Caitlyn's Birthday

I've never been a big-birthday-party-thrower, and I can't convince myself that a toddler cares one bit. So, we did a small family party today with a couple of our adult friends that Caitlyn just loves. Not terribly exciting, but fun just the same. These pictures and videos are really for the grandparent's benefit since they couldn't be here. I'm sure those outside of the family realm won't find them terribly entertaining. But here goes...


The birthday girl and her cake...I'm sure I shouldn't have allowed the party to continue once I realized that she had pulled her pigtails out. She looks like a mad scientist, but cute nonetheless.

Way too many presents for a 2-year old, but fun just the same!!

Caitlyn's birthday cake. Obviously I'm no professional, and luckily she doesn't mind. She realized it was flowers and that was good enough for me. The centers of the 2 big flowers were little mini cupcakes. There would have been more, but when I went to the kitchen to start decorating the cake that I had made the night before, I saw Dan eating the little cupcakes. He thought I had been really thoughtful and made some for him...

Singing Happy Birthday to Caitlyn and blowing out the candles.

Opening up the baby pack-and-play from Grandma Milton.



Opening up the stamps from Grandma Leckie.

Our very kind friends, Jared and Victoria, brought a present for Jeffrey also - it was extremely thoughtful!!

Caitlyn with her birthday haul - lots of super cute clothes and really fun toys & activities. Thanks so much Grandma Milton and Grandma Leckie!!

The newest biker

So Jeffrey got his bike on his LAST birthday, this past May. I was so excited for him to get his bike and get to pedaling so that I would have a place in my double stroller for the new baby. Well, months passed and he just couldn't figure out how to pedal. I would run along beside him, pushing his feet to help him and he still didn't get it. I was pretty sure it was never going to happen when all of a sudden the stars alligned and he took off. It was a beautiful day. We went out and purchased a helmet and he hasn't stopped yet. He LOVES his bike and wants to go out all the time. I still can't jog beside him with the double stroller yet because he's a little too slow, but he's getting better everyday!

Dancing Caitlyn

Even though there's no possible way I could truly capture how entertaining Caitlyn's dancing can be, I thought I'd give it a try.



This is her all time favorite song to dance to, and she routinely asks me to turn it on for her. It becomes even more humorous because she is so clumsy. She falls down all the time, laughs and gets back up. She's a kick in the pants to have around!

Planning Ahead

The other day we were in the car on our way home from Lakeland. Jeffrey out of the blue says to me, "Mom, the next time you have a baby in your tummy I think we should call him Machu Picchu." Hopefully by the time it actually happens (or somedays I think if it actually happens...), he won't be too disappointed if we don't use his suggestion.

Grandma's Update

With both grandparents living far away, I guess I should make a better effort to post pictures of the growing grandkids...especially the littlest one. I'm sure they won't be exciting for anyone other than the grandparents, so here's to you, Grandma Milton and Grandma Leckie (and anyone else who happens by)....
Jeffrey is usually a great big brother...to Andrew anyway. So far I've only seen him try to pick Andrew up one time on his own, but who knows what I may have missed!
Well, we're hard core into the baby acne stage. Getting pudgy and zitty at the same time. It may take a mother's love, but I still think he's a cutie!

New Year 2009

As tradition goes, the Leckie family burns at least one Christmas tree at midnight on New Year's Day. I'm not sure where the tradition started, but those trees sure can burn! The boys always have a fun time playing with fires...

Nathan lighting the tree and Roger...what? Coaxing the flames
upward?

Latisha and Kaylee watching the action.

Grandpa, Grandma, Dan and Geri watching the fire. A little colder than us Floridians are used to. It was nice to enjoy some cooler weather.

Caitlyn's first encounter with pyros. Not too sure what she's thinking....

Christmas

We were very fortunate to be able to travel up north to see our families for the holidays. We left on the 15th for Durham, and had a blast with Grandma and Grandpa Milton. While we were there the kids had fun playing in the leaves, hanging out at the mall, building train tracks, making pancakes with Grandpa and opening presents for a mini pre-Christmas party.

Jeffrey & Caitlyn going for a ride on the leaves.

Dad riding on the train at the mall with Jeffrey & Caitlyn.

Jeffrey & Caitlyn making pancakes with Grandpa Milton.

Making train tracks with Grandma Milton.
Jeffrey & Caitlyn ready to open presents.

After spending a week in North Carolina, we headed down to South Carolina to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa Leckie. We got to spend Christmas Day and New Years with the Leckies. We also were able to bless Andrew and enjoy hanging out with everyone.
Jeffrey ready to open his stocking Christmas morning.

Waiting for Grandpa Leckie to hand out the presents.
Andrew isn't quite so impressed with the festivities.
Some of the men who were at Andrew's blessing. We were so glad Grandpa Milton was able to make it down for the occasion, but so sad that Grandma Milton wasn't feeling well enough to make the trip :(

Andrew in his blessing outfit that we borrowed from Aunt Sara...she came through at the last minute since we forgot to pack our blessing outfit when we left Florida.
Caitlyn enjoying Grandpa Leckie's book holder invention.

Jeffrey discovered some stash of chocolate...