Walkin' with Char-Char and Li-Li

Caroline and her cousin went crusin' at the mall this past Friday night....


I can tell you they did eventually find trouble... at Build-a-Bear Workshop.

A few tricks, lots of treats

Caroline and Charlotte went though our neighborhood on Halloween, dressed as Silvermist and Tinker Bell, respectively.  (Silvermist is one of Tink's friends in the recent movie.  If you have to ask, you're not a fan.)

Now, the first house we went to belongs to a woman that we know that is really fun and nice.  I should have known that the 'fun' part would be more prevalent than the 'nice' part on Halloween, because she opened the door in full witch regailia and make up.  So here we are, Silvermist and Tinker Bell, all cute and innocent - and I guide them to the Wicked Witch's house first.  Great job, super dad.

They recovered quickly and started to have a great time.  It started to get dark and even with lots of bigger kids running around they did really well, holding hands from house to house.

Then we got to a house where the owner had a full graveyard and fog machine in the front yard.  Should have been a warning sign, right?  All I could think about was how intensely this house is decorated for Christmas each year, and because of that I always assumed it was a nice old man and his wife inside.

Apparently the werewolf that opened the door growling, also ate the nice old man and woman inside that I'd made up in my head.  Way to go, Super Dad.  To this date, Caroline points at that house and says, "I don't want to go to that house."

But they recovered and we shot a cute picture in the graveyard before we went home to munch on candy and talk about Caroline the Fish.

Little Pumpkins

Caroline and Charlotte went to a Punkin' Patch to look for some pumpkins for Halloween. We found pumpkins and go figure, got a lot of cute photos. 

Mountain trip

This summer we visited Cousin Charlotte's mountain house for the weekend with her and her mom and dad.  Caroline roasted a marshmallow for the first time. (It caught on fire.)

 She got to feed some animals at a petting zoo:

 We took a family photo at the top of a mountain:

And since one day she will look back on this blog and be embarrassed by some of the photos I've posted, I decided to do it to myself:

Cousin Time, Part II

This summer, we (rather, the Mommy, my sister and my mom) got the girls together for a little photo shoot at my parents' house. It was kind of a challenge to get everyone looking the same way since Emery was just one year old, but here are the super cute ones of Addie, Caroline and Emery:



Cousin time

Uncle Haynes loaned me some pictures of Caroline and her cousin Charlotte this past summer and fall.

The first is the two of them getting ready for a slumber party at Charlotte's house-

And below, here are the two of them with their (slightly) younger cousin Caiden getting an old fashioned wagon ride.  Not sure if they put Caiden in the back because he's younger or it was a girl power thing....

Stay tuned for Cousin Time part II with Addie and Emery!

Caroline in the Garden

In August (see, I told you I was behind on posting pictures!) The Mommy and her mommy took Caroline to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.  I can't really caption the photos since I wasn't there, but I think they speak for themselves!

Backyard Engineering

Last weekend, Poppy bought Caroline's birthday present early, a new swing set.  After all, a swing set in November isn't as good as one in the summer.

This weekend, I began to put it together.

I was warned.  Read, really read the instructions.  Make sure you're using the right bolt.



Turned out to be good advice.  Among the 6 types of bolts and all told there were about 30 of them, they were all very similar in length, and just enough for each specialized place you had to use them.  The directions had 64 steps, and twice, I was instructed to repeat several steps. 

Working at it off and on all day, I'd say it took about 4 hours.  It wasn't hard labor, but more thinking than my typical chores require.  And it was hot.  But every second was worth it.

The Mommy brought Caroline outside as I was moving tools back into the shed.  She ran over to me yelling, "Daddy, daddy, thank you for building my swing set! It's perfect!" and threw herself at me, hugging my legs.

I'll never forget it, and I don't care that I cried a little.



Angel eyes

We took some photos a few weeks back of Caroline and her cousins Addie and Emery.  I'll post more of those soon, but have to share this one first.  I basically melt every time I see it.

Princess of the High Seas

The same weekend Caroline went fishin' for the first time, we took a boat ride up to Dayton, Tenn. for dinner at a place where you can just pull up in your boat, tie off and go eat.  Got this picture of her on the dock and it cracks me up for some reason.  I can't quite explain what I think the look on her face is saying, but something like "I thought we were going to Cabo..."

Even more beach pictures

While there are many more, these are probably the final pictures from the July 4 week beach trip with Poppy and Deede.

Why?  Well, you weren't invited.  Kidding.  It more has to do with that fact that us adults had to be in bathing suits and this isn't that kind of website.
 
Below, Caroline in mid-air with Poppy during what became her favorite thing to do, 'jump' over the waves. (Note the pointed toes.  Gymnastics in her future?)

 

 And here's Caroline and Deede walking in the waves:

The future's so bright...

We interrupt these posts about Caroline's idyllic childhood for an announcement.

Dr. Dre's record label Aftermath Entertainment is excited to announce exclusively through Caroline's Corner the signing of the hottest new duo in hip-hop and rap.  Equally adept at producing slick beats and introspective and culturally relevant lyrics -- from the tough issues facing their generation such as potty training and the exploitation of Curious George to girl-power anthems -- this power duo will take modern music in a new, fresh direction. Ladies and gentlement, I present to you...

JUICE BOXX!!!!!

(An old photo from a hilarious night with Charlotte.)

More beach photos

Here are a few more photos from the beach trip.  Below, Uncle Mike and cousin Caiden and below that Caroline hits her stride on the sand....

Beach Time, part one

We have TONS of awesome pictures from being at the beach last week, but here's one of my favorites.  I'll be posting more over the next several days.  Caroline was scared of the waves for about two days, then we had to hold her back from trying to swim to France.  Oh, and the sandcastles and the beach toys like the water gun below?  A major hit.

The 'Homachok'

A few weeks ago, we headed to a Braves game with Caroline for the first time this season. She was learning it last year, but has perfected the tomahawk chop, or as she calls it, the homachok.

She gets so fascinated by all there is to see at the games that she actually sits very patiently. She's a fan!

Though maybe in the photo above, she was more interested in that cotton candy salesman walking down the aisle.

Happy Fathers Day to... ME!

Had a kickin' Dad Day here at the homestead:

1) Got to stay in bed until... 9:30.  I woke up at 9:00 and just hung out there.  Caroline was being so quiet, I thought she and The Mommy were playing in the backyard.

2) We all took a nap while Caroline did and she slept for... three hours.  I have had so much sleep today I feel sick.  Happy sick.

3) I got a gift that was used and pink... a barely used jogging stroller!  I never though I'd be so pumped about that. (Its mostly brown with pink accents.  To my future child, if we have one and if it is a boy, I'm sorry, but there's going to be a lot of pink items you're going to have to use.)

4) Dinner out with the family... Bison burger.  Tasty.

Check out the envelope my card came in today.  Look at the purple crayon.  That's a 'C', an 'A', and a 'L'.  Only 5 more letters to go.  I'm biased, but I think 2.5 years old and writing 37% of one's name is sort of advanced.

Cousin photos!

About a month ago we had some photos taken with Caroline's cousin Caiden.  I'm not sure how long we have until these kids grow up but hopefully it won't be too soon... 

Photos by Danielle Bryson, click the link to see her website.  Check her out if you're in Atlanta!

A Day Out with Thomas

This past Saturday, we took Caroline, who is a BIG fan of Thomas the Tank Engine, to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, as Thomas was making a visit and taking kids for a 20 minute ride.

First off though were some side attractions and Caroline got a temporary tattoo of Thomas, from a lady named Caroline actually.

 This photo below was taken shortly after Thomas arrived for the first time while we were there.  She was captivated.

 The Mommy, Caroline and Thomas the Tank Engine:

The museum had several other engines.  Here you see Caroline considering a career as chair of the US Deaprtment of Transportation.

On the train ride, Caroline was named a Jr. Engineer and is qualified to ride Thomas any time she chooses.  Regretfully for me and The Mommy, she wants to do this every day, which is not logistically possible.

Holy Easter Eggs!

The Easter Bunny paid a visit to Caroline's house last night and left her a sizable amount of loot and candy.  We went to church and then to Caroline's friend Ryan's house for lunch and an Easter egg hunt she's been working all week to get ready for. 

We need to talk about church.  Wow.  Our little angel apparently lost her halo in the parking lot.  We had to take her out four times.  I tried to take her to the nursery and she lost it.  Fun times.  Highlight:
Caroline (during the service in a lofty voice): "I want to go home."
The Mommy (whispering): Honey, we're in church for Easter right now."
Caroline (just shy of yelling): "I don't want to be in church now."
[Father Ween and Lady C exit aisle left.]

 We managed some controlled chaos with Ryan and the Easter egg hunt.

 We might as well announce it.  We've decided Caroline is betrothed to Ryan.

 We might be trying a little hard. (Ryan's parents below and above are on board)