Fun in the Snow...Here We Come!!

So, after being teased several times so far this winter with a chance for some snow, we finally got some.  Still doesn't even come close to an Erie Snowfall, but it did the trick nonetheless...the kids were thrilled.  The girls had a few friends over and we headed out for some fun in the snow!

I realized today that I may need to go and see what I can find in terms of proper snow attire for the girls...their snowpants from last year just weren't quite cutting it in my mind, but they didn't seem to care :)

Here is the gang ready for some adventures in the snow...


Grady ,Megan, Alayna, Alexia & Brody

It was COLD out there today (or maybe I've just become a bit of a whimp since leaving Erie), but the kids seemed to have a lot of fun :) 

Of course, first on the list of fun was making some SNOW ANGELS...(notice the length of Alexia's snowpants...I'm such a neglectful mom!)

Then, they all wanted their turn on the swings.  Good thing the other kids had a chance to swing before Megan, because once she got on the swing...that is where she stayed...she was in her glory (probably because she didn't have to touch or walk in the snow after that, but could still be outside "playing" with the other kids!  She had a great time, which is what counts! 

Here are a few other shots from our time outdoors, before we headed in for some hot chocolate...

It occurred to me again today what a truly great friend Alexia has found in Alayna...these girls love each other so much!  It is so nice that our families now live so close and they can have spontaneous playdates and get-togethers!  It's hard for me to believe that my friendship with my best friend, Brenda, started at the same age that these two girls are...I imagine they will be lifelong friends, too!!!

A few more of our favorite moments from this month...

Wow, we have been busy this month!  And, next week is going to be our busyest week of all...so before Monday hits, I thought I'd post a few more pics of some of our favorite moments and activities of this month!
In addition to what I've already posted this month, here is what we've been doing.

The month started out with Alexia losing tooth #2...I had to post this pic because Alexia happened to lose this tooth right before bed on a night the girls' friend, Lili, was spending the night.  The girls were going to sleep on the floor in Megan's room, and Alexia was devastated at the thought that the Tooth Fairy wouldn't be able to find her...so, what's a mom supposed to do in that situation...???

Yes, we had to make and hang the sign on her door before she could even get the bleeding to stop! 

Some of our favorite activities this month have been ~
FINGER PAINTING...

And DOT PAINTING...not a bad rainbow, if you ask me :)

PLAYING DOCTOR... We have played "doctor" so much this month for some reason...we rotate between who plays the doctor, the patient and the mom...it is so cute to hear the girls be the doctor and the mom...they say things like, "Now this will just be a quick little pinch and then it will be all over."  "You are doing a great job, Mommy's very proud of you."  "Okay. let's check those ears of yours..."

PLAYING IN THE GIRLS' ROOMS...Megan and I have been spending a lot of time playing in her room in order to try and help her get over her fear of being in her room at bedtime. 
In these next pics, we are setting up a party with her princess dollhouse stuff~

THE Wii...We also dusted the Wii off this month and Alexia has been enjoying it...here she is celebrating some great moments in one of many, many games of bowling!  She's not too bad for a 5 year old!

We have also been really thankful in the midst of this wintery month to have good friends to spend time with...While Alexia has always treasured her friendships and makes a new friend around every corner, it has taken Megan a little bit longer to really appreciate the value of a good friend.  She would never choose to be in a roomfull of kids for any reason, but get her one-on-one with a good friend, and she is in her Glory!!!

Here she is with her dear friend, Grady...

 

Today wrapped up a super fun time for the girls with their cousin, Jillian :)
After a great night of sleep for all, the girls woke up and were ready for another day of fun!
We began our day with some smiley face pancakes for breakfast :)

Then, our big actvity for the day was going to the movies!  Aunt Tracy joined us and we took them to see "Tangled."  They had been playing in their "princess dresses" before we left and wanted to wear them to the movies...I figured, hey...why not?  Right?  Here they are all decked out for their big outing...

The girls were really excited and did a good job in the movie overall...of course, we had a couple of trips to the bathroom due to all the popcorn and water, but it was a good time and I'd take them again in a minute :)

After the movie, we took the girls out to lunch.  They were all dragging at that point, so after we were done, Jillian headed home with Aunt Tracy and the girls and I stopped for a quick visit with Daddy at the school (he was working school police at a Wrestling Tournament).

I am really thankful that these girls are getting to spend more and more time together...they are building memories that will last a lifetime! 

What a Fun Night!!

Sometimes the best plans are the most spontaneous ones!  After a quick phone call to Aunt Stephanie earlier today, we were able to work it out for Jillian to come and spend the night with us!  For a change, I did not have to work or have any other commitments this weekend, so I was able to join in on the fun!

It's amazing to me the amount of different activities these girls can cover in a very short period of time :)

They began by doing some melty beads, which was short-lived because I think they were just too excited to be together to sit still.

 After awhile, we headed downstairs for some keyboard playing...

 Then some Gymanastics...I loved these action shots of Megan...

 And, of course they had to get into princess dresses, tiara's and fancy shoes...

 Then, the roller skates came out -- Alexia and Jillian raced back and forth from one end of the playroom to the other.

 Megan was the doctor on call and she took care of the girls if they fell and then decided that Mommy needed some shots, too!  I haven't seen such a cute doctor in a long time!!

 Then, we played several rounds of hide-n-seek...at one point, they all hid in the tent...they were a bit surprised when I came around the corner and took their picture :)

After a couple of hours of play, we had another spontaneous visit/playtime with our very good friends, Connor & Emily.  They all ate dinner together (comliments of good ole' McDonalds) and then we headed back downstairs to play!  You can only imagine what our playroom looks like!!

After a couple more hours of play, we got baths and had a bedtime snack of apples & peanut butter, while the girls introduced Jillian to her first "Punky Brewster" video :)

So, just about the time I got them settled down...who enters the scene?  Daddy!!!!  And what does that mean...???  Yep...rough house time!!!

 Finally, after the complete chaos ended...the girls settled down again with some puzzles!  Between the 3 of them, they did over 20 puzzles!

 Megan's expression in this picture exemplified our night of fun...Oh Yea!!!!  What a great night we had together!

Sisterly Bond

I have been reading a book I got for Christmas called "Bringing up Girls."  It has been a great book so far, full of a lot of good insight! It has me thinking a lot these days about the relationship and bond that is developing between Alexia & Megan.  These girls could not be more different in personality, preferences, looks, etc...and yet the bond that they are building at such an early age amazes me.  Of course they have their moments like all siblings do, but their love for each other goes deep....deeper than I expected it would at this point. 

Here are just a few pics I've taken recently of them playing and just loving on each other! 

They are always watching out for each other (well, for the most part anyway) and cannot go to bed at night without giving tons of hugs & kisses to each other -- I use to think this was just a bedtime stalling technique, but I don't think so anymore!  Last night Alexia spent the night at a friend's house and when Megan woke up this morning and realized Alexia still wasn't home, she got teary-eyed and said, "I just want my sister...I miss her so much!" 

I talk with the girls a lot about how they will not be able to control how they are treated by others outside of our home, but that inside our home, we can make sure that we always treat each other with love and respect...I doubt that they totally understand all that this means at such a young age, but I am encouraged that they seem to "get it" on their level. 

I am becoming more and more aware at what a huge responsibility and priviledge Scott and I have in raising these two precious girls and I pray daily that God will give me the wisdom to know how to teach them about what is most important in life.  It makes my heart smile that one of things that has become most important to them at this point is... each other :)