February

Everything is looking good with Baby Charles!  During February we spent every weekend packing and fixing up the house.  We occasionally get out to do something fun..

Like go to Central Market.  Are you really into food?

A sick day for Elia

Gianna made her own Valentines.  They were really creative.  This was my favorite!

Someday I won't be lame and forget to take pictures of my sweeties.

Birthday Surprise, and Fossil Rim

Over Memorial weekend, the Marschners came to visit!  Shannon basically woke me up at 2:30 in the morning and totally surprised me out of sleep.  Their flight was supposed to get in much earlier but bad weather had them circling and their rental car situation went from bad to worse(no car seat for Brendan even though they had reserved one!!).  So Chris snuck out of the house with a car seat around 1:30 and got them back here to wake me up.  I think Tom, with Chris' help, had been planning this since March!  I honestly thought I was dreaming when she came in and sat on my bed.
There really is nothing better than spending time with my twinnie, but its even more special when we get to be together on our birthday!  We sort of just hung out and did fun kid stuff, like the splash park and walks around the neighborhood, but the highlight was Fossil Rim.  I have been wanting to go there since I heard about it a few years back, and it was pretty fun!  Feeding animals from your car?  Elia was in paradise.
With our awesome new minivan, we were able to scrunch all 4 adults and 3 babies in one car!

Love

Loving the new sunroof

Prob my fave pic of the day!

Little loves!

Elia's Birthday

Chris and I both took the day off, and Grandma and Grandpa, and Patrick were still in town. To celebrate her birthday we all went to the Rough Riders game.  It was pretty darn hot, but we had a great day together!

Not many people can say they have a twin AND a mini-me.

Really excited about a present!

Our tradition of birthday pancakes morphed into birthday frozen waffles!

 

Grandpa discovered a momma duck with 11 ducklings.

My beautiful 4 year old!

We probably played longer at the playground than we actually sat and watched the game!

Her birthday crown from school.

Mothers Day

My lovely principal let me leave for a while so I could go to Elia's mother's day tea.  It was adorable.  They sang songs and we did a craft, and then there were snacks.  During all the songs with the hand motions, Elia would do the motions and sing, but her face was turned toward me the whole time.  So funny!

Love my girl.

For the actual mother's day, I got to sleep in, and had bed in breakfast.  I also told the girls I didnt want ANY presents, all I wanted was no fighting.  They did pretty good that day!

Very proud of their work!

Christmas Card Pictures

This is the first year I took less than 30 pictures to get a decent one for the Rowles' Family Christmas Card.  Here are a few gems that didn't make it onto the card.

 

 

Previous crazy card takes: 2010  2011
Elia is becoming quite the ham.  She was a star at her Christmas show for her daycare.

Elia's Facial Expressions

Baby Wearer

At the library

Sassy

She has been climbing in to bed with us every couple of days since I have gone back to work.

The girls charmed this woman at a garage sale so she let them have this for free. 
So excited we have another useless stuffed animal!

First Week of School

A whole week has come and gone!  Dropping Gianna off in her calssrooom Monday morning was so sad!  Its cliche to say, but I can't believe that sweet baby G is a kindergartner.



Gianna's classroom theme is the ocean- her name is on the octopus in the top right corner.

Her little seat.

 

 

 

First Day Pics:

I want to be a gymnast.  (Gabby Douglas, duh.)

Elia hamming it up.

The hardest part has been watching Elia go off to daycare.  Since I went back to work 18 months ago she hasn't really had separation anxiety and I think part of that is due to the fact that she was always with Big Sis.  Now, I am dropping her off all alone and she knows Gianna goes with me and that I get to see her all day long.

Which is actually pretty great.  My break is right around the time G has lunch, so I always get to give her a quick squeeze and that holds me over until I see her again right after school.

Its all an adjustment, I know, so Elia will get through it.  When she tells me about school, it sounds super fun!  Play- dough, coloring, playing on the dinosaur playground etc.

When we get home, the girls play really hard together.  I think they are making up for lost time together because as soon as their feet hit the inside of the house they are running off to find the next imaginary adventure by dressing up, jumping on the couch, or playing outside.



Friday we came home and went straight to the park for a picnic.

And of course, a movie night to end the first week!

Elia's swim lessons

Too cool for school



Off the diving board

Swimming on her own in the deep!

With her instructor.

Elia's Birthday

Sunday morning we had waffles and sausage for her birthday.

Can't believe she is 3!

Some of her presents were of course Hello Kitty themed!

Papa gpt her Hulk hands!

We took her to Fuzzy's for her birthday dinner. 

And ice cream when we got home!

Here goes for this year's timeline!  If you want to see last years, click here.

Just turned 2.  Like a fish!

2 years, 3 months.  Daddy's girl!

2 and a half.  Imitating the gorilla!

2 years, 9 months.  Can't believe I cut off that gorgeous hair!

And of course, exactly 3 years old!!!