Atlanta Zoo

We went to the Zoo about 3 weeks ago and I am slow to post pictures. I have a roommate from Rick's college that lives just over an hour from here. She has season passes to the Atlanta Zoo and so invited us to tag along for the day! Thanks Lory - we had a great time. It was a nice cool day and the girls and I both enjoyed getting out of the house for the day!

They had fun little play grounds and both girls LOVED driving this little school bus. I love how Ali barely can look over - she was always on her tip toes
Little Ali thought she was such a big girl. Thanks Grandma Broderick for the bute outfit - this was her first appearance in it. Here is Andie with the Kangaroo. There was a petting zoo, but Andie was not at all interested in touching the animals.
This little Panda bear is only 8 months old. He was so cute!
Here we are with another Panda...the girls were confused why it wasn't Mickey Mouse!
Here with are with Lory and her two kids

For Saleela & Blake

This video was inspired after we saw a gorgeous picture of our friend who lives in DC. The picture was taken with the background of HUGE trees full of blossom's. I showed it to Andie and she started singing - so we recorded our little trio (sort-of).

Ali's Walking!!!

We have tried several videos over the past few weeks, but this one was taken just today!! I love it! She is so darn cute!

More Birthday Fun

I am so slow and have more pictures but need to download them from my camera. So perhaps you will receive slow updates this week. For now, enjoy the rest of the pictures from Ali's Birthday. My little baby is all grown up.

Trying to sneak a present early. She was so cute.Thanks everyone for all the presents. She got some cute clothes from her grandma's and some money. A cute doll and some more little toys. It was GREAT!
Happy Birthday Ali! We made a cupcake cake - which was fun for everyone!
She is ready to dig in!

Starting with the frosting
Enjoying more cake
Not so messy - it was great!
Andie enjoyed licking the frosting!Dinner was another story. We had Russian chicken with corn - the plate that you see now, ended upside down over her head - She had rice and corn everywhere and was just giggling. It was so funny!
By the end of the day she was pretty tired. However she still wanted to play with the favorite new toy - a car with 4 animals as passengers.
Ali - we are so lucky to have you in our family!

Happy Birthday Ali!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALI!! My little baby has completed her 1st year of life! WOW!! What a year!! She moved to Georgia (which means she flew on a plane). She went to Six Flags and Disneyworld. Has 13 teeth and is learning to walk (she has taken 4 steps independently MANY times!) She loves to play with her big sister Andie, ride in the stroller and push the little stroller around. She loves to dance and help mom type on the computer. She loves to play with her toys and read books and does just about anything Andie does. She can definitely out eat anyone in her class! She is so fun and always so happy! She will put a smile on anyone's face!! (hence the pictures below from this morning's photo shoot!)





Happy Birthday Ali - we love you so much!! I can't believe you are ONE!!!!

Potty Training - Day 2

Isn't the mom supposed to teach the child - or is it the other way around? Believe me, when I am the FIRST to say - I am SO lucky! Some light has gone on in Andie's little head and she goes potty ALL BY HERSELF. When I say, all by herself - I am not wanted, nor even invited to "help out." Yesterday she went the whole afternoon wearing underwear and only had one very small accident, which was my fault. The timer went off and I didn't ask her if she wanted to go.

This morning this is the routine. She walks into the bathroom - doesn't mind that the light is not on. Pulls off her pants and then her "Ariel". Backs up to the toilet, scoots her way on (no stool, potty chair - just the regular toilet you and I use!) Watches as she pees - "washes" (wipes) - jumps off, flushes the toilet, closes the lid, puts her pants back on, climbs on the toilet to "wash her hands" where she turns on and off the water and does the soap ALL BY HERSELF then calls me to get her down so she can dry her hands. (She tells me every 15 minutes or so that she is going to the Poo-potty)

No worries, I am always there to assist in her efforts, but I must say she is very thorough and does great. Today when I asked her is she wanted to go "Kah-kah" (poo) in the potty, she wiggled to the back of the seat - gave me a serious look and then watched as she gave a tiny grunt. "POP!" followed by a splash - Andie jumped, it was so funny, they she looked at me, "Eewh...Kah, kah!" She waved good bye as we flushed it down the toilet.

So far she has been so successful and I have had to do NOTHING! It is great fun - heck - I will potty train again if this is all it takes. Well - I must go - she just came in and said, "Mamma - Andie poo-potty!" and she started taking off her pants.

Way to go Andie - we are so proud of you!!

Day to Day Life

I have a lot of pictures that I take and then never post. I thought I would share a few to give you a glimpse of our day to day life. It is very fun and entertaining....most days!
Andie and I bought a kite yesterday at Walmart - best $1 purchase of the year! It is blurry, but has Mickey, Minnie and Goofy flying in a hot air balloon.
Shawn took a break from homework and came out to play with us. Andie was cute, she kept saying, "Oh no Mickey, be safe!"
As some of you know, our Stake is REALLY big on emergency preparedness. Last Sunday we had combined Priesthood and Relief Society on such. So, I have decided that each month I will contribute a small item to our list of things needed. This month was personal hygiene kits.
Andie enjoys taking off her clothes - I think because she can. So, I pulled out this fun dress-up costume that was given to us to try to keep her somewhat covered. She enjoyed it for about 30 minutes and since has had nothing to do with it.

Here is Ali eating, more or less.


Andie has gone on the "poo-potty" (don't ask me where she got that from) once a day for the last week. She watches herself, totally in control and I always tell her to go more!! She does and then I say, "Go Lots!" Then she does, says "Good Job Andie", wipes herself, washes her hands and is done. We will slowly get her to going all the time, but for now she is doing great and totally initiated her potty training. We did by her underwear, but she only likes to play with them.
I got some good grocery deals when the Food Lion went out of buisness. I think I got nearly 150 items, average was .75 per item. Not too bad!
Andie LOVES to play with Mary, when there are not older kids around. They have so much fun together....Mary, you should come and play again sometime soon!
Ali just sitting and playing - usually what she does all day long! She loves to play!
Ever since our trip to Orlando, Andie only wants "Snacks!" I called my mom and thanked her for this one day and she suggested that we get creative with our lunch and cut different shapes for our "snacks". Andie loves to have circles, triangles, squares and rectangles. Rectangles are her favorite - it's easy to cut a sandwich down the middle and Whala - rectangles! haha

Finally our little Ali girl is starting to walk. If you hold her hand or she has something heavy in the stroller to push. She is such a funny character!

Are You Smarter than a 2 year old?

YES I AM!!! Although I constantly let Andie believe that I am not. Here is the scenario.

Ali: asleep in the crib
Molly: reading a book on the couch
Andie: playing with toys

Ali: Fussing as she wakes up
Molly: Looks at the clock
Andie: Runs upstairs to get Ali

Molly: Continues to read because they usually play for a few minutes laughing and giggling

Andie: Opens the door to the room (I can hear it through the baby monitor)
Ali: Ahhhhhh! (giggles)

Andie: Runs over to the crib (giggling)

Molly: reading

Door Slams....running, door slams

Molly: Drops book, runs up the stairs

Andie: Giggling...

Molly: (slightly raised voice) Andie, UNLOCK the doors

Andie: Giggling, hurrying her hardest to get in the crib (you can hear her)

Molly: knocking on the door - Andie don't get in the crib, unlock the doors

Andie and Ali: jumping in the crib and giggling (have I mentioned they don't know how to get out of the crib?)

Molly: locked out of the room...hmmmm. Heads back down stairs, gets screw driver, goes back upstairs. Unscrews door handle to unlock door. Get's door unlocked and goes into room

Andie: Tries to hide in crib, "Good Job Momma!"

Molly: "Thanks - but you are still in trouble" Gets both girls out of the crib.

Molly: Takes door handle off and reverses the lock so she has a way in.
Andie: "Good Job Mamma!"

Molly: What will they think of next?