S'mores Anyone?

We had some friends over to roast hotdogs and marshmallows over our mini firepit. My dad has done a great job making a play area for the girls. It is now complete with a swing set - thanks Uncle Sammy! Maybe I can actually help pull some weeds in the garden while Adela swings. :)

Nora enjoyed the fun from her exersaucer

Would you like S'more?

Little Peeper and Giant Bugs

"While we try to teach our children all about life,

Our children teach us what life is all about."

Angela Schwindt

Look who I found peeking over the crib railing!

We had a great time at the Natural Science Center with some good friends. Elise, Emily and Adela had lots of fun chasing each other through the zoo and play area. We sure miss having Hope, Emily and Elijah around!

Hope with Nora and Elijah. They are only one day apart in age! Nora has a few pounds and maybe an inch on Elijah though. :)

Addy gone buggy

Phillip and Elise as bugs

Day Trip to Charlotte

Today we said goodbye at the airport to our good friends, the Evans. They are returning to the Czech Republic. We stopped at a mall on the way back and Nora had her first carousel ride. She also got to sit in a high chair at Arby's. You can see that she LOVES to eat - she is a true Havlen! :) She's already reaching for the spoon and trying to feed herself. Adela adores her and is so loving. She plays peek-a-boo with her and sings songs for her. Nora has started responding more to Adela and lights up when she comes into the room. Everyday I am more and more thankful that I have two girls that can be best buddies. I think it would be wonderful to have a sister.

8 Months Old Today

My how time truly flies. I was just bringing this sweet baby girl home from the hospital yesterday. She is back to being my sweet angel baby. She LOVES food and has eaten everything I've prepared for her. I know that will all change as soon as she turns two, but I'm enjoying it for now! She peeks her head up in the crib after naps and melts your heart with her toothless grin. Come on over, I'll let you hold her, but just for a minute or two.

A few good pictures

"I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me." Psalm 13:6

Adela started preschool and goes three days a week. She loves it and hardly says goodbye to me when I leave her class. On the way to preschool she asked me, "Mommy, Can I have blue eyes?" I said, "You have lovely green eyes that God gave you. Mommy and Daddy have green eyes too." She said, "Can you ask God to give me blue eyes?" :)

Her teacher told me yesterday that she is a good listener. You can imagine how happy I was to hear that!

Nora's first ride in a swing. Look at those chunky legs!

The closest we'll get to Disney World anytime soon :)

My mom got us these beautiful roses for our 8th anniversary. Can't believe it's been 8 years already. God has truly blessed us.

I convinced Adela to help me do the dishes. She was in charge of rinsing. I think she got more water on herself and the floor than on the dishes!

Thank you McFrederick's for my awesome outfit! I just need to learn to sing "Old MacDonald" now! Nora turned 7 months old on the 19th and has just started sitting alone.

Between pureeing baby food (I haven't bought one single jar of baby food for Nora!) and running Adela to and from preschool, not to mention all the other "motherly" duties, I don't make time to blog. At least being a stay-at-home mom has some great perks: never a dull moment, on the job training, smiles and kisses for bonuses and lots of variety. Of course, I could do without the occasional nightshift duties. :) Adela loves preschool and is the only girl in the class! Nora is a smiley, happy baby, but I can't call her my sweet sleep-all-night angel baby anymore. She's up at least every 3 hours. I keep expecting to feel some teeth any day now. Otherwise, she is rocking on all fours and has taken two "knee steps."

Carowinds

We took a trip to Carowinds yesterday and had a great time. Nora stayed with Aunt LaDonne while Leo, Adela and I enjoyed some rides. I can't believe how quickly Adela is growing up and becoming a little lady. She is lots of fun and full of surprises. Some of her favorite phrases are, "Actually..., Are we there yet? Is it far? (She has never liked car rides), When I get 5, I can watch Hannah Montana (I have never agreed to this - she likes to set her own age limits), Will you play 'doctor' with me? (that's her favorite game and asks every little girl she meets to play it with her)." On Wednesday she is starting preschool. I'm just a little nervous, but she is really excited about it of course! On a funny note for all you Dora fans out there, when she finished saying the blessing for lunch yesterday she said, "... and Swiper, no swiping! Amen."

Who is Math?

Tonight I was reading a book to Adela called Math on the Playground. She asked me, "Mommy, who is Math? Is it a boy or a girl?" :)