Race for the Cure

April 30th was Race for the Cure. (I just came across the pictures today). My mom, who is a two-time breast cancer survivor, came up for the Race. She was first diagnosed in 1997 & then again in 2007. She has had to endure two surgeries, radiation, & chemo. She is such a strong woman and our whole family is so proud of her. This was the first time Geneva & Lexa participated in the Race. They wore their pink jogging suits & woke up a little early. As you can tell from the pictures, Lexa was getting a little cranky by the end & ready to get out of the stroller. A good Cracker Barrel breakfast quickly got rid of the fussiness!

Random pictures I found on my "purse" camera.

Anna & Brad's Wedding

Today was my friend, Anna's wedding. I met Anna freshman year in college. There was a group of us that had most of our classes together our first semester, part of the U of A's efforts to make the university smaller. We had Algebra, Biology, Biology lab, & an Intro to Education class. Anna & I were always studying together, eating lunch everyday, & hanging out in her dorm room because mine was SO far from campus. Later on in college, we planned our schedules so we would have as many classes together as possible. She is a middle school math teacher now with a beautiful home in the country. I am SO happy she found her soulmate. It was a beautiful outdoor wedding at St. Catherine's chapel. Anna & Brad's love really shined!

Walking down the aisle with her parents.
Have to get a view of the back!
Anna's oldest sister officiated the wedding.
The kiss was SO sweet! After the kiss, Brad hugged Anna & then kissed her again!
It's official!

Can't believe we met in 1998!

Brad & Amy's Reception

The day of the girls' birthday party was also my cousin, Brad's wedding reception several hours away. It was a long & busy day but a great one for our family. Happy occasions are really what life is all about!!! We had some great laughs (thanks to Jean's amnesia) & an all around wonderful day! Thanks to Patrick's mom for keeping the girls. I don't think they would have made the trip. Congratulations to my cousin for finally finding his better half! Wish you all lived closer :(

Beautiful picture from their beach wedding!
The happy couple dancing the night away.
The last time Megan & Patrick danced was at our wedding 9 years ago. Megan looks a little different now!
The three cousins... Andrea, Brad (the groom), & me. So many memories of us growing up together. Poor Brad, the only boy. But he lived to torment us girls!
Enjoying the music.
Andrea & her boyfriend, Jay.
Andrea's oldest son, Phillip.
Andrea's daughter, Megan & youngest son, Billy.
Uncle John & Aunt Martha.

Memorial Day Weekend

What's more American than corn on the cob and swimming for Memorial Day (at Granny's)?

First time with corn on the cob. Lexa loved sucking the juice more than eating it.
But Geneva loved eating it with mouth wide open!
Love this picture. Yes I have published it twice!
Corkie enjoying the fresh air, although she had no idea where she was. Poor baby is now 19 years old & very confused.
Lexa drinking the water, grass bits & all.
After Lexa stole my water glass, Geneva had to beg to get one of her own.
My water glass quickly becoming a toy.


Even Granny's dog, Gabby, is photogenic!

2 Year Stats

Your check-up at the doctor today revealed:

Geneva: 23 pounds (10th percentile).; 33.1 inches (30th percentile)

Lexa: 28 pounds (70th percentile); 33.9 inches (50th percentile)

Happy Birthday, Geneva--Part III

Happy Birthday to our first-born (by one minute but who's counting)! I will never forget seeing your jet black hair when the doctor delivered you. Geneva, you are a wild child, very curious, eager to learn, & love to be the center of attention. Here are some things about you as you are entering your second year:

--You have a magnetic personality. People are drawn to you. We figure you will be an actress or some sort of entertainer. I think you get this from your Pop.

--Although you have this personality, you are still a little nervous in new situations for the first few minutes at least & bury your head into my chest.

--Your expressive language is amazing! You have an impressive vocabulary. You are literally a sponge. I will say something once, and a day or two later you shock me by repeating it back in the proper context. You are talking in sentences. For example, you say "Hi sweetie pie" "Good morning Mommy," "I want more ___," (when eating) "I'm hot/cold", "I break it, fix it". Your speech is so clear. There is no doubt what you are saying.

--You can say your name. A few months ago when asked what your name was, you would say "Nina" & asked what your sister's name was you would say "LuLu." Now you clearly say "Geneva" & "Lexa."

--Your receptive language is also excellent. You follow directions so well, answer Yes/No questions appropriately, & even open-ended questions such as "What do you want to drink for breakfast?" "What is your favorite color?"

--You are beginning to count to 10 & say the ABCs (A-G).

--You are very observant & know the function of objects. Just the other day you picked up a pair of binoculars in the garage & put them right up to your eyes. I don't know where you learn things!

--You are very dainty at times & a girly girl. You love to wear dresses & love picking out shoes.

--You love to draw with crayons & sidewalk chalk.

--You love music & love to sing. Again your memory for language is amazing. The other day you just ran up to me & said "Muffin man, muffin man." Although "Do you know the muffin man" is on your CD, you have never seemed interested in it but obviously picked it up. You love to sing "The wheels on the bus", "Old McDonald", & several made up songs mommy sings to you such as "Where is Geneva?" & "Clean up."

--You love the Razorbacks. Anytime you see a Hog whether on my license plate, a shirt, a magazine, whatever, you say "Woo Pig Sooie!' It is so cute because you say it fast, in one breath.

--You are a HUGE helper. You love to dust, vacuum, fold clothes, "cook", you name it. Every morning you put all of the dirty clothes in the laundry basket. You also gladly help throw any trash in the trashcan.

--You are very attached to things including your pink blanket, your bippie, & any & all stuffed animals.

--You get lots of boo boos & are very dramatic about them. If you are sick or hurt, the whole world knows! This is a nice way of saying you are a wee bit whiny!

--You are a great traveler. You can put yourself in the car seat now; all we have to do is buckle the straps.

--You are a deep sleeper & still sleep to this day just like the picture above, with your hands above your head.

--You still are not a morning person. You wake up very groggy & say "night night" for at least an hour.

--You don't quite have the sharing thing down. You think every toy is yours & take everything from your sister.

--You love to play hide & seek & love to be chased. If it is time to change into your pajamas, you run through the house squealing at the top of your lungs.

--Your newest game is "close your eyes." We tell you to close your eyes & you squint them so hard & squeal.

--You love to try new foods, very adventurous.

--Every child you see is "baby". You love to meet children.

--You love to rock ever since you were a baby in your bouncy seat (that you wore out). You will climb into any chair & rock back & forth, especially when you are tired or not feeling well; I guess it is your comfort. Now you will sing "Rock a bye baby" as you do it.

--You need to be potty trained! You tell me when you are about to pee or poop & are very fascinated with the potty. The problem is you won't sit still long enough to let nature take its course.

--You are a nudist! You love to strip off your diaper & clothes & streak through the house. What's even more fun is when I walk in your room & you have thrown your dirty diaper into Lexa's bed!

--You are a copy cat. If Lexa does something, you have to do it, too.

--You love to name your family. I ask you "Who loves you, Geneva?" And you always start "A-----MY, Eric", etc. & go down the list.

--You have the sweetest voice & cutest laugh.

--You love to move & dance. You will start doing your own aerobic routine. You will get on the rug & say "march", "jump", "clap", "twirl", "spin." You spin so much that you make yourself dizzy & fall down on purpose.

We love you, our little monkey!

Happy Birthday, Lexa--Part II

Lexa, you are such a special girl. We love you so much. You have such a BIG heart. We call you our "old soul", it is like we have known you forever. You are a mini-adult & would have been a perfect only child but God had other plans! Here are some things about you as we celebrate your 2nd birthday:

--You are very healthy. We worried & worried about you because you were only 4 lbs, 2 oz. at birth & looked so fragile, but once you learned to suck that bottle, you haven't stopped! I truly credit Enfamil Preemie formula for making you so healthy!

--You love the water. We call you a fish because you are so content in the water. You dive face first into the bathwater every chance you get. You loved swimming in the pool with Aunt Amy & love the word "wet".

--You are so caring & loving. When you notice someone doesn't feel well, you pat them on the back & give them the biggest hugs in the world. Just the other day, I woke up from a nap with you kissing me. When Geneva was sick in bed last week you carried her toys into her crib & blew her kisses through the crib bars.

--You love to laugh (especially at your sister). You think Geneva is so funny. You laugh & laugh & eventually just shake your head & say "sista." You have a very deep belly laugh!

--You HATE elevators. When the doors close, you cry & look so fearful. Like Luke said at the hotel, "she must have claustrophobia!"

--You love your home. When we are out walking, as soon as you spot our house, you run up the driveway smiling and say "home."

--You love animals. Anywhere we go, you are the first to notice puppies, kittens, & birds (which are "robbies" for robins). You are so gentle & sweet with Whiskey & Corkie. You must kiss them two dozen times a day.

--You love to read anything & everything. When you don't know the words you make them up & are content just flipping through books (until sister steals them away).

--You wake up in a good mood, always. Just chattering away in the mornings.

--You go to bed in a good mood most of the time. You read a book to yourself until you fall asleep.

--You have one speed--fast. You love to run & stay busy. You are so independent.

--You are a hoarder! Like a dog that buries his treasures. You hide toys everywhere--in bookcases, drawers, under the bed, in your clothes "pocket", in the trashcan. You never know when you might need them!

--You like to tell on your sister. I often hear in the monitor, "no, no, no, sister" & I know that Geneva is in trouble.

--You love nature--animals, flowers, trees, bushes, & anything & everything to do with the weather. You point to the window & beg to go "side". Most of your vocabulary for awhile had to do with weather "wind, rain, thunder, sun, cloud, snow." You are NOT happy when it is time to come inside.

--You are not fan of the car seat. Not because you don't like to travel, you just don't like to be still enough for more than 20 minutes. We have to distract you with graham crackers, but even after awhile, that doesn't work.

--Your newest trick is to say "I funny" & put your head back & cackle!

--You love TV commercials, especially jingles. Your favorite one is "Drive easy." You also like American Idol, always calling "Scotty's" name.

--You love your family. You get so sad when we leave your grandparents or great-grandparents, just calling out their names over & over again.

--When I come home from work, you run laps like a dog on the living room rug. You are so excited.

--You share very well.

--You roll with the punches. If your sister steals something from you, you find something else to play with & for the most part just keep going.

--You have, however, begun to show us glimpses of the terrible two's & can throw a fit when you want to (usually when you have to come inside).

--You must be a democrat because every time you see Pres. Obama, you scream "Obama" & jump up & down.

--You love to brush your teeth.

--When asked if you have been a good girl, you say "bad girl" & laugh.

--You love to spank. When your sister (and sometimes your parents) are bent over, you walk up, spank, & say "bad girl". It's really funny when you do it to Whiskey.

--You are fascinated with lights & fans. You love to flip the light switch on & off a million times, saying "wow" each time.

--You love telephones & turn things that aren't telephones into them. When I ask you who you are talking to, you always say "SuSu".

--You often tell me good-bye & wave. When I ask you where you are going, you always say "shopping."

--You are so brave. You fall outside, can be bleeding & just keep going.

--You are very creative, coming up with new games & songs on your own.

You are our blonde angel, Happy 2nd Birthday, LuLu!