Happy Birthday NATALIE!!

Two years ago today Natalie Elizabeth joined our family and we couldn't be happier! Natalie is a beautiful two year old with a lot of personality. I think she inherited both of her parents' stubborn streaks :) While she is known  for her tantrums, her hugs are just as well renowned. The other day I was lying on the floor with my eyes closed trying to catch a minute nap while the kids played. Natalie came over to tell me goodnight and knew I would need a kiss to sleep. She repeatedly slobbered kisses all over my face and she had a runny nose. I couldn't stop laughing trying to get away from her slobber and snot so she thought it was a fun game and kept those kisses coming. It was adorable, and pretty gross, and so indicative of Natalie's big heart and fun loving personality. She loves her family and is always wondering where Dominic is, and trying to share toys with Cara when she is crying. Natalie loves to help clean up, cook, and do anything mom is doing. She is an amazing sister and daughter, and we love her. Happy Birthday Natalie!

 September 2008

September 2009 - 1 year

September 24, 2010 - 2 years

(She's a little or ornery today so getting a good picture was difficult)

Earlier this week Natalie spilled her juice all over the fire place. She went into a kitchen drawer, found the mat to keep the cutting board from sliding around, and "cleaned up" - or so she said. It sure was nice that she took the initiative to take care of the mess by herself.

Cute matching sisters! Dominic has an orange shirt but he refused to wear it today, (although to be fair, orange really isn't his color). He also refused to be in my pictures. I really don't understand how Kirk and I ended up with such opinionated, stubborn children ;)

Family Pics @ the Beach

We had an awesome vacation this summer at Myrtle Beach. One huge disappointment though, we lost our new camera, and thus we have no pictures of our kids first experience at the beach. Luckily, we went with the rest of the Pavkov clan and I think Kirk's parents and sister should have captured some cute shots.

Cara was her usual pleasant self for most of the trip. I was most worried about the 11 hour car ride, and this is where she was at her worst. She spent most of the week in a bumbo as a "beach babe".

For Natalie it totally depended on the day. Sometimes she was fearless and wanted to be in the ocean facing the waves, others, she wouldn't even let us put her down allowing her feet to touch the sand. She did LOVE the pool though.

Dominic was probably at the best age of the three for the beach. He was a little nervous at first, but he loved it! He would run into the waves and let them chase him out. He wanted to build sand castles (like Clifford the Big Red Dog) etc.

While we were in Myrtle Beach Kirk's mom arranged to have a photographer take pictures of the whole family (minus Jake who stayed back in Ohio with family friends). We got some really nice pictures to remember the trip!

of course there was lots of this...

and the photographer kept pleading with me to get Cara's hands out of her mouth, easier said than done.

Natalie is mad there is no picture of her "flying at the beach".

Randomness

Am I ever grateful for our new camera and its wide frame, otherwise I might one day forget that while my kids are doing adorable things like ridding four wheeler toys in their underwear, with upside down safety goggles, my house looked like this!

Natalie's first haircut - my attempt to tame the mullet. Natalie did really well - and I actually think her hair looks kinda cute :)

Natalie likes to hold Cara... 

...for a while. Here she is saying "off!" as she pushes Cara toward me.

Dominic showing us his muscles :)

National Night Out

We took the kids to National Night Out (against crime) in Wadsworth. Target helps sponsor the event every year, so Kirk was really there for work. But the kids like the emergency vehicles, balloons and food. Plus, I am always proud to take a stand against the crime ridden streets of Wadsworth ;). Dominic LOVED it, Natalie was EXHAUSTED, and Cara slept through most of the event.

Who-Dey

When Who-Dey gets hungry or bored, she likes to jump onto our screen in the window to scare the tar out of me. You might say she's just looking for attention, but I think she's a Pavkov, and likes to play pranks.

She did this a lot last night and this morning. I didn't think much of it, but this evening I found our poor Who-Dey lying in the grass, gone to meet her maker. I suppose she was trying to get my attention to tell me something was wrong. While I wasn't on board with bringing a cat to our family, I quickly grew to love her. She will be dearly missed.

She was a great cat for the kids. She was very affectionate with them and did very well tolerating their "petting" as we struggled to teach our kids to be "soft" and kind with animals. Natalie was especially fond of Who-Dey and I hate to have to tell her our cat is gone. Who-Dey was even successful in getting at least one of our moles - there are pictures to prove it. I think they are a little gross, and will spare you.

Who-Dey brought adventure to our lives, as keeping the garage door open for her at night invited in raccoons - whom Kirk shot, in the garage, under our van, with a cross-bow. He didn't think he had hit anything, but the the bloody trail leading out of the garage and the arrow stuck in the wall with fur hanging from it tell a different story. I was lucky enough to find this evidence the next morning as I was leaving for work.

I didn't realize our dear cat had passed on until after the kids were asleep, and Kirk is gone on military duty, so I along with my dad (because I apparently am too weak to dig a hole and called him over to assist) were the only ones to say goodbye. Rest in peace Who-Dey, we'll miss you! Thanks for being a wonderful part of our family for these past few months!

Four-Wheeler Rides

I think the kids favorite part about summer, aside for being outside every possible second, might be four-wheeler rides before bed with dad.

Should Have Paid More Attention...

in art class. I never would have guessed I would want to be skilled at drawing for my three year old. Actually, all I wanted to do was take a quick cat nap. Dominic was talking non-stop about cows and their cow houses. I decided to print some coloring pages of barns and cows for him to color and hoped I might get a minute to rest. As soon as he had his coloring pages, he wanted me to draw.

Dominic: "Draw a cow house mommy".

I draw a cow house (barn), hand him the picture and close my eyes.

"No, draw a cow in the cow house mommy". Done, close my eyes.

"Draw cows eating the grass, huh?" I realize this is not going to stop. No nap...

"Mommy, draw a cow going in the cow house".

"Draw a cow eating flowers like Curious George, mommy".

"Draw Dominic riding a cow mommy".

"Draw Natalie riding a four wheeler".

Me: "I can't draw a four wheeler".

Dominic: "Draw Natalie riding a cow". etc..

And here's my master piece! lol. Good thing my kid isn't too picky. And, he believes me when I tell him "that is a cow". or "look, that's Dominic riding a cow". Hopefully at least he appreciates my sketches.