Lovely Tree

It's a little silly to think about all the joy that comes from setting up a TREE in your home.

But it's true.

I love the magic of a Christmas tree.

I actually get sad in the morning when I wake up, after Tanner has gone to work,

and see the tree unlit.

I kind of rush to turn it on.

Yeah, it's a fake. So what? It's still pretty.

Layla took this of Gwen and I.

I love Gwen's thoughtful expression, gazing towards the tree...

When babies have milk on their faces it instantly makes them look smaller,

younger, more babylike.

Merry Early Christmas

(This is just incase I forget about blogging again)

The closet is SO much fun.

Who knew?

Gwen and I played in the closet for about a half hour the other day...

(in baby time, that's almost forever)

Peek-a-boo in the dresses.

T-shirts became scarfs.

Shoes were fun toys to chuck at the wall.

It was GRAND.

and so is SHE.

...thanksgiving...

Here it was...

Apple pie heaven.

And a glorious turkey...

And all the delicious fixin's...

And 7 mouthwatering pies...

And some Rockband with friends...

Equals a happy Gwen...

And a comatose Layla,

shocked from all the good food and sugar...

Happy Late Thanksgiving.

shrieks of joy and disappointment

Gwen is gazing out the window at her sister frolicking in the snow.

Bummer.

She must surely be longing for a chance to go out as well.

Yes.

This really does sum it up...

At the very same moment,

Layla squeals with joy.

How ironic.

Oh my little fluffy haired babe.

You're time will come all too soon.

I already feel the pull that toddlerhood has on you...

Please stick around in babyville for a while longer.

Please?

How can I blame you though, when SHE makes all that kid stuff look so fun.

"Wow"

Soon enough, little one.

wide range of emotion

We're going stir crazy.

Seriously.

I feel like my brain has gone to mush. I've been finding myself saying words, such as...

Supposebly

Probly

yuh huh

What has happened to me??

It's the snow. I blame it on the snow.

There must be some powerful characteristic in snow that sucks out the intelligence of stay at home mothers.

Or maybe just me.

Thanksgiving was good and fine.

We spent it with great people and basically just loved having company, period.

But now I'm dreaming of Christmas.

Longing for Christmas.

Desperately NEEDING Christmas to get here quickly, so I can escape this snow prison.

The girls are doing fabulously.

Layla is excelling in all areas of study.

ABC's

123's

Grammar (unlike me)

Art

I love it when I catch her doing something that I thought she didn't know how to do.

Like... yesterday she was sitting up at the counter with a worksheet of hers, from school. It had her name and a few other short words on it. She began to state each letter and then say it's sound. Practically reading! She did this with "Nest" and "Best".

She can draw a person with amazing likeness now too.

Eyes, lips, nose, ears, hair, body.... you get the picture.

I should find a picture of hers to post on here, you'd be amazed.

OH! and she's been sleeping in her bed for a whole week without any nightime wakings! I'm so proud of her!

Although there aren't any pictures of her in this post,

(besides the ones on the wall)

we've been having SO much fun with Gwen lately too!

She is learning so many new things at RAPID speed.

Like...

She signs: milk, please, more, mommy, and tree.

Folds her arms (occasionally) when we pray.

Woofs like a dog when she sees one.

Can say Daddy, Mommy, Layla, and Up pretty clearly.

She gives kisses and then claps afterward.

She took a few little steps the other day, purely by accident and it scared her a bit so I doubt she'll be repeating that again anytime soon.

She LOVES Baby Einstein, her blankie, applesauce, and bananas.

She goes NUTS over yogurt, her Mommy, balls, and being outside.

These little crazies are really what keep me sane this time of year.

Love them.

Hide and Seek and a Robot

We were playing hide and seek and this where Layla decided to hide...

I see you!

Oh and the ribbon, if you were wondering, was tied on to create a wagon of sorts.

Then, the next night Layla found yet another box and came up to us and said,

"I am a Robot. I am nice."

So reassuring.

We're starting to get quite creative around here because of all the snow.

Hopefully we wont run out of ideas too soon!

That darn white stuff

This is the beginning...

but I don't really mind being stuck inside with these cuties.

a quaint party

We had an actual party for Gwen, again nothing fancy, but I don't really think she minded much.

I made a chocolate cake (and "magical frosting") I'd been dying to make from the blog: Mel's Kitchen Cafe. It was pretty darn tasty, but honestly not my favorite. I think I still like Hershey's Chocolate Cake recipe best... the one on the coco powder container.

We had a few lovely guests... Thank Derek and Taylor for coming!

My Mom, Breanna, her friends Aubrey and Scottie were also there. No pictures of them... because they aren't as cool.

KIDDING.

I just spaced out on that.

And... LAYLA with a Cabbage Patch Kids tag on her face.