Hot Air Balloon Festival {Take 1}

One night when the Peterson's were here we attended the annual hot air balloon festival that kicks off the Pro Football Hall of Fame events. We went to the event after supper in hopes of seeing the balloons take off. After an hour of entertaining the kids it was announced that due to the winds it was not safe for the balloons to launch. So while we didn't get to see the hot air balloons we created our own fun!

feeding each other 

laughing

Sweet Natalie

Happy Hope

Smiley Nora

me and my soy bean

Can't beat the people watching

2 peas in a pod

me and my sweet friend

and to end the night...rolling down a hill

Visit from our Long Lost Friends

We recently had some friends visit. We hadn't seen them in 6 years and it was so great to reconnect. When we 1st met Kyle and I weren't even married. Our husbands worked together and we became fast friends individually and jointly. Due to our husband's profession we each have moved several times and each had 2 children. But once we saw each other the time melted away and we picked up right where we left off!

We packed a lot into the days they were in Canton. We visited other mutual friends, went to the balloon festival, shopped, entertained children and played games.

It was so wonderful to see them and meet their girls! We will not let another 6 years pass before reuniting again!

Sawyer and their oldest daughter are the same age and it's hilarious how similar they are. They love to run and jump and be crazy, but they both can be shy in new situations. I am hopeful we can set up an arranged marriage in the near future :)

Nora and Natalie

Hope had a little gum mishap...for future reference to get gum out of hair the best method is olive oil

Sawyer created a game called "Get back up there" and he and Hope loved to play with the daddies

Basically this game involved the kids being thrown onto the couch cushions by the dads

Natalie and Sawyer coloring with chalk

getting clean together...this will be perfect for their wedding video someday

my Nora cutie

2nd Birthday Party {Minnie Mouse}

For Nora's 2nd birthday we had a play date party with other 2 year old girls from church. In honor of Nora's Minnie Mouse obsession we decked out the house with mouse ears and bows.

It was a great play date and so much more calm than a play date with boys :)

The girls played with toys, drew on Minnie Mouse coloring pages, put on Minnie tattoos, ate lunch and put together Minnie puzzles.

Opening a 1 gift in the morning.

Sawyer also got to open a gift, he was very excited

all the girls showing off their tattoos

properties

singing happy birthday

She got really shy when people were singing and looking at her, but she loved the Minnie on her cupcake

digging in!

It was the perfect way to celebrate her 2nd birthday. She had fun with a few of her friends and was not overwhelmed by the number of people. And I was happy because there was less preparation and I got to have fun with some of  my friends too.

That evening we had Uncle Cliff and Aunt Jess over for a birthday dinner and to open gifts. Nora was so excited for Aunt Jess to come over she sat in the window for over 15 minutes waiting to see their car arrive. We had a wonderful dinner. Complete with blowing out candles on her cupcake. Then Nora (with Sawyer's expert assistance) opened gifts. She received a plethora of Minnie Mouse gear, underwear, art supplies and a baby stroller.

 blowing out her candles

Giving Minnie a walk in her stroller

Then we proceeded to 1st Friday which is an art event they have in downtown Canton on the 1st Friday of each month. This month coincides with the Hall of Fame celebrations so it was football themed. Sawyer was super impressed with the drum group we saw when we first arrived. He was enamored. He walked through the crowd to get all the way to the front. Then he proceeded to find his rhythm as he danced to the music. A few times we had to go get him so he didn't climb over the barrier into the group's space. He loved it! As we proceeded through the festival Sawyer also discovered a chalk artist drawing a football mural and he LOVED it. The artist was very appreciative of Sawyer's praise. Then we did a few kids crafts, jumped in the bounce house, ate a free snow cone and got a balloon. It had been sprinkling all evening (that's why there are no pictures) but the weather was starting to turn so we had to leave the fun and head home for bed. But all in all I think Nora had a great 2nd birthday celebration filled with love, fun and friends!


I'll be back with more party details in another post.

2 Years

Guess who just turned 2?

According to her 2 year well child appointment here are her stats:
Height 33.25 inches 50%
Weight: 24 lbs 3 oz. 25%
Head Circumference: 18.25 inches 25%

You have officially entered the terrible two's. The screaming and temper tantrums have commenced.

You are getting close to potty training. You tell us when your diaper needs changed and know the difference between #1 and #2.

You are in the "why?" phase.

You can identify all major body parts.

You know your colors thanks to fruit snacks. For the longest time you did not care to learn your colors then one day you were eating a bag of fruit snacks and as you pulled out a treat you named the color. I guess you will do anything for food.

Speaking of food you are a terrific eater. You eat pretty much anything we set in front of you. Except you still despise milk.

You mimic everything your big brother does (for better or worse).

Your smile lights up the room! See picture above for evidence.

You talk like a pro. You talk in full sentences. You can literally repeat every word we say and you articulate well (better than your brother) so people usually can understand you easily.

You still do not pay much attention to videos but your favorite characters are Minnie Mouse, Jessie and Abby Cadabby.

a sneak peek from her birthday party

Last week we moved you into a big girl bed. You have gotten down a few times but usually only when Sawyer gets down. For the most part you have done really well with the transition.

You mimic everything Sawyer does, for better or worse.

You have a good imagination and enjoy pretending to cook us dinner at your kitchen and pretending to sleep.

helping me make your birthday cupcakes you had your 1st taste of batter...at 1st you turned your nose up but once I forced it in your mouth you were hooked :)

I think she likes it :)

You are a typical girl, sweet one minute and sassy the next.

Your typical schedule is wake between 7 and 7:30 am, eat lunch at 11:30 am, go down for a nap at 1:00 pm, sleep until 4:00 pm, eat dinner at 5:30 pm and go to bed at 8:30 pm.

You adore babies.

You enjoy social situations and easily play with others.

Basically my baby girl is no longer a baby. It's bittersweet, but I can't wait to see what the next year holds for you! Love you sweet pie!

OBX {the last beach photos}

And to wrap up our vacation posts here are a few pictures from our last day on the beach.

Nora getting a ride from Uncle Cliff and Aunt Candace

Daddy & Sawyer putting together a kite

Cousin Koen and Nolan in the sand

Nora in the sand

flying a kite

Audra, Jake and Koen

Nora and Koen

It's not all fun and games at the the beach

Mermaid Gracie and Merman Sawyer