Rain, Rain...

don't go away, 

we're having so much fun as we play.

just some fun

Came around the corner to catch Anna sitting in the stairway basket…how silly.

A friend gave us this dog costume; the girls have had fun playing dog/owner.  They were even eating “dog biscuits” today and asked for newspaper for a pee spot!  What imagination!

Starting December

 The tree lighting ceremony in Culver.

 Always fun with friends.

 It was so dark the girls red eyes correction makes them look funny!

 The girls set up their Playmobile Nativity set with our stuffed cloth one...personally I like how the wise men are napping on cushions, and notice they took off their cloaks before resting.  Even the angel gets his own spot.  Mary and Joseph and a shepherd are all sharing a double bed it appears!

 And just in case you wondered how they all arrived in Bethlehem, let me just tell you it wasn't by foot!

 Our first "real" snowfall of the year. 

Anna was SO excited, and it was great having a friend over that day to play with them.  Mom got a great workout by pulling each girl twice around the yard..."faster, faster" "sorry girls, that was as fast as I could manage!

 We pulled out our kit to make the Gingerbread House today, did you know it's Gingerbread Day, anyway, the girls were most excited about eating the left over candy bits.  We did make gingerbread men to eat since the house it for show for now at least! 
We have plenty to praise God for; the excitement and anticipation of the arrival of the Christ child.

laugh

Anna is finding herself quite funny these days...at the very end Larry caught her doing it.

what naps will do

Maria went down for a nap with regular pigtails and woke with one side slightly resembling Pippi Longstocking...it was quite amusing!

the things they do!

 This is what happens when you leave your 3 year old in charge of "watching" the one year old while you run out to shovel for a bit.  Yep, Anna ate 4 pieces of gum.  Sigh!

 Anna wanted to try on my hat.

peek-a-boo

the wonder of each day

Mom and the girls, story time.  I read a condensed version of The Secret Garden to Maria over several days.  Anna was listening.  Later we watched the movie, it's always been one of my favorites.

 The girls received The Magic Tree House (books 1-8) on audio and Maria has been listening to it quite a bit lately.  In one of the books the kids travel to the moon.  So on this particular day the girls got ready to head to the moon, putting on all their snow gear.

 Can you tell Anna likes to roll play about eating, she sure has enough practice in real life.

We have plenty to praise God for; the wonders of each new day.

no girls were harmed in the making of this picture

Maria wasn't really biting her...I was opening my mouth and I think Anna was copying!

drawings

Maria's apple/orange tree, uh, not sure that is even possible and a banana or moon on the right side, she told me it was two different things.

everyday...

 another request that I "take our picture mommy!"...so I obliged her.

Anna scooped up the laundry bag and decided it would make a nice hat, looks like she is a beekeeper.

We have plenty to praise God for; fun everyday moments.

indecisive...you could say that.

Anna can't wait for one song to be finished before she requests another song.  She basically askes for "little star=twinkle, twinkle", "baker's man =pat-a-cake" or "EIEIO=Old MacDonald", just lately she has been asking for Baa Baa, Black Sheep.

have a laugh

Anna says many words very clear, but sometimes just the way she pronounces another will leave us laughing every time.  She has a very unique way of saying necklace.   

I thought it quite funny watching Anna try to sit on the small dollhouse sized furniture.  She was a very determined little girl, but it just wasn't going to happen without a few broken pieces.

We have plenty to praise God for; laughter.

Changes

What silly girls...notice that Anna is now facing the front like the rest of us.  She feels like such a big girl now. 

 Chewing on their feet.

 Pre-trim

 The back was a bit scraggly, since she has never had a trim at all...at 3 1/2 we thought it was time.

 Thank you Winnie-the-Pooh for helping make this haircut a bit easier!

 A wee bit nicer looking and hardly any length taken off.



P.S.  Happy Birthday Ryan!  We love you.

apple person

On our way home from the orchard today Maria was talking about making her own lunch.  She was desciribng the things that she wanted to use to make a person.  This is what she came up with.  It was quite cute, and she ate the WHOLE thing.  I'd say that's a pretty good way to get her to eat some carrot and celery! 
We have plenty to praise God for; the creative cook.

playing dead

Whenever we play chase/tickle, tickle here Anna has been doing this thing where she drops to the floor and freezes for a bit...like she's playing dead.  I wonder if she thinks we can't see her if she stops moving??  Who knows what goes through the mind of a 15 mo. old.
We have plenty to praise God for; playtime with the girls.

fashion diva

On our way home from a walk tonight I looked in the wagon and what did we see a fashion diva in the making...Anna had grabbed Maria's discarded hat and made herself look quite amusing.

too slow

You just have to laugh at her delivery, especially with hiccups and how cute she sounds..."gimme five..."

bad hand

She was at it again...the hands talking to each other. She told me that her right hand was the bad hand, she couldn't tell me why though.

At dinner they are often getting into trouble, her hands that is. She said she told one to stop touching her food, and it didn't listen, so it had to go in time out!

She was so sweet at dinner tonight, saying "Thanks for dinner mommy." She must have liked it, no "you have to eat two bites before you may be excused." I think we'll have this one again.

now look what you did

Maria's newest thing...she has been having her hands or feet talk to each other.  Like they are friends, one will say to the other, "you know I don't like that, please stop."  "No, don't put a sock on me."  But the best was her saying to one hand, "now look what you did, stop playing around, you made a mess"...hmmm, where has she heard that uttered before??

laughing!

Maria sure has a way of making Anna giggle...don't mind Larry in the background on the phone!