TWO. Thankful.

So many people ask what the differences between the girls are. We have thought long and hard about this, and truly there aren't many differences. Truly. Isabel hates messes, Grace doesn't mind them (especially since Isabel will clean up after her!) Grace is better at sharing (or she doesn't want Isabel to pull any more of her hair out when she gets mad!) Isabel ALWAYS has her stroller loaded up with babies, Grace usually has just her favorite one (and now this week her new princess!) But they are both determined, dramatic, opinionated, very sweet, smart, dramatic, strong willed, sassy little girls. They make us laugh, make me cry, frustrate me more than I even knew possible, and test my patience more than I knew it could be tested. Sometimes I pass their "tests", sometimes I fail. But we are learning, each and everyday. Together. They continue to challenge me, make me WANT to be a better mommy on those days that I don't feel like I am doing things right. They make me want to try to be the best I can be. All the time.

They amaze me with their love for one another, their amazing bond,the ways they comfort each other when the other needs it, the way they STILL have their own secret language and use it quite often.

Having TWO TWO year olds is hard. It is the hardest, yet most rewarding think I have ever done. They know how to make me mad, yet in the same moment melt my heart with their sweetness!! At the end of the day, no matter what kind of day we have had, laughter, tears, happiness or frustration, I look at them both as they lay in their bed.

I am so proud. I am so in love. I am so thankful. For my TWO.

(And for Greg as we couldn't do any of this without his

love, support, and his humor that gets me through our days!)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Lights Festival - Part 2

So after naps, we headed back out for a fun filled evening. The hard part for all of us was waiting for the parade to start. As you can see from the pictures below, and the girls enthusiasm, it had not started. At this point they were saying "me go home!" and we were wondering how it was going to go.

But then the parade began. And for the next LONG, LONG, LONG hour Greg and I held the girls on our shoulders so they could enjoy the parade. It was hard to watch their little faces, but Grace's words, and Isabel's silence said it all.

Over and over again Grace kept saying...

"wook mommy! wook! more toming!! wook!"

(translation for those that don't get that...look. more coming!)

Such ABSOLUTE SWEETNESS!!!!

And our Isabel...just took it all in.

The lady next to Greg had to reassure him that she was blinking since she wouldn't respond to him. Sweet little thing she is!!

Then we saw some great fireworks over the river.
Isabel wasn't so fond of them...a little too loud for her.

but Grace LOVED them!And how wonderful there were pink and green!

and tinkerbell fireworks!!

ALL our favorites!

Then we walked with the TONS of other people and headed back down Michigan Avenue. The girls talked to each other the WHOLE way, about what, who knows, but many commented on their cuteness. And I must say...they were pretty darn cute!!!

We went and had dinner and the girls were perfect.

A perfect ending to a perfect day.

Such sweet little faces, their looks of awe and wonder, and their sweet little voices as they watched the majic before them in true amazement all day long.

Perfect.

Lights Festival - Part 1

We had a VERY fun weekend. We stayed downtown so we were able to enjoy all the fun festivities. We started our Saturday morning by taking a walk down Michigan Avenue to have breakfast with the Disney characters. As you can see from the picture below, they were a HUGE hit with the girls!!

"Me no Goofy, me princess!" was what Grace said over and over during breakfast. So we headed to the Disney store after breakfast and stood in the same area surrounded by princesses of all kinds for over thirty minutes. Bless Greg's heart he saw just a small glimpse of his future with HIS princess girls! After MUCH, MUCH, MUCH deliberation we decided on two very pretty pink princesses and we headed back to hear some fun music!

Grace
Isabel with her princess glasses!
We heard some of our favorites...Justin Roberts

We sang, we danced. Even the princesses joined in on the fun!


The weather...well, we could not have been more lucky. See, no coats for a while even. All that dancing and the warm sun was perfect!!

Then we heard a little Ralph...

and we danced and sang some more!!!

then headed back for naps before our fun evening began!!!

party time

We were lucky enough to celebrate our good friend Teddy's first birthday last weekend. SUCH a warm, beautiful day for a party.

Here's sweet little Teddy showing the girls one of his toys. Though the girls figured out a different way to use it! the girls tried to pull all the grass from the yard to cover their babies
ate lots of chocolate
and practiced singing happy birthday a few times!

we had so much fun!!!

Happy Birthday Teddy!!!

ed debevic's

Last weekend we had dinner at Ed Debevic's. Even though the girls don't look like it in these pictures, we had a fun time!

Grace
Isabel

fun times, but not so fun to watch

the past two weekends, Greg and I were lucky enough to go watch the bears play. the first week they won, the second, they played and looked ridiculous!!

it was remember Walter Peyton day, which was very cool to see!
and we were lucky TWICE with amazing weather!!!!
the first week, it was cold, but comfortable if you bundled up!

last weekend...t-shirt weather!! first November game i have been to that was SO amazingly warm!! we stayed for almost the whole game (even though the bears were playing AWFUL!) since the weather was SO awesome!!

SUCH fun times!!

our fairy princesses

The girls got dressed in their princess outfits and we headed to see Grandma and Grandpa Carlson for some trick or treating fun! Grace was a little overwhelmed by the whole evening. Isabel, she seemed to like it a little more, and LOVED the treats she got!!!

Grace

Isabel

trick or treating

We made it to a few houses, but it was COLD! We got the girls bundled up, they looked like little sumo wrestling princesses. I just wasn't prepared for the cooler temperatures.

We headed over to share our princesses with Debbie (my cousin) and Rob, and brand new baby Ella!! The girls were overwhelmed by the halloween fun, and then got to meet Ella for the first time. Talk about true facination, I don't think they realized Debbie's baby, who we have been talking and talking and talking about was REAL!!! It was VERY sweet to watch their little awe struck faces!

Grace

Isabel

pumkin fun!

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