You can't catch me...

Charlotte and Daddy had a great time decorating Gingerbread Men. Mommy fed Emma Kate and watched Charlotte create her masterpieces. Charlotte had been wanting to do this activity for a while but she wanted to do it "all together". We squeezed it in before my work tonight! Again, only a princess dress would do!

Scrub a Dub Dub, 2 girls in a tub

Emma Kate took her first real bath with her big sis Charlotte. Emma Kate enjoyed splashing Charlotte but Charlotte was kind enough to not splash too much at her little sis!

Too many princess parties!

This is what happens to dads when they play princess for too long!!

Which is Which?

Charlotte or Emma Kate? I must say they are beginning not to look so much alike! You can tell by the eye color and head shape!

Our litte cuties

Just a few new pictures...

Decorating the Christmas Tree

We decorated our Christmas tree on Sunday - some of us helped more than others. Actually, Charlie did most, Charlotte helped, Emma Kate napped and I cleaned the upstairs. Charlotte was a great cheering section "Put this one next, good job daddy!". Charlotte told us she wouldn't take any ornaments off and she loved decorating. However, I couldn't convince her that Tinkerbell doesn't decorate Christmas trees; her 3rd Christmas will haunt her as an adult when she wonders why I let her dress like Tinkerbell...

Emma Kate - "The Bruiser"

I returned home from work on Saturday morning to find a happy Emma Kate in her crib... with a black eye. It is still a mystery on how our little one injured herself but she doesn't seem to care! Check out the left eye!

Getting Ready for Christmas

One set of our Christmas pictures can be viewed online! I tried to publish them here but are copyrighted and it wouldn't let me. Follow the link below:

http://www.thesmilestation.com

Customer Name: Melinda Greer
Access Code: LTT83701042005TAR

Some of the pictures are not so good; it is inevitable when you have a squirmy 27 month old and a 7 month old that can't quite sit up on her own.

Purdue Homecoming

October 27th was Purdue's football homecoming. Every other year, the alumni cheerleaders get to come back and cheer the 1st half. I must say I was pretty impressed with myself - can still do a standing tuck after 2 kids! We had a great time cheering the Boilers to a victory!

Emma Kate's 1st trip to Seattle

Emma Kate and I went to visit Meredith, Jeff and Baby John last weekend. We were there for a quick Friday-Monday trip. Charlie went to the Purdue game at Penn State and Charlotte stayed with Charlie's parents. I will post pictures later of the adorable baby John. Here is a picture of Charlotte in her new princess dress (which obviously she thinks is hilarious - She had the infectious baby laugh while taking this picture!)

Just one more

This video thing is so easy and addicting. The last one for now. We have Charlotte's whole life, now here is Emma Kate's.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We didn't think it was fair...

to not let Charlotte have a video montage of her own documenting her first 2 years (and I promise they are all Charlotte, I checked to make sure we didn't get an Emma Kate in there. You can tell by the lack of bow or small size of bow!) Here are some highlights!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Emma Kate is 6 months old!

It is hard to believe that Emma Kate will be 6 months old tomorrow! Here is a montage of our first days with Emma Kate. It is hard to remember her this small already.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Our 2nd Fall Festival

Charlotte, Emma Kate and Mom went to the Pumpkin Patch Festival at mom's hospital last weekend. There were many cool activities and things to look at. Charlotte was particulary impressed by the man dressed as a turtle and the goats! She has SO SCARED of the fire truck, ambulance, police car and life line helicopter which is odd b/c she loves them all from afar. We got a picture taken and the photographer said "This is great!!" Let me know if you think it is a great picture of anyone - not so much!! Charlotte was only interested in the pumpkin behind her and Emma Kate of course was trying to look the other way the whole time while I tried to keep turning her head. Hence the moving of my hand in the picture. We all look a little cooky but had a great day!

Our litte nature lover

Over the summer Charlotte has definitely started to love being outdoors. She loves to play "hot scotch" in the driveway and look at her friends Luke, Sadie and Wilson across the street. She always says she wants to talk to them, but then gets a little too shy. She loves to chase butterflies and look for airplanes in her "noculars". She also likes to play in the plants and pick flowers. Unrelated but still fun, is any type of truck, tractor, bus or motorcycle!

Charlotte - 26 months old

Charlotte is now 26 months old - it is easy for mom to remember, just at 20 1/2 months to Emma Kate! She is very much a little girl now, and not a baby! Although she does say to "carry 2 babies" when she wants to be carried with Emma Kate. She is a GREAT big sister and quite a help to mom and dad (suprisingly if you know Charlotte's stubborn little personality!)

Our trip to the pumpkin patch

We had a great trip to the pumpkin patch on Saturday... although it was 90 degrees on October 6th!!! Charlotte had a great time looking at the animals (of course, her favorite was the goat). She also loved riding all the kiddie tractors too. Emma Kate had a great time with mommy watching daddy and Charlotte pick out this great pumpkin!

Emma Kate - 5 1/2 months old

Charlotte Loves Gymnastics Class

We have seen much improvement in Charlotte's gross motor skills since being enrolled in gymnastics. She also loves to wear her "nastics" suit. She has definitely mastered jumping but seems less interested in other activities at the gym. Somersaults are her next favorite!

Welcome Baby John!

John Michael Browand was born Monday 10/1 at 8:25 pm in Seattle, WA to Melinda's sister Meredith and brother-in-law Jeff. Charlotte loves to look at Baby John's pictures. Hopefully he will get to go home today. He had an extended stay due to elevated levels of bilirubin (Jaundice). Visit Meredith's blog to see more pics!!

http://meg-a-maniacs.blogspot.com/

Hello Sunny Florida!

Mommy and Emma Kate recently spent 4 days in Florida with the Kanes. Baby Will is now 4 wks old but still very cuddly. Emma Kate was able to meet her cousins for the 1st time. Charlotte stayed at home with Charlie- could you imagine me with a 2yr old and 4mo old on a plane. Logistically it would work fine; I'm not sure if my nerves are quite ready for that! You might think we had a quick trip b/c we have NO pictures but were actually in Celebration for 4 days. We were able to see Andrew at his football game - too hot for the babies to stay. We were also able to see the kids go to their first day of school and say Julia go to school as well! We loved visiting in Florida and will be venturing back at Christmas - this time Charlotte does get to go!! Visit the Kane's blog via our link for more happenings at the Kane house!

Sisters!

Are they blue or are they brown?

We think Emma Kate's eyes are looking blue but they might still just be "baby gray". What do you think?

A gymnast in training

Charlotte loves her gymnastics class! It is a mommy/daddy and me class at Cheer World in Westfield. It meets for 45 minutes on Monday nights. She is learning to stretch and jump on the trampoline (her favorite of course). She also loves to walk on the balance beam and hang on the bars. She has recently learned to do her forward roll. An olympian in the making!

Finally Real Toys!

Emma Kate is able to completely hold her head up and has more upper body control! She is loving the exersaucer for about 10 minutes at a time. Charlotte has to help her play with it and Charlotte tends to think she gets a turn in it also.

Charlotte Turns 2!!

What a great birthday I had! My memaw came to my house to watch me while Daddy was at work and Mommy took a nap - she isn't lazy, just works nights! We played with every toy I own and she let me eat some of her lunch and a peanut butter sandwich. Then, she took me to Target and I got to help pick out my birthday presents. I got a princess dress and shoes along with a boa! I also got some matchbox cars. Mommy and Daddy got me my own backpack, more Littlest Pet Shop pets, and a tent for inside. You already saw Aunt Mere and Uncle Jeff's present. Aunt Caroline, Uncle Sean and all of my cousisns bought me a Dora bike!! I loved Julia's Dora bike when I was at her house in March. I even got to eat out for dinner and got an ice cream sundae. I poured a slushie all over myself in the car (hey- I'm 2 now!) so now I am finishing my best birthday ever with a bath! Maybe mommy will let me sleep in her bed...

Love, Charlotte

Then and Now

From apprehension to friends!

Laid Back Emma Kate!

Emma Kate has a little different personality than her big sis Charlotte. She is a little more easy going as Charlotte is quite stubborn - which I must remind myself will be a good trait as she ages and will stick up for herself! A few recent pics of our little sis!

Good Times - Great Friends

Charlie's 10 year high school class reunion was a fun filled evening (without our girls!) Grandpa Greer watched both girls on his own and even offered to do it again! This picture is of Charlie's best friend Carl and his wife Angela. Carl played football at Purdue while Angela played softball and Charlie and I were both cheerleaders!

A Fun-Filled Weekend

Charlie had his 10 yr high school class reunion last weekend in Portage. Grandpa Greer and Uncle Jeff Greer (yes, the girls have 2 Uncle Jeffs!) were in a tractor pull that morning in Portage. Charlie also participated and we realized that Charlotte LOVES tractors! She had a great time riding with Grandpa and watching the boys in the tractor pull!

Our littlest nephew

Caroline and family welcomed their latest edition into the world this afternoon. William Brooks Kane was born at 2:4o pm. Check out her blog for updates!!

Charlotte the Chef!!

Aunt Mere bought Charlotte her chef outfit for her "Happy Birthday". The outfit matches her kitchen that she LOVES! Her favorite meal to cook is M&Ms, Oreos and suckers!

The Same Face

Charlotte and Emma Kate = Twins 20 months apart!!

Emma Kate is at the top and 6 wks older.

Charlotte is the bottom picture.