Caroline is 6 months!

Well - tomorrow, but at the rate I'm going with posting...I thought since I was here and able we might as well catch up some.

Tummy to back - twice! Caroline has now officially entered the realm of someone who can turn over. Caleigh and Zach regaled her with "good job!" and pats on the back. ;-) She is a talented back archer and has a surprising wing span (was that her who turned the truck over and emptied it's load?!), but hadn't 'mastered' the flip turn until today. Mama is pleased that she can proudly announce to the pediatrician that Caroline has accomplished this feat (as she has been asking the past two visits...). She is also sitting up a bit better, but is a quick faller (head, shoulders, back...) so we have to stay close.

Dan, Lori and Caroline enjoyed a Gettysburg get-away this past weekend, as Caleigh and Zach attended Camp Oma in Baltimore. The Camp included one night lodging w/o parents and lots of park and food and the Discovery Center and food and Easter egg hunting and food. They were so busy we were sent home with an egg coloring kit and homemade play-doh they didn't even get to! The G'burg folks drove through and walked on and posed by the Devil's Den rocks, and learned first-hand about history. Fun! Caroline was a trooper with her warm hat and warm blanket bundled up around her...up on the knoll looking at the Blue Ridge. Oh, and eating her fill under another man on a horse statue while the tour guide talked about the fighting on day 3. ;-)

More from the birthday bash

Mack and Krey enjoying the toys.

Zach looking quite happy about the day.

Caleigh regaling Darin and Carla with a tale from her imagination.

Grandma and Judy enjoying Caroline.

Let them eat cake (with a sippy cup of milk...yum...)!

Zach's 2nd birthday (observed)

A good reason to get together -- birthdays and desserts. Uncle Logan 'shared' his birthday celebration (1/4) with Zach (12/7) as a whole lotta family gathered on 1/3. Dan joined by Skype (see computer in the background). We all sang and ate and Zach enjoyed special attention. The theme was 'Elmo on a tractor' but here is what we got. No matter. Zach still plays with the vehicles and they remind him of his cake.

Love the love in Zach's eyes, looking at Papa. Fitting that they are in front of the woodpile. Zach longs to help Papa gather wood and throw it through the hole. He also longs to drive tractors, but I think his legs should be a little longer first.

Great-Grandma and Caroline. They got along quite well together.

Zach and Sage at play.

Logan didn't mind carrying a couple kids around - so cute; how could you resist? There is another picture of him flat on his belly with them smiling on him (so we can see that they exhausted him, as well they should).

New Year's Eve 2009

The kids sleeping the new year away.

And Caroline with Papa, laughing.

New Year's Eve

[Okay - wow. I am so very far behind in this blog as it's currently 3/15/10.]

Some pictures of Caroline and her snuggly blanket.

Hotel Roanoke

We actually took quite a number of pictures here. And the remembering the day through these pictures reminds me of what a value a)pictures are (because I remember the event being quite trying) and b)traditions are. Good times.

More from the Hotel Roanoke experience

I obviously meant to put Caroline in something more seasonal and pretty, but the others distracted me and I gave up, happy to have some photos of her.

Hotel Roanoke

Well...it started off well and then deteriorated. We made it just in time for the amazing brunch, which pretty much meant we filled our plates full and tried to eat it all. The kids decided they weren't hungry. We weren't as hungry as the plates we'd made for us and the kids. Not many times do you get take out trays from Hotel Roanoke's Christmas Brunch, but I think they took pity on these 'people from the hills' and send us away with a (ahem) couple more meals for many-a people. Anyhoo...as we left I dimly remembered doing the same thing last year. Do you think they remembered us?

By the time we finished grazing and sampling desserts the kids weren't in much of a mood for pretty pictures around the 20-odd Christmas trees that make the hotel so pretty this time of year. The kids started off hand-in-hand, but you can see Zach starting to melt over by the zebra. Caleigh was squeezing Caroline a little too much or this was the point Caroline started to melt, too (and Caleigh did, too, of course, but took it out on us by running up and down the wheelchair ramp...).

But a fun time; I don't mean to make it out to have been a 'bad' experience. Just one we'll repeat much differently in the future. ;-)

Around the house

Zach and Caroline enjoying the sun.

Grandma and Caroline in the early morning.

Uncle Logan reading a bedtime story.

Visit with the little Blackwells

Such a crew! And in addition there is 1 year old Sage and wee Caroline. Six under four years old at this photo shoot. I may be repeating myself here, but crazy!!

The four 'oldest' of this bunch, Zach smiling while the others weren't looking, and Zach and Krey in tractor heaven.

More with Great-Grandpa Gearheart

These pictures are so precious to us. Each kid had their special time with a truly wonderful man.

And a cute one with Grandma, too.

Hanging out with the greats

Some pictures from Christmas time. The first time Great-Grandpa had met Caroline. She enjoyed his voice and the visit.

Our little girl is 4 years old today!

And she is loving it. She's had a big weekend (we all have...). Lots of party prep over the past week culminating in a very late night prepping pizzas and themed cakes for the birthday party on Sat. Caleigh decided on a 'pink and purple spring flower' party theme. Dan made wonderfully creative butterfly and flower cakes (four!!). We had wall hanging from her bedroom (butterflies) on the mantle and paper spring flowers on the wall. Purple tablecloth and lots of yummy snacks to help the kids and adults through the party -- before the tasty homemade pizzas and birthday cakes. Six families came -- six adults and 13 kids (with two kids making an appearance but not being able to stay because of a sick sibling), not including our 2/3. That is a lot of people! And we all had a blast! Pin the tail on Eeyore, a rousing game of duck-duck-goose, fox and the hen, lots of free play with Little People, Schleich animals, cut-up veggies, doll house accoutraments...everywhere! Caleigh blew out her candles after the H-B song and sweetly asked, "Does anyone want cake?" Lots of laughs and "Yes!" followed. She was conscientious, not letting anyone leave without their party gift, reminding Mama to offer it. There were lots of laughs and running around and playing nicely together. Zach and Luke (5) played wonderfully well at the barn with lots of animals. So many little girls were so sweet encouraging Caleigh on her special day. Some gave their craft of spring flowers to her as a card. We are so blessed to have so many friends, adults and their kids -- for us and our kids. Caroline cooperated by taking a good nap, letting others hold her and generally being little 'work' while we focused on lots of other people/details. Zachary has been sweetly singing "happy birthday to you, Caleigh" all weekend. He has been granted opportunity to blow out candles and has received a couple gifts and doesn't seem jealous. He was "pushed" out of a dining room seat for cake Sat., but was happy to quietly sit at the kitchen table with his cake and milk alone. He was walking around the dining room asking, "where my seat?" repeatedly until we figured out this solution. Too cute.

Pics to come.