Visit to Great Harvest

The playgroup took a visit to Great Harvest (AKA "Baker Bob's") in March. Bob the Baker shows the kids how to make bread using the story of The Little Red Hen. It is very hands on and is always a favorite! We have gone every year and Emily loves going.

It's been hard to get to all the fun playgroups lately because it is always at Annie's nap time. I didn't want Emily to miss out on the fun with Baker Bob. Chad was nice enough to make it a Daddy-daughter event so I could put Annie down for a nap. He humored me by taking some pictures. Emily had a great time. Thanks Chad!

Why do they do that?!

I have 2 beautiful girls. I also have a large supply of hair accessories, thanks to my talented sister, Erin. So why is it that just when they can wear all these cute clips, etc. they feel compelled to yank them out the minute I put them in their hair? Annie thinks it is a game. I put in the clip. She takes it out and smiles at me with an adorable, teasing smile. It's a good thing she's cute. Ha!

New PJ's for Annie

Annie is growing very fast and is getting taller by the day. Her toes are starting to poke out of the feet of the sleepers. I found these cute PJ's at Gymboree and loved them. They fit Annie perfectly! She looks so cute. (I especially love that the clip my sister made is great match. Thanks Erin!)

The Wait Is FINALLY Over!

Chad is completing his fourth and final year at KU, but still has a year of clinical internship before he can officially graduate with his PhD. He began interviewing for positions in December. We have been waiting to hear where we will be living for the next year for several months now. The wait is FINALLY over... Congratulations to Chad for being accepted to the clinical internship program at
Brown University!
Rhode Island, here we come!

Snow Days

The past 3 years we have had fairly short and mild winters. This year it feels like winter may never end! I guess we had to go out with a bang. Emily and Chad have been braving the cold and taking advantage of their snow days. Emily loves playing in the snow. She wants to be out in it the minute it falls...no matter how cold it is outside. Luckily she has her dad's genes and he enjoys the snow too!

10 Months...Annie's New Walker

While we were at a dinner for Chad's program a few weeks ago, Annie found a baby walker. She started walking everywhere! She played with it the entire night. We had been thinking about getting her one so we went out and got her one the next day. She loves this baby stroller walker. She is so proud of herself and we are too! She is growing up so fast. She'll be walking on her own before you know it!

Making Valentine Cupcakes for FHE

Emily decided to make the Valentine cupcakes she got from Gramie and Papa for FHE on Monday. She loves to bake and has become pretty independent (for the most part). She was to determined to make the cupcakes "myself". Thanks Gramie and Papa for the fun gift!

Getting ready to bake.

Pouring in the cake mix.

Adding oil, water and eggs.

Pouring the batter into the baking cups.

Waiting patiently for them to bake in the oven.

Letting the cupcakes cool.

Time to decorate.
You can never have too many sprinkles!

Emily was very particular about having a certain
amount of heart sprinkles on the cupcakes.
She gently pressed them into the icing
to make sure they would stick.

All finished!

Time for the taste test!

Yummy!
They are DELICIOUS!

Sleep Training

We started sleep training with Annie on Tuesday. I don't know if it's a second child thing or not, but it seemed like every time we were ready to start sleep training she was sick, getting a tooth or the holidays were coming and traveling would mess everything up anyway, etc. Well, we are only about we are only about 5 months too late on this endeavor but now we are going full force!

I won't lie...it's been tough a tough week! Annie is 10 months old. We've tried out sleep training briefly with her a few times before but had to stop due to sickness and teething. Now we're paying for it! The girl has given me a run for my money. She pretty much cried out her entire nap times for the past 3 days. Night time sleep was really rough the first two nights.

Yesterday she cried through both naps with absolutely no sleeping. She was SO TIRED by bedtime. When I put Annie down to sleep last night she only cried for about 2 minutes (rather than her usual 1-2 hours). I was surprised and a little nervous. I waited for a little while and then went to check on her to make sure she hadn't flung herself out of the bed or anything (she's a climber). When I went in I found her STANDING UP in her usual protesting corner of the crib with her head resting on her arm (on top of a soft blanket)...ASLEEP! It was really cute. I had to fight the urge to take a picture. I know it would have woken her up. I laid her down and she roused a little and then went right back to sleep.

After a hard day of crying it out for both naps (1/2 hour and 1 hour) and only sleeping 1/2 hour for each nap, I was a little nervous about her going to bed. It didn't seem like we were making much progress. We did our bedtime routine. I praised her for doing a good job learning to sleep and prepped her for tonight's sleep. Then... Aaaaaaah! The heavens smiled upon us! She happily laid down with no fight. She even smiled at me as I kissed her and said goodnight. I left the room and she never made a peep. WAY TO GO ANNIE!!!!!! We are so proud of her and hope that it is a sign of good things to come!

Valentine Sunday

Directly following breakfast, Emily announced that she and Annie needed to get dressed in their new shirts from Nana and Grandpa.

Cute Sisters!

I know Emily has her eyes closed in this picture,
but I thought Annie looked really cute!

Annie showing off her new teeth!

She adores this pink puppy.

Strike a pose!



Chad snapped a few "Valentine" pictures
of the girls for me before church.

We have the late church schedule now.
It happens to fall right at Annie's nap time.
She had missed her morning nap and was very tired.

Luckily, Emily helped Annie to
wake up for the photo shoot.

I LOVE this picture of Annie.
She recently learned to clap.
She does it all the time and is very proud of herself.

This picture is a classic Emily smile.
How did she get to be so cute?

Annie
10 months

Happy Valentine's Day!

The gifts.

I surprised Emily by making some homemade play dough
hearts for her to give to her friends. I saw this online andthought it was a cute idea. Emily was so excited to handout her Valentines. They were a big hit!

Emily has always liked this book. She thinks it is so
funny when we give her kisses along with the story.

Emily was very excited about the play
dough and wanted to play with it right away.

Annie LOVES this book! She is always sneaking away into our room to go and look at it. We read it for every nap and bed time.

Presents from Nana and Grandpa!

Annie and Emily really like their new shirts.
Thanks Nana and Grandpa!

Presents from Gramie an Papa

Thanks for the fun gifts Gramie and Papa!
They were a big hit!

Valentine breakfast

Yummy!

Annie especially liked her pears!
They are her new favorite treat.