Birthday Party, Concert, Baking

We had a good weekend at home and enjoyed not having too many plans.

A quick funny story...
Caroline was in timeout tonight and was calling for Kevin to come get her. She kept saying "Hey Daddy?", "Hey Daddy?" over and over again for a solid minute. Then she said "Hey Super Daddy?" Luckily we were in the other room because we started laughing so hard. I couldn't even make it into the same room for the "After time-out debrief" because I was still laughing.
We started the Super Nanny technique today and we are a little worn out from continuously taking Caroline back to the "naughty mat" for timeout. Super Nanny says to do all of this without reacting or showing any emotion and we are wondering if that's even possible. At one point Kevin is continuously fetching Caroline to return her to the naughty mat when she refuses to stay in time out and I am furiously flipping through "Ask Super Nanny" book to determine what to do when your child won't stay on the naughty mat and whispering it to Kevin as if Caroline can't hear. Caroline is a very perceptive child and must be wondering why she was born into such a circus. We were a sight to see today - ha!

I just received a forwarded email that said the following about being a mother:
"Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct...somebody never took a three-year-old shopping." It made me feel a little less crazy to read that. :)

Pictures from the last few days...
Here is Caroline in the outfit Grant Man picked out for her birthday. Isn't it cute?!
On Friday, two of our neighbors (Max and Miles) had their birthday party at the Frontiers of Flight Museum next to Love Field. I wish I'd had my birthday party there! It was so cool! Needless to say, I took a lot of picture of Caroline and airplanes. :)
They had this miniature airplace inside for the kids - I loved it! (and so did Caroline!)
Caroline assuming the position as Pilot, which in her mind is probably very similar to being line leader.

Captain Caroline and her cockpit.


At the back of the airplane was an "emergency slide".


Caroline as a passenger in the little plane.


Caroline and Farrah accidentally wore matching dresses to the party - and so did one other girl. I love people who shop at Target!

The Museum had a Southwest Airlines retired 737-200. The plane was named the "Herbert D. Kelleher" after the founder and former President and CEO of Southwest.




Cool old helicopter

On Friday night, Kev and I went to a Jackopierce concert at the Granada in Dallas. Jackopierce is my favorite band of all time and the concert was amazing. I won't bore you with all of the pictures we took...except for the next two.
Jack and Cary.

Today Caroline went grocery shopping with me to 2 stores because the first was out of canned pumpkin. She was a really good helper so she rode the horse outside of our scary Tom Thumb - probably not the safest idea I've ever had but she had fun.

Tonight Caroline made "blueberry cupcakes", also known as Fiber One Blueberry Muffins. She LOVED baking and really enjoyed eating her "cupcake" once they were done.

Mickey Mouse

Ok so as I write this I realize my job is starting to sound like a joke to some of you. The state fair last month and this month Mickey Mouse came to my work. Southwest Airlines is partnering with DisneyWorld on their 2010 "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" campaign to inspire volunteerism in America. Here is a picture of Caroline with Mickey Mouse. I wasn't supposed to be in the picture but apparently Caroline feels the same way about Mickey that she does about Santa and the Easter Bunny. As we walked away, she did blow him a kiss. :)

Ocean Isle Beach, NC

We returned this afternoon from a great trip to Ocean Isle Beach, NC with my parents. This is the vacation we've been waiting years for. We have not been this relaxed in years. It was wonderful!! I finally finished the book "New Moon" that I've been reading one page at a time for awhile. Caroline was in rare form as she soaked up the attention of the four of us and entertained us endlessly and slept very little (unfortunately).

We were all upset to leave, although Caroline was the only one who threw an actual tantrum. :) She kept saying "I don't want to go at Dallas. I want to go to the beach house with Nana and Papa."

We did a lot of relaxing by the fireplace - it was cold there!Reading a beach book by the fireplace.

Kev and Caroline played a Dora game online.
Caroline had a "hot chocolate party".
Reading "Owl Babies" by the fire.
We played a lot of "Go Fish - Caroline-style". You can probably tell by the picture that this isn't the Go Fish you're used to.
We played a lot of "ball bounce" with a beach ball. I'm talking HOURS of ball bounce.


We had a lot of fun on the dock out back.
Looking at pelicans.
She never complained of being cold but the rest of us were freezing!
Building a house of cards...
I know I look like a terrorist but my ears were cold. :)

Caroline has a new obsession with brushing her teeth. Whenever it was quiet in her room we knew we would find her brushing her teeth.
Nana and Papa let Caroline pick out her first fishing pole. She surprised us and picked out the princess one instead of the Dora one.
Practicing in the backyard before going out on the dock.
She didn't catch anything but she looked cute. :)
Look at this casting form!
Reading and coloring with Nana.

Caroline helped Papa put raw chicken in the crab cage...she reached in and did it with her bare hands! We had a good time checking out the crab she caught.





This picture is so tranquil - I love it.
I made fun of Kevin for building a sand castle while Caroline and Papa played in the waves. But he was building a sand castle for Caroline - it was really cute.




Caroline LOVED playing in the waves!



Series of self-portraits...



Caroline loved seeing all the pelicans.


Caroline's sandy feet
How could you not love this place?!
Our last night in NC, we were all back at the beach for one more romp in the waves!

Yep, its dark and so cold and we are still playing in the waves. So much fun!




Caroline admiring her shells in the dark with her flashlight.
Dancing in the car in the garage. (We have a video of this that I will try to post in a few days.)

Before dinner on our last night, Nana helped Caroline pretend to put on makeup.

The last night we went to the Calabash Creamery which had an antique piano that played itself when you put coins in. (I'm sure there is a more intelligent way to say that but I'm not sure what it is - you get the picture.)
The piano mainly played old Elvis songs and Caroline danced for everyone in the ice cream shop.
Kevin and Caroline put on quite a show...

...as did Papa and Caroline.
Caroline gave Eskimo kisses to the cow outside the ice cream shop.

Here is a video of Papa and Caroline playing in the waves for the first time.