Violet 2 1/2

Violet is a hilarious 2 1/2 year old. She speaks complete sentences that we can understand 90% of the time and the other 10% Harlow interprets for us :-). She still loves to do everything with "Har row" and is happy to comply when Harlow dictates who is the doctor when they play doctor or who is the mommy and who is the baby. Violet loves to play with baby dolls and is much better at entertaining herself than the firstborn. She plays with her "Piggy House" (Peppa pig). She loves the iPad and can discovered YouTube kids on it all on her own. She started saying "well" in front of every sentence and I think she has a little southern drawl! She repeats certain stories which is funny like talking about the turkey that Uncle Lucas told her lives upstairs at Pippa and Papas house and also the story about the "deer eating the baby pumpkin". The other night we were talking about rules and she chimed in the the most important rule: "No pooping in the pool!" She does know how to not poop in the pool, but she is being stubborn on the potty training front. We'll get there. It's going to be a fun filled family summer with me on maternity leave and I am trying to soak in all Violets funny things she does at this age.

 Violet calls the above pant her "owl pants" for some reason and they are her favorite to wear.

Harlow is 4!

Trying to keep up with this blog at least for the big events. I want to make sure i remember the girls  at all their different ages. Harlow has been telling EVERYone that she is 4 now, she is so proud. She says "now that I am 4 I can do x". And Violet is only two so she can't do that. These photos were taken to announce the newest baby girl. She is very into being the "big sister" and can't wait for the new baby. She tells us all kinds of things about babies like what soft foods they can eat and how you have to be careful when they can't hold their head up. She is beyond thrilled that it is a "girls baby".  The girls want to name her "Lucy or Rosie" and that is currently what all their baby dolls are named. Harlow still loves preschool and doing art. She likes to play games (or perhaps she just likes that games involve one on one attention from her dad or I). She is giggly and silly sometimes, we are working on "potty talk". She is also is so sweet and tells us that she loves us and "loves our whole family" all the time. Can't wait to see what the rest of the year holds!

Violet's 2nd birthday farm party

Violet's birthday party was supposed to be at an actual farm with kids rides, donuts, and a petting zoo. We were so excited this year to plan her party in Michigan since we planned a trip there for Mark's fall break from teaching. I know Michigan weather is unpredictable so I knew it could be a bust, but the venue had a large tent so I figured the worst that could happen is we would be cold and have to wear extra layers. WELL, the party was at the end of the week we were there. The whole week was beautiful, I mean unseasonably warm and just fall awesomeness. Then, when saturday rolls around they are calling for a huge storm at exactly the time of the party. Plus, the venue informed us that their tent was broken..whomp whomp. So we had no choice but to move it indoors. Luckily my fabulous friend has a recently renovated new house, perfect for entertaining. In the end, all the kids played, we had great hot dogs catered from The Corner Bar, and most importantly, our Michigan family and friends were able to attend. While there weren't any "real animals", I tried to play up the farm theme with the decorations.

Party prep, making the banner

Invitations by Minted 

Violet got a new car seat and the box became a barn 

loved her in "western" braids and her cow pants 

Fall Fun

The Fair

We had a blast at the Dixie Classic Fair this year. It rained for a week straight and this was the first beautiful day after that.  I think we spent about and hour and 100 bucks, but hey, memories, right? Harlow is really getting into the rides so that was fun to see and I always enjoy people watching. We will definitely make it a yearly tradition.

first day of preschool

Harlow started three year old preschool this year and Violet the "toddler" class. Harlow likes to say "I am three now so I'm in the three year old class" but still calls the two classroom her "regular class". They both are loving it and love to see all their friends at school. At the open house of course Harlow's teachers mentioned how much she likes to do art. They even saved some little scraps of paper that she cut up in a baggy (that one slyly went into the trash). I need to start taking photos of all her masterpieces.

2 year stats

I have lots of things to catch up on for the blog. A (short) camping trip we took, first day of preschool, the Fair, pumpkin patch, and finally our Michigan trip where we celebrated Violet's birthday. But first, before it's too far from Violet's birthday, the 2 year stats! She is:
35.25 inches 90% and 27 lbs 13 oz 65%. 

Violet makes us and herself laugh every day. She is goofy but also cuddly and sweet. She all of a sudden speaks in sentences and repeats everything we say! Whenever she sees a bus, she says "choo choo" and cracks me up every time. She is learning her colors and already likes pink. At dinner time she out of nowhere said "shark coming" and we all have to put our feet up and pretend a shark is coming to get us at the dinner table. Already with an imagination, we can't wait to watch you grow up Miss V! 

Ihop birthday lunch