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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

New Jammies

My favorite Sierra in the adorable new owl jammies she got for Christmas.  Isn't she cute?

After Christmas Presents

My mom did some after Christmas shopping, and my parents dropped by to bring the kids two more presents.  They got Sierra some squishy sand (not pictured) and the big kids this Discovery Kids Construction Fort set.  You can use the pieces to build a fort or castle or igloo then cover it with blankets to play in.


Or if you are a nine year old boy, you can build a weapon out of the pieces.
Thanks, Grammy and Gramps!


Tuesday, December 30, 2014

D is for Dora

While Dora was definitely overshadowed by Frozen this year, we still managed to acquire 4 Dora dolls (one of which we already had, but Jordanna loves it so much and wouldn't let me return it)
and 2 Dora cell phones for Christmas.
The girls love their new toys!  Mommy, on the other hand, remembers when Caleb liked Dora when he was little and has watched approximately 11 billion episodes since then.  I have say, I won't be sad when everyone in our house finally outgrows Dora, but for now we have plenty of Dora toys to last us for awhile.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Christmas 2014 is Brought to You by the Letter "F"...

...for Frozen.

All three of the girls had a Frozen Christmas this year.  Here are some of the presents they received.

2 Elsas, 2 Olafs, Anna, and Sven.  Four of them talk.
 Sierra's new bedspread.
 Elsa crown from my grandparents.  We have an Anna one around here somewhere, too.
 Sierra's Frozen tin from Grammy, and Alexa's chapstick.
 Another tin from Grammy.  And there's one more somewhere.
 Alexa's shirt (Jordanna has a matching one) that sings "Let it Go", one of two pairs of socks, and Sierra's shirt.
 Jordanna's personalized pillowcase from Aunt Molly and Uncle Nick.
 Alexa's bedspread (Jordanna has a matching one.)
 Little Elsa figurine.  We have Anna, too.  And a color-your-own purse from my aunt.
 Some Frozen books.
 The sing-a-long DVD (this was actually my present).
 And finally Alexa's snack/drink cup.  Jordanna didn't get one, so we went to Walgreens this morning where she spent her $10 from my grandma on her very own Frozen snack/drink cup.

And that, my friends, is a Frozen Christmas.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

December Photo Project Day #25


New scarf from Dave and the kids

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

December Photo Project Day #24



We brought the presents downstairs this afternoon.  Here's hoping we can manage to keep Sierra out of them until tomorrow morning.  She loves presents.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Monday, December 22, 2014

December Photo Project Day #22


I went to take a shower this morning and came back to find a pile of pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals in front of the fireplace.  I'm not exactly sure what the girls were doing, but they looked like they were having a good time.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

December Photo Project Day #21


My cousin Kristina and her little friend, Jordanna

Saturday, December 20, 2014

December Photo Project Day #20

Sierra really liked Grandma's dog, Bubba,
and his bed.

Friday, December 19, 2014

December Photo Project Day #19

Santa and Sierra and her new Elsa doll at her school this morning

Thursday, December 18, 2014

December Photo Project Day #18


Let the Christmas baking begin!

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

December Photo Project Day #17

My class at our Christmas party today

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Monday, December 15, 2014

Sierra is Three!



I can hardly believe it, but my sweet Sierra turned three years old on Friday!  Here's what she is up to these days.

-Weighs about 30 lbs and is about 37 inches tall. - Wears 4T shirts, dresses, and one piece jammies.  Still wears a 3T pants. 
-Wears a size 9 shoe.  Has a new pair of ankle braces, which will hopefully be her last! 
-Wears a size 4 diaper.  Still needs Miralax.
-Naps once a day around 1:00.  Sleeps about 1.5 hours.  Goes to bed around 7:45 and sleeps until about 6:45.  
-Is pretty much done with Elmo.  She likes Dora, Daniel Tiger, and Bubble Guppies.

-Will sit and listen to a book being read to her.
-Hit her head and gave herself a concussion necessitating a trip to the ER.  Then, about a week later, hit her head again and almost needed stitches (thus the bandaid on her head).
-LOVES music.  She turns on the TV in our room to Pandora and sits on our bed to listen and dance and do the motions to the songs.
-Bows her head when it is time to pray.  She puts it down so far that her head is almost resting in her plate at dinner.
-Knows how to open doors and lets herself out of her room in the morning and after naps.
-Regularly signs more and please.  Also signs all done, open, and eat.  
-Regularly says Mama,  Dada, hi, and bye.  Quacks for ducks, and says Ooh Aah for monkeys.  Has said a variety of other words (hoot for an owl, abracadabra, all done, Dora, eye, ear, hair, Silas, and toes) but doesn't use any of them on a regular basis.
- Loves going bye-bye or playing outside.  She will bring me her jacket when she wants to go somewhere.
-Comes to find me and leads me to the kitchen when she wants a drink or a snack.
-Probably the biggest development in the last three months is that she has graduated out of Babies Can't Wait and has started Special Needs Preschool at our local public elementary.  Her first two days went well, and we are excited to see how much she learns and grows as we go forward.
-Gives the best hugs and the sweetest kisses.
-Has come SO far in the past year.  She is one determined little girl, and we are so blessed to call her ours!

December Photo Project Day #15


Fun afternoon treat thanks to a gift card from one of Dave's students (although it would have been more fun if it was a peppermint mocha, but I stayed on plan with a coffee with cream)

Sunday, December 14, 2014

December Photo Project Day #14

Getting my baby fix in the church nursery this morning

Saturday, December 13, 2014

December Photo Project Day #13

First round of presents wrapped and ready to be opened tomorrow

Friday, December 12, 2014

December Photo Project Day #12

Alexa helping decorate the tree

Thursday, December 11, 2014

December Photo Project Day #11

This little snowman sits on the fireplace reminding me of how few days are left and how much is left to do.  We don't have our tree up yet.  I haven't finished shopping, and the only presents that have been wrapped are the ones that have already been given to Sierra's teachers and therapists.  Oh well, it will all come together somehow.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

December Photo Project Day #10

Caleb at school today in his new Veritas hoodie

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

December Photo Project Day #9

Dinner.  Crockpot balsamic chicken thighs and baked sweet potatoes.  For those of you following THM, this is a crossover.

Monday, December 8, 2014

December Photo Project Day #8

Alexa and Jordanna working (somewhat) diligently on their school work.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

December Photo Project Day #7

Christmas outfits (Sierra is the lump in the front of the picture)

Saturday, December 6, 2014

December Photo Project Day #6

Sleepover with the silly girl tonight

Friday, December 5, 2014

December Photo Project Day #5

Crazy, scowling boy doing his math homework today



Thursday, December 4, 2014

December Photo Project Day #4

New rug for the front door.  The kids helped me pick it out at Kohls today, which explains the lime green.  But it was only $4.99, which is good!

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

December Photo Project Day #3

Couch full of crazy kids!