Claire is registered for Preschool!

It's hard to believe, but Claire will be attending preschool next year! Classes start the first week in September and she will go Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am until noon. It will be nice because we can walk there within about 7 minutes! She attended both open houses that they offered and did not want to leave. I take that as a good sign!

Allie's first baby doll!

Allie has been showing interest in Claire's dolls, but didn't have any of her very own. I saw this CPK jammies doll and thought that it would be cute for her. Allie was loving on it, but then decided that it was more fun to throw her off of the couch. Go figure!
Like many of my photos and videos, Nappie makes an appearance! I never realize it until I go back and watch it! He's kind of hard to spy in this one. Our blog can be like "Where's Waldo?" but insert Nappie!

Claire and Frankie

These two have always been super cute together ever since they were babies. We had fun at Yorktown playing at the play area, riding the train, and enjoying lunch at Egg Harbor with Frankie, Sophia, and Heather.

Claire totally scored! She picked out her pretty necklace from Gymboree and got a kids cone with sprinkles at DQ. She was rewarded for being a potty star.

Allie the carb lover!

Allie is such a carb lover. She loves pasta, bread, and fruit. Good thing for whole wheat pasta and the ability to "hide" veggies in her sauce! Straight to baths after this meal! Here she is enjoying Robin's amazing homemade sauce.
Note Allie holding her fork, which she did use, but not for long!

LP Zoo with the Welkes!

Kristie was off for Presidents' Day, so we decided to head to the Lincoln Park Zoo. We had a great time seeing the giraffes, lion, monkeys, gorillas and more! It was the first time that we went over to the petting zoo area, which is very cute.

Playing in the barn at the petting zoo.
The crew. Kristie controlled the wagon, I had stroller duty!
Playing in the ape house!
Kristie with cuties, meerkats, and giraffes!
Kristie with the babes.
Hugs by the bugs house!
Sleepy girl. She doesn't nap very well, but always manages to fall asleep in her stroller or in the car!

Big news....Allie is walking!!!

It took her a while, but she's finally doing it! Two weeks ago, she started walking well at Grammie and Papo's house. She is getting braver and laughs every time that she walks! Here is some footage, don't mind my squeals

Fun at Woodfield

How my visits to Woodfield have changed! We went to the Disney Store, visited the animals at the Rainforest Cafe, played in the kid area and got a smoothie.
Claire picked out "comfy cozy" outfits for her and Allie to wear today. Claire had paired her stripes with polka dots leggings, but agreed to wear plain black pants instead!
Balance beam!
She saw Claire on the bike and wanted to try it out for herself!

Valentine Sweeties

Claire and Allie got to spend Valentine's day with Grammie and Papo, since it was one of the very few days that I went to work. Claire and Grammie made heart shaped sugar cookies with pretty decorations on them. Allie and Claire are enjoying them in the photos below. She also made pretty Valentines for us.

Disney on Ice

We enjoyed the show featuring Tiana, Cinderella and Rapunzel. The first half was 45 mins and the girls were into it. The second half got a bit harder as nap time drew near!

Pointing to the show!
Claire picked out her Ariel shirt to wear. She also picked out Allie's sweater and was adamant that it be worn!
Look at that Allie face!
Claire was looking up at something!
Don't we look alike? Ha, I know, we don't! Look at those baby blues!

Maddie and Claire

Maddie and Claire go to 2's on the Move every Thursday. After, we usually try to do something fun (go out to lunch, pick out a treat at the bakery, or go to see the animals) and they come back and play. Lately they have been dressing up and playing princesses. It cracks me up, because Maddie calls Claire "Aurora" and I can not differentiate between "Aunt Laura" and "Aurora"! Another awesome comment, "Claire, high heels are dangerous." I love peeking in on them.

Of course it ends with a crash to the floor, and they thought it was hilarious!

Daddy's pizza girl!

Thanks to Matt's high school job at Rosati's Pizza, Matt is our home made pizza maker! Claire is learning some tricks of the trade!

Claire 2.5 years old!

Claire had her doctor appointment today and it was pretty easy. She was 7 days shy of being able to get a hepatitis vaccine, so she will wait until she is 3. It's so interesting to see another sweet and shy side to her. She is just like her mom and gets red when answering the doctors questions!

Weight: 31 lbs (75th %tile)
Length: 38" (95th %tile)

Here she is with jar full of cotton balls. She gets one each time she uses the potty. Oberweiss, here we come!!
Another quick note, we are all feeling better. It seems that our family caught some type of flu. Allie came down with it on Thursday evening, then Claire and Matt got in on the fun on Saturday. That night, Claire was sleeping with me in my room in a sleeping bag on the floor (tried the bed until she got sick) and Matt was in the basement trying to sleep and was really sick. Matt and I even had to give up our Superbowl tickets, what bad timing! NOT FUN!! SO glad it's over (fingers crossed)!