Our beauties

I've been taking a lot of photos lately but not so many of the girls. It really has been awhile. It was such a nice day today. We were out playing on the back porch, a new favorite hangout since we cleaned it up. The light pouring in from out in the yard was so pretty I grabbed my camera and quick got some shots. Here are our little cuties.

Equal parts cuteness and trouble.

My little sweetheart, with her fake three year old smile.

Best Friends

Clara is absolutely loving our Eli lately. She's really loving the ideas of pets in general. I frequently hear her talking about us getting another dog. (NO we are not getting another dog. At least not now. ) Eli has surprisingly started warming up to her affections. He used to be great with her until she reached about 2 and then he turned into a grumpy old man whenever the girls get near him. We can literally jump and sit on him and he doesn't care but if they get within 2 ft of him he starts to grumble with dissatisfaction. However, I think now he might actually be starting to like Clara again. I contribute this mainly to the fact that she feeds him almost everyday. The way to win his heart is definitely through his stomach.

Potty Training !?!

Hazel pooped in the potty!!!! I know only something a parent could get that excited about. She's been peeing in the potty for many months now but hasn't really pooped.

It was very cute because Clara got just excited for her as I did and was clapping and encouraging her. I'm thinking we might go cold turkey on diapers this summer. Maybe even sooner depending on how things are going. YAY, Hazel!!!

Our little traveller

Clara has been really into learning about the world, where we live, where other people live, what different places are called. We've been talking a lot about the Earth, how the Earth spins around the sun, how the moon spins around the Earth. She's learning about all the states in the country and about other countries all around the world.

I'm beginning to think she has inherited our wonder lust genes. She has made many travel plans for her future. When she gets bigger she is traveling to Washington with Brandee, Megan and Papa. Sometimes she says she will drive there in my car and I can use Papa's car. Other times she says they fly there. She also has a tripped planned to go to Paris with me. We were going to fly but now we are taking a boat across the ocean. On the way home from the grocery store today out of the blue she told me she is going to Russia all by herself when she gets bigger. Everyday she fills me in on more and more travel plans. I'll have to tell you the idea of just the two of use going to Paris sounds fantastic :)

The Newest Deemer

So, now, I've got just a few photos of the newest baby Deemer, curtsy of someone over at Pumpkin Seed Photo ;) They are still being edited but it certainly was fun taking them and look at that cute little baby face. I think I might become addicted to newborn photography.

Thoughts of the day

I feel as though with parenting I tend to get pessimistic and complain a lot. I just thought I'd share a little bit about today. The girls and I had such a nice day today. I woke up to their callings for mommy. Walked in to two smiling faces. We got ready for the day and headed out to an outgrown sale in Leesport. Spent one crazy hour shuffling through toys and clothing. Hazel was on my back in the Ergo silent as could be. Clara very obediently staying right next to me with little complaint. She even riffled through the 4T clothing with me, every so often calling out "I like this one mommy. Can we get it? It's on sale." After our bargain hunting we headed to Happy Hollow for the Earth Day Festival. They painted flower pots, played in the sand box and listened to Miss Colleen from the library read all about trees. Then on a whim, we went out to lunch. They were so good the whole time ate most of their food and didn't even make that much of a mess. When we came home Clara had to try on her new clothing. Then we snuggled together on the sofa while Hazel was taking her nap. Then dinner, bath and a nice chat with Papa on iChat (he's away for the weekend). Then we snuggled up together in our bed and read books for a good half an hour until bedtime. It was a nice day.

I can't get over how much Clara is changing lately. Everyday she seems taller and skinner then the one before that. What used to be tight pants for her (basically anything that has a button and zipper) are now practically falling of of her. We had to buy a belt last week, which she was thrilled about. She's all about accessories right now. Not only are her looks changing but conversations with her are so much more in depth. And she has turned into this sweet, snugly, kisses and hugs all day long kind of kid. Not that she didn't do that before but it's been in excess now. So wonderful!

And, yes, Hazel is entering the terrible twos but we were having a good day, so that was fantastic! She might be a little independent and temperamental lately but through all that she has this sweet little jabbery voice. She's so excited about everything and can't wait to tell you about it.

It's days like these that make me realize how truly lucky I am.

Why?

Inquiring minds want to know. Little Clara has become extremely curious about her surroundings.

We have entered the why phase. Why does ice cream melt? Why do you have to do that now? Why do the bees make holes in the porch? But why? Why? Why?

And her greatest one yet. How did the baby come out of your tummy, Aunt Layne? Aunt Layne's awesome comeback - Why don't you ask your mommy that? Which she has not yet, by the way. I'm sure it's coming though.

Evey turns two!

All of the "babies" are turning two. Where did the time go? Finn, now Evey, soon Hattie and then my little Hazel. Seriously, two already? Happy Birthday Evey!



And here is a silly pic of Finn and Stella. Stella was being very cute and reading him a book, that is until I pulled out the camera.

Baby Deemer is here!

Layne gave birth to a beautiful little boy on Sunday, April 18th at 12:43 a.m. (Her birthday)

Jasper James Deemer weighing 9lbs. 1 oz. 21 in. long

This is the only picture I've taken so far a super cute, new, big sister, with her mom and baby brother.

Vancouver and Seattle

Ok, so, yeah, I'm finally getting around to posting pics of our vacation. Here's the link - Pacific Northwest.

What's with all the fighting!?!

It's like a war zone around here lately. Sibling bickering has kicked into high gear. What gives? " I want cereal." "No, Clara me cereal." "No Hazel I want cereal." "YOU CAN BOTH HAVE CEREAL!" Why fight over stuff like that? Major contributors to this include, Clara's desire to order Hazel around like she is her mother, Hazel's growing independence (not a bad thing), there growing knowledge of exactly how to push each others' buttons and the fact that both of them are talking so much and so loud a person can't even think.

I'm hopeful that it will tame down to a tolerable level, soon. Right? I much prefer the warm fuzzy moments, the two of them laughing and tickling each other in Clara's bed, working together to carry stones to fill a rabbit hole even though I told them not to move the stones (Note to self - put stones back.), Clara reassuring Hazel that it will be ok the bumble bees will not hurt her if she walks out into the yard.

I just have to remember all that good stuff during the moments of chaos. Stay focused . . . find a happy place :)

You know Clara's sick when . . .

you come down the steps and find this.


I went up to get Hazel dressed while Clara waited at the bar for breakfast. By the time I came down she had fallen asleep. She stayed like this all through breakfast. Poor kid. Turns out she has an ear infection, her first one.

More stories

Clara's story about me tonight.

Once upon a time there was a little girl named mommy. Who was smart and huggy. One day she found a bear. Tiptoe, tiptoe, swishy swashy, swishy swashy, Wooooo, wooooo . . . (and this continues for a while)


And one about Lily, our favorite bedtime story character.
Once upon a time there was a little girl named Lily. Lily found a lion. Then they went to her house to get seeds. Pancake seeds. (gibberish after that.)

Then we proceeded with lots of hugs, because I'm the huggiest.


I've got a ton of back posts to do about Easter, our Vacation photos etc. I just had to write this down before I forgot.

Easter

The rest of the Easter photos I wrapped up into this gallery.

We spent a busy Saturday, first at the Deemer's house for Easter pizza making and egg hunts. The girls had a great time finding eggs and even their dads got to have an egg hunt too. Thanks to some crafty hiding by Grandpop, Layne and I, they had a tough time finding a few. Hehehe.

After a morning at the Deemer's we then went to an egg hunt at the Keeler's. Well, Clara and I did since Hazel wasn't feeling all that great she stayed home with Bryan.

Easter morning the girls found their eggs outside that the Easter bunny hid and scoped out their baskets. Then we headed over to Uncle Jim and Aunt Toni's for the rest of the day. I've taken a lot of nice little video clips of the last week, especially of the girls playing the piano with Aunt Toni and some cute ones of little Hazel finding Easter eggs. She got so excited everytime she would spot an egg. It was the cutest thing. I'll have to work on editing them. For not you can check out the pictures, if you feel like it. All I have to say is Easter = lots of egg hunts = lots of candy.

Clara does Hazel's hair

Thanks, to the lovely Keeler's for an awesome egg hunt today. Clara and Hazel scored some cute little barretts. Clara decides to share them and do Hazel's hair.

The finished product.

Yeah, that's kind of how I feel when I'm trying to do your hair.

Good Friday w/ the Wrights

Today we spent the day with Grandma Wright and the girls. Clara, Hazel and I joined my mom, sisters and the kiddos for breakfast at Shady Maple. Then we spent the afternoon dying Easter eggs and having an egg hunt.

Hazel was very excited about every egg she found.

The kids, discovering what's actually in all those eggs. YUM!