What's Bug Up To???

It's time for a Caitlin Bug Update:

*First, I'm not even sure how she got the nickname "Caitlin Bug" but it has somehow stick and we continue to call her "bug"...and I am a mom who doesn't like when moms give kids nicknames...oh well....  (But I do have one pet peeve that I will NEVER allow...when someone calls one of my kids "Sissy" for sister.  Nails.  On.  Chalkboard!)

*She loves dancing and music.  We did gymnastics, but all she wanted to do was hang out by the stereo and dance.  She loved Mommy and Me Dance, so I think we'll be doing that again soon.

*She LOVES wearing sunglasses.  It's the first thing she grabs when she gets out of bed and she wears them all day and night.  It's so cute!

*She still loves all things Elmo.  It's one of her first words!

*She loves carbs!  Toast, bread, rice, etc!   And she loves fruits and veggies.  However, she's not a big fan of meat...we are working on adding more protein to her diet.

*She loves Abigail, and is actually the leader of the two of them.  She tends to dictate what they play, where they play, etc.  It's funny because even at this young age, I can see she's going to be more of a leader in the classroom. 

*Saying that she's a "leader" is a teacher's way of telling parents they have a strong-willed child on their hands...and we know that!  Caitlin does what she wants, when she wants.  It becomes a challenge at times, like when you are trying to look good in front of someone and she decides she's not going to go along with you...but I have embraced her strong-willed personality...most of the time!

*She is starting speech (STUPID United Healthcare isn't approving it, so it's going to make things more difficult, but she starts Monday so I'm excited.  I love healthcare insurace.I mean, she has a 45% delay in speech and they say "No!"...what is wrong with this country's health care...I digress).  We can't wait to give her more tools to tell us what she wants.  She obviously knows and wants more ways to tell us!  She says "Mama" "Dada" and "Elmo" clearly.  She also repeats a lot of sounds and mimics a lot of words when we say them first!

*She is 21 months old and weighs 24 lbs!  God love my kids and their skinny genes!  :)  She's in 18 months clothes.  She's tall, but not as tall as Abigail, so hopefully pants fit her this winter.

*She always wants to have her shoes on.  She does not like textures on her feet!  She's the kid at the pool with the sandals on.

*Speaking of the pool, she loves swimming.  She has no fear and she'll jump right in, even if I'm not looking.  We spent a great summer at the pool!!!!

*We LOVE our lil Bug to pieces!!!!!

Only a few more months till our "baby" isn't as much of a baby....but it is fun to think about all the future holds for our "baby" and our family!!!!

Summer Classes

Last week, the girls' summer activites came to an end.  In addition to swim lessons and VBS, Abigail also did gymnastics and Caitlin did Mommy and Me Dance. 

Abigail liked gymnastics, but she had a rowdy group.  The last day the parents could watch...and it explained it all.  These two girls ran around like crazy and didn't listen to the teacher...and the moms sat in the corner and talked the whole time.  It was actually eye-opening!  Of course Abigail and one other girl were getting the looks from their moms, so the two girls followed the teacher, but the other 5 kids were wild.  I was not very impressed with the control (or lack there of) of the kids.  It's not that the kids have to be perfect, I mean they are 3, but they were literally running around doing other things and the teachers spent the whole times chasing them and not much time teaching.  That being said, we are looking at a different place for fall gymnasitcs if that what Abigail wants to do (in addition to3 year old Hip Hop Class..I'm beyond excited for that one!)  Here are some pictures:

Getting ready for the class

Rings

Hanging Around

My lil gymnast

Balance

Hand Stand (which she does on walls all around our house now)

Ta Da!!!!!  Great job Abigail!!!!

Caitlin started Mommy and Me Dance this summer.  When Abigail did it at this age, she had a bunch of older girls who's parents took it super serious (leotards, etc)...but Caitlin got in the PERFECT class!  4 girls all her age (one girl named Lucy, one named Rosie....so cute the names were familiar to us), 3 out of 4 moms were teachers...it was like a perfect group!  We had so much fun!!!!  Caitlin did great!  She listened really well and followed most of the teacher's instructions.  She is very social so had no problems going up to get props, etc.  She had so much fun and I can't wait for our next class together!!!!

My Dancing Queen...she loves music and dancing!  I really think dance is her thing right now!

Bippity, Boppity, Boo!  The Princess Scarves Dance.

The girls loves her maracas!  (Abigail came the last day to watch too)

Caitlin and her adorable group!!!!

I'm sad the summer classes have come to an end, as it's one more reminder our summer is coming to an end.  However, I think Abigail is ready to get back to school...and I am looking for a few classes for Caitlin for the fall.  Then in January, if there is an opening, she may go to school one morning a week too!  Off to enjoy our last few days of summer...and do EVERYTHING we said we'd do this summer and never did.  Off to Splash Park!

Splash Fest 2011

I have so much to blog about (gymnastics, ballet, summer day trips, Caitlin's OBSESSION with wearing sunglasses).....the summer is so busy!

A few weekends ago was Bass Lake Splash Fest, the festival weekend at the lake.  It's always so busy, and so much fun!  This year I added a little "twist"...the Bass Lake 5K.  Usually I run the race, but this year I RAN (as in "was in charge") of it.  It added a little chaos to the weekend, but I had AMAZING volunteers (all happen to share a last name) to help me...and I'd say we pulled off a successful race with 58 runners signed up, but 122 runners participating!

The rest of the weekend was spent doing what we love to do the most:  relaxing!  There was pop n wines, golf, water slides, sand boxes, beaches, fireworks, parades, and LOTS of swimming!!!

Here are a few pictures from the weekend (you always know when you are having too much fun when you forget to get the camera):

The CHAOS that was the 5K race (check out one of my volunteers...doesn't he look so cute in his safety vest....it was SERIOUS!)

USS Bass Lake (with full dining availability)

WATER SLIDE

Stina's tie-dye shirts

The finished products!!!  Watching the parade!

The parade crew...staying cool in the shade!

The following few are from a family boat ride we took Sunday morning: 

Sesame Place, Part 2

After a good night's sleep, we headed back to Sesame for Round 2.  Sesame Place is half waterpark, half dry rides, so we planned on the water park for Day 2.  We didn't take very many pictures since we were on waterslides most the morning!  I think our favorite part of the morning was the lazy river with the kids, but we didn't get any pictures.

Playing in Ernie's Garden (everything was gigantic).

Abigail and Daddy at the bottom of the waterslide.

Abigail coming up the ramp after the big girl waterslide.

After a morning of swimming and waterslides, we headed back to the hotel to take a nap.  While there, we received the sad news that my grandma wasn't doing well and would be moving to hospice.  We spent a lot of time debating if we should head back or stay the night (and if you don't know, my nickname with my family is "Tears" so yes, there were plenty of those too) and we made the tough decision to stay the night and let the kids finish their vacation.  We had promised them the light parade, the Elmo Live Show, and to pick out souveniers, so after nap we decided to head back.  We decided not to drive through the mountains at night and just get up first thing the next morning (4am) and drive straight through 15 hours.  I am happy we decided to do that because the kids weren't aware of what was going and they didn't miss the end of their vacation...and I still got 24 amazing hours with my grandma and family!  I have to admit, my heart wasn't into Sesame Place very much....but it's hard not too have fun when the kids are having so much fun...and I know my Grandma would have wanted the kids to get their vacation.  She was so selfless and always worried about everyone else above herself (I would visit her weekly when I worked by her house for 6 years, and every single visit she would make sure Rob had something to eat for dinner when I got home because she didn't want him hungry while I was visiting...that's just the amazing person she was!)

First thing we did when we got back was to get our souveniers:

I'm so frustrated this picture of the girls and their souveneirs won't download correctly...it was so cute.  Abigail picked out Abby Cadabby and Caitlin picked out Elmo....and Lucy got an Elmo picture book!

After shopping, we headed to the big awaited show:  Elmo's World.  It was set like they were recording it for TV and very cute!  (Although the pics weren't great)

After the show, we did more rides before the parade:

Abigail and Daddy on the Bug ride (sort of like the pirate ship ride).

Swings

This one shocked me that Abigail went on it!  They take you up to the top and just drop you!  She LOVED it!  It was so cute because in Abigail's row were 3 little girls and 3 dads...and the 3 moms (all with little babies too) stood there and took pictures!

Having so much fun!

And my favorite partner-in-crime!  We did this Elmo fish ride (similar to the Dumbo ride at Disney) LOTS!!!!!

After rides, it was time for the parade.  This night, we staked out a great, front row spot about an hour before the parade.  Then, it was time for funnel cakes and ice cream while we waited!!!!!

My 3 favorite people..and one lady eating ice cream!  ;)

Abby's float stopped right in front of us (they basically stop along the way and do a show)...the girls were excited.  Abigail held her Abby up the whole time and was yelling "I Have You!"

And what is Sesame Place without Elmo.

It was such a great vacation.  From spending 3 days relaxing at Oglebay to our 2 amazing days in Sesame to our first real roadtrip as a family, it was a vacation not to be forgotten!

Now that we've done Sesame Place, I think it's time for the BIG one!!!!!  Disney!  Let the researching, saving, and planning begin!