Happy Birthday Mabel!

Happy 2nd birthday Mabel
You have grown so much in the past year!  You talk like you own the world.  You are more mobile than ever and you always want to explore more!  Here are the things that matter to you at 2:

• Your babies.  You need them to fall asleep.  The baby needs a blanket just like you.  You love to feed them, push them in stroller and pat them on the back.
• fairies, Dora, princesses - everything girly
• Laughing with your brother.  You two love giggling and making mischief.
• Teasing your brother.  You have been known to purposely skip numbers when you count - just to bug Louis
• Singing songs: You love it when you and Louis get to sing together and even more when papa brings out his guitar.  Your favorite songs: ABC's, twinkle twinkle, baa baa black sheep, and the GaGa song
• Having your way.  You don't always get it, but you want it.  In fact today in church when it was quiet, you said out loud: "Grandma, is it over?  I want to go home."
• You love breakfast food, yogurt, chocolate milk and mac-n-cheese (actually you just like to order it and you rarely eat it)
• Happy.  You probably give more attention to her than anyone else in the house.  Someday she will like you too!

Mabel, we are all so lucky to have you in our lives.  You have a smile like an angel and you melt our hearts with your sweetness.  You are smart, and strong and funny. Thank you for the smiles, the songs and your love.

Days of Summer

We had a fabulous and fast summer. It was filled with play park trips, the lake, the zoo, friends and lots of fun. The kids really enjoyed the summer and loved being outside. I think both of them take after Brad in that department. Some big events of the summer included my parents 40th wedding anniversary. The whole weekend was great fun to hang out as a family and the actual celebration was enjoyable as well. I am very proud of my parents to have reached this milestone!! We also had the Budde Family Campout in August. Everyone had fun. All of Brad’s siblings and their families were there including the DC and Milwaukee Budde’s. The adult boys loved the monster slip and slide. I am not sure if any little kids even did it!

Mabel on a scooter

Teasing grandpa

We ended the summer with a trip to the zoo, a trip to the arboretum and trips to the play park. Mabel has really started to enjoy the swings and could stay it in all day

Louis measuring up the water fountain

Both children grew tremendously over the summer. In February Louis just started wearing a 3T, and he now wears a 4T. Mabel’s feet grew a ton, over 3 sizes in the last five months. We have more shoes than we know what to do with! Louis also continues to amaze us with his “reading” skills. He has a few books memorized and is constantly starting to memorize more. He is so fun right now, and has such “adult” conversations with us.

Lastly, my sister Katlyn lived with us this summer. It was nice having someone else around at night to help out with the kids, or to watch vampire movies with me and Harry Potter movies with Brad. On September 7th she left for a semester abroad, so she moved out about a week before. Both children miss her immensely as do Brad and I. The house feels so different. We are so proud of Kate and can’t wait to hear about Europe.