Superbowl Fun

Theses two always have such fun together

And the greatest halftime show...



Tasha and Kiki loved dancing to Madonna... they had so much fun and we did too!

Back in Session

Reading time before heading out to the playground

Playing in the sand

Cleaning out the sand before heading back inside

Natasha's craft this week... all about hearts!

This week we started the second session of Toddler Time and we were excited to be back after a two week break. It's a parent and me program offered through Capistrano school district and it is a great way to get our toddlers started in a school-like setting without leaving them. I decided to switch to the Tuesday class this session since I was missing my Friday workouts... we still have the same teachers and some of our friends moved with us. Natasha had a great day and even played by herself without having me follow her around the room. I think her favorite toy/station this week was the play kitchen and the dolls. It was so sweet to see her put a baby doll in the high chair and spoon feed her food... she is such a little mother. With Valentine's day coming up, this week's theme was all about hearts. The teachers decided that our kids are a little to young to do Valentines this year and that is why hearts was this week and not next. I'm sure many of you think this is unfair, but I am a little relieved not to have to bring in Valentine's for everyone next week... only because Natasha has a Valentine's Day party to attend on Monday with our Stroller Stride friends and on Wednesday with the 2010 Babies club. Don't worry, she won't be deprived of any Valentine's. But that means, this mama has to get to work! I also have to mention that we celebrated four of Natasha's friend's birthdays at school and she now wants me to sing the "Happy Birthday" song over and over again. She will say a name and then say "sing." She is very excited and ready to celebrate her BFF, Kyra's birthday this Saturday!

Knock knock...

Here is a great video of Natasha telling her knock knock joke. It's not until the end so first you have to hear her talk about all the people she is going to call first. Enjoy!

22 Months

I love that face!

"Okay mom, I'm done with pictures"

Mirror fun

Chef Natasha

Fun at My Gym with Maddie

There she goes

Playing in the ball pit with Ford... another one of our friends
who have moved away this month :(

Loves to swing

"More cold" - what Natasha calls a Popsicle

Lunch with "Baby Brooks"... Zac thinks Natasha will
call Brooks "Baby Brooks" even when they are 30 and he
is towering over her!

Neigh neighs

Natasha's "cheese" face

Enjoying some "cold" (Italian ice) on the car ride home

Yes, our 22 month old knows how to use the iPad

Riding the neigh neighs with Maggie

Such a happy girl

I'm sure I have started many posts like this, but here it is again... I can't believe my baby girl will be 2 years old in less than (fill in the blank, in this case 2) __ months! Natasha turned 22 months on Tuesday and is still surprising us everyday with the things she knows. So what has our 22 month old been up to, you ask? Well, I will tell you. Natasha is learning numbers. She knows numbers one through thirteen (with a little help from us), but skips seven and ten for some reason. She is also starting to learn her letters and recognizing shapes and colors. Now, I wish I could take all the credit for her learning these things, but I think the iPad had more to do with this. Yes, she knows how to use our iPad and by use I mean swipe to unlock it, swipe to find her apps (yes, she had her own apps) and open and plays with her apps). It is scary to think that she will know more about technology than Zac and I one day... ha! Besides being technologically savvy, Natasha is still a typical toddler who loves to explore the outdoors, make music with her instruments, dance and sing songs, and meet up with her friends at the park. We have had some great weather this winter, which has allowed us to be outside with our rambunctious toddlers. Hopefully, the spring won't be too wet, although we need the rain! For now, enjoy the sunny and warm weather.

Girl Party with Tasha and Kiki

Tasha and Kiki had a girl party last Saturday night while
Jackie, Geoff, Zac and I went to a wedding. Since our usual
babysitter, Grandma Linda was also attending the wedding,
Carol and Phil Tipper got the pleasure of watching both girls
for the night... and I'm not sure who had more fun.

"Running in circles with ribbon" was one of the activities
that Kyra had planned for the "girl party with Tasha"

Looks like Natasha likes running in circles with ribbon

Watching a video of Natasha blowing raspberries when
she was a baby... obviously she thinks it's hilarious!

"More Tasha"

So cute... BFFs

What are friends for if you can't lean on them!

Dinner with Phil... Natasha wasn't trilled about sitting in the
high chair, but she sat happily on Phil's lap during dinner.

Climbing the stairs... I think this was another
activity that Kyra had planned

That's our daughter making herself at home... ha!

Peek-a-boo!

Bath time fun!

Our smiley girl

Those eyes... beautiful!

And the aftermath of Tornado Tasha and Kiki

Story time!

Natasha did great with her first sort-of-sleepover with someone other than mama, dada or grandma. I say sort of because she did fall asleep at "Kiki's house", but Zac and I picked her up after the wedding to take her home. I don't know what was cuter, seeing all these adorable pictures of the girls together or seeing Carol and Phil's faces as they told us all about the night's events! They were so giddy when we came and picked up Natasha and Carol had already narrowed down all the pictures and sent them out on Shutterfly. I don't know if they ended up going to sleep that night. I was so happy to hear that Natasha did great and didn't seem to be missing us at all. There were a few times where she did ask for me and got a little sad, but then she signed cracker and was fine. I guess it's comforting to know that I can easily be replaced by a cracker... Ha!

Happy New Year!

AND a Happy New Year it is for the Larsons!

Matt and Elizabeth welcomed Brooks William Larson into the world on
January 3, 2012. He weighed in at 9 lbs. 2 oz. and is 21 1/2" long.
He is so precious and we all think a very calm baby.
Mom, dad and baby are doing great and hopefully will be home tomorrow!

Natasha did great with meeting Baby Brooks and even allowed
me to hold him for an hour or so (without any jealousy)

Natasha loves her cousin, "baby Brooks"

A happy auntie... I can't believe that Natasha was once this size (actually smaller)

A proud dada with (niece) Tasha

Pictures from New Year's Eve:

Dada and Tasha at our neighborhood celebration

The Creighton Countdown

Happy New Year from Natasha!

Choo Choo Trains:

Natasha loves going to Roger's Gardens to see the choo choo trains...

... and of course picking up the rocks and throwing them

There is the yellow one

And the black choo choo
Me: Tasha, what is the train carrying?
Tasha: Rocks and sticks!

A very happy little girl!