February 7 - Trapeze Artist

Ever since "Madagascar 3" came out, Andlie has wanted to buy our very own trapeze equipment so she can learn how to be a trapeze artist & perform.  (Don't worry, she has also requested that we get a net so, rest assured, we will be safe.)  Well, today I made her wish come true when I went and got Bryan's pull up bar out of storage!  She went and got her uniform on (complete with two belts), pulled a chair up, stacked a stool on top of that, jumped right on, and started swinging!  The first thing out of her mouth was, "MOM, THIS THING IS AWESOME!"  Big Mom points earned.

After a while, she needed a rest, so she joined me & Nora on the bed and then we took a picture at her request with all three girls which she named, "Girl Power."  

February 6 - Car Faces & Bowling

I looked back when we dropped Andlie off at school this morning and told Haze to smile.  This is what I got.

Meanwhile, Nora was utterly amazed by her new carseat canopy.

And, finally, me & Haze played "bowing" the entire time Andlie was at school today.  You guys, he's obsessed.  He loves bowling.  It's what he talks about all day.  "Mom, me and Daddy and Annie and Hazey went bowing.  I knock 'em over! And then it's Annie's turn."  He always wants to do it.  "Mom, should we go bowing?  At Riverwoods?"  And it's his favorite topic of conversation when he's on the phone with anyone.  So, today we set up his "ducks" and bowled them over.  And over.  And over.  And he loved it.  And I loved him for it.

February 5 - Kindergarten Registration

Oh my heck.  My baby girl had Kindergarten registration today.  Where has time gone?  My gosh, I remember going to my own Kindergarten registration!  I'm definitely not ready for this.  I only got a tickle in my throat once though.  

I am so proud of our sweet Andlie.  She is smart.  She can write her own name, count to 100, knows her address & phone number, is an expert cutter, and is starting to read.  She is kind.  She doesn't like others to be left out or sad.  She has a tender heart.  She is confident in who she is!  She loves preschool and Primary.  She loves her glasses.  She has a wonderful imagination!  She is certain she has magical powers that she was born with.  She is stubborn.  She doesn't like to be told no.  She will find a work-around that word - almost always.  She loves her brother & sister fiercely.  She is sassy and funny.  She held a breadstick up to her face & told me it was a breadstick mustache yesterday.  She loves chapstick.  She talks like she is an adult.  Yesterday she told me that she painted at preschool and it "was a good experience."  She is our sunshine.  We love her more than words.  We are so thankful she's ours.

February 4 - Cleaning Snow

It finally snowed!  Andlie & Haze immediately got bundled up & picked their snow cleaning tools (a broom & a mop), and went outside to "clean up the snow!"  

And, since she didn't want to be left out, Nora got bundled up too in her darling jacket when we dropped Andlie off at preschool.

February 3 - Nora Smiles

Sweet Nora Jane is really starting to smile a lot!  She is such a joy and we are blessed to have her in our lives!

February 2 - Superbowl Sunday

Andlie learned to tie a shoe today at church.  She's done it several times since.  It is a perfect  way to describe part of her personality: determined.  Once she knows she wants to do something, she does it.  Simple as that.  It's been this way with snapping her fingers, whistling, skipping, riding a bike, and many more things.  If she wants something, it will be hers.

We watched the Superbowl today and I went balls to the walls in the food department!  I made sweet pork sandwiches, seven layer dip, a veggie tray, cookie bars, and scotcheroos!

And while we watched the Superbowl, Andlie learned how to write Nora's name!  (She already knew how to write the others.)

February 1 - Sibling Love

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."

-Robert Brault