Margaret's 2nd Birthday

When you have kids the ages of ours, you realize that a 2nd birthday is actually all about the 4-yr-old brother and his wishes for his little sister. So you plan things that will actually please him...and let him make the birthday cake:)

                                                                                        

 

 

Our sweet baby girl.  Where did the last two years go?!?

First present, from "Andoo"...

Her very own Lightning McQueen!

Beautiful birthday pose:)

Sunglasses from Clare!

Grandma sent planes for Andrew, which was a HUGE hit.

Lovingly wrapped by Abby...dollhouse furniture from Kate, Anne & Emily!  Margaret now has in her room---passed back down from Sarah & Abby---the small dollhouse that Emily and I had in our room in Columbia growing up.  Dody (Mom's Mom, who lived with us her last two years) decorated the house with the very same wallpaper that was in our rooms in that childhood home.  You can tell it's all from the 70's, but how very special that Margaret now plays with furniture in the room that looks like my childhood room:)   

Andrew's contribution to the big day...a two-layer cake for the 2-yr-old! 

Looking a bit skeptical.

Warming up to the idea.

Glee!



Yeah!!!



No day is complete without a little "air time".

Who doesn't love baby bums?!?

Little does she know she has big girl bedding from Grandma that will complete her room. 

Closing out the big day on the new sleeping bag from Dody & Grandaddy! 



Game Day in Blacksburg!

September 8 we complete our annual pilgrimage to Blacksburg for a game at Virginia Tech.  Our goal is always to make it through the first half.  Considering they don't truly understand what's going on and we're asking them to sit still with a bunch of a strangers and blow through half-time, we think that's a reasonable goal.

We had beautiful weather for the first half and Margaret made ALL kinds of friends with the men sitting around us.  Their kids are in their early 20's. I have found that recent empty-nesters who don't quite have grandchildren yet are the most interested in precious little girls ready to flirt the day away:)

Virginia Tech's first half performance was a bit lethargic, but apparently they turned it on the second half.  Guess they needed to sky to drop out first, which it did on the way back to the car.  Thank you, Daddy, for letting us duck underneath a dry cleaner's awning while you got soaking running to the car! 

Not 5 minutes after proclaiming, "I don't want to nap on the way home."

First Day of Pre-K & Preschool

Ah, the joys of the first day of school....for everyone!  Both kiddos are at First Pres downtown this year.  Andrew is the big man on campus, attending Pre-K all five days.  And little Miss is old enough to attend Miss Jill & Miss Pat's 2-2.5-year-old class on Tuesday/Thursdays.

Margaret walked down the halls of First Pres. that morning like she owned the place.  The look on her face was as if to say, "Thank goodness I get my wear my own backpack this year AND I get to stay here all morning in my own class!"  Our independent ham marched straight into her classroom, raised her hand for hand-sanitizer, sat at a table to get started on a project, and never once looked back.  I wouldn't have minded a hug and a sweet, "Bye-bye, Mommy", but I will take this confidence over the poor children that were screaming and crying, which seemed to baffle Margaret:)

This is actually her 2nd day of school, but it was too cute not to include.

Not a bad smile for the first pic.

"Is this how you want my 'cheese'???"

"And here's my plane, which will NOT be going to school with me."

"Which way did she say to look?"

"Enough with the pics, let's get this show on the road!"

Labor Day in Baltimore

Labor Day was spent in Baltimore...one last chance to swim in the river, and a great time to catch up with the best of friends at Miles and Barbara Vogel's annual Crabfeast...a more than 30 year tradition now! 

Why not put a tent in Grandma's living room???

I will need a haircut when you can't see my beautiful blue eyes anymore.

Grandma took us to the Baltimore zoo.  Apparently, it was sex-ed day.  I will readily admit that Grandma and I could not stop chuckling during this scene.  You should have heard how he sounded--answering our question if it is enjoyable for the males or merely an instinctual act---and then the unmistakable grunt before dismount.  It was something else.

We bought Margaret's new toddler furniture at IKEA, so we did not bring Molly's bed with us as there was no room in the car.  So she helped herself inside of our suitcase each night:)

Pickin' crabs with Daddy and Mr. Aaron.

Daddy's a great teacher and Andrew is a fast eater!  The kid won't eat chocolate ice cream yet, but he will down steamed crab as fast as you can pick him chunks! 

Newlyweds Mike & Julie, with Gavin (4th grade) and Miles Vogel.

 

Nothing to do with B'more, but a fun discovery on a family walk one Saturday in the Meadow.  Construction vehicles!

Ready to drive!

CRAZY, CRAZY girl in the bath.  This will need to be edited before her rehearsal dinner:)