Little Monkey

Hannah is lovingly known as "feisty girl" and "little monkey" at our house. She is always climbing on, in, or over something, and it is not uncommon to turn around and find her balancing on top of something with a big grin saying "whoa, whoa"! She has been practicing balancing on one foot lately and trying to jump. She loves to imitate what Clara does!

I looked over yesterday and Hannah had made it to the top of the slide by herself for the first time! When Clara got this slide for her first birthday, I don't think I was ever more than inches away from her making sure she didn't fall......the second child gets to discover climbing without mom hovering close by!
This next picture looks like Hannah is climbing up onto the platform, but she actually just almost fell off the back of it! She somehow managed to grab on with her fingertips mid-fall and was hanging on for dear life while I had to snap this picture! I was so impressed with her quick reflexes! I promise I did rescue her right after I took the picture:) She immediately climbed back up and tried out this trick!
Peek-A-Boo
Why put the shoes away in the closet when they provide quiet entertainment for the one year old???

Rite of Passage...

Clara woke up yesterday morning and was complaining about something being in her nose. I could just barely see something in there that looked like a booger and asked her if she wanted me to try to help her get it out. She didn't want me to touch her nose, so I had her plug the other side and blow......out shot a popcorn kernel! Is sticking things up your nose part of being 2? I hope she learned her lesson-both girls have used up their emergency room visit for the month already! (The actual kernel has already made its way to the garbage, so you get the clip art below...)

Getting Better...

Clara continued to get worse last week, so on Thursday morning we took a trip to the pediatrician. They did a chest x-ray and gave her a breathing treatment and decided that it looked like pneumonia. From there, Clara and Daddy got to ride in an ambulance to Children's Hospital in Seattle because she was needing oxygen. It was pretty scary, definitely harder on Joe and myself than Clara! We spent one night at Children's, mostly just to keep an eye on Clara and make sure she didn't get worse. They did some tests and it ended up that she had RSV (a bad virus that gets into the chest). She is doing so much better now! She had both grandmas and her Aunt Julie at the house when she got home. Julie's dog, Teanne, came to help Clara get well also. You can see who Clara's favorite visitor was.....:)

Teanne and Clara watching movies together

Best Friends!

Hannah trying to cheer Clara up with her "hat"

This is the sickness that never ends.....

We got our second round of snow at our house this year, and once again, Clara has a fever and croup. Both girls have had it this past week, so we are all going a bit crazy! She loves the snow so much, though, that we let her go outside for a little while and build a snowman. The doctor said cold air is the best thing for croup, so I guess we were just following the doctor's orders!

It amazes me how kids will still try to play and be silly, even when they feel sick. Hannah started this game the other day, and Clara decided it looked like fun. Cheese puffs didn't sound like something I would eat being sick, but then again, kids are different!

Say Cheese!

Hannah has been giving us the best smiles lately. She loves to squint her eyes and scrunch her nose up when she sees the camera.

Under Construction

The kitchen remodel is underway. I have been frequenting the various malls in our area with indoor play areas and McDonalds playland to keep the girls busy and away from the demolition/construction site.

Our kitchen BEFORE:

The clean up crew.....Clara LOVES the power drill!
Work in progress.....I have a great excuse not to cook right now, though!

Cousins and Canines

The girls and I drove to Nonna and Boppa's house in Bend for a long weekend, while my dad and brother, Uncle Joe, traveled to Seattle to help on our kitchen remodel. Joe joined us in Bend New Years Eve to help with the drive home. Clara had a blast playing with her cousins, Darien and Monica. They made forts, played with dolls, baked brownies, shopped and watched movies.........Oh, and picked their noses!

Hannah loved making music on Nonna's piano.
Hannah and Julie's dog, Teanne, playing their kissing game. Teanne enjoyed it most right after Hannah had eaten a meal!
Clara holding one of Uncle Tommy and Aunt Bobbie's two new puppies. She first held them at 6 weeks when they fit in her hands-they have grown up fast!
A modern mode of transportation! Clara's cousins treat her like a queen:)