Potty Training Progress

We are excited to announce that we are getting closer to being free of diapers at the Sharpe home! Erica has taken a new interest in going potty on the potty chair, and we couldn't be happier about it--especially since Hayden was closer to 3 1/2 before he finally wanted to perfect this feat!!

Could it be that soon our diaper bag will be obsolete??
I'll keep you posted! :)

Enjoying the Sunshine

This past Wednesday was beautiful outside, and lucky for me--it was my day off with Hayden and Erica. We decided to do something outdoors, as the sunshine was just to glorious to pass up, and I don't know about you--but I am feeling rather Vitamin D deficient with the winter dragging on for so long!!

Anyways, we packed up the double stroller, sippy cups, some bag lunches, and headed for Lake Nokomis. We left the house in shorts, which may have been a bit gung-ho, as it was really windy when we got to the lake, and I ended up changing the kids into jeans on the side of the road before our walk (how very Minnesotan of me to think it is shorts weather on day 1 of 60 degree weather, eh?).

Here are Hayden and Erica enjoying their PB&J's beside the lake after playing on the beach, swings, and big slide. It was actually kind of nice to empty sand out of their shoes again! :)

The lake was still mostly frozen, which I hadn't anticipated. Hayden was pretty bummed at first because we brought a bag of bread crumbs to feed the ducks, geese and fish. Luckily, we did find some Mallards to feed toward the end of our walk.

On the North end of the lake the ice was all pushed up onto the shoreline, and looked really cool. We, of course, had to stop and check it out. We took turns throwing ice out onto the frozen lake, and then the kids took a few "Ring around the Rosie" turns while I tried to take their photo.

The last half of the walk was quite a work out for me, as we were then going against the wind. Come to find out that double wide stroller is not very streamlined. Oh well, I guess I was due for a good first work out of the season anyhow, right?

The Other Woman

I'd like you to meet the new love in Jonathan's life, and the newest addition to his shop (we haven't named her yet, so we are taking suggestions :) ).
She is a CNC milling machine, which he bought used & in pretty rough shape, and completely refurbished. It really turned out amazing, but I am so tired of hearing about CNC, and am really looking forward to having my husband back again, as this project was an intense one!!

He assures me that this is one of the last things he needed to procure to get his business off the ground, so I am hoping that will be true!

...and for any of you that are truly fascinated with CNC's,
check out this milling action.....

The Whole World in his Hands

Here are my three favorite people horsin' around before dinner tonight....

No! I Do!!

Erica's new thing is pulling clothes out of her drawers and trying to dress herself-- usually over the clothes she already has on, and always with mishaps; like both legs in one pant leg, or the neck of a shirt pulled up around her waist like a skirt. In this video clip she is practicing her new found independence and trying to put her pants on following a diaper change. I chased her around the house for at least an hour before finally getting her pants back on her. She absolutely refused to let me help her....."No! I Do!!"

..and as crazy as it makes me, I'm pretty sure I know who she gets that feisty spirit from!

Erica the Party Girl

Turning two was a big deal, and we celebrated accordingly! The celebrating
started at Nana and Papa Sharpe's home on the 17th for dinner, birthday pie, and lots of fun presents. (Above is Erica licking her chops while checking out the pie, and thinking about blowing out her two candles. Below she is modeling her new swimsuit from Nana and Papa)

The 20th was on a Wed, and Erica wasn't feeling so well that day--but we still managed to have a nice dinner together as a family, and have another chance to eat dessert. Erica also opened a few gifts from us. Here she is below in her new "chef" attire--very cute!

The weekend following Erica's birthday we made plans for the four of us to go to the Water Park of America. We got all day wrist bands, and spent that Sunday in our swimsuits! It was a ball! The kids both absolutely loved the water and the slides. The coolest part for us is that we live so close to the water park, we left for lunch and naps, and then went back until the park closed. We will most definitely be going back there again! The only unfortunate thing about our water park experience, is the lack of photo documentation......it's a little hard to take a camera with you into that wet environment. You'll just have to trust me on how fun it was!

Also Not pictured is Erica's birthday celebration on March 2nd at Nana and Papa Smith's home. Equally fun, just not well photographed! :)

The "Happy Birthday" Song.....

So....other than a few "pitch problems" I think that we did pretty good! :)