Happy Halloween with the Big Cats

Another Halloween has come and gone.  This year was the first year Charlotte figured out what it was all about so we had a lot of fun.  First, we carved our pumpkin.

Charlotte's Jack-O-Lattern face.

Scooping out the guts.

It looks just like the one she colored at school!

Charlotte said she wanted to be a leopard and Netta and Bailey were going to be a cheetah and a lion.  They came over to trick or treat Thursday night.  It took FOREVER to get them to line up for this picture.  It was like herding cats.  Literally.  I don't know why Toonces looks like a ghost in this picture?

Too cute.

Happy is a skunk.

The girls were cute, but Poncho stole the show while we out trick or treating.

We only went to a few houses.  The girls were still navigating this whole asking strangers for candy thing.  At the last house, Charlotte and Netta went up to the door by themselves.  Our neighbor said, "what do you say?"  And they just stood there in silence.  

They all chose Skittles as their first treat.  Charlotte spotted a Milky Way and said, "I want to eat that chocolate brown too."  After she went to bed, I had to inspect her loot for anything that was not appropriate for a 3 year old.  You know, like Kit Kats.

Charlotte Turns #3!

If you ask Charlotte how old she is, she'll hold up her fingers and say, "I'm number 3."  We celebrated three ways.   Charlotte's birthday part 1. Her birthday happened to fall on the same day as the Twin Cities Marathon Family Day, so we had a nice breakfast (pancakes,  Charlotte's favorite) and headed over to the capital to sign Charlotte up for the toddler trot.

Birthday breakfast sausage

We also signed Happy up for the Diaper Dash.  We debated whether or not it was worth it, after all she is nowhere near crawling, but we agreed that it was worth it for the photo op alone.  I think you will agree.

Happy at the starting line 

Totally worth $11!

There are not many things more joyful than watching a 3 year old run.  All the kids got race t-shirts and Charlotte wore hers for 3 days in a row.  I had to bargain with her to get it off her long enough to wash it Sunday night.

Happy's souvenir from her first race - CUTE!

Then we went home and took naps to get ready for Chartlotte's birthday part 2.  After dinner it was time for cupcakes and presents!  Charlotte has a mild obsession with cupcakes. Ever since her birthday last year she has asked to look at pictures of her birthday cupcake on my phone at least once a week.  She has fond memories of the "fire" and frosting.  This year's cupcake did not disappoint - Oreo!  The frosting tasted like the filling of an Oreo.

She's in love.

 Charlotte got this gift from her friends Nathan, Noah and Alma.
I think these fruit snacks were her favorite present.

Trying to tempt her with another present, but she can't stop talking about those fruit snacks!

Frog Trouble - Sandra Boynton's best work yet.  Seriously, I would listen to this without any kids around.

Charlotte's big present - a sweet stove.

And to top it off, cupcake PJs!!

A week later, we had a little party with Netta and Bailey for birthday part 3!  We had a little cake and went to the park to play.  Charlotte was very excited for Netta and Bailey to come over and spent the morning talking about which burner of her new stove would be for which cousin to cook on.

Bailey, Netta and Charlotte turning 3 together.

FUN x 3!

Friday my sister and I took the girls to the Minnesota Children's Museum.  The girls had soooo much fun.  Since they are the same age, they are pretty much in the same place as far as interests go.   We spent a long time in the pretend area.  They shopped in the pretend grocery store, worked in the pretend restaurant, and made some music videos in a room with a green screen. 



Abba cover band



Lillith Fair



Ready, set, go!



They're off!



Snack time (thanks for the picture Jess!)



I've Been Waiting

Charlotte recently started playing with other kids rather than alongside other kids.  It's so cool to watch.  Something I have been looking forward to since my sister and I were pregnant at the same time, is for the girls to play together and it finally happened this weekend!   Over the weekend, we were at a family party at Joanna's.  The kids were playing outside and Charlotte and Netta were playing "soccer" together yelling each other's names and laughing.  Later, the twins wanted to show Charlotte the spare bedroom at Joanna's so they went in there and my sister and I followed.  They told us to leave the room and close the door.  So, we left.  I looked at my sister and said, "they're getting into trouble together for the first time!"  A while later we went to check on the them and we heard squealing and laughter and when we opened the door they were jumping on the bed and laughing.  It's the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Michelin Babies

Wearing their puffy suits - Bailey, Charlotte, Netta

Cake! Cake! Cake!

Last weekend we had a big birthday party for Charlotte, Netta and Bailey.  If you bring your baby's birth certificate in to Lund's you can get a free cake for your baby's first birthday, so we got three cakes. 

The kids table.  That's Oscar in the middle.

The big kids have to help blow out the candles.

Charlotte is biting into her first piece of cake.

Bailey is playing with her cake.

Now Charlotte is biting Netta's finger.

Balloon!

Netta and Bailey go after the papparazzi.

Busy Babies

Some pictures from the cottage that I am just getting around to posting.....

Netta and Bailey are getting ready to go cruising.

Bailey!

Charlotte checking out the real estate in the Waushura county guide.

Netta cooling off.

Charlotte and her busy box.  We don't leave home without it.

Twins!

My nephew, Lewis, said he knew twins - Netta, Bailey, and Charlotte.  Can you guess who's who? 

B, C, N
8 months

B, C, N
1 month

N, C, B
4 months

It is so fun to watch them together.  They are more aware of each other now.  Netta and Bailey are crawling.  Charlotte is still pretty much immobile.  One day we won't be able to stage this picture anymore because they will all be crawling all over the place.