Lydia "Reads"

Lydia's "reading" a book she made at preschool. It's a variation on the classic, Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? Her name was inserted at the beginning, she traced the words, and she glued on the animals.

Happy Birthday Holly Dolly

The birthday season continues: first Jesus, then Ben, then Lydia, then Abigail, all within 2 months. We should have planned this better! Oh wait, then Lydia tells me it's Holly Dolly's birthday, and we have to make a pinata for her! 

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Princess-Hat-Pinata

 We put on Dolly's prettiest dress and took pictures for her baby book. She's turning '6.'

We filled it with Littlest Pet Shop toys.

Oh, the things we do for our kids...and their dolls.

Bye Bye Pacifier

Pacifiers are not forever. Pacifiers are for babies. A pacifier has been attached to Abigail since birth.

Beloved pacifier has been there for Abigail to comfort and soothe through the tough times and the good. Wait, the good? Yes, now pacifier is being abused and used when not needed. Age two is approaching, and it is time to cut the cord, or pacifier string, or it may come to the pacifier itself! 

I read that if you poke a tiny hole in the pacifier, then sucking it won't be as satisfying, and eventually the baby will drop it, the so-called sabotage method. I tried this one month ago. Abigail didn't seem to notice. So I went a little further and cut a nice long slit in the pacifier with a knife. Abigail still sucked on it as if nothing was different. Time to take drastic measures. Six days ago I did this... (while Abigail was not looking)

pacifier post guillotine

Agh! Once I did it I felt so guilty. This sight still makes me uneasy. This certainly did not go unnoticed by dear Abigail. The look on her face made me feel like I killed her best friend! All I could say was "Pacifier broken. :(  I'm sorry." 

Needless to say, that Monday was a little rough, but I stood firm in my resolve to rid Abigail of her unnecessary germy habit. At night she kicked and cried out for 'nuk' and 'p'ier,' but eventually she slept. The following few days were a little grumpy and filled with empty grabs to where her pacifier used to hang, as well as with ghost sucks. Today, those phantom movements are gone and I am going out on a limb to declare that we are pacifier free! I can hardly believe it. 

Who needs a pacifier? Look, not me!

I'm soo big!

First Time Bowler

 On New Year's Eve, we met some college friends in Chicagoland for dinner and bowling. Lydia picked out a pink ball. It was only seven pounds, but she still could barely carry it without dropping it. We'll have to wait to teach her granny style bowling till next year...in 2014 ;)

Here she got a SPARE!

With the ramp and bumper assists, she scored 104!

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.