Cutie, Homemade Pizzas, Dad's 2nd Birthday, and Dancing

Such a big girl! Cara's pee stream seems to be a little bit like a little boys...no matter how we have her sit it shoots straight up and out the toilet. If you're not careful your shirt, pants, and feet will bet wet. Thankfully, Cara gives us a little heads up, "Watch out..." before she shoots it out at us.
We did a little shopping at the Medford Outlet and Brynn thought she better get these two hats for Cara and her to wear in Florida. Unfortunately they did not make the cut in the suitcase, but they sure are fun to wear around the house.
Homemade pizza. Yummy!

I am pretty sure more cheese was eaten than was placed on the pizza, but that is half the fun of making our own pizzas!

The girls had a little dance party while the pizzas were cooking. ALWAYS entertaining :)

Since Darren's birthday was the day we left for Florida I didn't really feel like we celebrated it like we usually do. Because he has class two nights a week the girls and I were able surprise hime with a cake.

I agree that the batter is way better than the cake itself!

There's nothing wrong with licking a little batter off the counter, right?

Swimming and POTTY

Brynn had her last session of swimming lessons (until September) the first week in June. Darren usually takes her so I am always amazed on how much she has improved when, for some reason or another, I take her. She is quite the little fish!

She can even swim to the bottom of the pool, find a diving stick, and make her way back up again. We are so proud of her!!

To make a special day even more special Cara peed on the potty for the first time after Brynn's lesson!! We decided (three weeks before her second birthday) that it was time to get her trained while she was still in the care of the expert, our daycare Lynn. The first week of June on a Monday Cara started and had accidents all day as well as the following day. Tuesday Brynn had swimming and I had to take her so I made sure to put a diaper on Cara before we left for swimming. By the time swimming was over it has been about an hour and a half since she had last tried to go on the potty, she has lots to drink at the pool, and she ws still dry so I just knew she HAD to go. It took over a half hour sitting on this potty, singing songs, counting, and much reassuring and convincing her that it was okay to go pee on the potty and then she FINALLY did. Man, were we all (Brynn, Cara and I) so excited. Potty training hasn't been quite as easy with Cara as it was with Brynn (but nothing with Cara seems to be so it really isn't much of a surprise), but I honestly can't complain at all. She has had very few accidents and is willing to go sit on the potty almost any time I ask her to-which is quite often (about every 40 minutes) since I am a little paranoid of her having an accident. However, this last week (July 20th) she has been going longer stretches (1 1/2hours) and will often tell me when she has to go before I even ask her! Not that it is a great thing since we have had more nights that we have gotten up with Cara than haven't, but she even wakes up in the middle of the night to go potty (but will go right back to sleep) and will more often than not wake up dry in the morning! I really was ready for a battle potty training her, but it has been no where near that! We are so proud of you, Cara Bean! You are growing up way to fast!

We LOVE the MN Zoo!

One of the girls and my very favorite places to spend a morning is the MN Zoo. We love that we can go for an hour or so in the morning or spend a good portion of the day there.

Getting a good picture of these two together is IMPOSSIBLE. I used to blame it on my old camera and how slow it took pictures, but now that I have a new fancy schmancy camera it hasn't gotten any better. Perhaps the problem is my subjects....
The bears were alseep during this visit (as they almost always are) and Cara felt it was her duty to "shhhh" everyone to make sure they stayed that way.

Brynn's VERY favorite part of the zoo in the summer is the fountains, Cara is slowly, but surely coming around to them. Cara sure isn't as fond of any sort of water as Brynnie is.

Although she is not a bit wet, she sure looks as if she is having fun in the foutain!

Planting 2011

During Cara's nap one Saturday afternoon in early June Brynn helped me plant the huge flowerbed in our front yard. I dug all the holes and Brynn pulled out all the flowers and handed them to me. We are quite the team if I do say so myself!

Florida, May 2011

Although Darren is a teacher, his band program runs from the first week of vacation until the end of July. Because of this we decided to take our family vacation in May. Our friends have a condo in Bonita Springs, Florida and offered it to us with a price we couldn't refuse. So...Bonita Springs or bust it was! The girls did WAY better than expected on the flights. We borrowed my cousin's DVD player as a last resort only, but didn't have to use it on the flight there or the flight home (the girls watch very little tv while at home.). Instead they spent hours coloring every page in their newly purchased coloring books.

Two content travelers!
As soon as we arrived to the condo we unloaded our suitcases and hit the beach, only a few minutes' walk from the condo.

We couldn't get enough of the ocean!

Beach Babe!

After some time at the beach a nap was in order. We had (4) great nappers (everyday) on our trip!

Since our condo was on the 9th floor the girls' favorite activity was pushing the buttons in the elevator.

We visited the Naples' Zoo on Friday. It was 103 degrees that day and since it was only our second day in Florida and we weren't accostomed to the weather we certainly didn't get our money's worth. I had 3 crabby travel mates until we were in the water later in the afternoon, but at least we are able to say we visited a zoo in Florida.

Checking out Cara's personal favorite, the monkeys. We had to take a boat ride out to see them as they were located on several different little islands.

Cara and I were very happy as we found some giraffes.

We had planned on picnicing at the zoo , but because of hot weather we relocated our picnic to the rental car.

The kiddie pool at the condo.

Darren sat next to a very nice gentleman on the flight to Florida. He was from the area and porvided Darren with mnay places to visit as well as a little tip for grocery shopping. We decided to check out the Whole Foods (organic and preservative free) and immediately fell in love. We picked up several premade meals that all we had to do was warm up in the oven. They were DELICIOUS! The best part was that there was very little prep or dishes so we could head right back to the pool or beach.

We decided to try out mini golfing with the girls. It happened to be Brynn's favorite activity while in Florida. Who would have thought?!? Cara enjoyed chasing around all the little lizardy things crawling around while the rest of us golfed.

Brynn kept commenting on how good she was at mini golfing. It may have to do with the fact that she put the ball RIGHT next to the hole every time.

Boy, it was HOT!

A little relaxing by the air conditioner was needed after returning from golfing. Florida heat is one thing while by the pool or beach, but a whole nother thing while golfing.

Cara's skin sure can't take the sun like Brynn's can so she spent plenty of time under the umbrella when we were at the beach.

View from our lenai (small deck).

Grandma Debbie sent us with a few beach snacks including licorice--which happened to be Cara's favorite.

Cara thought the "creatures" were so interesting. Brynn, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with them.

Shortly towards the end of our stay we decided pushing the stroller through all the sand wasn't worth it so we (Brynn got to try her hand out with driving) drove to the other end of the huge parking lot and carried what we needed to the beach.

Our condo for the week.

Before leaving Darren wanted to try out a restaurant, Mia . It was so yummy! To top it off Cara was so entertained by all the music and decorations.

I wonder where Brynn gets her cheesy, fake smile?

We stayed at a hotel the last night since we had to clean and wash all the bedding before we left. I figured it would be easier to stay a night in the hotel than get everyone up and out of the place by 4:30 in the morning to get it all done.

Cara insisted on pulling Brynn's luggage through the airport. Pretty darn cute!

We had a layover in Milwaukee on the way home. Lucky for us they had a little play area in the airport complete with a little girl Brynn's age and a little boy Cara's age. The kids had a great time playing with each other for over an hour while we waited to board. Evan luckier for Brynn the little girl had a DVD player with Strawberry Shortcake playing.

Cara and the little guy enjoyed watching all the planes.