It started with a snow day for Laura on Friday. We got dumped on by mother nature, which made for a fun day for the kids. They played outside in the snow with the neighbor girl, even little Emma. Emma really wanted to swing on her swingset, but I couldn't get her boot through the leg hole in her swing! She did go down the slide a few times though. She really couldn't run well in the snow, so she couldn't keep up. And she got frustrated. When they were worn out, they came in for some cocoa and cookies of course!
Earlier that day, Laura and Hannah iced and decorated cookies from Cheryl's that a friend gave them. It was a great afternoon activity. Matt started decorating the house, while the girls and I worked on the icing. He set up the Christmas village and the mantle. It started to look festive in our house.
Then on Sunday, we went to church early and met my parents afterwards. Then we all headed down for our annual trip to Saum's Tree Farm in Amanda. We have been going there for about five years. The girls walked around looking for their tree. Every one that Laura picked, Hannah didn't like and vice versa. After a while, it was getting cold, so Mom made the final decision! It turned out good. Laura told me a couple nights ago, that she wasn't sure about this tree in the beginning, but she likes it now. We got it home, and it was decorating time! The girls really enjoyed putting ornaments on the tree this year. I couldn't believe how fast it went, with them able to hang ornaments! They each liked to hang the ornaments that they had made in past years and ones that had their names on them. Emma entertained herself by pulling stockings and garland and other house decorations out of a tub. Shockingly she really has not tried to take ornaments off the tree of take pieces out of the Christmas village. She has tried to take Johnny, our Elf a couple of times, but that has been the extent of her destruction. She must know Santa is watching! So now, the house is all decorated, and we are getting more and more excited!
This week Laura shopped in Santa's Secret Workshop at school. She bought some gifts for us and brought them home to put under the tree. She is so looking forward to giving them to us. She tried to convince Matt to just let her give them to us now, but he held out and told her to wait til Christmas. She's growing up so fast.
Last night we went to the Christmas open house at Hannah's and Emma's school. The kids had a great time. It started with Hannah's class singing a song, Feliz Navidad, Matt's favorite. She was so sweet! Then they got to do all sort of activities in each room, like cookie decorating, ornament making, etc. And finally, there was a visit from Santa, which was probably the highlight.
Hannah is saying some funny things lately. She will tell one her jokes, and then she will end it with, "Wa wa Wa Waaa." It's hilarious. She has been playing with Emma so well lately too. She will try to play barbies or babies with her. But it usually ends with Emma stealing one of her dolls, and then Hannah crying or yelling. Emma usually just wants to play chase.
Emma is developing verbally by leaps and bounds lately. She is really starting to say everyone's names. For awhile it was just mama, dada and rara (Laura). Now she says ana (Hannah) and onna (Donna, her teacher). She will even say small phrases. When I give her fruit snacks (her most favorite thing) or her sippy cup, she will say, "Thsss (thank you) mama." It's so sweet. When she doesn't want something, she says, "nananana." She is still quite physical. She will hit and scratch and lash out in any way when she's mad. She doesn't bite as often, but she still does it once in a while. She got Hannah tonight. Poor Hannah is usually her victim around here. She is such a good sister. She always comes back to her and gives her hug to let her know that she forgives her.
One of the kids favorite activities in the past several weeks is playing Uno at night. Laura got it for her birthday, which I may have mentioned in a previous post. But anyway, they love it, and we have to finish each evening with a couple of rounds.
Another favorite thing right now is the sponge rollers. Laura likes to have me put in the sponge rollers in her hair after her bath at night. We don't do it every night, since it's kind of time consuming and our time in the evenings is limited. But we did it one night this week, and of course Hannah wanted it too. So I put some rollers in her hair too, even though it's already curly. Well after I was done with both girls, Emma plopped herself right in front of me. I said, "Oh, you want curlers too?" And she nodded her head yes. So I put a couple of rollers in her hair. Then she promptly got up and started dancing around the living room. Let me tell you her dances are hilarious. She holds her hands up in the air in front of her and moves them like a rapper, and then she has this slow motion up down move with her legs. It is so funny! And she loves to dance. So whenever any music is playing, on the TV, radio, or even in church, she is doing this move. I will have to catch it on video sometime to preserve it for all posterity, or at least to embarrass her later in life :)
A random picture of all of the girls stuffed in a car cart at Kroger.
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