Misc. Playtime

Skiing

Papa came for a visit Saturday night. He pulled a muscle skiing the other day so he decided to spend all day Sunday with us. We went to Sammy's bday party and Sawyer went for a nap immediately after. Papa and Sydy did some skiing during Soybeans nap time. I didn't have the camera out during that lesson, but later in the early evening both girls went outside to ski. Here are a ton of photos from last night. Sydy wanted to wear her princess dress while skiing! Go figure.

Sydy is really good on the skis. She can turn herself around and she shuffles up and down the driveway by herself. I am really impressed. Soybean loves it too. She likes stand all by herself.

So proud!

Veggie Girl

Sydney woke up from her nap earlier than Sawyer the other day so she sat at the counter and chowed on her favorite snack of cucumbers. After she ate a ton of cukes, I surprised her with an Oreo. She finished her one Oreo and asked for more cucumbers!!! That's my girl!

Big CRUNCH!

Evening light

Sawyer usually wakes up from her nap earlier than Sydney. I will bring her downstairs and she and I cuddle on the couch for a few minutes. She isn't usually ready to be up, so she is happy to sit with me and give me some much needed cuddletime.

See the picture below. She was irritated that I interrupted our cuddle time to get my camera. I believe she said to me in this moment "sit with me Mommy."

But I couldn't resist the evening light coming into the family room.
All messed up from nappy time, but still so cute.

It's Electric

Our house is seriously dry. If I wear a my house slippers with rubber soles, I get shocked no matter what I touch. I have learned to touch the stainless steal appliances with my clothed elbow...yeah, it is that bad. So bad that our silly dog runs away from me every time I try to pet him. I don't blame him. I zapped him bad a few times. Izzy will just look at me with a sad face when I zap her.

On occasion I have zapped the girls. The other night we decided to make a game of it so I would sit on the couch, rub my feet on the floor and then touch fingers with Syd. She thought it was hysterical! Sawyer on the other hand...not such a big fan. She pretends that she wants me to shock her, puts her finger out and then runs off!

No, I am not torturing my kids. Really, Sydy thinks it is so funny.

Scared

Daddy surprised his girls with a new movie the other day. Monster's Inc. I was a little concerned about it since it might be scary, but they love it. The first time daddy let them watch it Sawyer covered her eyes up until she figured out whether or not she like it. The other morning they asked to watch it so I put the movie in (in the family room) and I sat down at my desk (in the living/playroom). Sawyer stepped into the playroom for a moment and stood beside me with her hands over her eyes. She kept peeking out at the movie until one particular scene was over, then she raced back out to watch the rest of the movie!

Sydney used run into the kitchen during a particular scene in Toy Story. It is so funny to watch them react like this.

Thankfully they love their new movie. I, however, would prefer if Pixar did not use the word 'stupid' or 'shut up' in their movies! Really???!!! These are kids movies. At least Sydney tells me "those are not nice words" whenever she hears it on the show.

Coloring pages

Looks like Soybean is going to enjoy coloring as much as her big sister! She has finally learned to keep the markers on the paper and not all over her hands and toys!

Studying

As I mentioned before, Sydney has decided to start napping again! We used to sit and "study" while Sawyer napped. Now that they are napping at the same time I don't have that one on one time with her. On Saturday, we put Sawyer down for an early nap because she was really grumpy. Sydney immediately asked if we could study. She grabbed her workbook and we stood at the counter and did a few worksheets. She saw a heart picture and wanted to color it right away. I told her that would be her reward after she did a few worksheets. Sure enough, she paid such close attention and did a great job. She was excited to color her heart after she was all done. I am so excited that she enjoys doing this stuff with me. I never push her to do it, she now asks to "study." I am so proud of her.

More Bath Photos

I know that I always post pictures of the girls in the tub, but this is favorite time and place to photograph them!!! The light coming into the bathroom in the late afternoon is so pretty, the girls are always in a good mood, it is the perfect activity when the afternoon gets a little boring...and who can resist a good bubble bath.

Where's Sawyer? She loves to look at herself in the bath fixtures! So sweet.
Her expression is priceless! She was talking about the "doo-doo's." She is really anxious to visit our rooster friends. I just wish the snow would melt a little so it would be easier to go see them.

Blowing bubbles!

Admiring her handywork

Sydney picked her own princess clothes out yesterday morning. She was admiring her handywork in the reflection of the dining room chest. Silly girl.

Big Girl

Jim had a crazy week at work with lots of early mornings and later evenings. Friday afternoon rolled around and he came home a little early so we could go out to dinner. Sydney wore her pink princess dress all day and woke up from a nap just shortly before daddy came home, so the kids and I weren't ready to go. I quickly grabbed a pair of her jeans out of the dryer and let her keep the princess dress on. I threw on her valentine's day fleece and realized how adorable she looked. She didn't want to have her picture taken, she wanted to go out to eat! I, however, couldn't pass up the moment. She is such a big girl. Looking more and more like a child and not a toddler...

Playing Doctor

The girls have started playing doctor together. Can I just tell you the memories I have of playing this with my sisters when we were kids. We were much older than my girls and Jessica would have the unfortunate task of babysitting for Jen and I. I remember when we played doctor that Jess inflicted torture in the form of pickle juice and spit....Jess, remember torturing your poor baby sisters?

Hopefully my two will play nice doctor, not evil doctor!

I just wish they wouldn't play doctor right in the middle of the kitchen...and always when I am preparing dinner! Silly girls want to be right by my side in the evenings!

Drums are fun!

Silly Soybean

My little lady tries to teach her babies to sit on the edge of the playbin. I think it is really funny to watch her try to sit the baby dolls up.
Then she attempted to show the dolls how to do it but then she fell in! Silly girl. That's my Soybean!

Lunch

Both girls are napping right now so it is nice that I can sit down and blog early in the day. Most nights I am too tired!

For whatever reason, Sydney has taken to sitting at the dining room to play. I am not sure why she likes this room so much. We rarely use it, it is pretty sparce and boring. Anyway, she called for me to come in here and said that she made me lunch. So cute. She had the plates all set up and the toy pizza all ready to go. Sawyer joined in the fun too.

Here are a few pictures from this morning as I sat down to "lunch" with my little girl.
BIG BITE!

Telling me some sort of story...as usual... about lady bugs and princesses.

I just love her expressions. Her many faces make me smile.

Ah! A big smile for the camera!

Basement Project

The basement project has begun. We have been bouncing this idea around since we bought the house almost a year and a half ago. I wanted a small studio space but Jim also wanted to add a play area. We decided to start the project this winter and we plan to do it slowly as the budget allows. We plan to do it very simply too. Drywall and nice bright paint, nice lighting so we don't feel like we are in a basement, and trim and doors. My idea is to keep the concrete floor. Clean it up nicely and maybe have it sealed. I have been in several business that have concrete floors and I love the urban/rustic look. Area rugs for the kids' section and a big mirror so the girls can play dress up clothes, studio stuff for my section and Jim is going to have a small (unfinished) section for his hunting/fishing gear. The rest will be unfinished storage space.

Jon came over to help Jim build the walls on Saturday. Sammy boy came over to play with the girls while Karyn went to lunch with a friend. We had fun hanging out and we really appreciated Jon's help. It goes twice as fast with two of them working on the project. Excuse the horrible quality of this photo. The foil insulated walls makes for a nasty looking flash photo.

Sammy taking a break from coloring on their wood scraps.

Sawyer was napping while Sydney and Sammy were coloring wood scraps.

New Bed for Syd

I have been on the look out for a bed frame for Sydney's room for well over 6 months. I tried a few places and never found what I was looking for. We found the perfect one a few weeks ago and it was just delivered this past week. She loves it. We went with a daybed since her bed fits best against a wall in her room. I am now on the search for a daybed bed skirt.

This particular afternoon she was taking a nap and I had to wake her up. This little lady gave up naps last year, shortly after I started staying home with the girls. For whatever reason, she has decided that naps are a good thing. She and Sawyer both get up really early. Sydy at 6 am or so and then Sawyer around 6:30. So they are both pretty tired. Soybean has been napping so well the last few months and now for the past two weeks, Sydy has too. I kind of miss our one on one time since we did crafts and we studied, but she needs the rest, and I have enjoyed a little peace and quiet myself.

Here she is testing out her new bed. This was the first day in the new bed and she loved it.

Not sure what to do for decorations above her bed. This is a very blank wall. Any suggestions?