Flips and naps

Lillie's favorite thing to do at gymnastics is to practice back flips.  In the picture below, Lillie is on the cylindar mat to practice the back flips.

This week, We signed Lillie up for a day camp this summer.  When I was filling out the paperwork, I asked her what she wanted the camp conselors to know about her.  Her response, "That my name is Lillie and I am very smart." 
She came down with a cold this week and learned how to blow her nose.

Sophie started taking naps in Lillie's bed this week and she falls asleep in just a few minutes. 

Sophie is learning new words everyday and she learning to count.

Me: 1, 2
Sophie: 3
Me: 4
Sophie: 5
Me: 6, 7
Sophie: 8
Me: 9
Sophie: 10

Sophie is starting to say short sentences such as: "I want Dad." "I don't want to." "no, Purple," "Where's Sissy?" "I got it" and  "Kick it"

Happy Valentine's Day

Friday, we were invited to Valentine's Day Party at a friend's house. We took heart shaped cheese and crackers to share at snack time.

And we took these homemade Valentines to give to our friends. I saw this idea on Pinterest.com. You can see how we made them at the following blog: http://happiestmomontheblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/make-your-own-valentines-melted-heart.html

Tomorrow, Lillie has her Valentine's Party at school and she is taking more of her homemade valentines. A few weeks ago, I went to a Mom's night out with our playgroup moms. We painted our own pottery. This is the finish candy dish that I made.

Lillie and Sophie visit the ER for the first time

Lillie was dancing around the Living Room last night and fell on the edge of the coffee table. I took her to the ER, but the cut was too close to her eye for stitches. She also has a bruise across her nose and eyebrow. She is the third kid in her class to have a cut by their eye.

Update: I took a second trip to the ER with Sophie the next night. She has Pneumonia.

Hop, Hop

Today, We went to the Knee-high Naturalists program at the Binder Park Zoo. First, Lillie and Sophie got to see the larger Giraffe made of Legos. Sophie was scared at first, until we showed her that it was made of blocks.

Today's Knee-high Naturalist's topic was on bunnies. There was a craft activity making a storybook on Bunnies, an information session, a Nature walk, and of course a chance to pet 2 bunnies. The first one was named "potter" from Beatrice Potter. He was a lop bunny.

The next one was a Norwegian Rabbit and his name was Winston. Sophie was hesitant to pet Winston, but I think it was because he was so big. She eventually petted him, but she was more interested in some of the puppets that the zoo had to play with. Sophie identifies bunnies by calling them "hop, hop."

New Year

It has been a busy start to the new year. Lillie went back to school, dance and swim lessons. We have had a lot of playdates, since it is too cold to go outside and play. We even started both of the storytimes this week too. A couple of weeks ago, we went to the Kingman Museum and Planetarium in Battle Creek. We enjoyed the planetarium show, seeing different rocks, fossils, and bones. We even saw dinosaur bones, an albino deer, and musk ox.
Sophie can say over 30 words. Most I can only understand. She has started to sing along to songs and say 3 word sentences. For example: "I got it." The other night, Brian was sick and went to bed early. He gave Lillie and Sophie a hug from our bed and I got the girls into bed. After I tucked Sophie in and came downstairs, She yelled, "I Want Dad!" She wanted Brian to also tuck her into bed.

Merry Christmas

Lillie and Sophie on Christmas eve in their new jammies.

This year we added a new Christmas tradition. Jack, our elf on the shelf, came to watch over Lillie and Sophie. Every night, he would fly back to the north pole to report to Santa if they were good or bad that day. Each Morning, Jack would appear in a new location. This morning he was having a tea party with Snuggles and Cuddles. Other mornings, we found him fishing for goldfish crackers in the toilet, zip lining into the living room, turning the milk green, or finding Christmas movies to watch or books to read. On Christmas eve, Jack caught a ride back to the north pole on Santa's sleigh. We won't see him until the next Christmas season.

Lillie and her classmates sang a few songs to the parents at the end of their Christmas party.

And then there is Sophie. She is only 22 months old, but in her short life has dealt with acid reflux, ear infections, and strep throat infections. Three days before Christmas she had her tonsils and adenoids removed. She has had a cold for the past 3 weeks, but the Doctors were not overly worried. But as a result of the anesthesia with the cold, she developed strider which is like croup. She had to stay in the hospital overnight and have 3 breathing treatments. She is doing better now. She is really fussy and she gets to watch a lot of "Blue's Clues," her favorite TV program. During this episode of Blue's Clues, Steve and the animated dog Blue were playing make believe with a box. She pushed an empty box by the front door into the living room, and crawled in it.

She is starting to say a few more words and phrases. She can even identify the letter "S" on the refrigerator.

Christmas Nativity

Tonight, Lillie was in the Church Nativity play. She was a lamb with her friend, Katie. Lillie and Katie were in the stable with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. The girls were captivated by the real, live baby that was being held by Mary.

Almost the entire cast is in this picture. Lillie is under the angel's wing on the left. It was a great play and we can't wait for it next year.