Camping & Swimming...the mega post

Here are the promised pictures from our trip to Natural Tunnel.

Karisse insisted that I clip clothespin all over her hair/clothes after she got over the initial shock of "these things aren't going to pinch me." She's such a chicken...but awfully cute!

The Pool Princess...

Potty training...God's way of testing parents' patience and knowledge of all bathroom abilities and functions... Karisse spent a lot of time on the camper potty reading books! Now, if she'd just poop on the potty without WWIII occurring!!!

Karisse LOVED camping in the new camper. She slept on the top bunk using a gate thingy that Grandpa made so she couldn't fall off. Strangley, there are no pictures of this contraption or her in the bunk bed...we'll work on that later.

At first, she was stoked about being the big girl on the top bunk (we didn't want to have a transition from the bottom to the top when Callie arrives, so it was decided that Karisse's bed would be on the top to begin with.) Then, when it came time for bed, she decided that the top was NOT for her. She wanted to sleep in Callie bed on the bottom. After the initial screaming, she settled in and claimed the high space as her own. Mommy's favorite thing was that every morning she'd say, "Mommy?....Mommy?...." until Mommy or Daddy would take the trek to the back of the camper and open her "door" (a curtain partitioning her bedroom from the kitchen.) She'd say, quite emphatically, "Get me OUT!" Funny girl...

In Other News...

Karisse loves water, especially "The Oasis" in the backyard. This is a $20 pool from Big Lots that Daddy built a $90 deck for and treats with real pool chemicals, net and whole big shebang. (Thanks Granny for the $20 favor!) Mommy hasn't been up to the trip to "The Oasis" lately since Callie will be arriving in 9 days, so Karisse & Daddy have spent a LOT of time in the pool together lately.


Maybe too much?...

Daddy thought it was a cute idea to put Karisse wiffle balls in her swimsuit for boobies and a booty. Karisse thought she was "the stuff!"

We're camping...

at Natural Tunnel State Park!

Pics (of us) to follow next week...

Video for Grandma and Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa are in Oregon visiting family. They are staying with Uncle Wes and Aunt Kathy right now. Karisse misses them a lot. She made this video for them tonight while taking her bath.

Another Video For Finley

We were at Nana and Pop's tonight and Karisse was playing with Nana's post-it "flags". She wanted them stuck all over her face.

Aunt Moe's Tumming

Karisse has been counting down to the day of "Aunt Moe's Tumming" (translation...Aunt Moe is Coming.) Aunt Melissa is coming to TN from Mississippi for a baby shower on Saturday for her little baby Addyson due in late September. Karisse has been soooo excited about getting to see her. She talks with Aunt Moe on the phone all of the time.


Daddy decided to take Karisse to the airport with Nana to pick up Aunt Moe, because Karisse loves to watch the airplaces that fly over our house. They didn't get to see many before they realized that Aunt Moe's plane was early, and that they should go to the gate to get her. Aunt Moe met them coming out of the baggage claim with her bags already. Karisse, being the stubborn and "typical" 2 year old, clammed up the instant she saw Aunt Moe and didn't say anything to her over a whisper. She finally warmed up to her since she went with her to Nana's house to spend the night last night.


This is Karisse & Aunt Moe at Staci's graduation party in May 2008:

A Video from Karisse to Finley

Karisse really misses her best friend Finley since she has moved to Indiana. She made this video for her.

Birthday Time

Life has been crazy lately...so here's a catch up post!

On a "normal" day, Karisse gets to choose what to wear from a few outfits that Mommy or Daddy picks out. On her birthday, however, she got to choose everything from head to toe. Can you tell???

We're not really sure when she learned the Happy Birthday song, but everytime we said "Today's your birthday..." she began to sing:


Daddy made Karisse's Elmo cake from "scratch." Thanks to Beth for giving us the AMAZING icing recipe & to Ronda for the use of the Elmo pan. Karisse is still talking about her Elmo cake everytime someone asks her about her birthday. She thought it was really cool!

Aunt Judy made this cute hat for Karisse. She was actually more happy in it than this picture portrays, since she LOVES hats. She's quite the little diva.
Karisse & Finley (her best friend) put on their swim suits for a trip to the "pool" out back. It's definitely an upgrade from last summer...not quite an oasis yet though.
They had a blast in the pool, even though it was a bit chilly. Karisse's cousin, Thomas, finally joined them in the pool when Karisse's slide entered the pool scene.

Karisse blew out her candles all by herself after she sang along with the Happy Birthday song.

There were tons of presents from family and friends. It was like Christmas in May. Thank to everyone who made her day special!!! We love you...