Just thinking...

If the brawny man were actually brawnier...
And got rid of his new (as of 2003) clean-shaven look...


He might actually look like this guy...

Uncle Johnny, you can clean up our spills, anytime! ;-)

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY, ANNA!

Here are some photos of Anna's 3rd birthday extravaganzas!
She was a very gracious and patient party girl during all 3 (yes, not a typo) parties.

The first party was at Mimi's house and she shared her party with Charlie Mae, who turned 1 in October. While she was happy to share her party, she was not so interested in sharing toys, either hers OR Charlie's. Aunt Nana was very nice and bought her her own set of dishes as she refused to let Charlie play with her own at Thanksgiving! Thank goodness Charlie Mae is a patient girl. Don't worry Charlie, next year Anna will be an expert at sharing!



Birthday Hat Cheese!


More Birthday Hat Cheese!


"Helping" Charlie Mae open her gifts. Then helping herself to Charlie Mae's toys.


A cake made out of ice cream? Was that Uncle Joshy's idea?


She then had a party with the Sides clan:

Two Thumbs Up Cheese!


She is getting good at that!


Ben and Molly are patiently watching Anna open gifts.


Wow! A magic princess book? Thanks, Granny!


Finally, the party girl got a party thrown by mommy and mommy's friend Corinne at home so she could celebrate with her friends. Sadly, only Sohpie made the party as Anna's birthday happens to fall during cold and flu season and everyone else was under the weather. Thanks for representing, Sophie! Luckily, Baby Salem was able to stop by later on. The party was "Tea Party" themed and included "Pin the Lid on the Teapot" and sugar cube stacking.

I LOVE princess cakes!


The girls were good at stacking (and not actually eating) the sugar cubes



Good aim, Sophie!


The birthday princess, all tuckered out in a new dress up outfit from Miss Kim!

Thanks for everyone's effort and the lovely gifts. Anna didn't get thank-you cards out this year because her mommy dropped the ball but know that everything was appreciated!!!

The Philosophy of 2 Year-Olds

Anna's philosophy on Religion:
Anna: "Jesus is alla (all) awound us!"
Curt: "He is...?"
Anna: "Yeah. Cause his caw (car) goes alla awound!"

Side note: The other day she made up two imaginary friends: Sella and Seeno.
Whether or not they get to stick around is anyone's guess but it reminded me of Ben's long-term imaginary friends Monus and Buddus who got to exist for nearly a year.

What will she come up with now that she's 3? (Birthday blog coming soon!)

Happy Fourth!

Another wonderful parade down Sophie's street.
Another fun time watching fireworks at Mimi's.
Another good time altogether!

Happy Day!

Treats and One Trick!

Here are the two princesses getting ready to Trick or Treat.
Notice the frantic and confused looks. I'm sure I looked that like at age 3 on Halloween as well!


Cinderella and Snow White


Trick or Treating at Miss Kim's house, the most important first stop!


Michelle's costume! (Enthusiastic Mom - wearing a flower hat)


More treats!

Sadly, halfway down the next block Snow White didn't see a step and took a spill.
After a few tears she hit a few more houses and proclaimed herself done!

Hope everyone's Halloween was happy!

The GREAT Pumpkin!

Here we are carving the Great Pumpkin of 2010. We have had a lovely pumpkin three years in a row (if I do say so myself!).
This year, we ended up with a giant monster that we got in Hartsburg, MO. I warned daddy not to pick one he couldn't lift on the table.
As you can see from the first picture, he didn't listen. We had to remove the guts outside in order for him to lift it!


Squishy cheese!


Anna chose the design off the internet and daddy painstakingly drew it to scale on a bigger sheet. Anna helped cut the pieces out this year. Thanks for your hard work, daddy and Anna!


More hard work poking the pumpkin!


See how big that sucker is? And notice our little kitty pumpkin to mommy's right?


Voila! Anna's GREAT pumpkin!

Fall Happenings

Here are some wonderful pictures of our recent Fall Happenings.

First, pictures from the Fall Festival in Jefferson City where we trick or treated at the governor's mansion, saw an apple press, made a bird feeder, and got a free book!


Their Royal Highnesses Sophia and Anna Maria


CHEESE!


Anna tried to look at the camera but... there was water to stare at!


Goofy Anna


Lovely Anna


Dancing to the bluegrass music

Here are some photos of ANNA'S FIRST SCHOOL HALLOWEEN PARTY!!! (Which I, of course, volunteered to help with because I am determined to be that type of parent!)


Sarcastic Cheese! (a.k.a Leave me alone so I can proceed to the party!)


Hard at work at her spider craft (the table I was in charge of)


A tired party girl being helped along by her escort, Grandma Stokes.

Finally, here is a shot of the girls Trick or Treating at Mimi's work. I guess I was too busy shuffling them around and eying the candy I was going to steal later to take more pictures! (Notice Sophie's flawless make-up! Anna's lipstick was smeared on the front door of Mimi's work within minutes. Does this portend their teenage years or what?)

GO DADDY GO!

Is what Anna cheered today as daddy finished a half-marathon!

Hooray for Curt!
You deserve all the delicious bar-b-que you got to eat afterwards!

And a hip, hip hooray to CJ who rocked a 10K as well and provided us with this lovely picture:

You don't say...

Anna's language is so developed now, but luckily there are a few cute things she still says in a baby-ish way:

Aminal
Ice Crispies
Strawberry Courtcake
Intersering! (Interesting)
And many more!

And every morning and nap she greets us with this cheerful saying,
"Mommy I waked up happyyyyyyyy!" as her way of telling us she is awake.

Also, for many months she will ask out of the blue:
"So what (how) was your day?"
Some days she'll randomly ask this several times a day. Often it's when we sit down to eat.
Is this girl too cute or what?

A funny story about that saying: Granny, Ben and Molly were here for a visit a couple of weeks ago. We were at church and Granny kept telling Anna to "hush" and vice versa. It was time for a quick hymn so Granny began singing. Anna whispers loudly, "Gwanny, hush. No talking!"
Granny explained, "It's OK, we can talk right now." And as the music quit and the church was silent Anna exclaimed loudly:
"Oh! Well, what was your day?"

The other day, this randomly came out of her mouth:
"You know what I love you about?
For taking care of me!
You know what else I love you about?
When things don't go qwuite right!?

Has there ever been a sweeter lady?

Transitions...

This weekend our dear friends Sean and Lisa came to visit with their adorable 2 month-old, Aidan.

They helped us rip up our yucky living room carpet. Well to be honest. Curt was at work so essentially Sean and Michelle's husband, Tim, ripped up the carpet by themselves! How's that for good friends?

The transition from carpet back to wood flooring echoed a reminder of the OTHER transition we will have come January: the transition from an independent and communicative nearly 3 year-old back to having a newborn in the house.

I'm not sure about Curt but I was equal parts horrified and endeared by the amount of work a newborn brings. I can't wait to welcome the newest member of our family. Or as mom says, the newest "Stoklet". But I am not a fool this time around! I know the changes it will bring.
If you will all forgive me my temporary loss of sanity come January, my cluttered house and my desperate need for sleep I would appreciate it!

In the meantime, enjoy the pictures:


Bye bye dirty old carpet!


Can you tell where we walked most often?
DESPITE the fact that I vacuumed all the time and this carpet has been steam cleaned twice since we moved in!


Oh lovely wood floors, why would anyone cover you up?


Ahhh. New living room!
Cricket purrs her approval.
(Sadly, the idiot that I am forgot to take pictures of PEOPLE this weekend so this is the only shot I have with Lisa and His Little Highness in it. I apologize for not showing you his utter cuteness!)

The floors are not in perfect shape but then again, neither are it's owners! :-)

Oh Boy! It's a girl!

Subtitled: Think Pink!

Another belated post:
Anna is going to have a baby sister!

Despite the fact that I was convinced I was having a boy, nature proved me wrong.
I hate to be wrong. But it was such a neat surprise and I was thrilled.
Two girls!
We have truly broken the Stokes' boy tradition.

Anna, MiMi and Papa all got to come get a look at the kiddo after Curt and I found out.
Anna squealed, "She's so beeeutiful!" and I thought the ultrasound lady was going to break into tears.

The baby's profile in the ultrasound looked EXACTLY like Anna's did at 20 weeks. I wish I could prove it but all the lady sent me home with were pictures of the ....ah.....gender (more than was necessary to take) and the front pictures where they all look like skeletons/aliens. Not exactly scrapbook material.

Oh well. You can all meet the real thing come January.
Congrats to Anna on her baby sister!

Uncle Kevin's Graduation!

(A very belated post. Pretend it's still August. And you are sweltering. And pools are still open.)

Here are pics of our trip to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma to see Uncle Kevin graduate from basic training. He was happy to see us but looked a bit shell shocked to have us all there vying for his attention. While there, we ate lots of good food and got to see the nature reserve and the top of Mount Scott, where we took pictures per Grandpa's request.

It was also the first big trip in the "mom van" and it did not have cruise control as the dealership ordered the wrong part. Poor Curt!

Enjoy the pics:

Uncle Kevin's Graduation

So here I am...

Curt is at a "AG retreat" at the Lake.
Anna drove off with Granny in my mom van for a few days in St. Louis.

It's just me.
And the cats.

When I wake up It will be just me.
And the cats.

I morphed from anxiety to awe.
Learning to be NOT the mom is weird.
I think I'll like it for a day or two.
But only for a few.
I need my treasure back.
My snugly bear.
My Anna Banana.

Until then. I will silence the voices in my head, "Did I remind mom that Anna wraps blankets around her head?" "Did I remind her someone needs to take her potty in the middle of the night?" "Did I?"

And I will sit back in a house that STAYS CLEAN because I'm the only one in it.
And watch GLEE

And try not to miss them!

Swagger Wagon

Here is a belated announcement:

After a year of saving money and test driving sexy SUVs over and over
(including a hot hybrid 7 seater that brought tears to my eyes)
the universe tilted and through strange circumstances I ended up purchasing...

wait for it....

a van.
Yes. The thing I swore I'd never drive. The overrated, gas guzzling, cliche'd, deidedly unsexy
mark. of. a. mom.

Not only is it a van, it is the most vanny of vans: A Dodge Caravan
Grey.
No bells and whistles.
Not even tinted window to give me cool points.
But check this, I financed this bad boy (a 2007 with a mere 32,000 miles) for $3000.
How's that for rockin' budgeting?
And luck?

And how do I feel about driving this decidedly unsexy mark-of-a-mom?
LOVE.
IT.

Seriously. I can't imagine how I ever got Anna (my tall child and my tall self) into and out of a car with doors that opened... out... (scoff). How did Anna ever enjoy her ride without sitting high
and proud in the seat behind me?
I truly don't know how I will ever again NOT drive a van. I mean it.

Anna loves the "Mom Van" every bit as much as I do. That girl owns that car, know what I mean?

I love it so much I wanted to share a video with you as a tribute to all the "mom vans" out there.

And yes it's true:
"I rock in my GC, not an SUV
And it's true if I were you
I'd be jealous of me too!

In my swagger wagon
Yea my swagger wagon.
I got the PRIDE IN MY RIDE
In my swagger wagon."

Enjoy:

Bath Tub Beauty Shop:

Art Show

Anna and daddy are busy while mommy is at work!