2 years old

Wow - our baby girl is 2 years old! I know I say this every month but where does the time go? You are growing and learning so fast! It's so much fun to see you become YOU! Just really coming into your personality, starting to really express yourself and truly becoming aware of others around you. You bring us such joy and keep us on our toes! Your special smile is contagious!

We caught these pictures of you on your big day while celebrating Thanksgiving at Aunt Shannon's house.

We love you SO much sweet girl!
So what have you been up to this month?

- LOTS of learning!! You learn new words every day and you are now putting them into 3 words sentences "Come on dad", "You sit here", "I want you", "Are you ok?" The best thing that happened with your language is you started saying "love you" on your own and not because we said it first - melt our hearts.

- You are also learning your colors & shapes and consistently get: blue, white, brown, pink, yellow; circles and square

- You love to go to bible class on Sundays! When we pull up to the church building, you often claps your hands and say yeah! You also love to go to school on Tuesday and Thursdays! You especially love your teacher Ms. "La-La" (Laura) - you are very protective of her =)

- You got your first bike for your birthday and you love it when we take it out. You are getting better and better at pushing your pedals by yourself.

- You don't like to sit in your high chair except during breakfast! Such a particular little girl - I know that will really come in handy someday when you are making decisions

- You have grown a lot this month! We went to Dr. Gulde's office and you screamed and clung to me like you never have before (Dr. Gulde had Claire help a lot to have you calm down) are in the 40th percentile for your weight (25.15 lbs.) and about 45th % for your heigth (33.5 inches) You and Claire got your flu shots so we went for an ice cream treat!

- You have started a love for drawing - not necessarily coloring all the time (you like that too) but you really want a pen in hand. You will cover up a paper with circles which keeps you very busy and quiet =) You are also following in sisters footsteps and loving any craft we do.

- The other day your bible class teacher, Tracy, told us that you sing so much in class that sometimes they have to tell you that's they are done with the singing part! You also like to sing along with the class next door (mommy sings those songs for you every night since I helped that class in the summer time!) Our little song bird!

We love you Eden Noel and can't wait to see what God has planned for you this next year! Happy Birthday!

Wisconsin

The week before Thanksgiving the girls and I took a trip to Wisconsin! My grandmother hasn't been doing well so we wanted to get up there to see her as well as introduce Eden to her extended family =) She hasn't met any of my family except grandma and Aunt Linda so it was a big trip for all of us. Eden flew free until she turned two so we just slipped by. Thanks to my dad who traveled with me to help - I wouldn't have been able to do it without him. It was a very special trip for us all and I'm so glad we made it.

This was Eden's first time on a plane and boy did she love it! She was pretty good for the most part but I'm sure some people weren't too excited about sitting next to us. Claire was BEYOND excited and was such a big girl.

Having fun with grandpa!

Neil packed a goodie bag for the girls and Claire couldn't wait to take it out to discover what was inside. Her favorite? Coloring Princesses! The Silly Puddy was the best surprise that kept them busy and quiet.

Our first layover was in Minneapolis so we got to see SNOW!

We traveled to Sheboygan to my Grandma's house and the next day we visited with a cousin of mine and his family. I haven't seen my cousin Lance since I was 19 so it was great to catch up, meet his wife Deb and spend time with their kiddos. We spent most of our time with sweet little Eve. She is about to be 3 years old and the girls had a great time playing with her. Since birth she has had osteogenesis imperfecta which is a very rare bone disease also called brittle bone disease. She constantly has broken bones so we had to be very careful while we played. I am going to post more about her later and how we can help her family! Her mom makes the sweetest hair bows and I would love to get all my friends to buy from her to help with all the medical costs they endure.

Here are Claire and Eve coloring - Claire was SO sweet with her and was so concerned with being careful.

It was SO cold that day so we bundled up to go outside to visit their bunnies.
Getting all bundled up with my girls - we are definitely from Texas!

Swinging on the tire swing - love this one =)

Claire, Eden and Emily

Here is my Aunt Evelyn, Lance's mom. So glad she also came over to visit and meet Eden for the first time.

Next day it was off to visit the rest of my dad's sisters but not before we shared a little breakfast with Grandma Ann. I have a lot of memories at this bar area!

Grandma and her great grand daughters

Always have to take a picture out on the back deck! A blustery, cold day!

Then it was off to Sandy's to visit with Dad's sisters and Uncle George - Here is the crew - George, Carol, Faye and Fern - Marge is taking the pictures! Dad has 7 sisters

Claire snuggled up with George right away - this girl knows how to cuddle!

Marge and Eden

Carol and George - love birds!

The next day it was off to see my mom's side of the family in Milwaukee.
Looking sharp in their pig tails and matching outfits - thanks Mom!

I LOVE this picture!! Eden looked through Grandma Ann's jewelry box to find the perfect earrings for her outfit that day.

We met at Barbara's to visit and eat Chinese food - Here are my awesome aunts from top to bottom - Judy, Linda, Barbara - I couldn't ask for more special aunts!

It was Kaitlin's 13th birthday - guess who was SO excited to see her 2nd cousin? Claire talks about Kaitlin all the time =)

Big sister pushing Eden downtown Milwaukee

We went to the Children's Museum and had a great time playing and discovering new things! Here is my dancing/spinning queen!

Mr. Potato Head

Driving the bus

Claire at the craft table with Barbara, Kaitlin and Linda One of their favorite things was the pretend grocery store. Eden couldn't get enough bread in her shopping cart!

After our time at the museum it was out in the FREEZING cold to look at the town square lit up! We were only out there for about 5 minutes!

Barbara, Kaitlin and Linda

Our last full day was spent hanging out at Grandma's after church. Eden found this stool had a removable lid and was in heaven playing peek a boo all day!

Where's Eden? There she is!

Linda and Eden playing with her puzzle

Grandpa and his Claire Bear

We went to the library to drop off Grandma's books and pick up some new ones. This library was AMAZING!

Barbara and Eden

Ready for bed!! Grandpa with his girls in their new monkey pj's from Barbara. For some reason this picture gives me a glimpse of what Claire is going to look like when she is older. She's already growing up too fast =(

Silly faces!

Saying good-bye to Grandma Ann - Claire just loves her Grandma Ann! This day was special for me. While Claire and Eden danced to The Nutcracker on DVD, my grandma shared with me her memories of her meeting, dating and marrying my grandpa while I wrote it all down. Her memory isn't as sharp as it used to be and that just isn't like her. It's hard to see her like that but she told me SO much detail about the years of dating and marrying her love. I never met my grandpa so I really love hearing stories about him.

Me and Grandma - Claire took this one!

On our way to the airport we drove by a few places - the old school house my dad went to kinder - 8th grade. He had 6 kids in his class including himself. It was a tiny little place in Gibbsville.

Right next to the school house was the Gibbsville Cheese Factory - a MUST stop when we visit Wisconsin. I remember this place from when I was little and loved getting the fresh cheese curds. So awesome to take my girls here!

Also stopped by the house he grew up in - this is a picture of the barn on the property. I remember picking fresh berries from the bushes in front of the barn when I was a little kid.

It was a wonderful and memorable trip for us! We missed Neil terribly and were SO glad to be home after a flight delay and race to the gate to catch our connecting flight. I've never run so fast! It took us at least a week to recover since it was jumping in to Thanksgiving and Eden's party when we got back. Nothing like creating such wonderful memories!

Eden's 2nd Birthday Party

Can our little girl really be 2?! Her big day was on Thanksgiving this year and we had a fun filled day of travel to Schertz and Austin to be with family (post about that one later!) Couldn't wait to give Eden her own special day on Saturday with family and friends and what does Eden LOVE? CATS!! And cake... it was the first thing she would say when we would say the words "Happy Birthday" to her - she has her mommy and grandpa's sweet tooth =)

I had so much fun making this banner for Eden and decorating the light fixtures with hanging kitty cat toys - mice and balls! I gathered all her cat stuffed animals and some yarn to decorate the tables. SO much fun!
Eden also LOVES herself a craft of any kind - I think it's the glue and coloring! HA!! So we made kitty cat puppets out of paper bags, googly eyes, popsicle sticks and pom poms. Eden and Isaiah especially loved taking everything out of the bags!

Claire had been looking forward to this all week =) She is also a craft girl!

Ethan coloring his cat

Mimi helped Eden with hers

Then it was outside! We were so blessed to have this play scape here when we bought the house (got the car swing for Claire's 1st birthday from Gma and Gpa). Eden could swing and slide all day. I think it's the redeeming factor at our house for cousins Kyle and Justin!

Isaiah sliding - what a cutie!

Justin - he asked me to take this picture =)

And the birthday girl! This is one of my favorites

Kyle - can't believe how fast he's growing up too!

Big sister Claire - LOVE this one too =)

Then it was back inside for pin the tail on the cat - compliments to Neil for creating everything we needed for this one =) It really was hilarious to see them play. I blindfolded and spun the older kiddos!

The finished product - isn't it funny?! Kyle won =)

Could she be any cuter?!

Oh what sweet hearts! Isaiah and Eden just love each other and are so sweet with one another. They are good friends from church

It was SO wonderful to have so much family there! Mike usually works on the weekends so it was a special treat to have him there to share the day with!

Shannon, Mike, Jan (Heather's mom in town from Hilton Head) and Heather!

Bob, Grandpa, Grandma, Grandma, Eden and Claire
Heather and me - Congrats to Mike and Heather! They are having a boy in April =)
After eating yummy smoked turkey tortilla soup (thanks mom!) and amazing dip (thanks Erin!) it was CAKE time! I have wanted to make this cake for almost a year - found it in a Parents magazine and couldn't wait to replicate it. Eden LOVED it and I had a blast putting it together for her.

Also made these fun cupcakes - it took forever but SO worth it!
Happy Birthday love! Mommy had to help with the candle per your request =) "No, you"

Tasting her cake!
Me and my girl =)

Found this idea with the cake recipe in the Parents magazine - felt kitty cats with pixie stick whiskers. Each kiddo got one along with silly puddy and bubbles

Eden and Grandma

We opened gifts at the end and Eden got some much needed winter clothes - she has grown out of most if not all of Claire's fall clothes. Thanks everyone! She is enjoying her new dolls and dressed warmly the past couple of days!

Couldn't resist posting this one =)

Neil and I found this sweet tricycle on Craigslist and she LOVES it! She really looks like a big girl on it and has practiced a lot the past week.

She looks SO proud! This is one of my favorites too!

Playing with her new doll - Claire has claimed one for her own but likes to tell us "I know it's Eden's. She's just sharing it with me."

Then it was back outside for bubble fun with Mike and Heather

More swinging =) Look at that face!!

Our big 2 year old - Eden, we love you SO much and can't believe how fast you are growing. Your giggle and smile melts our heart. You have blessed our life beyond measure and we can't wait to see what this year holds for you. God is molding you into such a sweet hearted little one - beautiful inside and out.

love you - Mommy and Daddy

Can you believe I lost my camera with all my pics on it? It has been missing since Friday and I just found it today THANK GOD so now I can post about our trip and our Tday =) Thanks mom, dad, Mike and Heather who let us borrow their cameras for the bday party!