So you think you can dance?

Life is Good!

School Halloween Parade

Caroline started with a Costume Parade at preschool on Thursday. Since she was room leader for the day, she got to lead the parade. How special!

Daddy, Grammie, Catherine and Mommy enjoyed seeing Caroline and her friends in costume. After the parents left, the children enjoyed activities like the Monster Mash, Limbo, and a Halloween pinata!

Caroline Grace Turns Four

Caroline's request for her 4th birthday party was a "princess tea party" for her pre-school friends. As you wish my little princess! I prepped the dining room with princesses and Grammie's fine china tea cup collection. Caroline and I made tissue paper roses to decorate the table. We had foam crowns for each little princess to decorate. And most impressively, we had a total of six princesses for tea, including the birthday princess, and no duplications on the "dress as your favorite princess" front. (Disaster averted.)

Once the girls decorated their birthday tiara and enjoyed "teacakes and crumpets" (a/k/a PB&J sandwiches), they decorated cupcakes. Each princess was able to blow out her own magic wand candle and make a wish.

Caroline's birthday present from Grandma and Auntie Tina was the most popular "Winter Palace Playground" activity. There was oftentimes a line for the see saw.

Liam's donated teeter tooter was a great substitute for the white horse. Giddy-up!

For our family birthday celebration, Auntie Nancy and Caroline decorated a princess cake. But Auntie also had a surprise cake for Caroline...CINDERELLA!

"Hey! This is even better than the cake we decorated together Auntie! Thank you."

"I love you, Daddy! Thanks for an awesome party!"

After lasagna dinner and cake, Liam and Caroline made use of DiDi's puppet tent gift. Excellent handmade puppets, Auntie DiDi!

Caroline's colorful balancing beam doubles as a ball bit for the girls as Auntie Sue and DiDi help Catherine slide right in. What a blast...or should I say, "What a ball!"

Lastly, Mommy and Daddy had a quiet celebration for Caroline with Princess Aurora. And do you believe she still isn't princessed out? (This particular cake we were not allowed to touch for hours...it was more like a toy or doll to her.... "Caroline, can Mommy pleeeeeeeaaassseee have a piece of cake?"

Catherine's First Birthday

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl! We cannot believe you are one already! What a wonderful year.
We celebrated Catherine's birthday with an appropriate "butterfly" theme. Who could forget our story about Catherine and the Blue Morpho Butterfly? This time the butterflies were intended to be eaten ; )

"Wow, Mommy. It really does taste better than the Blue Morpho at The Butterfly Place."

Our first Birthday celebration in New England was wonderful. We were surrounded by the Newark family; ate apple-stuffed pork loin using apples from Caroline's Preschool "Apple Picking" trip, and yummy cake. Life is good.

Absolutely Hysterical!

I may be dating myself here, but all I can think about is that song, "Doing the butt..." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwTkwyBa__U

Catherine's Corner

As we approach September 29th, I reflect on the past year--Catherine's arrival, how beautifully she's developed and grown, our life in New England, and much more. I count our blessings, admire our "angels", and shake my head at how quickly time flies. (Yes, everyone tells you this. However, until you experience it yourself, they are just words.)

A year ago I was counting the days in anticipation of Catherine's arrival. Today she is walking...yes, walking! And believe it or not, about a month ago she even started sleeping through the night. All along though, she has been a great baby with a wonderful disposition and a laugh that can melt the coldest of hearts. One year old? Say it isn't so!

Look out world! Catherine Aubrey Newark is on the run and turning ONE!

Lowell Spinner's Minor League Game

On Labor Day we went to a minor league baseball game with cousin Liam while Auntie Sue watched Catherine. Everyone had a blast!

A Day at the Zoo

Labor Day weekend family adventure = The Franklin Park Zoo in Boston.

"Oh, great. A day at the zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......"

Family fun is awesome!

What beautiful creatures!

"Yikes! He might snap us, Daddy!"

Cookie Monster

Caroline wanted to make "daddy's favorite cookies!" She had never licked the beaters...until now. (Yes, there are eggs in there, but we all did it as kids. And she, too, survived! ; )

Catherine and Caroline

It may be August, but it sure feels like Autumn to us up here. With nightly lows in the upper 50s and mid 60s, it makes for great "sleep with the windows opened" nights. It is amazing how much cooler and less humid it is up here. (I'd trade back for 100 degrees and humid though...) The girls are great, though, and cannot wait to see all our NC friends in October!

New Hampshire Weekend

"Mi Familia" By Caroline Newark

I'm proud to display Caroline's first family portrait. She drew her family for the first time with Ms. Sandra, the nanny. It was part art, part Spanish lesson as you'll see. Caroline wrote "Mi Familia" on the top. Great penmanship, too! (Click image to enlarge) From left to right you will see Mommy, Daddy, Catherine, then Caroline. The gray ground is snow she said.

Big Bugs in New England

The girls and I took a ride down to The Garden in the Woods to see the "Big Bugs" exhibit.

We saw a lady bug, dragonfly, spider, ants, bumblebee, praying mantis and all kinds of great bugs.The sculptures were situated along the one mile nature trail among beautiful gardens. It was really nice. And on the ride home Caroline said, "That was an excellent adventure, Mom." Getting a comment like that made it worth every penny!

Dancing Queen II

Just call her "Dancing Queen II". At 9&1/2 months, Catherine is following sis's lead with her love for music and dance. Go, Catherine!

Every morning we listen to "toddler music" and dance. Yes, Mom dances, too. And Catherine has grown to love it. Her face lights up when the music starts.

Look What I Can Do!

Catherine is growing like a weed...or should I say a flower...a big, beautiful, bright sunflower! Last week she got her first taste of "real finger food" as opposed to the Cheerios and Gerber Wagon Wheels she has been eating for practice. I got it all on film...just for you!
"I like to eat, eat, eat, blueberries and bananas..."
(Be glad the 3 minute video wouldn't load to this blog...)

Of course big sis Caroline could not be upstaged by little sis. She recorded an impressive little bit for your viewing pleasure as well. (Show off!) What can I say? She demands that we talk and interact when I am driving the car. This is a typical activity when I'm driving...something that doesn't challenge my mental capacity as I focus on driving. (Yep, it is sideways again. Sorry!)

Staying connected with North Carolina

As most of you know, the move from NC to MA has been like a roller coaster ride. We feel we are finally settling in and wanted to share some special moments and memories with you.

With some encouragement from Auntie DiDi, I am attempting to create and maintain a blog of the girls (mostly videos) for your enjoyment. Its purpose is to keep all of you in touch with the girls, their growth, and our progress. While it may at times (okay, most of the time) seem to have a NC bias, we hope the New England family enjoys it just as much. So here it goes...Shelly's first ever blog.

In June we spent a week in NC. We love the Outer Banks and had a wonderful time there. One evening we set up an iPod for a little background music while preparing dinner. Miss Caroline could not resist the psychedelic jam. Enjoy! (And if you know how to flip this upright, please clue me in!)