Seven!

So, the blog hasn't quite been revived (but I also haven't given up on it yet), but at least the birthday posts have to continue.

Vivian is seven today!

She's loving school.  She's reading independently, learning Spanish, enjoying music.  Vivian has a bunch of friends at school that she plays with.  She and I started flute lessons together, which is a lot of fun. And she is still very much into drawing, doodling, coloring, writing.  No piece of paper is safe from her.  At least these days, she asks "Mommy, can I write on that?" before she uses it!

Rowan is still her best friend ever, and their play and games are still all about their imagination.  These days, it all revolves around animals instead of princesses, but that's really the only change.

I can't wait to see what next year brings.

Happy birthday, my big girl!

As usual, below is the year in pictures.  Previous years can be found by clicking on the links:  2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008.

December 2013

January 2014

February 2014

March 2014

April 2014

May 2014

June 2014

July 2014

August 2014

September 2014

October 2014

November 2014

Annelee is Four!!!!

There is no better reason to resurrect a severely neglected blog than a birthday.  I'm hoping this will bring me back into the groove.  Because time does indeed fly.  I mean, how can Annelee be 4!  I still remember this day 4 years ago where I texted Katie about the playdate that we had planned and said "Yes, I'm still coming.  There's no way I'm having a baby today."  Famous last words ...  shortly before 11pm that evening, Annelee had arrived.

The strong-headed temper tantrums Annelee has had for part of this year have (hopefully) stopped.  She's grown so much more verbal and expressive and funny, she's a joy to be around.  I went out to breakfast with her this morning, just the two of us, and we both had a great time.  I can't wait to see what 4 will bring.

Happy Birthday, sweet girl!

Here are the previous posts:   3, 2, 1

August 2013

September 2013

October 2013

November 2013

December 2013

January 2014

February 2014

March 2014

April 2014

May 2014

June 2014

July 2014

A visit from Clifford

Clifford the big red dog has long been a favorite character in our house.  So, imagine Vivian's delight when she finally got to bring home the Clifford-bag from school.  The assignment was to do some activities with Clifford and then add photos and a story to Clifford's travel book.  Double bonus for me, because I got to help Vivian with her homework and got photos for another blog post at the same time.  So, here are Vivian and Clifford in action.  They had a fun weekend!

Playing with playmobil

Reading a story to Annelee and Clifford

Flying high!

Dinner

Planting veggies at church

Playing with Rowan

Cuddling with Annelee

Stylin', waiting for the dentist

Snow

Ironically, today is a warm (by comparison to the winter we've had), spring-like day and everyone's out and about (including the sun) and smiling, and here I am posting some snow pictures from last month that I just came across.  Always a little slow.

Annelee and Vivian have been very busy "shoveling" snow.  Mostly on the lawn, unfortunately, and not our driveway, where it was needed, but, maybe we'll teach them that next year. In any case, they've had fun!

We've been sledding, both in our backyard and on the hills by the pool and the school. I can't believe we didn't build a snowman this year, though.  But maybe we still get a chance (I hope not!)

Anyways, here are some pictures of the girls enjoying the white stuff.

Posing in the snow

More posing (and yes, the hat needs to be handed down to Annelee)

Hard at work

Hello Kitty!

Annelee's Picture Day 2014

Preschool tried something different for picture day this time around, and brought in a company that also brought in lots of dressy & dress up clothes for the kids.  Here's our little diva in her chosen outfit!

Lost!

For a few weeks, Vivian has had a couple of loose bottom teeth.  She kept wiggling and moving them, but they weren't budging.  Jokingly, Will tried to pull them out several times ... until one of them actually came out!  We've got our first lost tooth and have had the first visit from the tooth-fairy.  Tooth #2 seems to be determined to hang on a bit longer, so for now, we'll wait and watch.  It'll be gone sooner or later :)

Christmas 2013

After our pre-Christmas whirlwind weekend, our third Christmas at home started to follow a nice familiar pattern.   

Christmas Eve, we went to the early (5pm) service at church, and then stopped by a party two friends always throw on Christmas Eve.  Then home, and the opening of gifts from family.  The girls got their usual PJs and a book and then a necklace each and a radio clock. 

We sat the radio alarm for 7am and told the girls not to get out of bed before it went off, in case they scared off Santa.  Before we went to bed, we put out Santa's gifts (as usual), when we suddenly heard footsteps upstairs.  As it turned out, Vivian had chosen that moment to wake up and go potty.  Luckily, the next day, she confirmed she just heard us being loud downstairs, and was shocked how late we were up (it was about 11.30 :)

7am the next morning came and went, and no girls were trying to see if Santa had been here.  At some point, I snuck in their room to check, but the alarm apparently hadn't gotten off.  Vivian bolted upright and ran upstairs to discover that Santa had, indeed, come.  We woke Annelee up and all went downstairs.  The girls emptied out their stockings and tore the paper from the gifts and oohed and aahed over them even though they didn't always know what was in the packaging.  Apparently, it's still all about the wrapping and the thought of opening the gifts and we could've gotten away with pretty boxes ...

Although, when all was said and done, the Legos, puzzle, Vivian's first chapter book and Annelee's new tent were definitely hits.

We then spent the rest of the day lounging about and playing with the new toys.  For the first time, I made my Dad's sauces for the fondue and was quite happy with all of them.  Vivian loved the "feast you have to cook yourself" even though she didn't try any of the sauces.  Annelee was rather meh about the food.  Will and I enjoyed it, too.

All in all, a good Christmas.

Here's to a happy and healthy 2014!

The obligatory "Please pose in front of the tree and smile" photo

Vivian is excited about the book she got, but Annelee has already moved onto Vivian's next gift

Annelee unwrapping her gift

An umbrella!

Vivian checking out her do-it-yourself blanket kit with Daddy

Apparently, we got hit by a wrapping paper tornado

Post-gift-opening relaxation with a lollipop

Working on her lego-friends book