Isabel's Style

Most of the time, we dress Isabel and she wears whatever we tell her.  She's not to the point where she really cares that much yet.  However, some days we let her have input, some days we're hanging out at home and don't care, and some days she comes up with these get-ups on her own.  Regardless, I am quite fond of her sense of style.  She's a keeper.

I think we can all agree that any outfit is better with a poofy skirt.

We would hate to get the Ariel pajamas wet while doing dishes.  The apron is a must.

Don't forget to accessorize, ladies!

Two, yes TWO, Rapunzel dresses squeezed over fleeces pajamas.
And they said it couldn't be done!  Hard to see the one underneath,
but I promise it is there.

I think we mentioned accessorizing...  "Need my glasses!
It's bright outside!"

Don't be fooled.  We read the fashion magazines, and know that too much skin
is a faux pas.  If you're going to let your bum hang out, please wear a hat.

Maybe my favorite.  Dress up dress, two pairs of fairy wings,
Mickey Mouse hat, and a pair of heels on the floor.

Sometimes books are better if you let yourself breathe...

And sometimes they're better with a sun hat and flip flops.
In March.

Another way to avoid getting messy by cleaning (in case
the apron isn't around) is to just remove your shirt altogether.
Cleaning is a new favorite pastime--give her a spray bottle
of water and a rag and she'll be busy awhile.

Our First "Baby"

Dear Mom and Dad:

Remember when it was just us?  Just the three of us, and I got your undivided attention and all your extra time?  That was awesome.  And then you brought Pixie home.  I was a little nervous, but we all quickly realized that I was smarter and stronger and obviously still in charge.  So I could put up with her.  And then the mini-human came home.  Doggone it.  I dropped considerably in the rankings in terms of time and attention.  But still, as long as I maintained a perimeter she pretty much left me alone at first.  Now, however, she has grown.  And she has decided it is her job to take care of me.  Mom and Dad, if there is anything more humiliating than having to put up with this, I don't know what it is.  (See pictures below.)  And if the rumors and my doggie sixth sense are right, you're bringing another one home this August.  Oh, Mom and Dad.  What did I ever do to deserve this?

Maya 

I was inside cleaning and Miss Iz was outside with the girls playing on the patio.  The windows and doors were open so I could monitor their activities, and Iz had been out for awhile when I heard her say, "S'okay Maya.  I give you a bath."  This felt like something I needed to check on, so I peeked around the corner and saw poor Maya sitting on the step, her eyes filled with irritation and restraint, saying "Save me, please!".  And there was Iz, poking her with a stick (she thought she was "brushing" her, apparently).  At first it didn't look that bad.  However upon further inspection it seemed that Izzie had dumped potting soil all over Maya's back, and then followed that with a good dosing of water from the doggie bowl.  What resulted was a lovely paste that she then tried to brush off with a sharp stick.  Poor, poor Maya.

She might be misguided in her care of the puppies, but oh how Iz loves them!

Punzel Party, Part 2

All of our lovely friends and families showed up to help Punkie Poo celebrate.  Of course both sets of grandparents were there, as well as Great-Grandpa Olson and Great-Grandpa and Grandma Rahn.  All the aunts, uncles, and cousins were in attendance (except for the Larsons and Jared because of illness--darn February!), and it just wouldn't be a party without the Abbotts and Uncle Dan.  Isabel loved opening her presents--everything from bath crayons and pajamas, to dump trucks and princess castles.  She was spoiled!  And nothing is better than running around with all the kids afterwards--you need some way to burn off the sugar from that cake!

Later Grammy told me a story from when Izzie was eating her cake.  She made Grammy laugh by leaning over to her and whispering, "Hey, Grammy.  Stupid."  Mom tried not to giggle and asked if she was supposed to say that word.  Izzie smiled and said no, then took a bite of her cake.  Grammy thought it was hilarious.  Mommy thought it was a good thing she didn't hear that...  

Regardless of some typical, two-year old hiccups, she was an absolutely gracious party hostess.  We had practiced and talked about how to be polite and open presents, and she very sweetly looked at every person after opening their present and said, "Dank yew for my present." So hey, we're getting some thing right, okay?  Even if stupid and poop are still awesome words to use... Sigh...

A pre-party cupcake.  It was torture seeing her Punzel
cake and not getting to it eat.  This was the compromise.

Guests arriving.  Caden was distressed about not having
a Flynn Rider costumer.  Solution:  Iron Man.

So happy to see Grammy!

Our little princess.

We can't believe our girl is TWO!

Chillin' wit my homie 

Crowns also work upside down!

It was a tight fit!

Snuggling with Brayden

She had plenty of help with the gift opening.

Feeling a little awkward about all the singing...

"Mommy took my cake!  Worst birthday ever!"

"Whew.  She brought it back.  I'm okay."

Posing with Nana and Grandpa

Duh.  Fort under the party table with Caden and Dan.

Punzel Party, Part 1

We had a wonderful, Tangled themed birthday party the Sunday after her birthday.  It was chock full of purple and gold and lanterns and princesses and all things Rapunzel.  If you haven't seen the movie you may not appreciate the decorations, but trust me, they were spot on!  More pictures of the actual party to come later!

The door was my best shot at "Rapunzel, let down your hair!"

Rapunzel's things in the entryway

The floating lanterns, right?!?

Look at how much my girl has changed!

And it was...

Pascal and Max.  The stars of the movie.

Frying pan plates.  You have to see the movie.
 

Bryan was appalled that I was going to make the cake.  I think it's evident that
they probably cracked out a better Punzel cake than I would have.  Point HyVee.

Bitty's Birthday

This was a good day.  Izzie had been telling us all week, "It's almost my birthday!"--so clearly, somewhere along the way she has caught on to Mommy's love of birthdays.  We were excited to spend the WHOLE DAY as a family, and we made the most of our time together!  (I should note that she has said "Two" when asked her age for months, and told me that she is going to be three on her birthday.  So it's a gamble what age you're going to get when you ask her.  Technically she's two, she says she's three, she acts like she's twelve.)

First, a breakfast of cinnamon rolls.  Apparently
two-year olds don't sit in high chairs anymore.

The birthday girl posing by her Rapunzel balloons.

Off to Morrill Hall for Dinosaur Days!  Could we have gotten luckier that it fell on her birthday?  

She surprisingly enjoyed the bones and fossils.

Notice the pose and smile--pointed towards the UNL lady
taking pictures for the event.  But pose for Mommy?  Nah.

Please notice her bacteria made out of pink playdoh.  It was an accomplishment.

Oh, Archie.  It was an awkward love affair.  We would follow him and reach for him,
but the second he turned around we were too shy to say hello.  It happened several
times that we kept bumping into him, and each time she cried when he left.

Why aren't these deer moving?  Weird.  A few seconds after this photo, Iz
got a significant bruise on her forehead while trying to check out a rattlesnake.

The Kids Zone!

We were hoping this would satisfy her desire for digging...

But as it turns out, she is too smart for us.  "I dig over there!"

A monster sucker from a museum lady and a $6 stuffed snake.  What a good day!

Showing off presents from Mommy and Daddy.  A
Rapunzel dress,  a princess story time book, and
a stuffed Pascal.  Score! 

And for those of you that think she's a sweetheart all the
time, this is the face that gets her into trouble...  

A Minnie Mouse bike.  She's still not quite big enough, but come May--pedestrians beware!

Enjoying a chocolate birthday cupcake... or two...

In her birthday jams.  What a big girl!