18 months

Charlotte has grown from a baby to a toddler since her first birthday. She babbles non-stop, and we're able to understand more and more. She wants to do everything that her sisters do, and is quick to cry and scream when she doesn't get her way (either out or at home). Several times each day she comes to me, babbling and pointing towards the bedrooms. If I don't immediately respond, she will pull on my pant leg and talk louder until I follow her down the hall to Grace's room and open her closet door so she can pull out books, barbies, or princess dresses. The moment anyone says the word, "outside," she will quickly go and find her coat and shoes and bring them to me. Despite her quick temper, she is very easy-going and LOVES to cuddle. I hope she never outgrows her hugs and kisses.

Valentines

We called it our "royal valentine dinner." There were princess dresses, gifts and cards, sparkling cider and wine, dinner, and chocolate covered strawberries in the formal dining room. After introducing each girl, Sam escorted them to their chairs. I wasn't able to get many pictures with the low light, constant movement and accessory changing, but I know we'll always remember the evening.

Sledding

Sam and I pulled Madeline and Grace in a laundry basket around our backyard this weekend as the snow melted. Hopefully next time Charlotte won't be napping, and we can find a real hill.

Fresh snow

Cabin fever

The roads have been icy and dangerous all week, and most businesses were closed, so we've stayed in since Monday. Each day we played outside in the snow, but because of the bitter cold and lack of proper snow clothes for the girls, we could only be out for less than an hour at a time. We had to get creative and do more than the usual indoor games and dress-up. The living room fort was home-base for their play.

Homemade oven-bake clay

Putt-puttSnow ice creamChicken and heart-shaped dumplings

Honey white breadTheir favorite game was to go on a "scary adventure", and it was played all week.Madeline said they were looking for "cary piders" (scary spiders) and "cary cats" at the pumpkin patch.

Ice and snow

After heavy sleet and wind Monday night, we woke up early Tuesday morning to a thick sheet of ice and then got a little snow (the first picture is our covered back patio). It was impossible to walk on concrete without slipping, and walking in the grass was like walking on frozen tundra. Despite the temperatures in the single digits with the wind chill, Grace and Charlotte made snow angels and Madeline loved running up and down our fence line. The snow was so dry and icy that their snowman was actually a pile of snow...of course, they each insisted on their own carrot nose.