Stamping

Aunt Heidi sent Vera and Lucy an Easter box the other day. It was filled with lots of matching outfits for her and Lucy, shoes, and it also contained a princess stamp set. I told Vera she had to take a bath before she could play with it and she melted. She wanted to play with it right then and there.  We compromised by taking the stamps up to the bathroom with us so she could make sure they were safe and not being enjoyed while she was getting a scrub down. After the shortest bath ever, we headed downstairs and dove into it.

Carefully deciding what stamp do work with next. She was a huge fan of the shoe and kept saying "Cinderella". She followed directions very well and only stamped on the paper. 

Hard at work 

She filled about three pages, front and back, with her princess stamps. Thank you Aunt Heidi; we love it! 

All Smiles

We've been heading to the park every afternoon to take advantage of the nice weather before it gets crazy hot down here. Vera would sit all day in the swing if I let here; she adores it! Giving me a smile so we could send Daddy a picture. Enjoy your single child status while it lasts Veve. 

Appease the Dragon

I try to focus on the positive, but sometimes Vera can pitch a two year old tantrum with the best of them! Sunday after church was the perfect example. No matter what Matthew and I did, Vera was not happy. Thankfully she held it together at church and just unleashed on us when we got home. Matthew took her outside and let her run wild in an attempt to appease the dragon. It seemed to work, but these little fits may be the death of us.

Filled to the brim with orneriness

Running like crazy up and down the street apparently gets all the bad vibes out

"Excuse me? You want me to come inside? NO!"

 

Sticks

Our neighbor was cutting back a tree this afternoon and there was a huge pile of sticks in his yard. I took Vera over to say hello because she has an affinity for playing with sticks and I thought she'd get a kick out of the huge pile. She started saying "Pig House, Pig House." I guess she was paying attention after all when we read her the Three Little Pigs.

She created her pig house made out of sticks by leaning them up against a fire hydrant. I can only assume there is a law against obstructing a fire hydrant, but we took our chances. 

You would think she gets her love of sticks and building stick houses from her father, but it turns out Holly was the same way. Here is a picture of Holly when she was a kid and Vera today with their bundle of sticks. Holly always says she takes after me 100%. I don't think so. 

A Quick Visit with Tiana

Catching Princess Tiana at her New Orleans gazebo is next to impossible. We just happened to be walking by and jumped in line before anyone else. Vera loved her for about two minutes...

Admiring Tiana's beautiful dress and crown

Why hello there!

And then she heard the music from Cinderella's Castle, and it was all over. She knew she would rather watch the show then see a princess. Sorry Tiana, but you can't compete with the mouse. 

He's over there! Tiana, Mickey and Minnie are over there!

Let me go! Mickey is at the castle!

Literally running to the castle to catch the show.  She took off like grease lightening. 

Just Dad and Ve watching the castle party go down.  I will say that the Spring Break crowd gets into the performance a lot more then the locals. It makes my heart happy when kids and parents clap and sing. 

Veve's First Haircut

I have been waiting for over two years to cut Vera's hair. Not because it was emotional, but because up until recently it grew at a snail's pace. It was finally to the point where something needed to be done. We made an appointment at the Harmony Barber Shop inside Disney World and cheerfully made our way there this morning. It is an old time barber shop straight out of the Mary Poppins movie. It was magical and made the first cut special. If you are at all able, do this with your children. They loaded Vera up with Mickey Mouse stickers to get her excited, and then plopped her in the chair.  

Sitting in the hot seat waiting for the action to start

Ve was all smiles as Mrs. Barbara combed out her hair and squirted it down

Over an inch was taken off, and hopefully her sweet baby curls are not gone for good. 

When Vera got squirmy they gave her a Mickey Mouse  light up toy to distract her 

Getting princess dust sprinkled on her ridiculous pigtails; she wasn't too sure about the hairspray at first

All smiles after her big girl trip to the barber shop. She refused to wear the Mickey Mouse ears that were stitched with "my first haircut", but they'll go in her baby book nonetheless.  

I, however, had no problem wearing the ears. 

Proudly holding up her first haircut certificate. The ears were on for one brief, shinning moment of glory.

She carried that darn certificate around all day and would proudly show it to anyone that would listen. Here she is showing it off  to the old time trolley singers. 

Strolling down Main Street

Yes, they put lots of glitter in her hair. She was reciting all the names of the characters pictured on her paper.  

"For bravely and cheerfully submitting to our clippers and shears"

Trying to get a picture with the castle in the background was next to impossible today. 

Here's the best we could do. How time sure does fly! 

Mr and Mrs Easter Bunny

On our way into the Magic Kingdom today we stopped by the Easter Bunny gazebo for a quick family shot. I was informed that Mr EB, also know as Wendell, and Mrs EB, Gretchen, are there in the Spring to welcome guests. I have to say that they are the friendliest bunnies I have ever come across, unlike those scary mall versions. Vera still won't go in for a picture by herself, so all four Terry's took the plunge. 

Happy Easter from Disney World!

An Attempt at an Egg Tree

When I was little my mom would always let us decorate the bushes outside our house for Easter, I loved it and decided to try it with Ve. Mistake number one, do not get a kid excited about an "egg tree" unless you are 100% prepared for said activity. I couldn't find the fishing line, so I had to quickly substitute with dental floss. At least the tree will smell minty fresh for Easter. 

Placing the first egg on the tree. She decided to go with the golden egg

Carefully deciding where to place the next egg. We have about ten eggs all clumped together. It's not exactly  spaced out like I envisioned, but Vera was happy as a clam so what are you gonna do? 

Then she wanted to pick flowers and grabbed a fist full of ours, root and all. 

If you look closely, you can see the dirt still hanging on to the  roots. We'll attempt this activity again in a few days when Guga comes for Easter. Hopefully this will be a tradition that we always do together. 

The Simple Things

The pure joy of no shoes and a puddle. Gotta love Florida weather and the look on Veve's face

The First Nap

Matthew and I have been working like crazy on Ve's big girl room, more on that to come. Lucy will just take over the nursery, poor thing gets the hand me down room, and Ve will transition to her big girl room. Today was our first attempt at napping in such a giant bed, and Ve did a wonderful job! Time sure does fly; just yesterday she was in the bassinet beside my bed, and here she is in her very own full size bed. That's right, we skipped the toddler bed as a result of my being to cheap to buy one.  

One tired little girl who refused to get under the covers. Please note that it looks like an animal graveyard in her bed. She insisted she have all her stuffed animals by her side. We had one Pluto, a Tutu bear, two Mrs Cotton-candies, and three Mr. Jellybeans. Geeish. 

My close up of my not so little girl in her big girl bed sniffing/snuggling the tar out of Mr. Jellybeans

She loves her new big kid bed and even wants to read in it during the day. Hopefully she'll be taking more than naps in there soon. 

Bubbles

Nothing says Spring like going outside and getting crazy with the bubble maker. Miss Independent here has to do everything herself, including pouring the bubbles. That led to soapy feet, a giant puddle on the front steps, and a huge "I hope it rains soon" from me. The sacrifices we make for bubble time.

She has that look in her eye like she may cause mass chaos at any moment

Bubbles!

And then Matthew came home and taught her how to make giant bubbles by bending the wand. Here she is in mid attempt

I have a feeling we are going to be out on the porch with the bubbles a bunch this summer. 

Doctor Veve

"Excuse me, but you need to leave the room during my examination. This is a direct violation of the patient's HIPPA rights. Thank you", 

 Doctor Veve 

The Balloon

Who needs "99 Red  Luftballons" when you have one green shamrock  one from your neighbor?  

Happiness is a giant balloon. This little leprechaun sure does have it good.

"Great Party"

Every Saint Patty's Day our neighbors host an amazing get-together with fabulous food, friends, and conversation. Vera has been asking to wear her special party tutu and crown all week, and when I finally told her she could wear it she about came out of her frame. She kept twirling and pressing the button on her light up crown, thank you Target dollar section. Just our little green goblin out having fun for the night.  

Attempting to take a mother/daughter photo. Fail. 

Ornery as ever

Running to Mr. Mike and Mrs. Debi's house. She kept saying "PARTY" and was just filled with excitement. Perhaps it was the red sparkle shoes, or just maybe this is my daughter after all? 

In a full on run to get there. That's my pregnant self way back in the distance. I was left to fend for myself. 

Looking like she is about to take flight. 

Standing on her tiptoes to ring the doorbell and get things started! 

Although I couldn't have any this year, I heard from a very reliable source that the green beer was excellent. 

Having a serious discussion over some strawberries and other goodies. This was after she downed a special hot dog, brownies, a couple chocolate covered strawberries, and a gold coin. You only live once Veve, go for it! 

What Saint Patty's day party is complete without a round of dress up and a pirate with a hook?  Ve had so much fun playing and running around that she just couldn't stand it! 

Sweet Chloe and Jackson played dress up with Veve and helped entertain her. She adores them and we can't wait till they come back again in the summer. Vera needs some good role models around here ;-)
When we went home for the evening, Vera kept asking "where's the party" and kept saying "great party".  Much to our dismay, she even woke herself up multiple times in the middle of the night to "go to party". No Vera, parties do not last forever until you go to college. What a wonderful, green evening!