Howdy Folks! Welcome to the State Fair of Texas!

We have a calendar in our Study that shows various pictures of DFW landmarks and Caroline had never mentioned one of them, until the picture of Big Tex came up. I explained to her who Big Tex was and where he was... Soon it became a promise that we would take her to the State Fair to see Big Tex.

And then we were there! Caroline informed us that "Big Tex is tall" and that "he got boots"... And like every good female in America (never miss an opportunity to get more shoes!) she proclaimed that she wanted some boots.

Caroline bought right into to her Daddy's philosophy on the State Fair... EAT! EAT! and then EAT some more! We had corndogs, candy-apples, corn on the cob, french fries, funnel cakes, oh my!

She also got to experience what life would be like working on a farm! The exhibit "Little Hands on the Farm" was great fun.

Caroline loved the State Fair and Big Tex. She often requests to be tall like Big Tex... And she does an excellent impersonation of him as well. We're already excited about next year's State Fair. More importantly, Caroline would like to say to each of you-

"HOWDY FOLKS! WELCOME TO THE STATE FAIR OF BIG TEX!"

Swimming Lessons

For two weeks in August, four afternoons a week, we went to parent/child swimming lessons at the local YMCA. Caroline learned to "swim" on her stomach and on her back (with mom helping to stay afloat), blow bubbles, climb out of the pool (elbow, elbow, knee, knee), and get her head wet. She did make a lot of progress over the two weeks and still talks about swimming lessons every now and then. When we make the turn off the highway to go home, sometimes she points in the opposite direction from our usual turn (towards the Y) and says, "I go swimming lessons!"

Here she is going down the steps into the pool:

The last day, the swim teacher put this canoe in the pool and all the kids got to sit in it.

Caroline loved the canoe! So much that she was quite mad when it was time to get out. She kept crying and pointing, "My boat! My boat!"

Swimming on her stomach.

Swimming on her back. Caroline never really liked this part, so I had to float on my back and tow her along with her on my chest.

Good times.

More Marker Fun

I got smart and bought the washable kind. I don't get the allure of marking all over yourself? Surely we all did it when we were younger, but I don't remember doing it. Caroline just LOVES this activity, obviously. Bathtime immediately followed this little art project.



Yes, she's still in diapers. We've had a potty for oh six months now and she really has no desire to use it. She sure loves Pull-Ups, though! I have explained till I'm blue in the face that only big girls who use the potty wear Pull-Ups and that if she wants to wear Pull-Ups she has to sit on the potty. She'll go sit on the potty for a bit to humor me, but nothing ever happens on there. Then she hops up, ready for her Pull-Up because she held up her end of the deal -- she did sit on the potty! Hmmm . . . methinks I need a new strategy.

Birthday Happenings

Aunt Kimmy and Uncle James celebrated with Caroline in a big way even though they are way across the pond in London. They sent Caroline a couple of cute dresses including this navy polo dress, along with the must-have item for any hip two-year-old: a Barbie four-wheeler!

Eat my dust!

Love this expression when she opened her sack of birthday books.

Caroline was fascinated with the musical card from Kim and James that sings "Happy Birthday" when you open it, complete with British accents. This remains on her bookshelf and not in her scrapbook because she still likes to look at it from time to time.

With a little help from Dad, Caroline figured out how to blow out the candles! Here she is putting her bubble-blowing skills to use.

Go Cats!

One of Caroline's birthday activities was attending the Fort Worth Cats game. Some VeggieTales characters were in attendance and, since Caroline loves VeggieTales, she was very excited to see Larry and Bob. That is, until we actually got up close and personal!

This is about as close as she'd get on her own. I said hi to Bob myself and heard the whirring of a fan inside that costume. That explains how they can wear these things in the middle of July without fainting!

Dodger, the Cats' mascot, was a big hit with Caroline. She sat on her dad's shoulders and yelled and clapped for him. Dodger acknowledged her by throwing her this T-shirt and Jason caught it one-handed! He was pretty proud of himself. I have to agree it was a pretty good snag.

The Cats game was a perfect first outing like this for Caroline because there were lots of things going on for her to do. She doesn't sit still for very long, so with meeting Larry and Bob, jumping in the bounce house, eating Kincaid's hamburgers, stalking Dodger around the stadium, playing in the sandbox, and coloring in the coloring book provided by the folks in the KCBI radio station booth, there was plenty going on to keep her busy. It was a great first baseball game for Caroline!

Happy Birthday Caroline!

Caroline is 2 today! I just cannot believe how fast the last two years have flown. It honestly seems like yesterday that I was holding this little one in my arms. I think she will always be this little in my heart :)

Why Purple Marker Should Not Be Used As Lip Gloss

Must ... lock up .... markers ...