The Tooth Doctor

Today we went to visit the pediatric dentist, or tooth doctor, as we call him. Karsten is so good about brushing her teeth along side Mommy and Daddy, often times with more than one toothbrush at a time! We have taught her that the tooth doctor says that we need to brush off the sugar bugs so her teeth stay healthy in order for her to be able to chew her food. Sounds strange, but she gets it!
The spiffy headphones to listen to the movie. The show of the day was Tangled, the new cartoon movie about the story of Rapunzel.

The awesome flat screen hooked into the ceiling above her head! This was NOT like the dentist when I was a kid...

Karsten being SO GOOD and providing a wide open mouth and giving Dr. Dance a good "ahhhhh".

YEAH! She passed with flying colors. Dr. Dance and the hygienist both commented on how Karsten was not a typical two year old patient (in her behavior and her great hygiene). So, she earned a trip to the treasure chest for a prize.

And wouldn't you know it...out of all of the various prizes that Karsten could have picked, she chose the orange centipede. SHE LOVES BUGS!

Time for Planting

Today was a lesson in planting seeds with Karsten. We planted little pots of zinnias and sunflowers. We are talking often about how the sunshine and water help the seeds turn into flowers. Super fun to watch her curiousity and enjoyment in learning new things!

Start with the soil pellets.
Add 12 tablespoons of warm water and mix to fluff the soil.

Put soil into the pots.

Open seed packets.

Sprinkle 6-8 seeds in each pot.

Push seeds down into the soil. Give a little sunshine and water.

Hopefully we'll have sprouts in a few weeks and flowers to follow!

Fun Day!

Karsten had fun watching Richie at his soccer game. It was a sunny day, but windy as could be.

Saturday Morning SUNSHINE!

Nothing like beautiful morning sunshine streaming thru your windows to wake you up. Or hearing your daughter talking to herself on the monitor at 5:45am to wake you up! We had the latter this morning :-) Karsten immediately wanted to go outside to catch some rays. She decided to play in her dirt hole, in her feety jammies, no less.

Who needs a beach, a towel and a bathing suit to sun bathe?

Karsten does it fully clothed in the dirt! Smelling Mommy's pretty flowers.

Helping Daddy mow-with her ruffled socks and pink shoes.

Karsten, I love how versatile you are! You love to play in the dirt, but still be a girl. You come home every day from school with sand all in your hair and dirt under your fingernails, but then race from the bathtub clean and ready to dress up in your pretty ballerina outfits. What a breath of fresh air you are. You are a constant joy for Daddy and me. We just never know what to expect from you next! With the joy of the outdoors that you have, you will experience amazing things in life, sweet girl.
Love, Mommy

Time for Gardening

Just in time for gardening season, Mommy found these great DORA gloves. They are just like the kind that Mommy and Daddy use, but way more fashionable!

Ready to get to work!

Signs of SUMMER!

Nothing says SUMMER more than a wedge of watermelon...dripping all over your arms, clothes and especially all over the kitchen counter. YUMMY-its the best!!!!!!!

Baby You Can Drive My Car

"Beep Beep Beep Beep, yeah! Baby you can drive my car and Baby I LOVE YOU!

Okay don't laugh too hard but I was listening to the radio and heard this song come on and thought I was going to hear Elmo singing...not the Beatles. Seriously, I thought it was going to be an advertisement of some sort. I didn't know it was a Beatles song, I thought it was a Sesame Street song. Pretty classic, huh?"

An exerpt from an email from Daddy to Mommy. Guess we are oblivious to music outside of children's songs these days!

Just Between Friends

Just Between Friends, or JBF for short. What is that you may ask? Well it is the biggest baby, kid and maternity consignment sale you have ever seen. A huge swap meet is more like it! Check it out http://www.jbfsale.com/.
My sister Traci turned me on to JBF many years before I had kids and now I am in the thick of things. We have purchased gear from JBF and now a days we sell out gear there. You simply go online to enter your items, you choose the price that you want to sell them at and then voila, you print your tags for items and safety pin them on.

Karsten had to get in the middle of the action. She still loves the bouncer-that was her favorite baby toy!

And the room full of gear before the drop off day.

I have to say, I am a fan of JBF. At least I feel like I am getting something back for what I paid up front. We made over $190 this year-not bad! And the items that we did not sell, we give permission for JBF to donate to area charities. Now I actually feel like someone else will get good use out of our items. A WIN-WIN in my book!

Now onto the fall/winter sale...

Mother's Day Evening

Nothing says HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY better than, "You are headed to the spa for a massage"! YA HOO!!!!!!!! I was blessed with a massage and a pedicure (which was much needed). What a great surprise. Then home for an awesome dinner.

Now this picture does not do this meal any justice. Pork chops, roasted baby fingerling potatoes, artichoke and baked mushrooms...YUMMY!

Daddy, thanks for being such an amazing partner, friend and husband. I am so very blessed to be on this parenting journey with you. Every new day brings joys, laughter and some funny smirks when we don't quite know what to do with our daughter. I cannot imagine life without you. Thank you for making me feel so special on a very special day!

I LOVE YOU more than you will ever know~

xoxoxoxo-Mommy

Happy Mother's Day Morning

Karsten was so excited to have me open my Mother's Day present that she made as school. She had brought it home on Friday and the anticipation was killing her to wait until Sunday to open it! She was such a helper in opening it, and the finished product was a beautiful potted flower picture frame with a picture of Karsten in it. I cannot think of anything better to receive on Mother's Day.

Karsten, you never cease to amaze me with your sweet spirit and zest for life! You are such a joy and blessing to me. I had imagined what life would be like as a mother, but you have FAR surpassed my dreams. You are my everything! You make me laugh, smile and do funny things that make me feel like a child again. God knew the longing in my heart to have a child, and the long wait for you was SO VERY WORTH IT! Thank you for making my day so very special. I love you with all my heart, baby!

Love, Mommy