Birthdays

File this under the posts where I am still amazed at how much our lives change when we become parents.

I have never dreaded my birthday, nor have I ever really looked forward to it either. They are just another day in the year. Some people certainly do nice things which I appreciate, but then I also feel super-bad when people realize they have forgotten my birthday.

Anyway, this year .... my birthday was awesome! So awesome, because Carolyn was so excited about it. She talked all week about how it was mommy's birthday. She kept saying how she wanted to get balloons and how she was going to bake a cake, a PINK cake. On Sunday, she and Steve made a homemade pink cake which was delicious. Steve helped her make a beautiful sign. It was the best gift ever.

Oh, and getting to spend most of the day at a spa was not so bad either. Thanks Steve. I had a massage, pedicure, facial, and a hair/scalp treatment. Ah. I sometimes need a day-off from life like that.

Yet another knitted creation

Thanks, Mom! This is definitely one of your best creations yet.

UPDATED

Ok. I have updated the blog with whatever photos and videos I have for the past month. We, unfortuntely, did not take a family photo in March, so my 12-month family photo challenge has been broken.

How our lives have changed ....

Steve and I had such a fun night -- a Saturday night at home with lots of kids.

First, Ellie came over for the afternoon and evening. Since both Steve and I were home and planning to play with the girls, I offered to watch Zachary and Nicholas for a short time too. If we were going to be home with two girls, why not 4 kids, huh? After I offered to watch the two extra boys, I wondered whether it was a mistake ... but fortunately, the girls got along great. They were fast friends. And, the boys were as good as can be, too. It was such a fun night. Both Steve and I commented on how nice it was to make them dinner, play with them, and hear them run around together.

Carolyn tried to teach baby Nicholas how to build a tower. She asked me why he did not listen to her.

They are certainly not ready to stay home by themselves, but it was pretty awesome to see all of them play together and entertain themselves.

Carolyn and Ellie loved painting. See the artists in action. When uploading these photos, I noticed that Carolyn is painting with her left hand. She has not yet determined which hand is her preferred hand. She continues to use both her right and left. Though, I think her right is the preferred hand for eating.

She's a Goofball

Carolyn's Buddy Grant

Carolyn goes to school with a little guy named Grant. She had been asking for a long time if Grant could come over and play sometime. A few weeks ago, he came over to our house for the afternoon. She had a blast, and keeps asking for him to come over again.

Notice her get-up that day. She decided that, because Grant was coming over, she needed to wear a bright red kimono, about 10 hair clips, pink fairy wings, multiple necklaces, purses. The outfit became more interesting as the day went on. She said it looked pretty, and that Grant would like it. Seriously.

These two kids loved to sing and play music together.

They also loved their matching tatoos.

In the videos below, Carolyn seems to be a bit bossy. Not sure what to think about that. But she sure did have fun when Grant came to play.

March 2011 002 a video by boo4172002 on Flickr.

March 2011 001 a video by boo4172002 on Flickr.

March 2011 008 a video by boo4172002 on Flickr.

March 2011 009 a video by boo4172002 on Flickr.

Leo and Carolyn = Buddies

March 2011 028 a video by boo4172002 on Flickr.

I have not updated the videoseries of Carolyn and Leo playing in a while .... here is how they play now.

First Trip to the Dentist

Our hygenist asked me to bring Carolyn to my cleaning appointment this time.... basically, just to let her see me get my teeth cleaned. To get her used to it. We thought that we would just let her sit int he chair, look in her mouth, and count her teeth. However, she was so excited about the whole experience that she let them polish her teeth, take X-rays, and do a flouride treatment. So, I guess she has had her first official dentist appointmnet. Her teeth look great.

Ever since, she has been even more excited about brushing her teeth. And, she proudly took the new toothbrush that Tabitha gave to her to school to show her friends. She also told her friends about the "cool" chair that she got to ride in at the dentist. She also likes to play dentist, where she comes up to me, opens up my mouth, and then says "Your teeth look just right! Don't forget to brush them."

Klutz

Part of the reason why I wanted to keep my name (Utz) is because it is such a part of me .... Utz is an integral part of Klutz, which I am. I admit it. Freely.

Look what I did to myself. I gave myself a shiner. I am not sure how exactly I did it. I was opening up the car door, and next thing I know my eyelid was bleeding and a few hours later, I had a black eye. Thankfully, I did it on my way to take Carolyn to daycare, so as soon as I got to her school, I asked for a boo-boo freezie. I think the immediate icepack helped, but did not completely eliminate the bruising. Fortunately, one of the bruises followed a line across my eyelid that looked like eyeliner (I liked it. It made me consider getting permanent eyeliner). The other bruise was across the curve of the eyesocket, so when my eye was open, it looked like a dark eyeshadow. With some makeup artistry on my other eye, I was able to conceal the shiner pretty easily.

Best Friends

Carolyn has a best friend. Elise. The two of them love playing together. The last time she was over, we attempted to play a game. They surprisingly made it to the end of the game, but I am not sure if we followed all of the rules or not.

The girl's also insist on taking a bubble bath together. One time when they were younger, I was getting Carolyn ready for bed while Elise was visiting, so I let them take a bath together. Now, if it gets even a bit later in the evening, they beg to take a bath together. They giggle and giggle and giggle.

March 2011 022 a video by boo4172002 on Flickr.

here they are in action....

Baby's Got a New Pair of Shoes

Grandma Lynn and Grandpa Mike sent some really special shoes in the mail. Carolyn loved the pink sparkly tennis shoes. When she realized what else they did, she loved them even more.

March 2011 026 a video by boo4172002 on Flickr.

She did not realize they lit-up until she saw them in the reflection of the mirror.