Trick-or-Treat!

CHARLOTTE'S FIRST TIME TRICK-OR-TREATING DID NOT DISAPPOINT! WE KICKED OFF THE NIGHT EATING PIZZA WITH OUR DEAR FRIENDS ADRIANA AND ANNALISE, AND THEN WE WERE OFF. WE COULDN'T WAIT TO SEE LITTLE BO PEEP AND HER SHEEP IN ACTION. IT WAS A BRISK NIGHT, BUT ONCE WE GOT MOVING THERE WAS NO STOPPING THE GIRLS. CHARLOTTE WAS THRILLED TO BE WALKING THE STREETS LATE AT NIGHT, AND WAS MESMERIZED BY THE LARGE MOON. CHARLOTTE DID NOT REALIZE THAT ONCE PEOPLE OPENED THEIR DOORS SHE WAS NOT TO ENTER. IT TOOK A FEW HOMES BEFORE SHE WAS CONTENT TO JUST RECEIVE THEIR CANDY AND NOT THEIR HOSPITALITY. BETWEEN ANNALISE'S SWEET "TRICK-OR-TREAT" AND CHARLOTTE SIGNING "THANK YOU" WE MADE MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES.

GEARING UP FOR THE BIG NIGHT!

SHOWING OFF HER PRE-COSTUME GARMENTS.

(LOOKING MORE LIKE A SKI BUNNY THAN A SHEEP AT THIS POINT.)
QUITE A PAIR!

ENJOYING THE FREEDOM OF THE NIGHT.

WAITING EXPECTANTLY...

ONE COLD, LITTLE SHEEP

AFTER A FEW HOUSES, CHARLOTTE GOT THE HANG OF PULLING OFF HER OWN GLOVE TO RECEIVE THE SWEET TREATS!

"THIS... (CHATTER, CHATTER) IS... (CHATTER, CHATTER) GREAT...!"

ORGANIZING HER STASH.

WHAT A NIGHT!

WE WERE THANKFUL JEFF COULD JOIN US AS HE WAS ON CALL, HENCE THE SCRUBS...HE WAS NOT IN COSTUME!

CHARLOTTE HAS ALREADY STARTED TO ENJOY HER CANDY. SHE IS A BIG FAN OF CANDY CORN AND SMARTIES THUS FAR. AS THE NIGHT CAME TO AN END AND SHE WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO EAT CANDY OF HER OWN, SHE TOOK TO SMELLING JEFF'S LEFT OVER CANDY WRAPPERS. WE ADMIRED HER CREATIVITY.

Fall Fun at the Zoo

THIS SUNDAY WE JOINED FRIENDS AT THE ZOO FOR AN EARLY AFTERNOON OF TRICK-OR-TREATING. I COULD NOT WAIT TO SEE CHARLOTTE IN HER SHEEP COSTUME. SHE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF WEARING IT, AND RUBBED THE WOOL AS IF IT WERE A WEARABLE BLANKET. SHE ENJOYED SEEING ALL OF THE OTHER CHILDREN IN COSTUMES AND WHILE SHE DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF ASKING FOR CANDY, SHE DID ENJOY HER FIRST PACK OF SMARTIES! WE WERE BLESSED WITH A BEAUTIFUL FALL DAY, AND MADE MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES.

HER NANY AND I USED A TAD OF BLUSH TO COLOR HER NOSE. SHE TOOK ONE LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND PROCLAIMED, "OH NO!"
CHARLOTTE AND HER LITTLE FRIENDS - ANNALISE, JONAH AND AIDEN.

LITTLE BO PEEP AND HER SHEEP

LITTLE BO PEEP HAS (ALMOST) LOST HER SHEEP!

CHARLOTTE STAYS TRUE TO CHARACTER.

PREGNANT MAMA AND HER LITTLE SHEEP.

ENDING OUR MORNING WITH A RIDE ON THE CAROUSEL - CHAR'S FAVORITE!

Back to the Pumpkin Patch

THIS PAST WEEKEND WHILE JEFF WAS ENJOYING THE PACKER GAME IN GREEN BAY, CHARLOTTE AND I JOINED FRIENDS AT THE PUMPKIN PATCH. YOU CAN TELL BY HER SMILES, IT WAS NOT NEARLY AS COLD AS OUR FIRST TRIP.

OUR LITTLE PUMPKIN (THANKS FOR THE HAT, MIMI!)

THRILLED TO BE SO CLOSE TO A GOAT.

HER NEW BUDDY.

DESPERATE TO CATCH THE CAT. THE CAT DESPERATE TO GET AWAY.

MEETING THE FRIENDLIEST HORSE I'VE EVER SEEN. CHARLOTTE WAS NOT AT ALL INTIMIDATED BY HIS SIZE...NO SURPRISE THERE!

GOING FOR A SPIN.

GIRL'S DAY OUT!

On Wisconsin!

CHARLOTTE HAS OUTGROWN HER BADGER WEAR, BUT IT DOES NOT STOP US FROM CHEERING THEM ON EACH WEEKEND! NOW, WHEN FOOTBALL APPEARS ON THE TELEVISION SCREEN, CHARLOTTE IMMEDIATELY YELLS OUT "GO, GO, GO!" THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR ALL OF HER YOUNG, MALE FRIENDS OUT THERE...SHE IS A SPORTS GIRL!

Around the House

CHARLOTTE HAS A TRUE LOVE AFFAIR WITH MILK. SHE FINDS THE CREAMY, WHITE BEVERAGE SO SOOTHING AND TAKES THE DRINKING OF IT VERY SERIOUSLY. OUR MORNING BEGINS THE SAME EACH DAY, WITH CHARLOTTE SIGNING PLEASE IN FRONT OF THE REFRIGERATOR, CHEERFULLY DEMANDING "MILK, MILK, MILK!" WHEN IT IS TIME TO DRINK YOU WILL FIND HER WITH HER CUP OF MILK AND SOFT, RED BLANKET LOUNGING IN THE LIVING ROOM. SHE LOVES TO RUB HER LITTLE FINGERS ACROSS THE MATERIAL AND DOES NOT APPRECIATE BEING INTERRUPTED DURING THIS SACRED TIME. IF YOU WANT TO WIN OVER OUR DAUGHTER'S HEART, OFFER HER A TALL, COLD GLASS OF THE WHITE STUFF.

DISCOVERING THE JOYS OF LEGOS, WHILE MOM AVOIDS STEPPING ON THEM.

THE "COOKING COUNTER"
PERHAPS SANTA WILL BRING CHAR A REAL PLAY KITCHEN THIS CHRISTMAS, BUT UNTIL THEN SHE SEEMS TO ENJOY THIS SPOT IN THE KITCHEN. SHE ALSO CONTINUES TO ENJOY GREETING OUR NEIGHBORS THROUGH THE WINDOW AS THEY PARK BELOW.

PREPARING DINNER FOR DADDY.

"FORGET THE COOKING COUNTER, I'M PULLING OUT THE BIG POTS FOR THIS MEAL!"

TAKING A MOMENT TO RELAX...OR HIDE.

ORGANIZING ALL OF HER SUPPLIES.

TASTING HER MEAL FOR DADDY.

"OOH, MAYBE I SHOULD LEAVE THE COOKING TO YOU, MAMA!?"

THE LOVES OF MY LIFE.

(JEFF RARELY GETS TO USE THE INFAMOUS SOFT, RED BLANKET ANYMORE NOW THAT IT HAS BECOME CHAR'S "DRINKING BUDDY." SHE WAS FEELING GENEROUS THIS AFTERNOON.)

Gearing Up

THIS PAST WEEKEND WE SET OUT TO PREPARE THE NURSERY FOR THE ARRIVAL OF BABY BOY LARSON. THINGS WENT SMOOTHLY WITH JEFF'S THOROUGH READING OF THE INSTRUCTIONS AND CHARLOTTE'S SPONTANEOUS "TIPS" THAT SHE YELLED OUT FROM HER CRIB. I KEPT BOTH PARTIES HAPPY BY HOLDING THE OCCASIONAL SCREW, AND REFILLING CHARLOTTE'S CRIB WITH TOYS. (CHARLOTTE, SPENT AN IMPRESSIVE HOUR IN HER CRIB WHILE WE ASSEMBLED THE ROOM... BOTH SHOCKING AND MUCH APPRECIATED.) NOT ONLY DID WE SET UP THE CRIB, BUT WE KNOCKED OFF A FEW MORE ITEMS OFF MY TO-DO LIST THANKS TO MY SWEET HUSBAND. TO REWARD CHARLOTTE FOR HER ACCOMMODATING BEHAVIOR WE WENT TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH, AND TO REWARD OURSELVES WE WENT TO BUFFALO WILD WINGS TO WATCH THE BADGER GAME. (IF ONLY THE BADGERS COULD HAVE PULLED OFF A WIN.)

TO QUOTE MY HUSBAND, "WE HAD A REAL NORMAN ROCKWELL WEEKEND, DIDN'T WE?!"

I WAS IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT.

CHARLOTTE COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED ABOUT THE CRIB GOING UP.

HAPPY TO BE GETTING A ROOMMATE.

CHARLOTTE'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE CRIB ASSEMBLY.

"MAMA, YOU HAVE REALLY DONE WONDERS TO THIS ROOM."

WE'RE READY FOR YOU LITTLE MAN.

I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE OUR TWO CHILDREN NESTLED IN THEIR BEDS. (I FLUCTUATE BETWEEN VISIONS OF TWO SWEET BABES SLEEPING SOUNDLY IN THEIR CRIBS, AND OF CHARLOTTE YELLING THINGS OUT TO HER SLEEPING BROTHER.) EITHER WAY, IT WILL BE A WONDERFUL ADVENTURE.

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

FALL IS MY FAVORITE SEASON, AND I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR FAMILY TRIP TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH SINCE SEPTEMBER. (WE HAD TO REDEEM OURSELVES FROM LAST YEAR'S TRIP WHERE OUR CAMERA BATTERY DIED AFTER TWO SHOTS, AND WE FORGOT TO BRING CASH, LEAVING US WITH ABOUT 4 TOKEN APPLES.) ORIGINALLY, I TOLD JEFF I DIDN'T WANT TO GO WHILE THE TEMPERATURES WERE STILL SO WARM, AS IT WOULDN'T FEEL LIKE A "FALL ACTIVITY." WE MAY HAVE WAITED TOO LONG! THE BRISK TEMPERATURES YESTERDAY MADE FOR A SHORT BUT SWEET TRIP. YOU WILL NOTICE THE CHILL PRACTICALLY FROZE OUT OUR SWEET GIRL'S SMILE. BUT, WE DID MANAGE TO PICK OUT FOUR PUMPKINS, TWO BAGS OF APPLES, CARMEL DIP, AND TAKE A FEW QUICK PICS! I JUST LOVE THE SIGHT OF OUR FOUR PUMPKINS ON THE PORCH.

"YOU WANT ME TO SAY CHEESE? ALL I CAN SAY IS BRRRRRRR..."

WE KEPT ASKING CHARLOTTE TO PICK UP A PUMPKIN. AND, SHE KEPT LOOKING AT THE MUD ON THE PUMPKINS AND TELLING US, "DIRTY." PERHAPS, WE DO HAVE A LITTLE PRINCESS UNDERNEATH ALL OF THAT SPUNKY EXTERIOR?
CLEARLY THE COLD HAS GOTTEN TO HER AT THIS POINT.

STILL NOT THRILLED...

APPARENTLY, ALL SHE NEED TO CRACK A SMILE WAS THIS STRANGE LITTLE FIGURINE WITH A HUGE NOSE!

I CAN'T WAIT TO PACK UP BOTH KIDS NEXT YEAR FOR OUR ANNUAL PUMPKIN OUTING! HERE'S HOPING FOR 60 DEGREE WEATHER.

The Look

FOR SOME REASON, I FEEL AS THOUGH I MIGHT SEE THIS LOOK A LOT IN A FEW YEARS, AS CHARLOTTE APPROACHES ADOLESCENCE.

"REALLY MOM, I HAVE TO WEAR THIS PONY TAIL AGAIN?!"

OH WHERE DID THIS ATTITUDE COME FROM, MY SWEET BABY GIRL?
THIS IS NOW OUR NEW SCREEN SAVER. :)

30 Days to Go

FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS I HAVE BEEN GETTING UP EARLY WHEN JEFF GETS READY FOR WORK IN AN ATTEMPT TO PREPARE MYSELF FOR EARLY MORNING FEEDINGS, AND REALIZING THAT WITH TWO CHILDREN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS MIGHT BE MY BEST BET FOR GETTING IN A SHOWER EACH DAY. AT FIRST, I WAS RELUCTANT TO BEGIN MY DAY SO EARLY, AS CHARLOTTE HAS BEEN MY LITTLE ALARM CLOCK FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS. HOWEVER, I REALIZED I MISSED THE QUIET OF THE EARLY MORNING, AND REALLY ENJOY WATCHING THE SUN COME UP. THESE EXTRA MOMENTS OF QUIET PROVIDE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT AND "PREPARE" FOR THE DAY. IT IS ALSO NICE TO GET READY WITHOUT LITTLE HANDS GETTING INTO EVERYTHING! I REALIZED THIS MORNING THAT OUR LITTLE MAN IS GEARING UP FOR HIS BIG ENTRY INTO THIS WORLD AND IN JUST A MONTH (MAYBE SOONER, DEAR LORD?!) WE WILL GAZE UPON HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND CHARLOTTE WILL BECOME A BIG SISTER. IT IS BOTH OVERWHELMING AND COMFORTING AT THE SAME TIME. PEACE, GRATITUDE, AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF BEING EXTREMELY BLESSED FILL MY HEART AND MIND. I CANNOT WAIT TO MEET OUR SWEET BOY.

THE BIG QUESTION NOW IS...WILL HE HAVE AWESOME HAIR LIKE HIS BIG SISTER DID WHEN SHE WAS BORN?

march 23, 2008

Mr. and Mrs.

JEFF AND I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND A FEW NIGHTS AWAY BEFORE BABY BOY LARSON MAKES HIS BIG DEBUT INTO THE WORLD. WE CONTINUE TO BE BLESSED THAT WE HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL AND GENEROUS PARENTS WHO ARE WILLING TO TAKE CHARLOTTE FOR THE WEEKEND. IN FACT, THEY OFTEN THANK US FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, WHICH IS VERY SWEET. GRANDPARENTS ARE A SPECIAL GIFT FROM ABOVE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THESE MOMENTS TOGETHER AS A COUPLE, AND I CHERISH THE TIME I HAVE ALONE WITH MY BUSY HUBBY.

OFF TO A WEDDING AND RECONNECTING WITH MED-SCHOOL FRIENDS.

GETTING JIGGY WITH IT AT ALMOST NINE MONTHS IS QUITE THE TASK, BUT I HAVE A HARD TIME PASSING UP A DANCE FLOOR!

WEEKEND AWAY IN CHICAGO.

WE LOVE HEADING DOWN TO THE CITY TO VISIT CLOSE FRIENDS. WE WERE TREATED TO A WONDERFUL WEEKEND WITH OUR FRIENDS, MARK & MARIA. I BELIEVE DINING OUT (SANS CHILD) AT NICE RESTAURANTS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE TREATS AS A PARENT. THE FELLOWSHIP OF FRIENDS, GOOD CONVERSATION, AND DELICIOUS FOOD IS HARD TO BEAT.

Duck Adventure

EACH YEAR WE ARE INVITED OVER TO ONE OF JEFF'S ATTENDINGS FOR AN AFTERNOON WITH THE DUCKS. LAST YEAR, CHARLOTTE WAS TOO YOUNG TO APPRECIATE THE ADVENTURE, BUT THIS YEAR SHE WAS VERY EAGER TO PARTICIPATE IN HERDING THE FLUFFY CREATURES. SHE ALSO ENJOYED THE FREEDOM OF WALKING TO THE PARTY INSTEAD OF BEING PUSHED IN HER STROLLER. DADDY HAD TO SCOOP HER UP HALF WAY DUE TO HER LACK OF SPEED AND ENERGY, BUT SHE LOVED THE BRISK WEATHER AND WALKING WITH HER NEW DORA "THE EXPLORER" DOLL. (WE FIND IT FITTING THAT DORA IS HER FAVORITE TV PERSONALITY, AS CHARLOTTE IS ALWAYS UP FOR AN ADVENTURE!) WE LOVE TO WATCH CHARLOTTE OUTDOORS!

OFF TO MEET THE DUCKS.

"WHERE ARE ALL THE DUCKS?!"

"READY OR NOT HERE I COME!"

CHARLOTTE COULD NEVER QUITE CATCH UP TO THEM AS HARD AS SHE TRIED.

BEING SWEET AND TENDER TO A NEW FRIEND. CHARLOTTE COULD NOT KISS THIS SWEET BABY ENOUGH...THIS IS A GOOD SIGN! COME ON OUT BABY BOY LARSON, YOUR BIG SISTER AWAITS!