Railroad Park with the Domschke's!

How lucky are we to see each other 2 weekends in a row??

Lucky.

We had a nice Saturday morning at the park,

road the trains, ate and played on the playground.

Thanks for meeting with us!

Autumn and Maddy.

We even dragged this guy out of bed.....

look how happy Clare is because of him!

Dean!

They two make me happy.

Sarah taking the girls for a ride.

Dean smiling at his big sister.

Riding the little train.

Mad.

Dean and Sarah.

Necklace Making.

We went to Ikea with Gigi the other day and

she sent the girls home with some necklaces to make.

We got right to it after naps:

Look at the concentration!

Done!

Cute girls.

Thanks Gigi!!

Domschke Slumber Party!!

After Ella's party we headed over to the Domschke's for a slumber party!!!

Chris helped the girls make pizza..... they all liked the cheese!!

Clare, Autumn and Maddy.

What a big girl!

We played a lot, did crafts and Sarah and I

did a Pinterest project....

then it was bed time for little people.

Autumn and Maddy snuggled in the bed together.

Big snuggles!!!

The next morning we got ready to head

to our old weekly stomping grounds... the zoo!

Dean and Clare wanted to drive,

we put our foot down and said just around the house.

Jeez.

Kids these days.

l.o.v.e.

Clare Claresy (Maddys new nickname for her).

So sweet.

Snack time!

Thanks for letting up crash and eat your food, next time is up here!!

Ella is 1!!!

Ella had her first birthday a few weeks ago,

so we headed down to Tucson to help celebrate!!

Ella while everyone is singing to her.

Clare, Ella and Maddy.

Clare and Gigi.

Clare and Grandpa.

Tutu girls!!

Good thing we were there cause Ella and Uncle Will

could not have opened up all those

presents without the help of Maddy!!

Misc.

We went to dinner at my Dad and Susie's last week

and Clare actually wanted to touch the elk.

Normally she cries, this time she picked his nose at the request of her Dad.

I saw a version of this on Pinterest.

Cute, except it really tickled their feet when I was writing on them...

Point is these girls really love their Dad!!!

Clare Turns 2!!

Clare turned 2 a few weeks ago and we had a fun little party for her.

Toy Story was the theme, but she called it her Jessie Cowgirl Party.

So cute!!

The cake and cupcakes with a Jessie cowgirl on it.

Our family.

Some of the party kids.

Clare and Autumn eating.

Twins!

Jack and his Grandpa.

Dean!

Ella.

Maddy posing for Grandpa.

Singing to Clare.

Happy Birthday Girl!

Cupcake time!

Sisters.

Mallory, Courtney and Carlin.

Clare had some helpers with her presents.

Good thing because when the 3rd present

she opened was a baby she had no interest in anything else.

Happy Birthday Clare. We love you!!

Potty Time

On Thursday, January 5th, Clare used the potty for the first time.

The next morning she did really well,

even though there were a few accidents.

She had a poop in her panties and then pooped more on the potty.

She is doing great and we're gonna keep it going!!!

Great job baby girl!!!

Christmas Day

We woke up nice and early, as usual,

at our house and opened our presents.

The girls both got bikes, but somehow

I don't have a picture of that. Hmmm.

Not that it matters since they both ran

right past them and could have cared less

when we did point the bikes out to them! Ha.

Maddy is currently enjoying bike rides on hers

and poor Clare still can't reach the

ground at all on her pedal-less bike.

Clare was very excited to get a back pack just like her sister!

Maddycakes got lots of puzzles!

FYI

Next year we will be starting a tradition of doing four presents for each girl.

Something you need, something you want,

something to read and something to wear.

Of course they will get a Santa present too.

But Greg and I don't want them expecting a ton of

stuff for Christmas, especially since they pretty much

get what they want year round anyways.

Next we headed to my Moms for presents and breakfast. Yum!!

Clare opening presents with Auntie.

Maddy with Grammy.

Family picture.

(Maddy 3 1/2 and Clare is nearly 2.)

After breakfast we went back over to the

Mastin's for more presents, more yummy food

and hanging around time.

Clare's favorite present was this stroller.

For some reason she always wants to be in a stroller.

The girls push each other around in it and Clare

likes to be pushed when we go for walks instead of walking.

Weirdo.

Raindeer Maddy.

M and Ella for her first Christmas!