Bribery

Sam came home from work with a few boxes of Girl Scout cookies and the girls wanted to skip dinner altogether. When we told them they could only have cookies after they finished their roasted chicken I made, they attacked their food and ate like savages at a Renaissance festival. The sugar took affect before they even left the dinner table.
Winter static and chicken grease seemed to be a recipe for disaster with Madeline's hair.

Grace thought it was funny to get cookie in her teeth. She told me I could leave the bag right there by her...just to keep her eye on it.

Breakfast

I tried making letter pancakes this morning to so something a little different, hoping Madeline and Grace will eat a little more so they aren't ready for a snack by 9am. Not bad for my first attempt, and it worked...they both ate more than traditional pancakes.

FYI to all my mom friends...using a turkey baster works great, using a batter with whole flax seeds does not.

On a side note: when Grace woke up from her nap yesterday she said, "I slept so long that I was snoring and ZZZs came out of my mouth!" She cracks me up!

Recent drawings

Grace's imagination has blossomed overnight, and it is evident in her drawings. This is an example of the types of drawings she used to do, this is of me (left) and Sam. This past week she has been hard at work at her table, and I look forward to when she finishes each one and tells me about it.
A few members of our family...

This didn't look like much to me, but I was told it is a giant ostrich with earth and dirt on it covered in spider webs...

Daddy bowling, with rainbows and a mouse eating a finger...

Daddy and his work building...

A caterpillar and Daddy's work and rainbows...

People being chased by a big giant...

A giant abominable snow turtle with 5 worms coming out of it... A mouse-shaped space ship with a square vitamin and a bee trying to eat it...

Big girl beds

Madeline and Charlotte both moved up into bigger beds. Charlotte had grown WAY too big for her co-sleeper, and Madeline needed to give up her crib for a big girl bed. We turned the guest room into Charlotte's own room and gave Madeline the guest bed.

Both girls are very happy with the arrangement. Charlotte is getting good naps and sleeping better through the night. Madeline is THRILLED with her big girl bed and her own toys (she still occasionally goes into Charlotte's room to play with the baby toys). And, thanks to the added space, Sam and I are also happy to have reclaimed our living room.

Family bowling

The 5 of us went bowling this weekend and we had such a great time together. It was Madeline's first time to bowl, and she used the ramp for help. Her and Grace both had bumpers, so they wouldn't be discouraged with gutterballs. There was a lot of laughing, dancing, and many high fives. Charlotte woke up as our game ended, just in time for lunch.

A New Year

Charlotte began the new year trying solid food. Rice cereal, banana, and avocado all seem to be a big hit with her. As with everything, she eats with a smile!

1st, 2nd & 4th Christmas

Santa left a little package next to Grace and Madeline's filled stockings containing 2 bottles, bowls, and spoons for their baby dolls. Grace woke us up on Christmas morning at 7:30 showing us her little package and yelling that Santa had come. Sam and I got out of bed and told her to stay in our room until we got dressed and Madeline woke up. While we were getting dressed and getting the cameras we heard laughing and yelling from Madeline's room. When we went into her room we found Madeline still in her crib playing with her little package from Santa and Grace was jumping up and down. After diaper changes for Madeline and Charlotte, we all went into the living room to see what was there.

Even though Grace had been into the living room 3 times before Sam or I had, she hadn't seen the balance bikes that were by the tree. When she did finally see them, there was a lot of excitement. She got on one and screamed "Santa is a GENIUS!" and started riding around the house. Madeline looked a little confused about the whole situation. She and Charlotte (and Gus and Tucker) were very happy allowing Grace to empty their stockings. Madeline refused to reach inside her own, but did try to shake them. Charlotte seemed content in the bumbo with the chew toys from her stocking.

After the stockings were empty, they moved on to the wrapped gifts under the tree and sausage balls for breakfast. I was impressed how well Madeline could rip open her gifts to see what she got. Even the excitement of Christmas morning couldn't keep Charlotte from taking her morning nap.

Gus and Tucker finished their Christmas bones quickly, as usual.

Around 10:30 that morning we heard a knock on the door. A man had a pony in our front yard that was kicking and stomping the snow. He asked if we had any kids in the house who would like a pony ride. Hilarious! We asked if he could come back after they changed out of their pajamas. Madeline wasn't happy about being on "Princess Daisy" and preferred a ride on her bike instead. Grace was thrilled with her 2 rides and asked for another.

We tipped the man and thanked him for the ride, gave Princess Daisy an apple and said goodbye. It was hard for them to be sad on a beautiful sunny white Christmas morning when there are snow angels to make and snowball fights to have.

We had a wonderful afternoon and evening playing and sharing their new (and old) toys, and of course, eating. I will always remember their 1st, 2nd, and 4th Christmases. Grace said, "I'm so happy that baby Jesus was born." I agree.