Mooserific!

Santa, how did you know we needed help for cabin fever?

A slight misunderstanding

Abby and I did a little last minute Christmas shopping together tonight. When we pulled into the driveway upon returning home, we spotted seven large, fat deer in our backyard. I slowed the car down, Abby got excited, and we watched as they scampered up the hill or back into the woods. They were gone by the time we got out of the car. A disappointed Abby asked me “when can we go hunting?” I told Abby that we didn’t want to go hunting, but she was insistent and so I told her to talk to her Papa. She then said “but I want to go hunting to pet the animals!” John says she doesn’t really understand fishing either. “Why would someone kill a fish and eat it?”

Instead of going to bed tonight, both babies tried to escape from me by climbing into the laundry basket!

With more snow coming soon, I was reminded that I didn’t post any photos from our last big snowstorm. John and I had a great time taking Abby outside. Abby loves to ride her sled, make snow angels, stomp around, toss snowballs, and eat snow. Yes, she really likes to EAT snow.

John had lots of help making “man crepes” for lunch. Everyone enjoyed eating them just as much as they enjoyed making them.

Funny bits

Three year olds do and say the funniest things.

Example 1: During snack time, Abby asked that I cut her apple in half just like the Man with the Yellow Hat did. When it was time to clean up, I asked her where the core went. “I ate it.” You did? Even the seeds, I asked. “Yes! They were crunchy.” I guess she wanted to be like Curious George.

Example 2: Abby has been very interested in weddings recently. This evening she said to me “I positively proved that I’m going to have lots of kids when I grow up.” You did? How, I asked. “I just did. Four. And a baby. And I’m not going to marry a man with a mustache.”

Example 3: Abby loves to sing a song from Barney about growing up to be a rock-n-roll star. She loves to tell people now too that Grandpa “doesn’t like this song because he doesn’t want me to have to ride the bus.” She’s taken his concerns seriously and now says she wants to be a firefighter in the morning, a doctor in the afternoon, and a rock-n-roll star at night. She still loves to belt out that Barney song.

Gwen took her first unassisted steps today! I looked up and she had let go of her crib and was walking towards the closet. She only went a few steps, but it was pretty amazing. I clapped and shouted “yay” over and over. Josie and Abby chimed in with claps too. I’m pretty sure Gwen said “yay” and “I did it,” but I was probably hearing things. We were all very excited. Finally!

Our house was filled with princesses today! After watching Abby play dress-up multiple times a day for the past few weeks, Josie decided she wanted to get in on the action. She grabbed a dress and was very loud until we put it on her. She was then all smiles as she proudly paraded around (in front of us and to the mirror, just like Abby). When Gwen realized what Josie was wearing, she wanted to wear one too. (She then went back to trying to open the front door.)

Gwen figured out how to open doors.

Thank you Amazon for providing endless fun (and diapers).

Just like her big sister, our picky eater likes pickles!

Gwen likes the new iPad Air too.

Watch out!

Our Gwen already understands the use of tools. After not being able to climb directly onto the ottoman in her room, she took a green basket off her changing table, flipped it over, and used it to climb onto the ottoman. From there, she climbed onto the glider, her ultimate goal.

Gosh! They’re cute.

Words coming soon

They may not be speaking much with words, but the babies understand quite a bit. A few examples from the past few days:

We were all playing downstairs and Abby was feeding Gwen and Josie’s new baby dolls a bottle. Her doll, Rose, was laying abandoned on the floor near me. I said to Abby that Rose was crying and needed her mama. Abby ignored me, but Josie, who was playing on the other side of the room, walked over, picked up Rose, and started patting her back.

The next day, the babies and I were in their room getting ready for their nap. I told them that it was nap time and that we needed to put on their socks. Josie walked over to her dresser, opened the drawer, and pulled out a pair of socks for me.

Tonight, the babies and I were in their room getting ready for bed. Gwen was hanging on me while Josie looked at a book. I asked Gwen “where is your mobile?” She pointed to it. I then asked about all the other familiar items in their room, the ones we usually name when we play this game. She pointed to each thing after I asked: the tree, the clock, the fan, the window. Thinking those things are too familiar now, I then asked her about new things. “Gwen, where is your changing table?” She pointed to her changing table. “Gwen, where is your dresser?” She pointed to her dresser. “Gwen, where is your bed?” She pointed at her bed. So then I thought, I need to include your sister. “Josie, where is your bed?” She looked at me, but then just went back to her book. I asked again. This time, Gwen pointed at Josie’s bed.