Unexpected Package

In the prior post I mentioned a big surprise that came in the mail.  We decided it was best to wait until this evening to open it and why not video chat with the senders so they could enjoy it too.

What was it?  Oh, you know, just a BOUNCE HOUSE!  Goodness.  If that doesn't scream love I don't know what does.

Noelle knew exactly what it was and that it was from Papa Larry when it came ("jump a papa's house!" in Noelle speak).  She's been dying to play on it again since we left (and often requests to see a video of her cousin 'Brina on it to live vicariously through her).  A few Sundays ago it was mentioned on our video chat that 'Brina was going out to jump in the bounce house and Noelle ran and grabbed her shoes and told us she was going to Papa's house.  Melt their hearts why don't you.

Noelle's face looks like she's thinking "is this real life?"

Noelle enjoying a jump.  I couldn't get her to sit still and smile.  I think she was having too much fun.  She had that big smile and giggle that kids get on Christmas morning.

Another "am I dreaming" look as she takes in her BOUNCE HOUSE!

She had quite the circuit training going on.  Run around in circles, bounce, go down the slide, run around to the back, climb on, and repeat.

She played for quite some time this evening and can't wait to play again tomorrow.  Corey enjoyed the sights from within as he was becoming a mosquito buffet.

Chatter

Ivy loves to chat now that she's figured out how to make noises.  In fact, at 5 this morning she was having a ball chatting to herself.  

I tried to get a snippet of some of Ivy's talking for you:

Also, Noelle (and her parents) received a big surprise in the mail yesterday.  She knew immediately what it was and who it was from.  We hid the box from view temporarily but will probably set things up tonight or tomorrow.  In the meantime she keeps asking to see the little video of her cousin jumping.  She can't wait.

The Boy Who Lived

Corey and I were watching the Harry Potter series last Christmas time, and apparently Noelle was paying attention because she loves Harry Potter.  At least she thinks she does.  She can pick out all the movies off the shelf and asks to watch them sometimes.  We've only watched parts of the first two with her so far.  I'm reading Harry Potter to the girls, but Noelle usually offers to put it away for me after a few minutes.  I think she's delicately saying she'd rather do something else.

Laughing

Noelle had fun last night laughing with Ivy.

You can hear Noelle's laugh become more forced as the video goes on, but she sure loved seeing Ivy laugh back.

On Vacation

A few weeks ago Corey went to Chicago for a job fair.  After three days on my own I was very glad to see him.  Noelle is hit or miss with naps these days.  When she doesn't nap it makes for a very long day (and a grumpy girl in the evening).  I had Corey take the camera to document his trip.  This is one of four pictures I got back (all were of his coke).  Silly.

A few days after Corey got back from his trip his internship ended so we had ourselves a little vacation.  It was nice.  We got a few projects done here and there and just enjoyed being home.

Speaking of Noelle not napping sometimes--this is what we found at like 5 PM one night when we were fixing dinner.

We went to Mesa one day for a get-together our friend had.  Noelle had a ball swimming and jumping on the trampoline.  She has mad when Corey made her go inside when a haboob ran through (apparently one ran through Tucson a few weeks prior but we didn't notice as we were inside).  I had gone inside to get Ivy probably two minutes prior and it was sunny blue skies.

Despite the heat we went to the zoo one day.  It was hot.  Noelle had fun seeing the animals again.  Ivy was just a hot little bundle in the stroller (can you see the peacock behind them?).

Later Noelle took the stroller and Ivy came with me.  Hello Tiger.

It's been a fun week of playing with the girls.  Corey and I were just joking how we're going to go back to real life.  I can't possibly take care of two kids again after all this time?  Corey's thinking the same thing about class and homework.  It's funny how fast we adapt to something nice.

Ivy is four months already!  Time is going by much faster this time around.  She is such a cutie.  Her hair is getting a bit crazy some days and sticks up all over (except for her cute little curl in front).  I could put some piggy tails on this cutie... maybe I'll try later this week just for kicks.

She's doing great, the doctor himself said she was perfect.  She's about average for weight (which is double her birth weight now) and in the 90th percentile for height.  She didn't like her shots, but who does?

Noelle is loving life most of the time.  She is very considerate of things around her.  She often comes to me and tells me something got a bonk.  Today her foot got a bonk.  She proceeded to kiss it and hug it and said "love you foot".  She is a little fish.  She loves swimming, the splash park, playing with water outside, and especially baths.  She likes pretending to be a mermaid and putting her bath toys to bed (she uses the washcloth as a blanket).  She loves pulling the plug, but hates when the water is all gone.

Third

Today Corey embarked on his third year of law school.  Third year out of three.  Final year.  

Almost done!  We are proud of the work he's done and hope to have a great next few months.  We have a feeling it's going to go by quickly.

A List

It has been a while since I made a list.

Ivy:

-Loves to blow spit bubbles (to the delight of her sister)

-Has a small birthmark on the back of her neck

-Holds her hands a lot

-Loves her thumb (we tried and tried to get her to use her pacifier...)

-Likes to hold hair (her own hair, my hair, Noelle's hair--she's not picky)

-Is almost always smiling when you get her out of bed

Noelle:
-Likes movies a lot.  Her absolute favorite might be Incredibles, but this week she loves WALL-E and Up too
-Loves playing with water
-Is kind of a picky eater
-Loves Cinnamon Toast cereal (when she says it it's "swimmon toast")
-Likes to help cook with mom
-Likes to try to help dad fix things
-Talks all day long
-Says "excuse me" when she coughs
-Loves to tell Ivy what she's doing ("Ivy, Noelle watch funny Up", "Ivy, Noelle a coughin"...)
-Her favorite food is probably french fries or candy, neither of which she gets often
-Her current favorite game is pretending to sleep (I tuck in a few toys and her and she pretends to sleep, and then wakes up "mo-ning!"