Two and a Half

We've done this before.

Carina has a wonderful habit of getting into things she shouldn't. And I do try to remember to reprimand her, and to lock things up better. Our medicines live in a giant toolbox with a 5digit password lock. But, the makeup, well, that's another story. Since I use it everyday, locking it up is a major pain. So I kept moving my makeup bag further and further away on the counter. Carina can reach it now no problem.

Two days ago she got into my lipstick that I have zipped into the diaper bag. So I went through my purses and the rest of the diaper bag and made sure there weren't any other tubes hanging out there that she may find.

Today however, she just went all out for the makeup bag. I was sorting laundry and turning socks right side out in the basement, and she was watching Dora. (yeah, looking back of COURSE I shouldn't have left her that way for even 2 minutes, but I did. And it was more like 10 minutes because I have to turn EVERY SINGLE PIECE of kids laundry right side out. {grr})

So she came down with red hands covered in nail polish, moisturizer, and toothpaste. And mascara on her eye. And nail polish, moisturizer, mascara and toothpaste all over her carpet and one wall in her room.

This year, I just took a picture, cleaned her up, threw away her shirt (covered in nail polish) and went to work cleaning - thank goodness for Magic Erasers and nail polish remover. I think I have mellowed over the years. When Laney did similar things when she was two and a half, I think I freaked more. And way back when Mia did things like this? I must've been a monster. That, or completely oblivious to it all having a newborn at the same time.

So in order to document the mayhem, here's a pic of Carina in her best attempt at full evening-out makeup and before the tears that accompanied the throwing away of her shirt and Mommy's stern words. I'm just really really glad we didn't install new carpet yet, and I'm getting really nervous about the couch we just bought...

It's Almost Christmas!!

...and I haven't sent out my cards yet! Not that we don't have them. I have had them since October. It's the pictures. We have had 3 photo shoot sessions in front of the tree and have yet to get one good shot of all three girls looking forward and smiling at least an almost-real smile. So, you may get cards late this year. (Oh, and I tried to use a software program where I can cut and paste the pictures together to try to make a good one, but I am clearly inept at this process and don't have enough time to get good at it before we have to mail them.)

Aside from that, the tree is up, the outside is decorated, stockings are hung on the mantle, cookies and candy have been made and are in the freezer, most of the packages are purchased, and the inflatable Santa has been waving at passersby - we are almost ready.

Today it snowed a little and the whole attitude in the Target parking lot instantly brightened, people started smiling, and wow it made me wish it would just flurry all week!!

If I don't get to post again until after Christmas and you don't see our card in your mailbox yet, please have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year's Eve!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here a little Volpe family video to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.-->>> Click to see the video


Click to see the video

Carina is 2!!!

Happy Birthday to our little Two Year Old!

We had a few friends over, old and new, to celebrate Dora style, and we got to play on the new swing set that was just installed (in the rain, poor installer guy).




Carina also got her first haircut this week - first via Mia, and then at her first visit to Cartoon Cuts for the fix. Here are the before and after shots -

before the Mia cut...

after the Mia cut

after the professional cut
Carina is doing all the things a two-year-old should be doing these days, saying No and Mine! a lot, throwing things, biting (yipes!), and hitting, and also climbing, learning to jump, sliding, swinging, running, learning to ride a tricycle, and giving big hugs. She loves loves loves her sisters and is becoming quite the Daddy's girl. She knows how to bat her eyelashes and smile as she says Hi or Bye Bye to everyone in Target and will dance along to the live music when we go to the Rocknoceros concerts in town. She is sweet, but no pushover and will let you know what she wants, how she wants it, and that she really wants it RIGHT NOW thank you very much.

She loves all things Dora, coloring, and she sings a sweet song that she made up about all the people in our family. She is still allergic to dairy but is making strides to outgrow it, and still won't drink any substitute milk and is therefore still drinking expensive formula.

Carina is potty training and is also trying to train her dollies and stuffed animals, which is adorable.

She is charming and fun to be around, and loves to be included in games and play. We love her dearly. Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

Carina Likes . . .

So I have been asked to write down a few things Carina likes since her birthday is coming up. Here you go -

She LOVES Dora
She LOVES Elmo and Big Bird (Spongebob, too, but we're not encouraging that one)
She LOVES animals, especially owls, kitties, and horses (go figure)
She LOVES baby dolls
She wants to be doing the same things her sisters are doing, mainly 1) Go to school
2) Ride a bike 3) dance and sing
She loves to pretend to talk on the phone
She loves to change her clothes often, and is just beginning to wear size 2Ts
She LOVES shoes, bracelets, necklaces, tiaras, purses, and all things girly - she wears a size 7 shoe.
She must wear a hairbow every day to keep her hair out of her eyes.
She is in the middle of potty training
She likes to play on Mommy's iPhone and to pretend to use the computer
She likes Strawberry Shortcake and My Little Pony too.

Hope that helps!!

Happy Birthday Uncle Pauley! Brother!

Wishing Uncle Pauley a happy birthday from his little nieces. We love you Uncle Pauley! We hope you had a great birthday and hope to see you soon. Here is our little birthday message for you.



(Happy Birthday Brother!)

Love the Volpes

Earthquakes, Hurricanes, and Flooding

Since we've moved we have had our share of natural chaos. An earthquake measuring 5.9 magnitude was the first. We were unaware and thought there was something wrong with the car, ha ha.

Then, Irene. We were prepared with a newly restocked 3 day supply of food, a freshly refilled propane tank for grilling out the goods in the fridge and freezer if necessary, and flashlights and tarps. The wind brought down a limb, but it landed on another tree and is still hanging out there now. We will have it removed soon, but it's pretty wedged in and likely won't come down anytime soon without some major effort.

We saw a lot of animals in the yard just after the hurricane. A large silver fox, many deer, and of course the usual squirrels and birds.

Then, the floods. My understanding is that it was a storm named Lee that brought all the rain, and boy did it rain! Our yard turned into a lake, and our basement walls seeped water. I moved boxes around just in case the floor got wet, and kept a close eye on the walls and the sump pump well in the basement. The power went out, and therefore so did the pump, so we began to bail out the well. It didn't do anything. No matter how many 5 gal buckets of water we took out of the well, the water level stayed the same, so we gave up. Thankfully, even though the well filled just to the top, none of it spilled over into the basement. We were just an inch away from having a flooded basement, but it didn't happen. Whew!

We had candles for light, and it was neither hot nor cold outside,thankfully. The power went out just after dinner and returned just before dinner the next day, so we ate hot dinners, but had to throw out a lot of food. Today, I am researching generators and arborists.