growing up

i've been so busy posting about all the activities we've been doing that i haven't posted much in the way of updates about the girls. 2 things happened this month that made me a little sad to realize our babies are growing up. First of all, Nova hasn't had a bottle in about 3 weeks. i've got a little tear in my eye about that one. Nova LOVES her bottles. She is so cute when she is getting tired and asks for "bott bott" in this pitiful little voice. She was down to just a bedtime bottle, and we had a few busy days where she fell asleep without a bottle, and before we knew it she was bottle free. This month the girls also moved up a diaper size. They are both in 18 month clothes now. Now we are the ones gazing at the little newborns we see out and about with that "remember when" look.

Nova is 16 months. She has had a rough week as she got FOUR molars in all at once. well, not really all at once, they came in several days apart in order to stretch out the terror that was Teething Nova. In between her episodes of toothache, she has been cracking herself (and us) up lately. She will just sit in her carseat laughing hysterically over nothing. She is talking a little, and communicates the basics with us. She loves to pretend like she is going potty. Her favorite foods are "Rainbow" (lucky charms), mac and cheese, rice, and hot dogs (disgusting, i know). She has become a funny little dancer, and loves to dance to the "I Know a Chicken" video by Laurie Berkner. She is sweet as always, and one of our very favorite things is how she loves to cuddle when she wakes up in the morning or after nap. she will just snuggle up on our shoulder and lie there contentedly for 30 minutes.

Juneau, Jbug, J-blog, BugJuice, Bug, Buggie is 23 months! She is outrageously hilarious. She talks nonstop. She speaks in full sentences now, and knows the lyrics to about 10 songs all the way through, from Baa Baa Black Sheep to Chris Daughtry songs. She has a super awesome memory. Basically everything that she talks about she includes Nova in. For example, if she wants to eat breakfast she will say. "Eat? Juneau Rainbow, Sissy Rainbow". She can sing her entire ABC's, and loves to count. She can say Nova's name, but more commonly refers to her as "Sissy Beeba". She is such an easy easy kid, and entertains herself with playing, singing, dancing, and reading books.

And Now, some photos

S-P-O-I-L-E-D

Grandpa and Grandma Stickley caught word that we were looking around for a wagon, and before we knew it Juneau and Nova were proud owners of their very own Cadillac Wagon, complete with built-in backpack and sun shade. The girls LOVE their wagon. We tried it out at the zoo over the weekend and it was a huge hit. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma for an awesome gift! I'm sure it will get TONS of use!

Nova livin' it up in the wagon. A great place to sit and relax when the zoo wears you out.

Juneau and the Gorilla

Checkin' out the Koi

Juneau and Grandma made this awesome craft last week - adorable little stepping stones made from scratch! Grandma very patiently helped Juneau paint the stones, and they came out awesome!

Is this dangerous?

Not only do J and Nova love their swingset, Sherpa has found her perfect home. Every morning when we wake up we find Sherpa sitting under the platform. If you want to see 2 little faces light up all you have to do is say "swingset" and the girls go crazy. Juneau will sing for 30-45 minutes at a time, and Nova has gone down the slide about 500 times. They LOVE this swingset!

Blast from the Past - Cris found this Big Loader at a garage sale a few weeks ago. He had one when he was 5 or 6 years old, and remembers many hours of fun with it. The girls have been equally enthralled with the Big Loader. They love to help cris set it up, and then watch it run it's course over and over (and over and over and over and over) again

Last weekend we made a trip to the Colorado State Fair. It was a much bigger success than when I convinced Cris to go to the El Paso County Fair (which was basically the equivalent of an elementary school carnival). Cris and I are both from "Fair Country" and we are used to quite a production. The Colorado State Fair ended up being pretty good. There were plenty of Kid Friendly activities, and we all had a good time. Here Cris and the girls are checking out some brand new baby chicks.

ok, I know Grandpa Stickley already thinks i'm just a tiny bit crazy after I asked if he would mind building a Landing Strip in his soybean field (for the record, he was actually rather receptive to the idea, and has even previously had a landing strip in the field). Here is my next idea: Juneau and Nova entertained themselves FOREVER in this corn "Sand"box. Cris estimated it would be about 10 bushels of corn. Any chance of hauling 10 bushels of corn across the U.S. for a sandbox? :)

Jbug and the baby pigs

This tractor got Cris all excited about restoring his Grandpa's first tractor (which is still currently in service on his dad's field)

We are loving Colorado, and have been having tons of fun exploring these last few months, but we sure miss Hawaii. We are already contemplating how to bargain with the Army to send us back in a couple of years. We have especially been missing the good Sticky Rice that is so easy to get in Hawaii. I had tried and failed a couple of times with making good sticky rice, but tonight i hit it right on, and cris and the girls were in Sticky Rice heaven. Speaking of heaven, Cris is reclined in the brand new La-Z Boy welcoming with enthusiasm the first night college football.