Build-A-Bear

So many choices! What do I do?

Caroline with her Madeline Bear that Madeline made her the day she was born
I'm shopping like a Mommy for my kids!

It's final, I'm getting a new bear (the baby sister)!

Stuffing

Jump starting the heart

Making a wish and giving a kiss to the heart

Putting her heart in

Grooming

Caroline was just so patient, so they gave her a most patient prize!

Dressing Room

Birth Certificate Time-Mommy I'm going to name her after you!

Big sister, Caroline Bear, and her new baby sister, Marnie Bear!

Madeline has been asking to go to Build-A-Bear for a long time. The last time she was there was the day Caroline was born. We had decided that it would stay a very special thing to do, so she could appreciate it more. Her savings goal became Build-A-Bear in early August. She decided she was going to go to BABW and get her Caroline bear new clothes. Luckily she also got a giftcard and some cash for her birthday to put towards her savings. Last Tuesday, I took her there with her very own $32 in her little purse. She started out only wanting to buy clothes. She went through every item in the store, laid out several options and then would ask me what she could buy. This went on for a long while (just ask Caroline!). However, since she had worked so hard to save her chore money, I wanted her to have the freedom to do it her way. It was great to see her being so careful about her own money. She wanted to make the right decision because it was money she had earned. One and a half hours later, we ended up with a new bear, an outfit, and a pair of shoes. Caroline even got her own coloring book and crayons for being such a patient sister! Madeline named her new bear Marnie and decided for Caroline's birthday she is going to get her a boy bear named Denny so we have one for each of our family members. I posted the whole process because it really was a lot of fun to see her at work (or should I say shop)! It's amazing how much difference it makes when kids are spending their own money and not yours!

Big Girl Checkup

A big 38 pounds!

44 inces tall
I'm 5! Wearing a real hospital gown like Mommy.

Dr. Miller checking her heart

Madeline has loved going to the doctor since she realized what it was. It is a big deal anytime she has any kind of medical appointment. She asks daily in the few days leading up to it. She had her first big girl checkup last week. She was very excited to wear the hospital gown. No surprise, she's still tall and skinny, very healthy, and still totally curious.

Books and Babies

While Madeline is at school, Caroline is the big girl of the house. She does all the things that her big sister does. I caught her the other day sitting in the chair with her babies and reading books. She set this all up by herself. She was just babbling on in her sing-song way like she was really reading the book. If you can't tell, she is reading Dora and every so often she would say Dora, Dora and then Boots or Bop, Swiper (Stop Swiper). I just stood in the kitchen and watched her for as long as she sat there. It's amazing how much she has grown and so fast. Moments like these remind you how precious of a gift God has given us in our children.

"PO-TTY"

"PO-TTY"

Caroline decided she wanted to sit on the potty the other day while Madleine was going. She never went, but did not want to put her diaper back on. When she would get up and wonder off I woudl ask her if she wanted her diaper on and she would say, "NOOO, PO-TTY!" and sit right back down. This went on for at least 15 minutes.

Halloween Party

Madeline and I went to her friend Kaleena's Halloween Party. It was such a great time. From feeling gross things and guessing what they really were, to climbing through the scary castle (actually our princess castle), to making cookies, and watching Monsters vs. Aliens, it was a great time. We even got enough candy that we were done trick-or-treating! Thanks Kate for a great time. We can't wait for next year!

Preschool Fall Farm Party

Making Dirt

Shooing the Pigs into the Barn

Cow Beanbag Toss

Horse Races

Craft Time

Three girls in the pig barn

Madeline was teacher's helper today.
This is her with Miss Diana singing the goodbye song and handing out folders.

Madeline had her first preschool party today. They don't do Halloween, so we had a fall farm theme. It was my first experience being on the parent side of a party instead of on the teacher side. It was so fun. I had some great parents to work with and the kids got to do some really fun things. They made dirt with JD tractor gummies, played shoo the pigs in the barn, cow bean bag toss, and horse races, and got to make a cute lollipop scarecrows and corn cob paintings. It was a wonderful party. Madeline said she loved it all!

We're Off to Trick or Treating!

The Wicked Witch & Dorothy--I'll get you my pretty and your little dog too! Ha,ha,ha!

Taking it all in
Funny how Dorothy was standing right next to her on stage!
Caroline got First Place in her age division

Madeline got First Place in her division too! Her friend Behla got 2nd!

Kalona had their trick-or-treat night tonight, so we went out in the rain and had a great time visiting neighbors and friends. After that, the Optimist Club had a children's Halloween Party and the rec center. There were some games and snacks and a costume contest. Both of our girls got first place in their age division! It was a fun night. Caroline didn't fuss even a little after she got her ruby slippers on. She just kept saying, "Sparkle, sparkle!" Madeline absolutely loved being something scary. You should here her say, "I'll get you my pretty and your little dog too! Ha, ha, ha!" She is really good at it and Caroline just laughs and laughs.

"No Dory, no Dory! Off!"

This is Caroline's first attempt at her Dorothy costume. As you can see she did not want it on at all. She just kept saying, "No Dory (dorothy), no Dory! Off!" It was too cute not to take pictures and I was worried she would never put it on again!

Pumpkin Carving

We carved out pumpkins last night. It was a lot of fun. Madeline had a design for each of our 4 pumpkins. Of course we had a daddy, mommy, big sister, and baby pumpkin. Everyone got a face, but my pumpkin was the designated Hawkeye pumpkin this year. It is our family tradition to have a pumpkin with the Hawk emblem. Denny is the carver and the girls and I get to pull out all the insides. Madeline really go into it this year. She wanted to do as much as possible by herself. Caroline really loved her little pumpkin. She was so excited when we put in the light. She kept saying, "light, light." Happy Halloween!

Dr. Polly Visit

Cleaning

New toothbrush & goodies

X-ray

Counting teeth
Madeline has always loved medical appointments, the dentist, haircuts, etc. She just loves to be big. These are pics of her at Dr. Polly's (her dentist). The dentist is almost like a treat for her. We got a great report again. Beautiful teeth and no cavities. They took x-rays of her front baby teeth and it looks like she could get loose front teeth before long!