My gymnasts

Sad I didn't get a pic in the gym, but today was last day of gymnastics. We have been there all year. The girls just love it. Summer off. Now I have to keep them busy. They refused to sit next to each other for a picture.

Big bump

Emmie is prone to hitting her face. She is beautiful and we have had so many scares with facial injuries. When she was one, we ended up the ER with mouth trauma. We had a couple more busted lips ( atleast I know what to do now without paying the ER) and some major goose eggs. We got a call from school that she had a fall on the see-saw. "is she conscious, is she bleeding?" my first questions. They said I think you need to come. She was ok, not even a black eye and massive knot on her head could hold her down. She did pass out on the way home. I let her take the quick nap and woke her up successfully. This was just in time for Easter, but we hid it well. All is healed.

A bunch of random pics

I have so many pics on my phone. I just have to upload them. Mostly from the winter. But just some cuties that I want to share. The days of carrying your giant camera with you EVErYWHERE, are slim anymore. My hands are a little full...

Anabelle and cousin Mila

Big girl swingin'

In her momma's shoes. This girl is a shoe-aholic

Emmie met Elmo at Jack's party

Watching Beauty and the Beast in 3D at the theater

Nanook

Nanook

Her favorite is Cheer Bear

The Kids

First carousel ride. She chose the frog!

The trying threes and 18 months (start of the terrible twos)

I wrote this atleast 3 months ago and never posted.  Is this a theme?  Sad...

Wow, time is flying by.  I haven't paid much attention to my blog lately.  I have a hard time finding the time to sit down and write.  So, I think of little things here and there and start a post in hopes to finish it soon.  Yet, I come back and realize I have started about 4 different posts and can't finish them.  Whoa is me.  

I went back to work last summer and have been loving getting out of the house.  I love my time with the girls, but I think moms need a break.  My break happens to be in an office, but at least I am making some money :)  The days I work are pretty hectic.  Getting the girls off to school is a tough task.  Emmie is in the 3 year old class now.  It gets a little more strict.  She needs to be there by 820am if she wants to eat breakfast, otherwise she gets 5 minutes to eat in the classroom before circle time.  Her schedule has become a bit more rigid.  Anabelle's class is a little more flexible.  Needless to say, mornings are busy.  

Emmie turned 3 January 8th (28 pounds and 36.75 inches- about 25th percentile for both).  We had a snowman party for her and a couple of her friends.  Small, but definitely not quiet.  The guests arrived and we face painted.  The got special wands and party hats that didn't stay on.  We had a hot chocolate bar.  Great idea, but I should remember to try it when they are a little older so they can appreciate it more.  There were snow covered donuts, Emmie's favorite cheese dip, fruit kabobs, and cupcakes of course.  For the record, cupcakes are so much easier than a cake.  I need to make a mental note.  There was a snow globe station.  I got the idea off Martha Stewart's website.  They turned out pretty darn great.  I got the figurines from Oriental Trading and jars from the Container Store.  I think they were a hit.  We played freeze dance.  It turned into more of a dance party.  It was so cute.  I think Brent got it on video.  I hope! We were all pretty tired at the end of the day, but ended the night on a special date with the Hinson family.  Pizza at Galla's.  The girls were beat.

Emmie had a tough second year.  She had to adjust to life with a sibling.  Potty train. Sleep in a big girl bed (we did that at 18 months).  Spend countless hours in time out. Potty train at night.  Learn to share.  Unfortunately she had to get in trouble some along the way.  When I think back on it, I have a hard time remembering all the bad things.  I guess that is where mommy amnesia comes in.  I just know it was trying.  As of today, she is really doing very good.  A month or so before turning three she really got sassy.  There is still some major sass that comes out, but less and less.  It is easier to reason with her.  She listens more.  She wants to do good and be a good girl.  I think they must start to thrive on that at this age- being recognized for doing good things.  We still have a hard time with sharing, but there are days when she does really good too.  She is beautiful.  Smarter than a third grader.  A great big sister (most of the time).  A wonderful learner- she wants to know and learn everything.  She is a big helper. So loving and a great snuggler.  

Anabelle is 18 months (actually 19 next week).  25.10 Pounds, 32.5 inches pretty much 50-75th percentile.  She is funny. Funny.  Funny.  She has facial expressions that will make you laugh til it hurts.  She has a super sweet voice and talks your ear off.  Sometimes you aren't quite sure what she is saying and other times it is clear as day.  She is putting together sentences and understands mostly all commands.  She answers yes or no.  If Emmie is not around, she wants to know where she is and there is such joy for the moment they reunite- prior to world war 3 breaking out.  She started gymnastics at the beginning of January and ballet too.  She loves them both.  Her teachers think she is hilarious at school.  She horse laughs during puppet time and gets everyone else laughing too.  We have a hard time at drop off, but by the time I drop Emmie off and come back to check on her, she is usually happy as a lark eating her breakfast.  She is a real sweet little girl.  But she has a mean streak too.  She will go after Emmie and her hair.  She is starting to put up a fight for what she wants.  We are relearning the art of the tantrum and she is learning what time out is like.  She loves to sleep.  She takes 2-3 hour naps on non-school days and even an occasional 4 hour nap.  She used to go to sleep real easy, but as mentioned that has gotten tougher.  Although, when she falls asleep she is usually done.  She eats anything for the most part, unlike big sister (who is on a waffle , toast and pizza binge).  She is obsessed with her Papa.  And becoming obsessed with her daddy.  She doesn't sit still to read books unless she is real tired, loves to sing and dance.  She is full of life and I love watching the wheels turn as she thinks, learns, watches and takes it all in!

Christmas time

Part of my New Years resolution is to pick back up on my blog.  Well, I have some catching up to do. Christmas was fun this year.  Anabelle enjoyed everything, especially the snowmen ('no-man!').  Emmie really started to understand everything this year, which made it especially fun.

So we started off by decorating the tree...

We went to visit Santa at Phipps.  If you can't see what Emmie's list says let me tell you.
1. Kitty cat
2. Kitten
3. Barbie
4. Butterfly
5. Cookie
6. Crayons
7. Makeup
I wish it would be this easy every year.  There was no addition of live animals to our family this year.

Classic...

Then we celebrated with Brent's family early. Ash and Santi took the kids to Argentina for Christmas for the first time.  

Nana and Pops made the kids day with their new cars

We went to the annual cookie decorating party at Sweet n Sinful. Emmie loves this day.  And we have to deal with the wrath of the sugar high that follows.

The girls and their buddy Will.  Apparently he loves gummy bears and the girls love marshmellows :)

We caught a few sweet moments in between activities.

Christmas Eve day reared some ugly heads.  For some reason girls got real fussy.  I think it was all the excitement.  But we enjoyed our time with Nana and Pops.  It was our first Christmas Eve night in our own house!

This is how we roll at bath time. Love Anabelle's face.

 Christmas Morning!!!

Christmas Day at Mimi and Papa's House.  Aunt Shannon and Uncle Tim got the girls these cool chairs.  A hippo and a frog.  They. Love. them.  

Pure excitment

Papa got a new fishing pole!

Great Christmas! Good times! Can't wait for next year!