Petite Ya-ya's

In case you have not had the pleasure of reading the Divine Secrets of the Ya-ya Sisterhood let me tell you my Momma and Mrs. Julie have read it. Before kids they were so into this book they made up names for each other. Momma is Queen of the LB and Mrs. Julie is Mistress of Thought and now that they both have kids we are the Petite Ya-ya's. Momma had not seen the Mistress of Thought since before I was born. So this was a monumental occasions. I had so much fun playing with Sophia, Eliza (Miz Liza) and Maya at Nana's house. Of course I had to lay out the ground rules for the girls one of which was do not go upstairs. After some playing we decided it would be a good idea to go to the park. Here I am with Miz Liza on the see-saw. We had so much fun trying out all the 'rides' at the park that we worked up an appetite.

So when we got back to Nana's we started making our own pizza's. Momma cut up all of the ingredients and we got to put whatever we wanted on our pizza. I had a little bit of everything and I do mean everything - olives, bell pepper, mushrooms - these are all things I do not eat but I was having tastes because Sophia and Miz Liza were but they did not put all of this on there pizza.

After our pizza we decided it was time to take a rest. I was in charge of the noise maker and I even master doing this with my eyes closed since I didn't have an eye mask with me.

Finally before we could let my new ya-ya friends leave we had to have a picture together with our Momma's. I cannot wait to see how much we change over the years. Maybe next time I will cooperate more and look at the camera for the picture but not likely.

Isabella says:

Popsicle on hot day is the only way to play.

Dirty face such as this is not a disgrace.

You don't walk fast you will be left in the past.

Feeding the bird will keep your cars clean?

Visits from Nana always brings lots of surprises.

Smiling warms the heart.

Peter Cotton Tale

What seemed to be just a song that Papa sang to me on the phone soon took on a whole new meaning for me. In the days to come I demanded that Momma sing Peter Cotton Tale on the way to school, when she was making meals, basically anytime I cold get her to sing it to me. however when i demanded it in a nasty tone she usually would not sing it for me. On Easter weekend I realized who Peter Cotton Tale was - the Easter Bunny. He has a lot of eggs that he likes to hid for kids to find. I had 2 Easter egg hunts to go to the first one in our neighborhood and the second one with my cousin Jackson. Not only did we have Easter egg hunts we also had to dye Easter eggs.
What would Easter be without an Easter picture, and in true Isabella fashion I would not cooperate with the photographer. At least Miles looks cute! Someday I know I will regret my actions at least that is what Momma says.

The Charleston Child Crashes

We have been extremely busy at the Hoglund house. Daddy had been training for a 5K run, the Cooper River Bridge Run which was in Charleston. Momma has been making sure that I have fun at school and my play dates. They both have been making sure that I continue to visit Charleston. The weekend that Daddy ran in his race we went to Charleston to watch Daddy and cheer him on across the finish line. Here is Daddy and Mr. Mika his friend from Florence that we often visit when we go back to Charleston.On Sunday we went to the park with Mr. Jeff and Ellison. She was my first friend in Charleston, her Momma used to babysit me.
On Monday, after Momma's visit to MUSC for her liver, we were on our way home. Before we left town we stopped for lunch and I was so wore out from the weekend that I couldn't even finish my burger before I crashed.
What a peaceful ride home this was for Momma and Daddy!

What is up with the weather?

That is the burning question on everyone's mind. I cannot seem to figure it out either. On Monday we had snow and then on Friday I could wear shorts?!?

Since we had snow I had to bundle up put on my snow boots to go outside to play. Daddy decided since it was a snow day he would go into work late to help me build a snow girl. He knows how much Momma 'loves' cold weather. I was glad that Daddy went in to work late so we could have extra special time together playing in the snow.

So like I said the weather is crazy. On Friday, I was outside in my jean skirt and boots. I am glad that Momma let me get my boots because they are so versatile. I can where them in rain, snow and sunshine. And yes I do know how to pick up dog poop. I have much experience watching Daddy and sometimes Momma cleaning it up, so when it is around my playset I get it out of the way.

Mardi Gras Mambo

In keeping true to my Mommas heritage, she finally got to take our family to Mardi Gras. In preparing for this trip to New Orleans we loaded the Mardi Gras CD into the CD player so I could learn the Mardi Gras songs. Mardi Gras Mambo is one of my favorite songs from the CD. It really prepared me for celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans. As you can see I had a lot of fun. I rode/walked in the Krewe of Crazy Kids with my cousin Rowan. I had a picnic on Mardi Gras day as we waited for the Grela parade to start. This was a special parade because Kalee Jo and Uncle David were riding on one of the floats.

Here is the bear that Kalee Jo threw to me.
Now I have lots of beads (necklaces) to wear.

Fast February

February has been a quick month at our house. We had many celebrations first we celebrated Daddy's 30th birthday, Valentines day and Mardi Gras. In between all of these festivities I had a lot going on with many play dates with my friends, going to the library and taking road trips. I get very excited when we receive packages in hopes that they are for me. So when I received my very first flower delivery for Valentines day from Daddy I was ecstatic. I could not believe that I got flowers shipped to me. I loved them so much. I asked to check on them every chance I could to make sure they were just as perfect as the first moment I saw them.

I have been taking time out of every day to teach Miles how to sit up and to play with his exersaucer. I like to get in to demonstrate what he needs to do while he is playing. Sometimes I often get stuck and cannot get out so Momma has to help me out but alot of times she tells me to figure it out on my own. When this does not work I simply tell her I have to go potty and she runs to my rescue.

I have been developing my own style lately too. It is very important to look like Daddy and I finally can do this because I have found where Momma keeps her glasses. It is very important to accessories when going places like making sure you have the right necklace (scarf) and the right purse (letter bucket). It doesn't matter if your outfit does not match perfectly because that is what makes it your own. I even have ventured out in my high heels. But I only think Momma let that happen because we were in a mad rush to get out of town.

While I was sleeping....

I heard some banging around in the backyard. So when I awoke from my short nap I looked out of my window to see what the banging was all about. I saw 2 men in the backyard finishing putting up my swing set. I ran out of my room ala Kramer on Seinfield to tell Momma that my swing set was here. After about a week of torture I finally figured everything out. It started as we were out shopping on Saturday afternoon. Momma and Daddy decided to take us to look at swing sets apparently they had no intention of buying one because I went to bed that night asking for a swing set. The next day I awoke at 5AM to see if one came while I was asleep...No! So on Sunday after church they said we could go get a fish. A fish I thought - I want a swing set. Even though I love Nemo I more than anything wanted a swing set. We went to the pet store and we got everything you need for a fish. I got 2 fish of gold that look like Nemo (sort 0f) their names are Tiger and Decoy. I realize now that Tiger and Decoy were just that a decoy to the swing set. The swing set is so much fun even if it did arrive on the coldest day of the year!

Things to do in New Orleans

There are a few things everyone must do when they go to New Orleans. Some things you should try to incorporate every trip you make to New Orleans. Like....
Going to Cafe Du Monde for coffee (chocolate milk) and donuts It gives you the best sugar rush ever. Feeding Pumpkin a carrot.

Putting on your sunglasses and grab your purses and stuff for your ride on the streetcar.

Taking a ride on the streetcar but don't ride the Canal St. line from City Park to

the quarter. There are too many crazies that get picked up along the way.

Make sure you take your Nanny Hanna with you so that way you can get away with doing things that your Momma Alison would never let you do.

Watch the crazies with Aidan.

Finally, we made it back to City Park!