Being silly and making muscles

Vivian has been 'making muscles' since she was old enough to sit up.  Most of the muscle action is in her face.  It is rather endearing.  She definitely thinks she is strong though.

And well of course Adrian has to join in.  This is his 'mean face'.  I hate to tell him it is still pretty cute.

Not sure what is going on here.... but it is a typical weekend morning at our house... silly.

Baby girl is 2!

My baby is 2!  How did this happen?  It seems like only yesterday we were bring her home from the hospital and now she is a little girl with a very big personality.  At the same time it is hard to imagine her as newly two because she seems to have grown up so much more quickly than Adrian.  In fact I think I have been calling her two for the last 6 months.

Sunday was the big day and it started with her waking to a decorated room and dining room.  I watched her wake up slowly, notice the ballons hanging from her light, pop up out of bed and yell 'Daddy, daddy, daddy!' frantically.  It was priceless.

The funny thing is this was the first morning that she was every up before Adrian and as a result she got to watch morning cartoons with him.  Adrian told me it was okay now because she was two.  She sat right on the couch and asked for cereal like she had been doing it every weekend for the past year.

The day progressed as usual until our 'party guests' (the grandparents and Uncle Jerry) started arriving.  Then Vivian was happy to have people to entertain.  We had pizza followed by cake and presents.  Vivian didn't quite know what to think and was just getting into the whole thing by the time it was done.  It was a rather laid back affair but she had fun so that is all that matters. 

While I am a bit sad that baby Vivian days are officially over I can't wait to see what the next year will bring.  Just think, a year ago she was just learning to walk and now she is running, singing, talking, playing, making friends, going potty, dressing herself and asserting a very strong little charming personality.  What will another whole year bring?  I can't wait to see but I won't be rushing it.  I plan on soaking in every second of two-year-old Vivian that I can.

Happy 2nd Birthday baby doll.  Your daddy, brother and I love you more than words can say!

Entertaining the crowd.

Cake time.  As requested she got a Doggy cake.  Adrian and I made it, she blew out the candle like and old pro and then dug in.

This table set was the gift from Jamie and me.  It was a hit.

Opening gifts under the watchful eye of her big brother.  I think he was as excited as she was for her birthday.  It was rather sweet.  When she came downstairs in her party dress he looked at her and said 'Oh Vivian, you look SO pretty!'

A little resistance for bed time.  And the twos officially begin!

Happy Hoildays 2010

Merry Christmas from Jamie, Jan, Adrian and Vivian!

It is hard to believe that the holidays are upon us.  We are so looking forward to a relaxing couple of weeks with nothing to do but enjoy each other's company and refresh our tired bodies and minds.  It has been a very busy holiday season for us but also very enjoyable.  Now it is time to take a deep breathe and relax.

Adrian had his Christmas concert at The Preschool Center and he had a full entourage of parents and grandmothers there to cheer him on.  He had been practising so hard (I knew all of the songs and poems just from listening to him for the past month.)  He got a little stage fright which was amusing because he was fine as long as he wasn't looking directly at us.  If he caught our eyes and would turn around or duck his head behind another child.  (He is the tallest in his class... not sure when that happened!)  Here he is enjoying the 'after party' with his BFF Abby.  (They have been pals since birth and went to the same home care together.)

This past Sunday was our Sunday school concert.  You know that when you get 20 or so young children on stage something funny is going to happen.  It was very endearing to see them doing their best and being so proud afterwards.  I teach the Pre-K class and when we went up I was in a bit of a pickle because nobody seemed to want to sing.  That was until Adrian stole the microphone and did a solo of Away In A Manger.  He did great but unfortunately downed out the other couple of kids who wanted to sing.  (Oh well, they likely didn't know any different.)

Vivian has pretty much refused to wear dresses until Sunday when we got her into this sweet little number.  She got so much attention that she didn't want to take it off after church, didn't want to take it off for the Jones Christmas party and then refused to take it off for her bath.  She now loves this dress and wants to wear it daily.

We are home now for the holidays and enjoying our time together (or at least trying to).  We are keeping busy with last minute preparations and trying to get rested up for the big day.  Both kids are a bit sick so a few days at home will do them good.

Christmas Party-o-rama

Saturday was a day of Christmas party fun for the Joneses.  We had an early afternoon party at Jayden's house where the kids got to do many fun things including decorating cookies and eating cookies.  Oh course Santa stopped in for a surprise visit.  It was love at first sight for Adrian but Vivian was a bit timid.  She did not cry so she did well.  She is only 1 after all. (I sometimes forget that as she seems much older in my mind.)

Concentrating on cookies.

After that party we jetted over to Kingswood for Jan's Accreon kids party.  The kids were hyped up on sugar so it was a good spot because of the play climber and bowling.  Both were a big hit.  We had a pizza party and low and behold Santa showed up again!  Boy Adrian and Vivian are pretty lucky kids.

Adrian got a harmonica that he loved and some books and crayons.  I swear he has a natural harmonica talent because every now and then (he plays it constantly) I swear I hear a real song come out of that thing.  Vivian got a necklace which she proudly carries around with her most of the time as well as her very own markers and coloring book.  She is proud to be able to put her necklace on and take it off at will as well as put it on her teddy bear.  She is also quite pleased with herself when she is able to tell Adrian 'MINE' when is trying to get a hold of her coloring book and markers. (She is not allowed to go near his kindergarten goodie bag so this is pay back.)

Strike?

I am pretty sure they are both better at bowling than Jamie and me.

Adrian loves Santa this year.

Vivian... not so much.  But she was willing to approach him for a candy cane.

School. (The real deal.)

Adrian had a kindergarten orientation at New Maryland Elementary school last week.  It was a special visit because both Mommy and Daddy attended with him and he got to sit in little groups and do real school activities.  He had been oh so excited for this day but I think the butterflies set in because he was rather timid most of the time.  It was a good visit though and a nice stepping stone towards September.

He received his very own bag of school supplies and books which he is very proud of.  He is posing with it in a most unsual fashion above.