Videos

"H" for Halle

Obviously (hopefully) you can tell that she wrote the orange ones. I'll try to add the video tonight...

Cinderella, Cinderella

Today we found this Cinderella costume at Once Upon a Child. It's not exactly what I was thinking Halle would be for Halloween, but it will make a fun dress-up toy. I'm usually pretty good at saying "no" to stuff like this, but I happen to like Cinderella too. And the price was right... :)

Right after her nap, Halle HAD to try it on:

Cinderella and the Not-So-Evil, Not-So-Step Sister:
Cinderella watches "Peter Pan":

Ok- so after THIS fit Cinderella will NOT be going to the ball:

It COULD be Cate...

Cate and Halle have their own distinct looks- Halle is more "Daddy" and Cate is more "Mommy", but every once in awhile we stumble on a picture of Halle, and we have to look twice. Here are some shots of Halle at 3 months that look a lot like Cate:

Beans

Halle's new hobby is called "Playing Beans" (her title.) Last winter when we were going crazy inside, I bought a huge (cheap) bag of dried pinto beans and a large roasting pan and let her go to town pouring and scooping. Eventually I put them away on top of the kitchen cabinets and forgot all about them. A couple of days ago we got them out again, and it has been a non-stop bean party ever since! Halle is old enough now that she doesn't make a huge mess, and she can "cook" with them. Fun, fun! :)

Here's a cute picture of Cate, "playing" outside with us:

The Girls

it's a Natural thing

Friday night we all went to the NWA Naturals game with JD's team. It's the 5th game the girls have been to- Cate went to 2 before she was 2 weeks old (we always think that's funny- we're not even baseball people!) When asked how the game went, JD and I looked at each other and had to say, "We don't know." We go because our friends go, or because we get free tickets. Don't get me wrong- the plays that we actually get to watch are fun, they're just few and far between!

In this picture Halle looks like she's watching the game, but really she's watching the dog that goes out on the field with the grounds crew between innings. She's also enjoying her favorite thing (besides the playground) about the game- a snow cone!
This picture is of some of JD's new players. They either really do like kids, or they're just sucking up to their new coach! :)

Laughing. Cooking. Laundry.

Here is Cate's funny laugh. She's not exactly centered in the shot- if she notices the camera she won't smile or laugh or make any noises, she just fixates on it. So we have to be sneaky to catch her!

Halle got some play food for her birthday, and she loves to "cook" for us. Here is a great example of her culinary ability: han-ga-burgers!

This little domestic skill is, sadly, a perfect imitation of her mother's! :)

Bunny Bear(s)

Yesterday I was hanging up clothes in the girls' closet, and Halle said, "Watch out for 'Back-up Bunny Bear!" I ended up knocking the poor thing to the floor because I was laughing so hard!!

"Bunny Bear" is the bear Halle has slept with since she was 6 months old. It was a baby present from my Aunt Joyce. About a year ago we stumbled on a store in Branson that had a very similar bear- I snatched it up for "just-in-case" moments (and believe me, it HAS come in handy!) For the longest time Halle didn't even know there were two of them. JD and I always laughed because the newer one is MUCH more fluffy and less grungy- looking, and something about it looks, well, "special"- if you understand (it is the one on the right- the picture doesn't do justice to the difference between then, though!) Apparently, as of yesterday, I can no longer make the switcheroo without Halle knowing...!

January 2007 June 2007 July 2007

August 2007

(Disney World)
February 2008
May 2008

(the night before Cate was born) July 2008

Today. Naptime.

Caty-Cate

This is how Cate looks the majority of the day... such a happy baby!

Work Work Work

Yesterday after church, Halle decided that she was going to work on her "computer" like Daddy. She played with a piece of paper folded in half for the longest time, "typing" and telling us what was on her "screen." Eventually she and I colored new "computers" that she played with for the rest of the night, and again tonight. Ahhh- the imagination of a 2 year old!

Hard at work:

Daddy was working, too: Closing her laptop:
Halle's "New Computer":

Playing Outside (FINALLY!)

After a LONG stretch of scorching-hot days, it has finally been nice enough to play outside again (BEFORE 8 pm!)

Daddy's Girls:

Michael Phelps

Well, it's that time again...

Some of you will remember our sweet little goldfish, Michael Phelps from a couple of years ago. We got him during the last Olympics, and he lasted nearly two years- a record for us and goldfish! So we figured what better time to try again?!

Behold, Michael Phelps Parker II (he's the blue one):

We haven't exactly named the other two yet- Halle came up with "Coola-Hula" (from Little Einsteins) but that name didn't get a great reaction. We're thinking more along the lines of Dara Torres or Aaron Piersol...

Crazy Kids

If chewing on feet was an Olympic event, Cate would be a gold medalist!

Halle ran into the kitchen a few nights ago while I was fixing supper and made me laugh out loud... I guess she had gotten into the diaper bag and found a couple of things. She is saying, "Oh how pretty!":

The same night, JD called me into the living room to watch Halle- she was watching gymnastics and I guess this is her best attempt at the floor exercise:

This is a typical lunch time. Halle is saying, "Caty-Cate, what are you doin'? You're so silly!":

Pizza and the Park

Last night Halle helped me make supper: PIZZA!

She tasted all of the ingredients to make sure they were okay. :) Notice the bites out of the crust- I look in the pantry for 5 seconds and when I turn back around she's standing sweetly, chewing away. Stinker.

This is the new park near our house. Halle gets a little braver every time we go!

What 2 year old can go to the park without getting in a little bit of trouble??

Poor Cate- the park just isn't that special to her, yet!

Quick Note

I'm trying out new backgrounds (haven't found the "right one" yet) and I can't figure out how to get back to my old one- so you'll have to bear with me...

3 months

It has been a FAST three months... Cate now rolls over (back to front) with ease. She chews on her toes/socks/anything she can get her hands on. She laughs and "talks" back to us. She sleeps 6-8 hour stretches at night. She's still an easy baby, but her little personality is starting to show up. She seems to know what she wants and she lets us know, LOUDLY!