2.5!!!!

I just realized that the girls turned 2 and 1/2 today!!!! Wow! As they keep telling me, they're Big Kids now :) Not too much to report - I just finished my first week back as a part-time teacher and missed the kiddos a lot last week. With my new schedule, I will still be home 2 days a week with the ladies, which I'm really looking forward to.... Oh, and this morning they named their baby dolls. Caroline's baby doll is "Betty Lou" and Macie's is "Person" - very original, I thought :)

Mimi and the girls - VIDEO

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

A beautiful, sunny weekend of golf, biking, and lots of time with good friends, Mike had a really fun 35th! And, the girls loved singing to him and eating the birthday cake!

First day of (pre) SCHOOL!

The anticipation is so exciting!!!!

After the teacher showed Macie and Caroline where to put their shoes in their cubbies, they went right to work building. They were so excited about school (while I was a little teary-eyed). It was a great day!

Whidbey Weekend with a Wedding!

Lia and Mark a few days before their wedding, after their wedding shower run!

Macie, looking good, on the ferry to Whidbey
Mike and I went to Lia and Mark's wedding while Macie and Caroline got to play with Max at the cabin! The next day, we all played together at the park

M, C, and Max - all looking at the camera!

Who let those kids dress themselves?

Caroline and Max "share" :)

ZooTunes with Ama and Daco

We went to the Zoo to see Mary Chapin Carpenter and have a picnic dinner.... and ride the carousel!

Ama and Macie

Daco, Caroline, and Mike
M in the boat by the penguins

Gabe's 8th Birthday!

Happy Birthday, GABE! Thanks for letting us sneak some pinata candy :)

On the farm, by the cabin, and at the beach!

We got to spend some time with Mike's cousins on their dairy farm, which was so fun for the girls (first, because there are lots of cows and second, because they love hanging out with their cousin, Clay!)

Going to find some baby cows

The gorgeous view

Macie, Caroline, and Clayton on the tractor - soooo fun!

Playing/sweeping the cotton seed

Caroline gets a tractor ride
Back by the cabin - exploring the old Smith barn


The neighboring buffaloes

Mimi and Caroline head to the beach at the state park right by the cabin

Mimi shows Macie all the fish by her toes!

Mildred's Cottage

We got to spend three days in Charlie and Carol's new Pennsylvania cabin, built close to where Charlie grew up and near where Great-Grandmother Mildred, his late mother, lived. It's a beautiful house, with great views and buffalos as neighbors! We had a great time moving in furniture, cleaning, and exploring the land.

Christening the house in honor of Mildred

Mimi with Caroline and Macie at story time

C and M show off their cubby-hole, where Macie took a nap, even!

The view in daylight

Road Trip!

We drove about 12hours from Maine to just outside State College in a mini-van with the girls, me and Mike and Mimi and Papa. It was actually great!

Caroline demonstrates how peanut butter can take a long time to eat!

Outside Cracker Barrel, of course

Who doesn't love Etch-a-Sketch's!?

Special Dinner for Mimi

On our last night together, the kids all gave Carol a special necklace and celebrated her retirement, as well as her birthday, and especially making it through a really tough year. We love you, Mimi!

Melissa, Mike, Brock, Carol, Clint, and Charlie

Last Day in Maine

We spent out last day in Maine lazing around, watching the lobster boats come in, eating lunch at Tub's, going to Southport Beach again, and having a really special family dinner. We'll miss you, Maine!

Caroline and Melissa wave at the lobster boats

Melissa and Macie
Caroline and Uncle Brock have a table-to-table tongue-sticking-out contest!

So mature! :)

M and C at the beach

The three Smith girls

Who wrote that?

Mimi and Papa take the girls to head over to Tug's again to relax on their outdoor porch

2min walk from our house - fresh lobster, outdoor patios, cool lobster tanks!

The gang

Lindsay, Macie and Caroline check out the boats

Caroline!

Macie!