December Happenings

I must be excited for Christmas because I can't sleep. Reviewing and posting a few pictures seems like a good way to spend the wee hours on Christmas morning. :) Here goes.

While taking a bazillion pictures Sunday before church, I managed to nab these half decent ones. I'm biased, but I think my two little girls are the cutest!

 

Skylie playing dress up with her friends, Lisa and Allison

An unseasonably warm December prompted us to head to Fort Harrison State Park one Saturday morning. Our trip was cut short due to a sicky in the bunch. We knew something was wrong when Skylie Bug began acting lethargic and calm, and she only wanted to lay on the blanket. Kaitlyn had a blast though, so in my book the trip wasn't a waste.

Visiting Santa at the Children's Museum

Skylie told him she wanted lots of presents, and dare-devil Kaitlyn was not afraid of the Jolley Red Elf.

Matt and I regularly walk the neighborhood with the girls so they can see the Christmas lights. One neighbor saw Skylie admiring their inflated decorations and offered us this snow globe they had in their attic. I tried to decline, but Skylie insisted, "No, I do want it." For better or worse this beast graces our yard now, and Skylie loves it.

Matt's parents came to town for a visit, and while they were here we went downtown and checked out the Christmas lights with Dave and Jenny's family. After taking pictures with Teddy, Skylie offered him a hug. So cute!

Little Miss Independent now refuses to sit in a booster seat. She stands proudly on a chair (or the table if she's lucky) in all her glory.

Skylie decorated a ginger bread house with Nana. I regularly find that she's climbed up on the counter and is snacking on her creation.

Last Thursday I took the girls to the Lilly House, the greenhouse, and the gardens at the Indiana Museum of Art. The Lilly House is a great, big, old mansion that's decked out with holiday decor. I loved doing something a little out of the ordinary with my kids, and the girls liked it, too. "Did we go on an adventure!?" Skylie asked when we arrived home.

On Friday, December 21 we awoke to snow! I invited Skylie to look outside while we ate breakfast, and from that moment on she wanted to be out playing for five minute intervals all day long. It didn't really snow in Indiana last year, so I think she had no prior memories of playing in the snow. She and the snow became fast friends.

Kaitlyn was not a fan. Don't judge my parenting by this picture, please. I put her down just for a moment so I could snap this picture. A child's first experience with snow is worth capturing, right?

Peach came to play, and of course they wanted to go outside--for about three minutes!

Sky and I went on a Mommy-Daughter Date on December 22. We went downtown where she got to pick out a treat from a candy store and eat it. With millions of options, she chose Mambas.

We (or more accurately I carrying Skylie) walked the 330 steps up the inside of this monument to lookout over the city. My legs were burning, but it was worth it!

And now I'd better head to bed. Two little girls will be up in a few hours wanting to open presents.

Merry Christmas!

Hearts to Newtown

The incident at Sandy Hook Elementary last week was truly a tragedy. My heart goes out to all those affected by the shooting, and I hug my little ones a little closer as I try not to take them for granted. Not every mother gets to kiss her babies goodnight.

If you'd like to help but don't know how, you may want to consider this "Hearts to Newtown" campaign. My friend shared this information on her blog, and I think it's worth passing along.

The idea is simple: spreading love, goodwill and cheer through the heart of a child. We are calling for elementary-aged children's art on paper hearts of all sizes, to be plastered all over Newtown, CT. Include child's first name, age and state. With these hearts, we hope to spread a tangible expression of the love felt by so many people, all sharing in grief for those suffering. Send your paper hearts to:

P.O. Box 754
Bethel, CT
06801

If you'd like to know more, here's a link to their Facebook page. 

Skylie decorated a heart, and this Sunday the Primary children in our ward will, too.

Knowing Skylie wouldn't--and shouldn't--completely understand why we were sending a colored heart, I simply told her that "we're coloring a heart to send to people who are sad, and it'll help them be happy." 

I should've known my inquisitive three-year-old wouldn't be satisfied with that explanation.

"Why are they sad?" she asked.

"Because something sad happened at a school."

"What happened? What happened?" she questioned further.

Knowing she wouldn't comprehend, I told her, "People got shot."

I'm sure she sensed more from the tear in my eye and the choke in my voice, than from the words I'd said

"Oh! Are their mommys' and daddys' sad!?" She asked.

Yes. Yes. I'm sure their moms and dads are very sad.

***** 

My friend, Sara, also shared this link to a talk Elder Holland gave about finding comfort when tragic things happen at Christmastime. Elder Holland's talks are always great, but this one seemed especially moving to me.

From the Mouth of Skylie on Family Date Night

On Saturday night we took the kids on a Mommy-Daughter-Daughter-Daddy Date. Really, it was just a family outing, but the kids like it when we claim it's a date.

I had to park our van in a tight spot, so it took a minute.

Seeming desperate, Skylie called out the window:

"Help! Help! Everybody help!"

(Does my driving really cause her that much anxiety?!)

We hit up the Flying Cupcake store for a sweet taste. The pictures are from my phone and aren't great, but the subjects are cute.

Please tell me you have dinners like mine

Skylie's dream of having her very own dog came true for about a week while we took care of a friend's pet.

Picture this at our dinner table last night:

Skylie stark naked, except for the one frog shoe she's wearing from her Halloween costume. She's sitting on the floor sticking grapes in between her toes.

She holds her foot up to me with two grapes wedged in between those little piggies.

Skylie: "Here you go, Mom."
Me: "Thanks, Sky."

I take both grapes.

Skylie: "No just one!"

I give one grape back to her outstretched toes.  She lifts her foot to Matt.

Skylie: "And here's one for Daddy."

Dinner etiquette at it's finest, I'm sure.

**In case you are wondering--neither Matt nor I ate the grapes that had been on Skylie's foot. It's slipping, but we still have a small sense of decency around here.

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving--a relaxing morning spent cooking a little, then in the afternoon we went to Matt's cousin's for dinner. We feasted, watched a movie, and feasted some more!

That night I braved the Pre-Black Friday craziness and hit up Toys R Us. I'm not sure it was worth it, but thanks to that trip and a couple online purchases I am done with the Christmas shopping for the girls in this family. 

{Last year I asked friends how they decided what to get their kids for Christmas. One friend said simply, "I take them to the store, and they show me what they like best." (Brilliantly simple, I think.) Another friend mentioned that they have a budget and a list of presents they'd like to get their kids, and they trim the list as needed.  I tried those two tactics this year, and I think it'll pan out well.}

These two pictures of Skylie and her second cousin were the only pictures I snapped on Thanksgiving!

*****

Our second annual trip to get a Christmas tree was a hit! Skylie has been excited to get a tree for weeks, and Friday Matt and I fulfilled her wish. On the way to the tree farm she seemed certain that it was was Christmas Day and Santa was bringing her lots of presents pronto. We're still working on helping her realize that Christmas is still a month away!

*****

Matt and I celebrate our seventh anniversary on Monday. Two great friends agreed to watch our kids Friday so we could spend the evening on Mass Ave.

First stop, Yats, a casual Cajun eatery that I fell in love with. Next,  The Flying Cupcake where we got--you guessed it--cupcakes. ComedySportz, a family-friendly improv comedy joint, was our final destination. It's rare that Matt and I get a night out like this, and it was absolutely a blast!

At dinner I pulled up "45 Questions to Ask During Speed Dating" on my phone. We laughed as we answered some of the questions.

"What are you most proud of?" Matt asked, and in jest I answered, "My whole life!" It didn't take me long to realize that I'm not proud of my entire life. That's the wrong word. On a slightly more serious note, I am truly humbled and thankful that I've had such a happy life. It's never been carefree or anywhere close to perfect, but in retrospect I cannot think of a time in my life that I haven't been blessed beyond measure.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kaitlyn at Sixteen Months

At sixteen months Kaitlyn is:

• Walking! She took her first steps on Wednesday, October 24 just two days shy of 15 months. Since then she's taken off! She walked her first couple of steps at a First Steps appointment with her physical therapist. Matt had bet me that she'd be walking by 15 months.  I lost the bet, but I'm glad he (and Kaitlyn) won.
• Talking--a little. She says, "What's dat?" while pointing at something about a million times each day. It is nothing short of adorable. "Uh-oh," "Mama," "Dada," and "Allo" (Hello) are occasionally said. Her first word, per say, was barking like a dog. "Uff, uff."
• She's quick to make her presence known, and isn't shy about letting you know what she wants.
• She has six teeth. She didn't get her first one until she turned one year old.
• Her hair is growing more quickly these days.
• She's been sick often, it seems. In the past three months she's had at least two ear infections, an upset stomach twice, fevers, and runny noses.
• She loves anything with buttons she can push, eating fruit and yogurt, taking baths, trying to color, going on slides, and attempting anything her big sister does.
• She is currently more likely to fold her arms for prayers than Skylie.
• Overall, she is easy to please, entertains herself well, and if she gets mad she'll forget about it quickly.
• She's a champ when I leave her in Child Watch at the gym, but once she woke up when a babysitter was here, and she completely freaked out and seemed inconsolable until her mama came back home.
• She likes drinking out of normal cups and using spoons to eat.
• She likes to take a quick nap mid-morning then an afternoon nap around 2 p.m. She's super flexible, though, which probably comes with the territory of being a second child.

Sixteen Month Letter To Kaitlyn

Dear Kaitlyn,

At sixteen months you're curiosity is growing. All day long you'll ask "What's dat?" and point at something. Just last week at church I was in the Primary room and heard a cute little voice in the hallway asking "What's dat? What's dat? What's dat?" Sure enough, it was you and your dad coming down the hallway. Dad likes to say that all the girls in this family have cute feminine voices.

You are patient, and tolerant, and are quick to laugh. You and Skylie like to play with each other a  bit. It's cute. You laugh while she pulls you around in a cardboard box, you cry when she picks you up, and you "squawk" in complaint if she snags your toy.

I still get compliments daily about those baby blue eyes, and now your wispy curls are turning heads, too.

You love sand! At the Children's Museum one month ago, the sand toys enthralled you nonstop.

When you began trying to say actual words a couple months ago, you'd get all excited and point at dogs then let out a  muffled "uff, uff." 

You also love your dad. When he gets home you make your way to him as quick as possible and bark out gibberish orders until he holds you.

Having you in our family is a joy, Kaitlyn, We love you!

Love,
Mom

Videos of Kaitlyn Walking

The first video is Kaitlyn taking steps on Friday, October 26--two days after she took her first steps.
This second video is her walking two weeks later on November 8.

Kaitlyn's Stats at Almost Sixteen Months:

Weight: 16 pounds,  4 ounces

Halloween 2012

Halloween was truly celebrated in style at our home this year. We attended Halloween parties at church, the YMCA, our neighborhood, playgroup, and the library. Overkill? Yes, but we loved it. We also played at an apple orchard and pumpkin patch, toured the Children's Museum's haunted house, carved pumpkins, attended a Halloween-themed birthday party, and of course went trick-or-treating.

Here's some pictures of our October.

Apple Orchard and Pumpkin Patch Playgroup

YMCA Halloween Party

Friday, October 19

 This is the first year I've been to a Halloween party hosted by the Y. It rocked! For $3 total the kids made four Halloween treats, played on giant bounce toys, watched a snake show, and played 20 or so carnival games.  Older kids went through a haunted house and others roasted s'mores and painted mini pumpkins outdoors. I was flying solo since Matt was on call, so I didn't dare hit up the outdoor events. Fire and paint with two small children didn't sound like a venture I wanted to take.

Cute Piglet got lots of compliments

So did her big sis, the frog. Skylie's friend, Rachel, offered it to Skylie in September. Skylie has insisted on wearing it at least three days a week since. I had envisioned Skylie dressed as a girly princess for Halloween, but no--not this year.

See how much she's loving this!

Kaitlyn had just tried to get into Sky's candy. Sky yanked it away and said, "No, Kaitlyn. That's my candy!" We battled that issue all evening. Another pumpkin for Kaitlyn's candy made the grocery list ASAP.

Meg's Birthday Party

Thursday, October 25

Children's Museum Haunted House

Thursday, October 25

Library Halloween Party

Saturday, October 27

Halloween Playgroup Party 

Tuesday, October 30

Twenty-five plus babies and preschoolers came to our home for playgroup and a potluck lunch. We played a couple games--Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin, Spider Spider Who's Got the Spider?, and Apple Tree Tricks. Skylie and Kaitlyn love these kids, and I love their mama's so it's a win-win all the way around.

Halloween Day

Wednesday, October 31

This is how my kids went to story time on Halloween. Skylie insisted on wearing both her frog and princess costumes with sunglasses to top it off.

Before going trick-or-treating I took the kids to the neighborhood Halloween party. We took a hay ride, played games, and downed hot dogs and candy. Below are a few pictures I snapped as we left to go trick-or-treating. Temperatures were cool, but after bundling up well nothing could stop these kids (and me) on a mission to get the goods.