Boo at the Zoo

This week we took Carlysle to Boo at the Zoo with our friends, Jamie and Oakley and their two little boys, James and Jude. We had a lot of fun letting the kids collect some goodies and at the end of the night we got to have smores. Yummy!

Here's our little Butterfly....minus her orange bloomers!

James and Carlysle holding hands. Carlysle loves playing with James and told us on the way to the zoo that she wanted to "hold James hand". The best part was Joey's response to her "you can hold Daddy's hand". Ah, just you wait Joey!

Oakley and James roasting marshmellows.

Baby Jude

This is me looking nervous about letting Carlysle roast marshmellows when actually we should have worried about my ability to do this task. I am telling this story just because Joey thought this was hilarious and is still making fun of me. The marshmellows caught on fire (which apparently "always happens"...says Joey) and I kind of panicked and wanted to put them out so I started beating them on the ashes.......forgetting we were going to EAT them. So they were covered in black ashes but we managed to salvage some parts.

Pumpkin Patch

Here are some pictures from our trip to the pumpkin patch at Harmon Tree Farm in Lexington.

In this picture Carlysle spotted a rabbit running around and took off to catch herself a new pet.

And yes, she managed to get this close....obviously this bunny was pretty tame and seemingly unaffected by the squealing little girl in pigtails and bright orange sweater.

And off he goes....with Carlysle tagging behind.

Maybe next year......

Carlysle's Birthday Party

This year for Carlysle's birthday I decided to have a bug-themed party. She is fascinated with bugs and I thought it was a good gender neutral theme that little boys and girls would enjoy. Her party was held at a local park under their picnic shelter. I found plastic bug catchers at the dollar store and used scrapbook stickers to put each child's name on their catchers. I bought a ton of plastics bugs and basically just tossed them on the ground around one area of the shelter. After all the kids got there we had a "bug hunt" and the kids got to take home the plastics bugs that they "caught". They seemed to have a lot of fun. I figured 2 year olds weren't going to be interested in participating in any structured games or activities but they love to "find" things. It was kind of a cold and rainy day but we still had a great time. Joey and I both brought our cameras for the first time ever......and they both had dead batteries. Oh well we tried!! So these pictures are courtesy of Aunt Frances.....thank you Frances!

I want to say a quick thank you to my friend, Carrie, for helping me set up for the party. Also, to Alysson for getting Carlysle dressed and to the party! Thanks guys, you're awesome!

These were her invitations....although this is not the best picture since I scanned it in.

Carlysle and Grandy (Joey's Dad)

The Bug Hunt

Aunt Courtney and John Andrew

Uncle David (Joey's brother), Aunt Sarah (Joey's sister), baby Max and Joey.

This was attempt to get a picture of all the kids.....although we only got 5 of them. This is John Andrew, Charlee, Campbell, Carlysle and Reece.

Mimi feeding gummy worms to the kids!

Joey, Carlysle and Grant

This is some video I took of Joey holding Carlysle and Grant when Lauren and David came in September. I had forgotten that I took this and just found it on my camera.

**Please note what Carlysle is wearing and who is holding her....allowing her to wear it. There is still a chance I can convert him.......

Carlysle "riding in Mommy's car"

Carlysle loves to sit in the front seat of my car or any car really. She has so much fun imitating me and will even pull down the mirror and pretend to put on makeup. I'm sure she must actually get that from watching her Daddy because I always keep my eyes on the road and my hands at "10 and 2". :)

Here is some video of Carlysle sitting in my car playing after a trip to the grocery store. This particular trip involved a lot of emphasis on her helping me pick out yogurt (her current favorite food). Sometimes you will do anything to get them to sit in the buggy and behave. That's why there is so much talk about yogurt in this video.

Happy Birthday Carlysle (Late....wait this post is actually on my birthday). Well I'm sure she is planning on writing something sweet about me soon.

Ok so I'm a little late! Her birthday was actually on the 9th but I forgot to write anything. I feel awful. So many of you have written such sweet things about your children on their birthday and I just let the day pass. In my defense, the week prior consisted of Joey having two car accidents....yes two! Two within two days of each other! No, not fender benders. He managed to total two cars. The first was his car and yes it was his fault because he ran a stop sign in Hartsville on a road he isn't familiar with and it was incredibly foggy. We are so thankful he is ok because it was a pretty bad accident with air bags deploying and all. However, his was the third accident that morning according to the police officer. Don was nice enough to let Joey borrow his car for a little while although that was short lived because two days later Joey was rear-ended on his way home from work (and yes the lady hit him so hard that both cars were totaled). The good news is he is doing well, just shaken up and very sore!

So about Carlysle.....I can't believe she is two! I want to write a few things about her at this age so I don't forget. I honestly feel like we just brought her home. I have no idea where the time has gone. She has been such a joy and makes us laugh every day. She can bring a smile to your face even on your worst day. It seems she is going to take after me because she is quite the chatterbox. Joey and I have been amazed at how well she is talking and how much she understands (which can be a good thing and a bad)! She repeats any and every word she hears, which means Mommy and Daddy have had to learn to filter....since she called something "stupid" the other day. And I'm certain she heard that from her Daddy. :)

She is already speaking in full sentences and I don't think a day goes by that someone doesn't stop us and comment on how well she speaks. This can be quite embarrassing because I never know what may come out of her mouth. For example, the other day in the grocery store she tried to stand up in the buggy. I quickly yet calmly reminded her that we sit on our bottom in the buggy. In response to me correcting her she decides to yell very loudly "STOP YELLING AT ME MOMMY"! Over and Over! Several people stopped to stare as I just smiled while gritting my teeth and giving her "the look".....which clearly doesn't have the same effect on her as it did on me when I was a kid!

She also still loves, loves, loves books and prefers them over toys and I honestly attribute her language skills to her love for books. The couple of toys that she does love is her baby doll and her dollhouse. She is quite the little mother. All day long she tells me that "baby needs _ _ _ _ _ (fill in the blank with milk, yogurt, nap, etc) and usually it's something that she actually wants. Just last week she took a trip to Greenville with Alysson and her Mom. They took Carlysle shopping for her birthday. Her favorite baby doll (Baby Frances) got left at Barnes and Noble. She told Alysson in the car that "baby was probably crying so much". We thought that was so sweet that she was worried about the baby being upset because she was left in the store. She is quite the ham and will do anything for a laugh. And once she gets a laugh at something, she will do it again and again. She full of sass....which I think is payback....sorry Mom. But at the same time she is doing really well with her manners. She almost always says "please" when asking for something and she always says "thank choo, Mommy" when I give her something. On most days she does great with "ma'am and sir". Although, it's hard not to laugh when she is being defiant and telling me NO she doesn't want to do something but instead of just "NO" she says "No Ma'am".

A few more things that she says and I'll be done. She has gotten in the habit of adding random words at the end of sentences. It's hilarious because she doesn't really know what they mean but she's heard us say them. The most common are "quick, probably, over here, I think, so much and little bit". So this is how many of her sentences go....."I need yogurt, Mommy, I think." or "The baby needs to take a nap, quick." or "I need to go get blanket, over here". You have to hear in the inflection in her voice to get the full effect. I crack up everytime. She is a little comedian!

So....all that to say, Happy Birthday Carlysle!! Mommy and Daddy love you so much! Birthday party pictures to come soon!

Kiawah Island Trip

For Labor Day Weekend Joey and I took Carlysle down to the beach to stay at his Dad's beach house. Carlysle has never been to the beach and we were so excited to take her. She did not disappoint! She loved it! The first day she was a little skittish about the water....in her defense I was holding her when I was knocked over by a wave. Not the best way to introduce her to the ocean. The second day she started getting brave and by the third day she was saying "farther, farther". We had such a great time and I can't wait to take her back next summer!