Christmas 2009

Before going to California, we had fun making our own little Christmas festivities in Rexburg. We made gingerbread houses with Kyle and Cortney Bond, and had a party the night before we left to drive to Ca, complete with treats music and gifts to each other. She didn't seem very excited about her fish tank, but I think it was just because it was lacking in fish. We got some after we came back from vacation and she enjoys feeding them and watching them (although not as much as daddy does!) Lisa also participated in a preschool nativity for which she played an "angel". She had fun dressing up, but that was quite the morning. I, of course, was running behind and that made the tantrums seem even bigger. She didn't like the way her wings felt...and from there it just ...got interesting. But she sure is cute!
We had a great time visiting with family this Christmas vacation and the drive wasn't too bad either. It had its moments, but overall it went fine. The girls definitely have their breaking points so we try to be patient on the long car drives. On the way back we actually drove through the night so Lisa slept most of it. Ryan ended up driving almost all of the way because I just get too sleepy. We are already planning our next trip to California in March---when I will finally go on another backpacking trip with Ryan!

SNOW! is fun.

Today we had such a fun time in the snow that I wanted to post the pictures right away. Lisa is old enough now that she really enjoys playing in it...if she falls down she just laughs and she also gets in to all the fun snow games we can play. I was happy Ryan came out to join us. Lyra hardly made a peep tucked away in the coat I was wearing. I didn't realize until I saw the pictures that her little feet were sticking out the bottom. Good thing she had two sleepers on to keep her warm. Anyway...if we ever move away from here, I will miss the snow. (Not the ice and wind, but the beautiful snow...)

Listening to the imaginations

The walk to preschool is about a mile long and I often wonder what Lisa is thinking as she quietly walks/or rides along. Yesterday she enlightened me with what that may be when she said this:
"Mom--I'm going to be thinking of a story all the way to preschool, so don't even talk to me 'cause I won't even be listening. I'll be listening to imaginations."
She really makes me smile.
Later in the day she says to me, "Mom, have you heard of that story about Jack and Jill? That's what I was thinking about on the way to preschool."
I guess she really was thinking of a story!

Smiles and silliness

Lisa and Lyra are becoming very good little friends . Lisa wants so badly to play with Lyra. She wants her to watch movies with her and play pretend. She can get pretty silly sometimes. She took the following picture of her own artwork. I like the smile. She also has her own eye-mask--the gel kind you can put in the freezer (Thanks to Aunt Katie and Marmee for the ingenious idea to solve the problem of her constant whining about her dry and itchy eyes-we really were glad for a solution...she was literally having little panic attacks when her eyes would bother her) It makes her look like a special super hero. Lyra is starting to really hold her head up well and I keep trying to get her to smile for a picture, but the flash light seems to really throw her off. We have fun trying anyway.

Happy Holidays!

I spent awhile on the internet the other day looking up ideas for holiday art projects Lisa and I could make together. I try to choose those that she can do mostly on her own, but sometimes it's more of a team effort. Either way we have a good time cutting, coloring and painting whatever we can think of. I love watching Lisa get creative. She helped me make some paper towel poinsettias and I made a wreath out of fabric strips. She also helped me make some snowflakes for the front door, although I learned that cutting them was a little too difficult for her so she colored them after I cut them out. She was very excited to put up the Christmas tree the day after we got back from Colorado. And then we had some fun playing with Lyra and the stockings. We love this time of year.