Abby's Baby Doll Daycare

Abigail now has so many baby dolls, equipment, beds, outfits, accessories. She loves it all and can't get enough. She moves the babies around the different stations and tends to them as if they are her own.

 So I now call the playroom, "Abby's Baby Doll Daycare."

tagline: "Where imaginations grow."

But Abigail's not the only one who loves her dolls.

*Squeeze*

This is Holly Dolly, and they love to match clothes.

Christmas festivities

Christmas festivities this year included good food, good family, good fun.

Christmas Eve. Stacy, Violet, Lydia, Abby

Lydia & Abigail's dancing and singing shows were every hour on the hour.

Hey, they look happy together :)

Cindy tries out the glasses that put candy canes on every Christmas light. Neat!
We had fun doing a white elephant gift exchange with the Bolgerts this year. That vintage floral luggage set was one of the coveted gifts.

Cinnamon rolls before opening gifts from Santa, who in a letter, noted how Lydia and Abigail were good this year and reminded them to spread Christmas cheer because Jesus is born.

Lydia was excited to get a "Barbie with lipstick" and a tiny compact that's nearly impossible to open.

Abigail looked so sweet feeding her baby in the new highchair.

Later that day we went to my aunt Debbie's house for a Schmidt family Christmas.
Ava, Lydia and Natalie played together for a bit and Natalie was especially nice about sharing her new toys (Legos).

my Uncle John and Lydia had a happy time together with some good old rough-housing, kind of how my Grandpa Schmidt used to do with us as kids.
We then spent two nights (Lydia is very good at keeping track of how many nights we stay places) at Grandma Linda's, hanging out, doing gifts, assembling a bookshelf, driving to see lights. 

And then two nights at Grandma Jan's, going to Kinsey's 3rd birthday party, playing games, opening gifts, dancing, going on "bear hunts" and seeing Grandpa Pulley.

Attempt at Sledding

This is our front yard hill that Daddy thought would be fun to push Lydia down in the sled. As you can see, there is no fence or barricade or anything to stop Lydia from sliding directly into the street, and so that's what happened. 

 Aw, Dad. Just pull me gently around the back yard! It's not the super big and awesomely hilly backyard we had in Peoria (still don't miss all the work that wild yard required), but this...

doesn't put my life in danger.  

Maybe next time we'll try out the hill at a nearby park that has plenty of stopping distance before the road.

A few weeks later, a few more inches of snow. Now we build forts! Abigail gets bundled up to go outside, steps outside, and cries to come back in. Mommy and Abby stay warm inside and watch the fun.

Preschool Christmas Program

Lydia was the perfect height to be placed front and center for the preschool Christmas program.

"Up on the housetop reindeer pause."

They also sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and twist on Old McDonald Had a Farm.

"Old McSanta had a sleigh - ho ho ho ho ho."

"And on that sleigh he had some toys...With a yeah, yeah here and a yeah, yeah there."
That line got the kids excited.

 Then Santa really showed up. He was lively and fun.

 Lydia was happy to have her picture taken with him, but Abigail wanted nothing to do with him,

 and everything to do with Baby Violet.

 The program was at the Oak Creek Community Center where they have a pretty tree inside the lobby. The outdoor tree that we (and a surprising large number of other people) saw lit the Sunday after Thanksgiving, is across the parking lot behind the library.

When Santa was finished meeting with every boy and girl, he exited, and an illusionist came on stage. He had a fun performance that involved the kids.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Gingerbread Goodies

beautiful chalet, 2013

 This year, in addition to our annual gingerbread house, the girls decorated their own gingerbread girl.

Daddy helped with Baby, Mommy helped with Girl

Alphabet Fun

Inspired by Kid's Alphabet Game

app for android

,

and Grover's Own Alphabet,

beloved children's book

and fueled by Lydia's imagination, 

we present to you...LYdIA!

"I love making letters!"

Thanksgiving Kids' Table

Ah, so much to be thankful for (family, friends, health, daily needs cared for) on Thanksgiving and everyday. 

I bet one of the things these Peterson family kids were thankful for was their very own short table

 for eating and laughing at

 eating nicely or not so nicely.

 and for coloring and crafting at!

Growing Fine Motor Skills

Abigail just loves getting into things and playing, from light switches to desk drawers and everything in between.

Busy Boppin' Pals

This toy has switches, twists, and slides and keeps her busy for a little while, but it doesn't keep her out of things she shouldn't be playing with. In the same way, I put a toy phone that looks just like our house phone, only more colorful and musical, in front of our house phone, and she plays with both the toy and the real phone.