Basement Reno begins

I'm so excited to get another portion of the basement renovated! Jim sprung it on me the other day and now already has 1 wall and 1 doorway framed out!  I am looking forward to being cozy and warm on the side of the basement that houses the girls' trampoline! We spend a ton of time down there jumping in the winter time.  I am also excited to not have to look at all of the stuff in the storage side of the basement!  It hurts my neat freak eyes!

2 little readers

Sydney loves to read and we love to encourage her ever growing reading skills.  We also spend a lot of time reading to both girls.  Little did I know how far my little Kindergartner has come in her quest to read. We got Sawyer a new pack of Fancy Nancy Learn to Read Phonic books for Christmas.  My intent was to start working with her soon on learning to read.  The other morning I was reading to the girls and Sawyer asked to read her new books. So she and I sat down to read together. I was shocked at how far she has gotten with sounding out words and recognizing several key sight words. I am embarrassed to admit that I just assumed it was too early in the year for her to be where she is at in her reading! So proud of both of these little girls and how hard they work in school and at home.

 

Hot Chocolate

The girls got a hot chocolate spoon in their stocking again this year.  They loved them so much last year that I had to do the same this year.  They asked for hot cocoa this afternoon.  I had a few homemade marshmallows left which only added to their excitement!

The kitchen table is going back to the breakfast nook.  I am going to miss my afternoon photo ops in the dining room.  It is too bad my breakfast nook area has terrible lighting, as I'll miss the good light. I am half tempted to switch the two tables! Or maybe I should just get smart and get a glass top for the delicate dining table!

Anyway, a few pictures from their afternoon hot cocoa treat!

Gross chocolate face!!!

A quiet day...

Things have finally slowed down after the holiday rush. The girls and I enjoyed a super quiet morning at home.  They played with their princess castle in the reading room for hours this morning. In between Mia trying to play fetch and me torturing them with the camera. Wherever the girls and I are, Mia has to be there too! Velcro pup!


Sydney playing so quietly and unaware of me stalking her with the camera!

 Sawyer decided to rearrange all the chapter book I had just arranged! OCD like her mama!

 I think this was about the time that Sydney was getting sick of my camera! What's new!!!???

 Mia was really trying to find someone to play fetch with.  I finally put the camera down for a few minutes to run outside with her.

 She plopped heself right in the middle of the carpet near the castle...

 then finally fell asleep! VELCRO dog!

Sad Day

It's always a sad day when Daddy chops our Christmas tree in half to get it out of the house.  Sydney was really sad.  She hid under the couch pillows.  Sawyer was too interested in watching Daddy use the saw to be upset!!

 It was a really pretty tree...

Another blast from the past

I can't do a blast from the past with Sydney (albeit a school assignment) without doing one for Sawyer! So a few of Sawyer from the last 5.5 years!


Our first day home from the hospital with a newborn and a 19 month old!

 My brown eyed baby.

Our first summer at the lake house.  Right after construction was finished! A chubby 6 month old!

A vibrant toddler loving her boat rides at the lake!

 Our first fall back in PA!

Pictures for School

Sydney's school teacher requested that we send in 3-5 pictures of our child from birth to present. While my kids are contentedly playing with our neighbor girl downstairs, I searched for a few of my favorites from over the past 7 years!


From teeny, tiny baby with the most beautiful dark skin.

To a sweet, beautiful one year old.

To age 19 months old when she became an amazing big sister!

To a sweet natured toddler!

To the most amazing 7 year old!

Just a few more from Christmas

Just a few more random pictures from Christmas morning.

 Sparkling lipgloss is Saywer's love language!

 Hugging her new dolls tightly!!

 Sydney was OVER having her picture taken.  Even with a princess crown on! Grumpy girl!

Teenagers

No sooner did he get up, eat breakfast, shower, then nap on the couch!

TEENAGERS!

Hello Kitty Glasses

The girls' great aunts in California sent them decorate your own Hello Kitty glasses for Christmas. They had so much fun adding stickers and washi tape.  I took a photo of Sawyer with the glasses before they were decorated and Sydney after they were decorated.

Pig Tails

As soon as we got back from Jim's family's house on Christmas Eve, Sawyer asked me to do her hair and her AG dolls hair in pig tails.  Then they both requested that I take a picture of them with their dolls.


Sawyer with her doll "Bella"

Sydney with her doll "Lacey"