Zoey ABC's

Zoey has learned her ABC's.  Getting them on video has been a bit challenging.  I missed the first few, but the dancing was so funny I wanted to share this video.

March blows by!

Wow, already March 25th, yikes!  Here is a glimpse of our March so far.

Samantha's friend from ballet had a cheese party.  Here are the girls in the cheese photo booth.

My mom found a new toddler helmet for Zoey at her church sale.

We also went to a festival at my parents church which had free slushies.

They also had where you could get pictures with a bunny.  Sam looks super excited, Zoey was upset.  Nick says it looks like she is saying, "Tell me again how a bunny has anything to do with Jesus?!?"

We were super busy with playdates.  I hosted 4 PALS events; a tour of the SPCA, a moms night out to paint pottery on pi day, a shamrock craft, and a trinity shamrock and resurrection eggs one.  We also went to a lot more.  Here is a picture from the bell pepper shamrock stamping one.  Zoey got her first taste of jello.
 

We also went to a PALS egg hunt.

Zoey was a champion hunter and wanted to keep going, so I had to get her to help a friend to limit her to 12 because she got upset when I tried to trade out eggs.  She was also funny because she wanted more raisins in lieu of candy.  So proud of that moment!

And we went to a bunny mask playdate.

Zoey enjoyed the rocking dinosaur, she even climbed up herself.

Nick and I also went away for a couple of nights as a make up for our failed 10th anniversary trip.  Given that we are 2 months from 11 years, we needed to squeeze it in.  The girls did well with Nana and Papa and it was such a treat to sleep in and not worry about naps.  Thanks so much to my parents!  We went to Sebastian inlet thinking Nick might could surf but it was chilly, windy, and no real waves.

We saw some cool things and I got to go outlet mall shopping!  Here is a close up of a bird on our walk.

And we did hang out at the beach for an hour or so.  Nick in our umbrella tent.

I went hunting for shells.

Sam has been a touch under the weather, but is feeling better.  So we played outside some today.  Both girls got crazy static hair from the slide.

 Check it out!

 Hope everyone had a great Saint Patrick's Day and have a wonderful Easter!

Happy Birthday Munchkin!

I really cannot even believe it is March 1st and my babies are already 5 and 2.  How time flies!

Here are the faces of Zoey as she changed from 12 months to 24 months.  

We wanted simple for her party, so I just made it a glorified playdate at the park on her actual birthday.  She loves Hello Kitty and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, so I combined the two into a cat and mouse party.  We grabbed McDonald's as a treat for her and had a quick picnic.  Then playtime in the park followed by some snacks, juice, and cake.  She was a happy camper.

I made 2 cakes, one for each character.  The Mickey Chocolate was the favorite.

I bought the girls matching personalized shirts for the party.  I had ordered them almost 2 weeks before, but still not gotten them the night before.  I emailed and ended up having to meet up with the lady to pick them up.  Made the day of the party extra hectic with all I needed to do.  But the shirts were perfect.

Zoey loves to swing and Papa was happy to push the birthday girl for a very long time.

I made Mickey Mouse hats.  Zoey would not wear one.

Nick and I made a cut out for photos.  Sam loved it.

I tried it out.

Even Papa took a turn.

Zoey stuck her finger in the cake to sample it.

It was super windy but we finally got the candle to light and she blew towards it, but needed help to get it out.

Then it was home for a quick nap and out to dinner at the local Hibachi.  We took Sam in Huntington and she loved it on her 2nd birthday.  She kept saying more fire.  Zoey was slightly less impressed, but she enjoyed it.  And she dug into her helping of rice.

She loved the birthday desert and attention.

                                 

And Nick got what may be my favorite Zoey picture.  I think he told her to make a silly face.

Zoey is an amazing girl.  She is mostly sweet, but does have a temper and wants things her way.  She is very verbal.  She speaks in full sentences a lot.  The day after her birthday we went to my parents for dinner and she opened presents,  When she was through, she turned to my mom and said, "I need another present, please."  She is a fan of the phrases "In a minute" and "Be right back", which is usually followed by "Need to run and errand."  Her vocabulary is pretty large, including words like refill and another.  She says Samantha well now instead of Sista.  She is good about please and thank you.  She can be challenging at times.  Sam had her moments at the around 2 mark, but was pretty easy to reign in until 3 and becoming a big sister and the moving and such.  I think Zoey may give us a run for our money this year.  But she flashes that smile pretty easily and can be very loving.

Zoey also had her checkup on Monday.  Sam recently had hers and is about average on weight and a little lower on height, but the doctor said she probably will have a spurt this Spring/Summer.  Not that we expect her to stay above average given her genes.  Zoey is almost exactly the same as Sam at 2, long and lean.  But she eats well and is just active, so no worries.

Zoey at 2
Favorite show: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Favorite traditional song: ABC's
Favorite Grown Up Song: Shine on by Georgia Florida Line
Favorite food: French fries.  She is pretty hit or miss on most things.  She does not like most toddler foods like nuggets or pizza.  She loves fruit of any kind.  She eats salad, kale, broccoli, etc.  It is great, but unique for sure.
Favorite Book: It changes some, but regular favorites are Daddy Cuddles and Go Dog Go (board version)
Other facts: She loves to play with the kitchen set and the grocery cart.  She loves playing with Samantha, but is still working on sharing.  She loves being outside, swinging, sliding, and such.  Her imagination is blossoming.  Just like Sam, things cry and need a bottle.

Here is to an exciting year full of adventures.  Happy Birthday Munchkin!  We love you.

The best thing about Florida...

One of the best things about Florida is that people come visit all the time!  We live close to disney and such.  We recently got to have dinner with Nick's old advisor and another professor from his committee.  We were close to both, often having lunch with them, and they came down to Orlando for a conference.  It was great to catch up.  Nick's Aunt Tracy and Uncle Bruce also came down and spent a couple of nights with us before visiting friends nearby and going to the beach.  And a graduate school friend came down with her family and we all went to Legoland.  We actually got Florida resident annual passes, so we will be going a bunch more, especially once the water park opens,

First, some catch up stuff.  I like country music, so I sometimes play it in the car instead of kids place live.  Both the girls have songs that they love.  Sam loves the new Miranda Lambert one, Mama's broken heart.

Zoey loves Florida-Georgia line's Shine on.  It is not my favorite song, but it is really cute when she pipes up with "Shine on" from the back seat. She did not sing along that much in the video, but you can get the idea.

Sam is pretty creative.  She recently used a basket for a crib while playing baby.  

Of course, Zoey wanted in on the action.  They shared for a bit, but then I pulled out another basket and blanket.

Here are the picture from Aunt Tracy and Uncle Bruce.  Both girls loved playing with Uncle Bruce and took very well to Aunt Tracy.  In fact, she often had to hold both their hands as we walked.  They got in Sunday evening and the girls (and Nick and I) got spoiled by generous gifts and we all went to Red Elephant.  Monday, Sam had the day of school so we had a huge breakfast and went to feed the ducks and swans, walk around downtown and then had lunch.  Zoey had a nap, Nick went to work, and my parents joined us for a pulled pork dinner.  Tuesday we had a leisurely morning after Sam went to school and when they set off we picked up Sam and went to legoland.

Uncle Bruce feeding the birds.

 Sam feeding a duck that looked silly from molting.

This swan got super close.

Aunt Tracy had to hold Zoey, but she did throw bread.

Such fun.

We had such a great time.  Please come visit again.  Or hopefully we can make it your way!

Legoland was such fun.  I got a quick picture before they said one rider to horse and we had to go to the lower level to find 2.

Sam posed but Zoey said this guy was too big!

Riding on shoulders is a current favorite.

 The duplo areas were fun.

Zoey now will go up to things and say "Mama, look at me!  Take picture!"

Her silly pose.

Sam and Nick did this ride.

 He also took both girls on a truck one.  I rode the old cars with both.

And Sam and I rode this up and down ride.  She actually liked it.

The mini city was neat.  Technically a Vegas one, but Sam loves all things Parisian.

This was the local area.

St. Augustine, which Sam just read a book about.  We thought it was about the person at the library, but Zoey was about to pull things down so I did not look closely enough and it was about the founding of the city.  Very complex book with some advanced concepts like slavery, but we got through it and she passed her AR quiz!

She loved learning about the election and recognized the white house.

We also saw a neat ski show.

This weekend was super busy.  I ran by to get the veggies and then Mom, Dad, Sam, Zoey and I went to the place Sam takes ballet, Kelly Rec, for their open house.  Last year I won a drawing, but this year we just got the general free stuff.

Zoey said the saw was too big, but Sam went right up.

Sam took part in the ballet class demo.

She changed and got her face painted.  We then had to rush home and get Zoey a short nap before setting off for a friend's birthday party.

Zoey has been getting some gifts.  She loves "prepents".  A recent favorite has been the hello kitty light from my Aunt Eunice.  She carries it around and says it is crying and needs a bottle.  

I cannot believe she is two!  Time has flown, even faster for Zoey since we stay so busy.  I try to enjoy every moment.  Her party was today, but that post will come later.  Happy birthday to a sweet, clever, busy, cute, adorable, amazing girl.  We love you munchkin!