The girls and I had a great time at the play group today. We played at the playground and then on the beach. Anna loves going to the beach. Here are some pics of the girls from today's trip. Anna ended up wearing her swimsuit the rest of the afternoon.

At the playground
on the beach
Kate trying to find the sand.
Digging with friends

Kate's Mood Ring Effect Hair

As we are all aware Kate's hair is ridiculous. It makes her look like a extra small toddler and not a baby. Her hair is most always crazy but the nuances seem to reflect her many emotions, much like a mood ring. If you've had any experience with a mood ring it tends to stay on one color 98% of the time. Kate's hair does a similar thing as the following pics will demonstrate. All demonstrations of similar emotions. It is important to note that Kate's hair is not styled in any of these photos.

Exhibit A
The fright wig

Exhibit B
Laying flat, a rarity



At Christmas- A who ville child
Exhibit D
The class clown
Exhibit E
Partial Bufonte hairdo



And lastly
Exhibit F
Utter ridiculousness

What Kate can do!

Because Anna can talk its real easy to write about her. So to include Kate here is a list of some things Kate has done recently.

1. Walk all over the place in her walker, including following me into the laundry room and trapping me behind the door.
   
2. While in the walker she can take all the kiddie Magnets off the fridge and chew on them, pull the little red chair over. She peeled the manufacuturer's label off the bottom of a little fold up table I keep in the kitchen.
   
3. While I'm carrying her she thinks it is hysterical when Anna walks behind us.
4. Loves to be tickled.
5. Pulls Anna's hair
6. Laughs when Anna is crying because she got in trouble.
   
7. She now has 2 bottom teeth and with her hair we call her "goofy tooth"

Comic Relief

Here is a list of only some of the things that Anna has said or done in the last week or so. Hopefully this list will provide you with some comic relief as it has done so for us.

• After her second "accident" of the day Anna removes her panties and says to herself, "No more panties for me!"
• Anna has invented several variations of common words and even a new word. A lollipop is now a lollapop, a teddy bear has become a teddabear (yes thats one word). And a paper towel is a nakin towel.
  
• We have been teaching her please, thank you etc. for the last year. She pretty good at it but she shows her personal flair when she says, (Thank you so much)
• After Mike lost his wallet and I washed my cell phone in the washing machine and tried to console us saying"Its alright, Daddy(Momma) we go get you a new one at Wal-mart, then you'll feel better. Eat pizza you'll feel better"
• She likes to sing all the time here is a sample of her latest work
• Cinerella (Cinderella) repeated in a dreamy voice.
• Sweet Treats, Sweet Treats, is what I like to eat. Sweat treat,Sweet Treat I like ice cream. (Sung while waiting at the drive thru at
  Bruster's Ice cream )
• Instead of singing, "Who did, Who did, Who did,who did, Who did swallow Jo, jo, Jonah" She sings, " Pooted, Pooted, pooted pooted", etc.
  
• Some quotes by Anna
• "I run really fast in Target!"
• "You can't spank me Mommy."
• "I'm afraid of the snakes and cows under my bed"
• "The sweet potato says I yam what I yam" repeated from a Leap Frog Book.
• While reading BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR WHAT DO YOU SEE. Upon seeing the white dog she says, "Daddy, don't shoot the dog, OK"
• While playing barefoot outside with Ayden who lives next door, " I don't have feet, I can't play in the mud."
  

At home with the kids and loving it!.

I love my new job as a stay at home mom, though it is quite different than I imagined. I expected my house to be cleaner, art being made, loaves of homemade bread to give to friends, push the kids in a stroller, make it to the Library's story time, make clothes for the girls , have craft time with Anna, running and exercising... etc. As you can guess I'm only partially succeeding. Much of the time I am much busier than I thought I could be. I am gaining more confidence in my ability to this new job. I feel settled and enjoy exploring all the different fun places this area has to offer. There are lots of fun parks everywhere. Anna love it. The Lexington Park Library is huge and they have such great programs for the children. Anna really likes to go there and play on the kiddie computer and the big helicopter bookcase. Its big enough for children walk inside.

We are really enjoying where we live too. The neighborhood is wooded and is quiet. Our neighbors to the right of us are our age and have a little boy the same age as Anna. They have fun playing together. I just got a double stroller yesterday at a huge consignment sale. and I've already used it 3 times. The girls love it. It has allowed me the freedom to get exercise and walk to the store. I love it.

Anna's #3 and Easter

We loving our new home and our new church. We have bonded with the people quicker than we could have hoped for and the Lord has been gracious is helping us to overcome some of our own insecurities and reach out to others.
Anna had a great third birthday party. We invited kids of parents that Emily had met at the Bible study, as well as our neighbors little boy. I made her a Wonder Pets cake and we simply had a great time. They all had their tricyles/hot wheels/whatever and rode circles around in the old sanctuary at the church. Anna was exhauster afterwards, but she had such a good time. She gets so worked up over the details of things. She is alot like her daddy on that one. Kate spent most of the party asleep in the car seat, oblivious to the constant bumping of scooters and running children.
We had a good visit from Emily's parents and Easter went well. I preached for the first time on Maundy Thursday. All in all I was pleased with it - especially for the first time at a new church. I have preached at several different churches, but there is something to the fact that you know that you aren't just the visiting preacher here...you have to stay around. :) I posted the audio on my personal blog for friends and family who are interested.

Here are a few pictures of the girls:

Isn't she wonderful?

My sleepy-head girls in their Easter dresses.

Anna and her Wonder Pets cake.

Anna with a LARGE piece of cake.

Let us know how you are doing.

Are you settled?

Two weeks ago, we moved over 900 miles to California, MD. The boxes are now unpacked and all of our things are beginning to find a home. there is still plenty of things that need to be sorted through ,donated, recycled or tossed. But, overall its livable and comfortable.

The question has been posed to us form several people, "Are you settled in yet"? I kindly respond, "Getting there". I have had some time to think today about what being "settled" means. Physically here with all my stuff and my family is here with so I am settled in that area. But it hit me today that emotionally getting settled will take a bit longer.

Its a reality I've known was coming for several months now, but it hit me today that I'm now on a different place on the map. I'm in unfamiliar territory with nice friendly, but unfamiliar people. They have been overwhelmingly generous, helpful and kind. I know I will love it here. So am I settled? Give me 6 months to a year and then I'll say yes.

Not like I left a ton of friends. I only left the familiar. I know in time this will be familiar too filled with familiar people and places.