Dance Party USA

When I got home from work, Hannah insisted that we "dance" tonight (a regular request, actually, but this time included dress-up clothes)..... She has recently re-discovered the purple tutu and dance outfit that Aunt Karen bought her for Christmas. At Christmas, she was actually afraid to put the tutu on, but now doesn't seem to have a problem with it and wants to wear it all of the time. She also found some feather boas to use, and required me to wear one as well (I may or may not have had on a plastic crown at one point). We played some fun kids music (Wendy Gelsanliter has a great album, "Ants Wear Underpants" that Hannah loves!) and danced around for at least 30 minutes. Hannah even tried to get Abby to dance with her.... Enjoy some fun shots of our dance party (which conveniently don't include mom)!

Hands in the air!

Now the boa comes out.... Costume change into the leotard...
Come, Abby....I need you over here....

"Dancing" with Abby

Abby doesn't know what to make of our whirling dervish!!

(Thank goodness we have a patient dog who is GREAT with kids)

Playing with her Sister

Last night after work while I was resting on the couch with my feet up Hannah came over and pulled up my shirt and started pushing on my belly and putting her finger in my belly button. When I asked what she was doing, she replied "playing with my sister." (of course, Mom)

She is really excited to have a baby sister!

Once she finished "playing" with her sister, she ran and got a pile of books and put them under my shirt. When I asked what she was doing, she said that "my sister wants to read the books." Too funny!!! I ended up sitting with a collection of different board books being shoved under my shirt for about 20 minutes.

I hope Hannah is this excited to play with her sister once her sister actually arrives : )

COSI Trip

Sheri and Jon took the kids to COSI (Columbus Center of Science and Industry - the local children's science center). I never went there as young as Hannah, but as an older kid went for "Girl Scout Camp-ins" and always had a great time. Here are some pictures of Hannah and Jake enjoying their day!!!

Jake & Hannah are so cute together!
Daddy & Hannah

(this is Hannah's first time at COSI)
Playing

My safety pup, all buckled in!

Hannah playing doctor with the babydoll

The report that I got was that the kids had a great time. Of course, there are lots more things for slightly older kids, but there are still plenty of activities that pre-schoolers can enjoy. Plus, you don't cover much ground when you've got an infant and two 2-year olds, so they probably didn't miss much. I'm so glad we have all of these opportunities around here to get Hannah out of the house and doing fun stuff with her dad during the summer....I'm sure it is a lot of fun.

Diaper Cake

My sister can be so creative sometimes. She made me this diaper cake for me/the new baby (top picture is of the front....bottom picture is of the back). I've seen them at tons of showers before (but never received one) and contemplated making one myself for someone, but ran out of time (and motivation). I am definitely glad that I took pictures at my parents' house before we left because (a) Jon packed the car....I'll leave it at that, and (b) once we got it home I put it in the nursery as a decoration and Hannah picked it up to show me "baby sister's birthday cake"....and in the process dropped the bottom tier of diapers all over the floor.
A little birdie told me that Karen had actually really wanted to throw me a baby shower the weekend I was in WVa because she didn't get to participate in anything from when Hannah was born. My shower for Hannah was in the hospital right after Liam was born, so Karen didn't get to help or come to that one..... and she didn't get to come to the "Sip & See" that we had in WV so my mom's friends (and mine) from WV could meet Hannah once we were given the "all clear" to travel. But, Susan & I had thrown Karen a shower for Liam when Karen was 30 weeks and I was 20 weeks pregnant. Karen had actually wanted to have a joint shower at the time and I said no, that I wanted her shower to be just for her and be special and then I would have one later......of course, things don't always happen as planned, so Karen never got to be a part of that for me.

To be honest, I wouldn't have wanted another shower.....especially since we're having another girl - we've got just about everything we need except for diapers and the things that people don't like to buy you (soap, diaper genie refills, infant medicine, wipes, etc.). I've got 6 or 7 18-gallon bins of baby girl clothes in my basement that hopefully will work this time around! I also just don't like showers in general - I feel so self-conscious opening gifts in front of people....so my one mega-shower at the hospital, even though not traditional (in location, grouping, or circumstance) was more than enough for me. Although, I do really appreciate my sister's sentiment in wanting to throw one....and it makes me love her more for being so thoughtful.

Folger Homecoming 2010

I know I've written before about our annual "Folger Homecoming," which is just one of the first weekends in August where Mom has all of us kids come home for the weekend to visit with each other. Since I'm in Ohio, Karen is in Virginia, and Daniel is in New York, we're a little spread out to say the least. Mom asked us to consider this tradition back when Karen & I were engaged because she knew that once we had our own families, we wouldn't be gathering for holidays like we had in the past.

Of course, Mom was right, as this Thanksgiving we won't be in attendance due to the arrival of the new baby, and Jon and I are really "up in the air" as to whether we'll travel at Christmas in the future. [We alternate Christmas and Thanksgiving with our in-laws and since Karen & I got married the same year as all of Jon's siblings, it works out well since we're all on the same schedule. This year is Folger Thanksgiving and Woolley/Cassidy Christmas. Next year will flip.] Mom wants to make sure that we develop our own holiday traditions with our own family units and by having one time of the year where we can get together that isn't around a holiday really helps us to do that without having to worry about upsetting someone in the family by not showing up. Being married didn't change things nearly as much as having kids did.....and 2 kids....definite game-changer, I think.

This year's "Folger Homecoming" was the same weekend as my dad's big 70th birthday bash, so it was a little more hectic than usual. But, it was still nice to hang out together. Here are a few pictures that I didn't include in the blog about Dad's birthday.

Family Group Shot

Grandma & Grandpap with their grandkids

(l to r: Peyton, Liam, & Hannah)

Liam and Hannah holding Peyton

Hannah & Jaidyn checking out the bike My monkey child climbing all over me....
Hannah opening something...
....probably something she wasn't supposed to open.....

Hannah & Liam sharing fruit snacks on the back porch
Hannah & Liam washing hands together

These two are becoming friends, which is fun to watch. I love watching them play together....it's so neat that Karen & I had them at almost the same time.

Liam & Hannah giving Petyon kisses.....they were both so good with her!

We had a great time visiting over the weekend. Unfortunately for me, we probably won't get to see Karen & her family until March, assuming we take a spring break trip to DC with the new baby, since we'll be missing the holiday gathering in November. That is definitely the bad thing about having your extended family so spread apart.

FINALLY, I'M TAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY NAME SUGGESTIONS OTHER THAN "FOLGER HOMECOMING" THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO CALL OUR FAMILY GATHERING.....CREATIVE OPTIONS WELCOME. HOMECOMING REMINDS ME TOO MUCH OF SCHOOL : ) JUST LEAVE YOUR IDEA AS A COMMENT!