Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Teeter Totter

The girls tried their first teeter-totter. It was so funny to watch them. They were so scared and excited at the same time. Anytime Andie would go up she would say, "scary, scary, scary." Then when she would come down she would say, "this is so fun!" It was hilarious!
Shawn got each of the girls a rose for Valentine's Day.  We also got them each a little gift.  As they get older, holiday celebrations are more fun!
Here they are entertaining the little kids with water fountains.  It was Ali's idea, of course - the whole fort was.  They sure have a fun time together.  See the video below for lots of giggles.

They were SO excited to make Valentine Cookies!  Adalyn kept licking the flour and Ali kept eating the dough.  We still had fun!  We took cookies to one of Shawn's classes and the girls performed for the class - it was great.  Andie also had a valentine party at her school - but those pictures are still on the camera.  Ali and I attended - which was fun!

The Show

The other day - Ali was being pretty funny. Ok - everyday, Ali is pretty funny! We got out the camera and had some fun. Here are a "few" of the MANY pictures we took. 

First off - Ali made a show (see video below)  That's what pulled out the camera.  Then she said, "Mom - I know.  Let's make funny faces!"
So, here we go on the adventures of Ali's funny faces.



She loves to be scary...usually a lion!


This shows her sweet/shy side.  :)
After dinner that night - we hooked up the camera for the other girls to see the pictures.  Then - they all got carried away "seeing themselves on TV!"
Sister Hug.
Dancing and laughing
In honor of Grandma T - "The Crazy Eye!" (and crazy hair!)
My children are so entertaining!  :)

Monday, February 6, 2012

All about ANDIE!

I see many of my friends make fun lists of what their kids do.  So - I decided I would journal about some of the things I see in my triple A's.

Andie - You are 5 years old, and so smart.  You've already lost two teeth and just keep growing, despite my request to you to stop growing.  You LOVE to learn.  You are in Pre-k and top of your class.  You love to read, spell, draw, sort, do patterns and recognize and question so many things.  You love to play outside, ride your bike, sidewalk chalk and you're best friends with your sister, Ali.  Your favorite colors are pink, red and blue.  You love chicken nuggets and ask for them anytime I ask you what you want for dinner.  You also love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  You eat one every single day for lunch!  I love it.

Some funny things that I love about you.  You are very conscientious when we are driving and have been from a very young age.   Once you learned it - you always watch the stop lights.  You remind me often that green means go, yellow means slow down and red means stop!  Your new favorite thing to do is ask me how fast I am driving.  "Mom, are you going slow, medium or fast?"  I usually say medium.  Then you say, "Mom - the speed limit says 45, that's medium?"  You are quick to inform me on any speed limit sign you see.  Thanks for helping me me a good driver.

You also LOVE to help me cook in the kitchen.  You are very anxious to watch whenever I am making anything and often ask if you can make your own sandwich.  You especially love if we get the "cookie maker" out and love to make cookies. 

Andie, you also love to do anything to do with media, but especially music.  You have always had a keen ear for music.  You love to sit at the piano and play through the recorded songs.  You love to listen to and dance to songs on the ipod.  You have all of the cd's memorized in the car and know which numbers are your favorite!  "Mom - can I please listen to #5 now."  or  "Mom - please skip it to #11."  I love how smart you learn things.  The other day, you and Ali were watching Sound of Music and Ali wanted to see the puppet show.  You said, "Ok, then we have to rewind it.  Ali rewind means to go back and fast forward means to go forward and we need to go back!"  You memorize things so quickly!  You also love to play on the Wii (when Dad is home) and you love to play pbskids.org and starfall on the computer!  We could also say that you love Netflix and your taste in cartoon switches every few months.  You are currently on a "Shaun the Sheep" kick, but you also love leapfrog, dragon tails, super why and many others.  You love to watch movies - and your favorite has always been CARS, but you also love RIO.  You even love Mamma Mia, because "I love the music."  I love that you love music so much!

Most of all Andie - I love that you are learning and striving to choose the right.  You are great at saying your prayers, reading scriptures with the family (and you read the verse all by yourself!) and learning your articles of faith.  You are working on #12 right now - but have memorized the first 11.  That is amazing for a 5 year old.  You are great at listening - especially with a little motivation.  You love to help pick-up and you love to vacuum.  You are also great at helping put the clean clothes away.  You are a great big sister and a very good friend to Ali and Adalyn.  You love primary and your teachers.  We love you so much Andie!!

All about ALI

Dear Ali,

Where do I begin?  You are 3 years old and 10 months.....soon to be 4 in April and you are HILARIOUS!!  You love your big sister Andie and desperately want to do anything she is doing.  It's hard for you too - because you are the same size.  A lot of people expect more from you - because you look older than you are - and you might get that a lot in your life.   But, hang in there!

Ali, you are one of the funniest little girls that I know.  You are such a great helper - and just love attention (and need attention!)  You would rather help me load the dishwasher, fold the laundry, clean the bathroom or do just about anything else then play by yourself.  You love to color.  You got a new coloring book for Christmas and sometimes we color 2 or 3 hours a day!  I actually think that coloring book is now full.

You are very sweet to those around you.  If someone is feeling sad or crying (and you're not to blame for their sadness) then you will try to comfort them by giving them a toy or giving them a hug.  If I ask you to do something, you simply say, "ok."  The only time you get really sad is if you are tired....then it's a no win situation.  :)

You just became a Sunbeam at church and LOVE it!!  You love being in Primary and your teachers say that you are such a good example to the other children in the class.  This makes me so happy!  You are learning the articles of faith every night with Dad.  Although you only ever say you know #1 - you repeat the others pretty darn well - you're just shy about it.

Ali - when you are around those you know, you are very loud, fun and a "scary animal".  You give the best facial expressions of anyone I know.  You are constantly in your own little world from being a scary dinosaur one minute to a little meek kitty cat.  So many times during family scripture study you are humming some tune, just singing life along.  You are good to repeat when it's your turn to read - but then you go back to your imagination!  It's so fun to watch you!

You are so smart too!!  You surprise me many times, with things that I didn't realize you were paying attention to.  (only because you are humming your own tune!).  In fact, a few weeks ago - you said, "Look mom, I spelled your name!"  And sure enough - right there on your paper it said "Ali" and "Mom."  Good Job.  Which reminds me, one of the best things about you is your name.  You always get the right letters and always write them in the right order, but not in the right order.  For example:  You will say aloud, "A....L.....I"  But then, I look at your paper and it reads, "I L A" or "I A L"  or "L A I" or "L I A".  It's great.  But many times you do get it in the right order...ALI!

Ali, did you know that a lot of things "make you do" a lot of things.  Another example.  I found you in the bathroom the other day.  The floor and walls were all covered in water - the towel was completely soaked.  I asked, "Ali, what happened?"  with all seriousness and a straight face you say, "The water just made me play!"  I love it!  You are hilarious!

You are a wonderful big sister to Adalyn and also a wonderful little sister to Andie.  I know it's hard being a middle child - and you often feel like you don't get enough attention.  But we love you so much.  I love your endless giggles - that come out with just about any gesture or look.  I love your pretty smile and sense of fashion.  You wear the greatest outfits and shoes!  It's great.  We love you so much Ali!!

All about ADALYN

Dear Miss Adalyn - YOU, are SO FUNNY!!!  I am loving this stage and struggle with this stage all at the same time.  It's a good thing you're so cute - because some days.....you really know how to test the limit!

Where, oh where to begin with you!  You are 20 months old....crazy to believe.  You LOVE your sisters and think you are as big as them - therefore making life very fun and interesting.  You love to repeat words and just about anything we say.  "Hello, Cee Ya, Bye-bye, Wuove ew"  You are very good at communicating.  If we asked, "Do you want a drink of milk?"  You quickly respond "YEAH!" or "NO!"  Same thing with crackers, lunch, breakfast.  You also have hollow legs - did you know that?  You can out eat about any one of us.  When we dish you up - you are ready for seconds before mom and dad even get to the table.  Lately I even start you out with more and you still chow down.  You are very good at asking, "more, more?" and saying, "Peas" and "Ssane Sue" (Thank you). 

Besides eating, your next favorite activity is "wach movie?"  The moment you wake up, you run into mom and dad's room and turn on the little TV.  You love to take out the Videos and exchange them for another one.  You'll watch anything.  If you're downstairs - you are CONSTANTLY getting into the DVD's (which drives me crazy!)  I will try and kindly ask you to stop touching and you just say, "wach movie?"  I say, "You want to watch a movie?"  You respond, so excitedly, "YEAH!" then you go grab some remote, sit on the couch and wait for something to pop up.  Once it's on - you go put the random remote back and go back to the couch.  After about 5 or 10 minutes, you get bored and start closing the doors on the TV.  Other interested parties (aka Ali) get frustrated and the TV ends up being turned off.  10 minutes after that, you repeat the above said by saying every so sweetly, "Wach movie?"  As if it's a brand new idea! 

Miss Adalyn, you love your "baby, binky and blanky!"  You are good and keep them in the crib for sleeping time - but you get so excited to see each of them - and ALL of them must be present before any sleep can be accomplished.  You like to hold a second binky and rub it by your eye to fall asleep....so silly.

You love to sing and dance.  You LOVE "Popcorn Popping", "Ring around the Rosie" and "Shake, Shake"  If I could, you would love me to sing those non-stop all day long.  You also love to play with the ABC toys and you love to play hide n' seek.  You always come running to me and say, "hide, hide"  You also love to tackle.  If anyone is laying on the floor - you will run full force and jump on them or just fall on them.  You love to climb on everything - get stools so you can see everything.  You are all over!!

Adalyn, you are also so sweet.  If you see a certain stuffed animal or toy that belongs to one of the girls, you take it too them and say, "here."  They don't even ask for it, but are always grateful to you.  You love to go to nursery and play with your friends!  You love Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Tys!  Anytime we are on the computer you say, "Granma!"  I say, "You want to skype with Grandma" and you get excited, "YEAH!"  Then you always point to grandpa picture too - "GRANDPA!"  You love to play with our phones and always say, "Tys!"  I say, "Do you want to call Tyson?"  again, "YEAH!"

We love you so much little Adalyn.  You are so much fun, even when you're crazy!  We love your little smiles (including your crazy eye cheese!)  You're just great!