St Patrick's Day.... {almost} FAIL

So I'm not sure what happened this year but we didn't acknowledge St. Patrick's Day... until the girls asked the day of. "Are you wearing green? Then I'm going to PINCH you!" "Why didn't we do the leprechaun trap like last year?" Ok, so they don't realize but Kelley didn't help them do the trap until the night of... but they still loved it! We better get our act together!

Here's the trap, all prettily decorated.

Did we catch him?? Nope, he escaped out the holes... again! But he did leave his "shadow" in the box along with a My Little Pony for each girl.

Best St Patrick's Day [after] ever!!

{March 2014}

Happy 11 month birthday!

Our sweetheart is 11 months old! I know I say this every time {with every kid}, but WHERE DOES THE TIME GO? She is adorable and funny and just chill.

* She says "mama" and "hi".

* She waves and blows kisses.

* She knows and does the signs for: please, thank you, more, all done.

* Her mouth is open a lot. She still twists and chews her tongue.

* She is a speed crawler, but doesn't show signs of walking yet. (Which I'm OK with!)

* She is all girl - uses things to brush her hair.

* She must be involved with, and have, everything her sisters do or have.

* She has started wrinkling up her face when she grins. The "horsey-face" as we call it!

* The kid eats like there is no tomorrow. She is all about table food. Whatever we have, she must have.

* People say she looks like a doll.

{March 2014}

We love the sunshine!

Dog pile Dad!

Our friend generously gave us a double umbrella stroller. So who claims it every time? The big girls!

Ever since the movie Frozen has come out Seoul draws various versions of Elsa. {How many times can I mention Frozen in one blog?? I should get royalties or something!!} I like that she is branching out trying to draw other things she is less familiar with. This is the very first unicorn she has ever drawn.

This smart kiddo astounds me. I've never worked specifically on letters with either Seoul or Sydney. While Seoul was at preschool, Sydney would want to do some kind of activity so I pulled out my letters. She could identify 80% of them and know their sound. Love it! Lots and lots of reading just pays off without pushing specific learning activities. She is turning into such a big, independent kid. It kills me how quickly time flies! And yes, she chooses her own outfits to dress herself - pattern pants, usually a skirt over the top, and then the Cinderella slippers to ride the scooter. Oy!

Baseball with dad! Small balls, big balls, small bats, big bats... it all works. The girls have a blast!

The girls love digging in the dirt. One morning Kelley and a friend worked with a stump grinder to take out a couple stumps on the property. We went out early and re-planted my tulips on the other side by the house. They didn't quite all make it - oops! The girls now enjoy watching ants and catching potato bugs for the bug catcher. Seoul makes Sydney touch everything, though. Kelley enjoyed (?) using the stump grinder to get out his rage - haha!

{March 2014}

Field trip to Barnes & Noble

Seoul's preschool took a field trip to Barnes and Noble Bookstore. Love it. I don't often go into bookstores but I forget how entrancing they can be. New titles, new authors, new genres to explore. The girls have learned to love books also so they were excited.

Heaven! Which one do I choose to ask Mom to buy??

Sierra is so chill and easy to take places. Happy girl!

The lady read two Dr Seuss books, which were a bit long to hold the kids' attention but Seoul loved them. When did my baby get to be such a big girl??

Enjoying the new book with dad once we got home.

This book is one Sierra chose. She had eaten the corner off by the time we got down to the cashier so there was no putting it back at that point! This afternoon Seoul sat down and read it to me. I'm so happy that she is learning to read on her own!

Good times with my girls!

{March 2014}

it's tradition!

When Mom or Dad leave the house the girls love to run and sit on the couch to wave good-bye. Now that Sierra can stand she will not be left out either. They wave as we back out, including making silly faces and making a heart shape with our hands. Then we go forward and back up so it happens twice. The funny things we do for family!

In the pictures you can see the little hands blowing kisses. I love those growing, capable little hands of my girls.

 

 

just a few pictures...

Daddy time is the best! Even Sierra gets in on the coloring action!

Just having some fun...

Dr Seuss Day... not such a hit. I was all gung-ho to do a fun hair style and Seoul quickly nixed that idea. I at least got a start before she burst into tears and told me to take it out. She is only smiling in this picture because I promised I would remove it as soon as I snapped a photo. Cupcake hair and crazy hair worked just fine.

These girls adore their baby sister. Even if they do torment her more often than not lately.

Yep, I'm cute!

{March 2014}

Ward Talent Show

Seoul created a painting to display at the talent show. She was so happy with what she did... multi-colored hand print, hearts, and all her favorite colors. Good for her to displaying her talent. She does want to be an artist, after all. 

{Sydney just had to get in on the action at the last minute.}

Then the girls decided they wanted to do ballet number. Totally surprised me. They were practicing for weeks before and had some well-choreographed moves (for a 3 and 5-year old). Too bad stage fright hit but they still got up there and did a little bit. We were so proud of them. It's scary to get up in front of people!

They danced to the song "Let It Go" from Frozen (surprise!). I had a guy cut out the middle verse of the song to shorten it a bit. Although total it was only 3m 45s, that is still a long time for a couple (albeit very cute) kids to dance. As they got shy up there and I was up there looking silly I'm SO glad I had it shortened! Their dancing styles are so indicative of their personality. Sydney is crazy with some high kicks. Seoul has subtle, graceful movements in the background. Love it! Enjoy :)

{February 2014}

February frolic

Seoul is pretty shy (like me!) so it surprises us when she is one of the few selected for random birthday parties. She must make an impression. She has really opened up, though, and made some great friends this year at her preschools. This party was at Bullwinkle’s and she ran right off and gave her friend a giant hug. Too cute!

  

“I know I’m cute!”

Sydney is such a crazy, busy girl! She insisted on pulling all the mats out at the library to make a bed. It takes herculean effort to keep up with her constant go-go-go sometimes!

To think she was our infant once…

First picnic/outside snack of the year. Yes, yes it was still cold but the sun was out. We lasted just for a little while. It is nice to get the fresh air!

   

Riding bikes after play group at the church once. She looks so big to me. Where do the days go?! I love Sydney in the background with her headband right across her eyes. I wonder if that ever hinders her sight at all…? It certainly doesn’t slow her down!

{February 2014}