for "two ponies" too, but we tell him boys don't wear ponies, they wear hats (of course he goes to a party this past weekend and a man was wearing a ponytail).

So that's it, we are busy and loving every minute! We say a prayer every night and at the end we say "Thank you God for" and Max says "food" and sometimes he names people. Calli usually sticks with her favorites "Grammie & Papa and Nana & Papaw". I am so shocked at how big they are, but also looking forward to watching them grow!!!

It has taken me about 4 weeks to get Calli to try this skirt on! She has refused every time, I have even bribed her and used peer pressure (Max, picture below). I wanted her to wear this skirt for her b-day pictures/party

Enjoying the snow of 2009. They wanted to eat it and stomp their boots in it.

Calli in time out:) She wouldn't stop pulling toilet paper off the roll. Look at her cute "no butt"

Winter hats Grammie got at St. James Art Fair

Calli sneaking a kiss to Elmo (her cousin's gift)

Family picture at Christmas 2008

I have been very busy with the kids, job and selling our house. We finally sold our house and just this week signed a contract on a new house:) We are scheduled to move Feb 20th, which has made Max and Calli's b-day party a little hectic to plan. They are so excited about moving into a house with steps and a slide!

It is unbelievable that they are almost two years old! They are so big and becoming so independent. Sometimes in ways I don't want them to be, but I am trying to appreciate that strength.

Max is having his right ear tube replaced tomorrow, but other than that we have had a great couple of months. Christmas was wonderful! They were so much fun to watch. They loved everything they got. Our house looks like a Toys R Us showroom (hence the move), but it is well worth watching them learn. They are talking up a storm, almost everything out of their mouth is 2 word phrases and sometimes more. Max is very articulate and thinks he is the boss. He walks around telling "Brookie" (that's what he calls Calli) "no no Brookie". Calli talks a lot, but sometimes you don't know what she is saying. She has A LOT to say! She loves to sing and almost has her ABC's down. She sings ABC's, Happy Birthday, Frosty the Snowman, Itsy Bitsy Spider and Twinkle Twinkle. They love to cook and to help out in any way possible. They are both showing interest in the potty. Max is going #2 about 75% of the time. Calli is asking to go potty, but has only completed the transaction about 3-4 times. Today she did and she was so proud of herself!

I'm sure there is more to comment on, but I am a little crazy from being in this house for the past 2 days. More to come...

Calli and Mommy helping with Thanksgiving dinner

The first Christmas decoration (fiberoptic), they loved it!

Dressed warm to play outside

Playing at Incredible Daves

Painting a turkey, thank God for non-toxic paint!!

Believe it or not, he LOVED painting, he was mad because I wouldn't let him have the paint bottle:(

This is a quick post to say hello and to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving! We all have so much to be thankful for! I want to share a few things that come to mind on a daily basis (in no order of significance): Health-our family has been very healthy this year and the mild illnesses that we have had have been quick to pass. The babies both had surgery (ear tubes) with no complications! Job-Craig and I are able to work our schedules to allow for time together as a family as well as time alone with the babies. Our jobs have been able to provide us with our lifestyle and we are so thankful! Friends: without friends and family we would be Very stressed! I am thankful for ALL of the people who are active in my children's lives. They know they are loved and that is priceless! I am personally thankful for my husband! He is a wonderful man to me and an even better man to his children. He is very dedicated and loyal and that is just one of the things I love him for! Freedom: We still have so many people in the war over seas and it sadens me to think of all of the families that are separated due to this.

I hope everyone feels as blessed as I do on this Thanksgiving!!!

They had to wear their rain boots one day

Halloween night-Craig's first Halloween in YEARS!

Max enjoying a Kit Kat

Calli enjoying a Kit Kat

Max enjoying a sucker

Calli enjoying a sucker

The grouchy ladybug and the happy spider

Well, Halloween is finally over! Calli dressed up as a Ladybug and Max dressed up as a Spider. They ENJOYED their candy (a little too much). Max would even ask for it just before going to bed "de". That was a fun habit to break:) Since I have taken down the decorations they walk around the house looking for the cat and pumpkins. We did get to enjoy all of the great weather lately. They love going to the park and walking through the leaves. We also have been going for walks around the neighborhood, which is just interesting (my neighbors think I am crazy!). They both wear their backpack leashes and we all walk. Unfortunately, they don't walk at the same pace, so I usually just play tug of war between the two of them. Now that it is getting dark sooner, they are really into the moon and rars (stars). When the moon can not be seen they say it is sleeping:)

They are really getting big! They have thoughts of their own and aren't afraid to share them. They are both becoming more demanding as far as what they want to drink or books they want to read. Max is really talking a lot. He can say just about any word you say (sometimes even the bad ones:( ) Calli is trying to talk, but is just a little too busy. She is my climber and jabber jaws. She really LOVES shoes lately, which is too funny to me because that is such a girl thing. Max is saying his name really well and he lets you know when "max" wants to do something.

This Christmas is going to be so much fun! If we don't sell our house we may have to sell our furniture just to make room for all the STUFF.

Night out for our 5th Anniversary

Calli loves to dress up like Abby from Sesame Street

Go CATS!

Tailgating with Aunt Sam

Calli wearing a new hair style

Halloween Party at Cardinal Hill's childcare (Aunt Lauren's work)

Calli is starting to get enough hair to put in a barette, but she takes them out and they disappear-she may eat them, who knows?

Everyone is still doing well! We STILL have our house up for sale with no hope of selling it this year. I think we have both come to terms that we may live here longer than expected. We'll see, maybe we could let Toys R Us use our house as a showroom:)

Max is talking up a storm! He will say just about anything you tell him to. Unfortunately, he has started to repeat words not intended for him to repeat:( Calli is talking a lot, but only she knows what she is saying. She skipped the whole one word thing and has moved straight to sentences. Unfortunately, no one else on this planet speaks "Calli", so we both end up frustrated when she tries to tell you something.

Craig and I have been taking the babies to an open gym at a gymnastics facility. We go there on Wed mornings which allows for us to have some good quality time together as well as an opportunity for the babies to burn off some steam. She really likes to jump on the trampoline and is starting to jump with both feet leaving the surface. He isn't as graceful, but enjoys it just as much. It has also been an opportunity for them to learn from other kids as well as set an example for some as well.

I guess that's it. I will post some pics after Halloween, they are planning to be a spider and ladybug. We have been practicing wearing the costumes to make sure they like them. I just hope the weather cooperates!

Busy days

Max is now holding the golf club with two hands:)

Max, Calli and Jessie at the Buddy Walk

Calli getting a drink after the walk

Max enjoying a sucker at the Buddy Walk

We have been so busy lately! We did the Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome this weekend. They had their first sucker, which they LOVED. Calli dropped hers before I could get a picture. Max ate his all the way to the stick and then of course through a fit when it was gone:)

My friend Jessie (child with Down Syndrome) was too cute with Max and Calli, she tried so hard to keep them close by. She treated them like her lost sheep getting them back to their mommy.

We have "introduced" the potty to both of them. They are both attempting to go several times a day and actually doing something at least once a day. They think they are big stuff!!!

Still battling a little with control, but as they are getting older it is getting a little easier to reason with them. Max is now getting Time Out and Calli is well on her way:)))

They are loving the pumpkins and other Halloween decorations. They spot a pumpkin every where we go. They are practicing wearing their costume just to make sure they will tolerate wearing them when the time comes. We are even attempting to say "trick or treat" too bad no one will understand them. Any body know a good Speech Therapist ;)

We have had some playdates as well lately. It is interesting to see the kids interact. Calli certainly doesn't want to be a "baby" like the big girls want her to be, she wants to be the mommy too. Max just kinda goes around checking things out. He goes with the flow a little more (like his daddy) and Calli likes to control things a little (like her mommy). I am looking to get them into some program that offers a little more structure and interaction with same age peers. We'll see what happens...