Time isn't endless...BUT...

How many times do we all say "where has the time gone??" And then we stop and realize it's just past us by and the year is almost over with. As I sit and write this, I think about that...It's October 11, 2011 and I literally am shocked that Halloween is in two plus weeks and then the crazy holiday season begins. Again. Tonight I sat and watched Hannah play with her Leapfrog...her Leapfrog! She was learning how to read simple words and pronunciation of them...really?!? It seems like just yesterday she was where Caroline is and learning how to walk (or run as seems to be the case...). And Caroline...my Sweet little Caroline. My baby. She is walking around everything. Saying simple words and loves baby dolls. Again, I think it seems like just yesterday she was born...but that first year has come and gone. This weekend also marked a milestone: 15 years ago I met Tim at our now hometown's annual festival in 1996. As I sat and watched the parade with my girls I thought back to that same day 15 years ago where I met a lanky engineering student with a wonderful smile and funny personality. And a cute tush too =) There was something about him that I liked and felt natural about it. And fast forward again and we've been married almost 8 years and have two daughters. All of it has made me realize that time isn't endless and it won't standstill no matter how hard we try. BUT life is what we make of it and those moments we have are the memories we take with us and reminisce about as time goes by. We remember through stories, through pictures and by timing going by....

Caroline at birth September 27, 2010

Caroline in VA Beach, VA September 2011

Caroline in September 2011

Hannah in September 2011

Hannah when she was 1 day old February 13, 2008

 

 

Tim and I circa 2011

 

Where to begin?!

Life...it is a journey! A lot has happened since my last post! Caroline is officially a one year old and Hannah is, well, chatting and independent as always. So....may be not much HAS passed???? LOL! In early September we went on vacation as a family a four plus my mom (Gramma Dianne). We traveled the 12+ hours to Virginia Beach, VA and it was WONDERFUL! VB is an incredibly family friendly place and I couldn't have asked for anything more. It turns out that Hannah loves the ocean and making sand surprises while Caroline likes to simply eat the sand and drink the salt water! And I loved every minute of it...even the part where I was washing out Caroline's mouth and eyes after ingesting sand and salt H2O @ once. Yup, the girl couldn't get enough of either... Now, let's fast forward to end of September and Caroline is 1. Wow, is all I have to say. It has been an incredible year full of ups and downs but, in the end, I wouldn't want it any other way. She is my baby girl and I feel incredibly blessed to have her. It hasn't been easy with two....I was foolish to think otherwise =) BUT in the end life has worked out just the way it was supposed to... And now we look to Halloween 2011 and I can't wait. Hannah plans to be either Snow White or the Little Mermaid (depends on the day) while Caroline will be my little Chicken, the same costume H wore in at her age. How fun it'll be!!!

Determined Caroline...

In one month Caroline will be one year old...and I think she is starting to break out of her shy and laid back stage. Yup, I may have another defiant one on my hands!

She hears the word NO often but her response usually is: stop for a second, look at me, whine a bit and then proceed on the course she has set out...with a determined look and a forceful crawl. As if she's telling herself "Nothing will stop be in getting up the stairs or to those wires!" LOL!

Of course she not only has me telling her NO but Hannah as well. In fact, it's funny to me how often I hear Hannah tell her sister NO when Caroline is on "Hannah's blankets" or "Hannah's toys" or "Hannah's pillow pet"....I hear "That's mine Caroline!" regularly.

But I wouldn't change it for the world b/c I know it's when I DON'T hear any noise that they're truly up to something...and that can be the scary part!

Bob Evans Round 2 and last...

I can't believe I decided to try Bob Evans by myself with a three year old and 10 month AGAIN. But, call it what you will, I did. And I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN. In fact, I left one of my best friend's a message tonight telling her to knock some sense into me if I ever mention trying to take the two girls out to dinner. Alone. Over the next year. Sigh.

It started with such promise. We arrived. The hostess seated us right away and took our order. I thought, "Wow, this is great. Fast service and the girls will be fine." Not so fast. Caroline's applesauce arrives as do biscuits...again, nice and prompt. That's where it all started to go SOUTH...

You see the waitress comes back with the girls food (pancakes) and says "Some other server took your salad by mistake for another customer so they have to remake it for you." Fine, not a problem. In fact, I thought it was probably better if it arrived a few minutes later b/c I could get Caroline and Hannah settled with food in front of them.

Tick Tock. Tick Tock. Waiting....15 minutes later still no salad. Now, you might ask what kind of salad did I order. It wasn't a fancy salad, rather a plain ol' wild fire chicken salad.... But apparently it was a bit too much for the restaurant to handle.

So, off I motion to the manager and told him to cancel my order as my children were done eating and it was time to leave. He proceeded to apologize and offered the salad as take out at no charge. I think he saw the semi-wild look in my eye (again) as Hannah and Caroline were both getting restless.

The salad-to-go came, I threw a tip down, paid for their dinner and raced to the car...all in time for Hannah to decide to throw a tantrum about not getting ice cream and Caroline to have a melt down b/c she was tired.

Just another day in the life. =/

Cedar Point for the first time...

Yesterday was Hannah's first time ever at Cedar Point. In truth, it was just okay...for she and I. I think she was a bit overwhelmed by it all and didn't much take to the rides. In fact, she preferred to watch others ride then get on anything herself.

In total she rode five rides...well, actually, she rode one twice so really it was just four separate rides. And her favorite, which coincidentally happened to be the one she rode twice, was Snoopy's choo-choo train. Yup, that's right: it was her favorite. When I asked her why she liked that one "the best" she responded, "Because it was slow mommy."

LOL! My oldest might not be a roller coaster fan after all but it doesn't matter. I enjoyed the experience with her and was able to witness Cedar Point through a three-year-old's eyes. And that was more than worth the cost of admission!

Hannah on her 1st ride, the Merry Go Round! She opted to sit on the bench during the ride and wanted no part of any of the actual horses! LOL!!

It doesn't show here really, but Hannah pretty much cried the entire time during this ride. And screamed that she wanted to get off... =)

Family...

This weekend all of my sisters and their families are together...in one location again. It feels great to have all four of us and my mom together again. In fact, it's fun! It's also chaotic too but I wouldn't want it any other way. Hannah and Caroline both are enjoying their time with the cousins and I love to watch how they interact with everyone. Hannah is constantly running around and Caroline is just smiling and laughing at all the activity.

I am thankful for all of it. As I looked around this evening and watching everyone laugh, talk and just have a good time, I couldn't help but wonder what my dad would think. I know he is looking down on all of us tonight and smiling. He's smiling at the memories he has and watching the memories being made. AND he's witnessing the women his daughters have become. For that I am thankful. Doesn't make me miss him any less but I know he is part of all that we do, even if it's from Heaven. =)

These images are of my mom and dad circa 1960s!! The left is on their wedding day, June 6, 1964! And the left is of them dating in late 1963. Thank you Mom and Dad!!

The crawler and her big sister...

Caroline is now crawling as of this evening...it has been an exciting night in the homestead much to Hannah's dismay! Hannah is realizing quickly that Caroline can now get her toys and that means no "Hannah toy" is safe from Caroline. I've heard plenty of no's coming from Hannah tonight as she attempts to block and move books and dolls. Only now Caroline is going after them again and again. Tim and I just laugh b/c we know this is the beginning and I suspect we have many years of this ahead. Of course Hannah could surprise us and begin to share readily but I'm going to bet otherwise...or she'll share some things but her favorite toys, well, that's going to be another issue.

Let the next journey begin!