Activities in the Apartment

The kids love little nooks and corners. They are enjoying reading underneath the built-in bookshelf.

Some creative company made a fun "Potty Power" video. Lately, to motivate Lauren for potty training, the kids have watched it. They snuggle together on the futon and are mesmorized.

The kids LOVE to stand on the "outer steps".

Grampa Hall gave Lauren some containers to make homemade freezer pops...here they are enjoying a lemonade one.

Thought this would be a good place to store the spices-guess not :-) Kids had fun with these for weeks (I've since moved them to a cupboard up higher-there is not tons of cupboard space, but this wasn't going to work :-))

I got really industrious a few days ago (or desperate for something to do :-)) so the kids and I made our own playdough--turned out pretty cool, if I do say so myself.

I couldn't resist this shot. (We were shut in the apartment to buckle down on the potty training, thus the "comfy outfits")

The results-can't you hear how quiet it is?!!

Lauren's Third Birthday

Well, its been a while since I posted pictures. SORRY! We've traveled to FL, NC, VT and moved to NC in the last few months. Now our little girl is 3 years old! We can't believe it. Here's some photo's of our day together.

Good Morning Birthday Girl!


Lauren requested a cow cake. I couldn't resist and made it a holstein!


Mima came out to celebrate Lauren's birthday with us. Here's Carter (who loves to "speed read" now) reading with MiMa.

We went to the Life and Science Museum after church and lunch in the car.
Lauren tried rock climbing, since she's now a "big girl".

Isn't he cute!

Carter loves to say "CHEESE!" when we take a picture...you can see him saying it here.

Lauren's Third Year Survey

Last year for Lauren's birthday, we asked her a series of questions (thanks for the idea Pam!) and posted them on the blog. Here are her unprompted answers this year (Carter should be old enough to start come his birthday too!):

1. What is your favorite store? Playground
2. What is your favorite thing to do for fun? Play with sippy cups
3. Where is your favorite place to go? At the mall (Oh No!)
4. What is your favorite food? Grilled cheese (it really is!)
5. What do you want to be when you grow up? A pretty little daddy
6. Where do you want to live? At the pretty North Carolina...the other North Carolina
7. What do you like to do with Mommy? Play with toys
8. What do you like to do with Daddy? Hammer a lot with you
9. What do you like to do with Carter? Play in high chairs
10. If you could be an animal, what would you be? A tiger
11. If Mommy was an animal, what would she be? An alligator
12. If Daddy was an animal, what would he be? A lion
13. If Carter was an animal, what would he be? An elephant
14. If you could change your name, what would it be? An elephant
15. How old is Mommy? After running around the house, she put her hands up in different configurations and then dramatically exclaimed that she can't remember.
16. How old is Daddy? One
17. What do you know about Jesus? She giggles, walks around the kitchen, then says "the lion's den"

Life at Our New Home

Everything's out of the truck, but now what?!

A little water break

Walking outside at the mall

Grampa Hall came to help us move. We took a break by going to Southpoint Mall. We walked around and ate supper

A nice lady at the park offered to get us into the Life and Science Museum with them. Here Lauren's walking with her daughter Paige.

Drumming

We went to Duke Garden's one evening to play and walk around.

The kids liked the soft grass and doing aerobics/dancing in them. See the tree in the background, in the picture above, the kids are sitting on a bench under this cool tree.

Playing in the sandbox on our deck.

It is such a process to get ready to go to the pool, then walk two curious kids down our stairs and "stroll" (or walk at a snails pace, whichever you'd like to call it) over to the pool. Once we're finally in the pool, Carter is ready to get out after about 90 seconds. So, one afternoon I flipped the sandbox cover over, put water in it, and there-we've got our own swimming pool with no hassle!

We have a sun room that is the "play room". Here Carter is reading "Case for Christ" while Lauren looks through pictures from my teaching days.

They love sitting together on the stairs-reading, playing, talking, giggling, hugging, or swaying to the music.

Lauren loves to take care of her "baby" Carter (She calls him Caw-ter-its pretty cute)

We went to "Target Night" at Marbles Children Museum.

Who's that little boy?!

Our little, cool athlete (holding Mommy's bracelet.)

Reading with Mima

Good Bye Indianapolis :-(

We were so blessed to have good friends in Indy. Here are a few pictures with some of our friends we saw the last few days before we left.

The Groggs-they're due to have their third any day now!

We went to the zoo with the Feiocks.

Here's me and the girls I've gotten together each week with since we all met in Breast Feeding group when our first kids were born. A lots changed in 3 years!

The Moons, our good neighbors and friends

The Gausmanns-Melissa is playing with the kids while I packed

Jason's awards banquet. Marilyn came out for that, as well as to help with the kids and packing.

The six Ophthalmology residents

December

Lauren's past-time-rocking her babies in the cow rocking chair

Lauren and I had fun making this during Carter's nap and our first snow

Carter and one of his "Babies"

Children's Museum


Carter would tip his head back and sniff in and out

Any clothes are fair-game for dress up time

Carter helps sweep the floor by either spreading the whole pile around w/his hands or if he can get the broom-that works even better!

Another fun past-time

Thanksgiving and Jason's Birthday

Grampa Hall came out for Daddy's birthday and Thanksgiving


We put up the Christmas tree and decorations

Lauren exercised with Grampa Hall and Daddy

Lauren LOVES painting!

Reading Bible bed-time stories

Daddy's birthday meal at Bravo's

Lauren really likes to stand on the chair and help me cook

Carter LOVES balls and throwing them!

These two are hilarious!

"Hey Sis, look at this penguin!"