The BIG Snow

The end of January, we actually had quite a bit of snow. It was great!! We had about 5 inches and 1/2 - 1 inch of ice on top. Since it was so cold, I think it took us longer to get dress than we spent outside playing.

Daddy and Caroline all bundled up.

Unfortunately the ice was all Caroline had to play with, you really couldn't get to the snow.

I had to stomp the ice to get it to break every time I put my foot down - Caroline didn't make a dent.

Love the view from our backyard!!

Caroline did find a little snow to knock off the window sill. She was ready to go inside at this point, but we convinced her to stay out a little longer. To be honest, ice really isn't that fun - you can't make anything with it.

I pulled this chuck of ice off the grill cover. Caroline had fun throwing the ice down and breaking it.

As I was clearing the grill cover, I found snow underneath and made a pile for Caroline. She really enjoyed playing with the snow. I just wish we had gone out the day before when there was no ice.

She was ready to go inside - and I guess Cal and I weren't cooperating - so she took off by herself.

As we were walking inside the garage, I looked down and saw this ladybug laying on top of the ice. It was kind of odd looking.

After the ice melted, Caroline and I played in the snow. She had so much fun. She loves Frosty the Snowman from the 1960s that comes on TV around Christmas time, so we built a snowman. I took this picture while she was taking her nap - a couple of hours after we made it. I call it our Charlie Brown Snowman. The important thing is that Caroline really liked it and got to participate.

The same night, I looked outside and saw this. I was sure it would fall off during the middle of the night and wake Caroline up - her bedroom is right above the front porch roof - but we never heard it.

Cute Scientist

A couple of Saturdays ago, we went to my parents to visit. Caroline found Uncle Charles's goggles and - since everything she sees belongs to her - put them on.

We tried to get her to put them on correctly, but I think they felt too tight on her face. She started chewing on them instead - until we realized what she was doing. Hopefully Uncle Charles hasn't noticed the bite marks.

The next Saturday, we visited Granny Jessica and Aunt Linda, and everyone had a great time!

As you can see, someone missed her nap.

New Year's Day & The 1st Snow

On New Year's Day, we went to Cal's cousins, Chris and Christy's, house - we didn't get to see them at Christmas because Christy was sick. Below is the reason we don't ask Caroline to smile for the camera anymore.

While we were there, Chris and Christy gave Caroline the coolest Elmo microwave for Christmas. It has a turntable that rotates, and a couple of the pieces of food actually pop up when they are done. She played with it nonstop for a couple of days. Now it is in the normal rotation.

Below, Chris is giving Caroline a piggyback ride. She loved it! Although she doesn't like men (except daddy, her granddads and Uncle Charles), she has definitely embraced Chris.

Our first snow of the winter (the next morning) was so deep we could hardly walk. HA! If you look really hard on the ground and in the air, you might see a few flakes. But, when we told Caroline it was snowing, she said, "I have to get my boots on and go outside," so we did. It was SO COLD that day we stayed out less than 10 minutes.

While Cal and I were fixing breakfast, Caroline had to play with her new microwave.

Could this be a new trend - how many hair accessories can we fit in our hair? She wanted more, but I finally convinced her they wouldn't fit.

Christmas Morning at Home 2009

On Christmas morning, both sets of grandparents and my brother (Uncle Charles) came over to see what Santa brought.

When Caroline first sat on the Sit 'n Spin, she wanted me to do all the work and turn her. She figured out pretty quickly that it's a lot more fun when she does it herself - she goes a lot faster!

Santa brought a Dora doll that actually smells like strawberries and came with a brush which Caroline enjoys using. Unfortunately for Dora, her hair doesn't look that good anymore.

She had so much fun tearing wrapping paper this year!

Cal and I got her a shopping cart. Once she opened it, she started putting presents in it and pushing them over to the spot where she was opening her presents.

Then, she would put her trash in it and push it over to Ger for disposal. It really kept things nice and neat.

She brought another present over to open, and then...

took another load to Ger. It was really cute to watch!

Grammie and Ger got her a tutu. We were trying to get her to pose like a ballerina (since we know so much about it) - this is her interpretation.

Grandma and Grandpa got Caroline a Minnie Mouse cash register. She sometimes uses the scanner as a phone.

Caroline was so much fun during Christmas this year. She really enjoyed it. I think next year will be even better!!

Christmas in Shelbyville 2009

Cal's aunts and Granny Jessica gave Caroline a recordable version of The Night Before Christmas with each one reading a page or two. Caroline loves hearing it over and over. She'll probably have it memorized by next Christmas.

Caroline definitely enjoyed playing with Rocky. He was very patient and gentle with her.

She kept hugging him again and again, and he mostly stood there and let her do it.

Aunt Diane gave Caroline a pram. For the first few days, we had to take it everywhere we went - good thing we have an SUV.

After the festivities, Caroline helped vacuum the rug.

For some reason, she would not move from this spot. She would reach out as far as she could - that one strip was very clean!

Christmas Eve 2009

On Christmas Eve, Caroline received the traditional Christmas pajamas.

When Cal asked her to hold them up so he could take a picture, this is what she did.

We decided to be a little more specific for the second one.

Caroline wanted to leave cookies for Santa on her plate with a glass of milk and a Nemo napkin.

These are presents Caroline put under the tree for some of our family. They are sorted by wrapping paper and in a straight line - I can't imagine where she gets that!! Ha, Ha!!!