Mid-January through Mid-February 2015

We have been hanging out inside for the most part...since it has been freezing outside for the most part.  We did have a nice weekend so the girls got to try out their new Frozen Mustang.

 It was a big hit for about 15 minutes.  Marlee has so much anxiety about it.  I do believe Laynie would drive it if she A.Cared to drive it and B. Could reach the pedals.

  James took Marlee to the Lady Razorback basketball game with Gina and Peyton.  To say Marlee loved it would be an understatement.  She has talked about it ever since and CANNOT wait for her next Razorback experience.

 I'm not real sure what this face is all about.

 We took the girls to the library one cold Saturday.  Marlee was in heaven with all of the books.  Laynie was in heaven with all of the wide open spaces.  James and I spent the entire time switching off who ran after Laynie.

  We have spent a lot of time indoors painting (Marlee) and sorting crayons (Laynie).  Laynie is pretty much into sorting just about anything these days.

 Dada even got in on the fun.  These two seriously crack me up.

Marlee still spends a lot of her free time dressing up and role playing.

Little miss priss had a meltdown before school on "wear red day" because she didn't have a red dress like little sister.  This photo cracks me up because she is looking Laynie up and down.

She also likes to put all of her books on the floor and make a "hotscotch".  This is so fun to clean up.  She helps me, of course...but her picks up one book to my twenty.

 Her latest facination is pretending to be a mermaid.  She wants James and I to get in on the fun, so we have spent the majority of every night this week flopping around on the floor pretending to be mermaids. 

Laynie spends most of her time getting into anything and everything, moving things from one place to another, and playing with this shape sorter.  It is her new favorite pastime.  She has gotten even better since this video and likes to praise herself by clapping and saying "Yay!" after each shape.

 She is getting quite a little attitude and gives me the look quite often.

Little miss attitude recently learned how to dip her food.

After so many consistent ear infections and a ruptured ear drum, Laynie finally got tubes in her ears.  It has been so nice to finally get some sleep after 2+ months of sleepless nights.

Here she is at the Dr. after her ruptured ear drum. :(

And here she is before getting tubes.  She is the cutest hospital gown wearer I have ever seen. :)

She started talking a little more the week before she got tubes and has been talking much more since then.  For example, she got stuck between the couch and ottoman last week and said "I'm tuck!".  She is also repeating more after me.  She said "sock" and "shoe" after me this week.  We also find her spinning around in circles a lot, saying "asthes,asthes".  She loves to play ring around the rosie.

 We finally got some snow this week.  Marlee and I spent 30 minutes of battling it out getting Marlee dressed to go outside (she didn't like anything I put on her because it wasn't "pretty enough").  After I finally got Marlee outside with James, I decided it wasn't even worth it with Laynie so I just put her in her high chair with a sucker (she would probably rather do that anyway).  And it's a good thing because Marlee and James were back inside 15 minutes later because Marlee got snow in her boot and she was over it.

We spent the rest of the snow days watching movies, eating Valentine's candy, and playing in a tent on Marlee's bed (we even watch a movie in the tent! :) ).

  Other than that, Marlee got a hair cut.  She didn't know what to think about it.

Laynie tried her first cookie cake and she loved it.  Dada was recovering from an intestinal infection and sure doesn't look that great.

And Marlee faked sick one day to miss school and hang out with me.

I sure do love these girls with all of my heart and I love making memories with them.

And because my main goal in all of this is to have something for them to read when they get older, I want to let them know that Momma and Dada got out for a date. :)  We went to eat a really nice dinner and then met a friend at JJ's bar and grill to watch the Razorback basketball game.  It was a nice break.

Cold Winter Days

Since Christmas, we have been spending a lot of time inside...watching a lot more TV than I would like.  But, it is FREEZING outside (feels like single digits outside), so I really don't even want to have to load them up in their car seats if I don't have too.  So, we hang out at home a lot.  We do play inside.  We do a lot of puzzles and coloring and painting and play dough and we play with all of their toys.  But, with so many hours in the day, you have to just watch some TV.  So, whatever.

Laynie loves to lounge while she watches TV.  It kills me.

She also likes to touch me somehow if I am in the room. ;)

Marlee still loves to dress up.  She still strips as soon as she wakes up and as soon as she walks in the door to put on one of her dresses.

Here she is in Momma's shirt and shoes (that she helped herself to in my closet).

 She is such a girly girl that loves to carry a purse.

 She has never been into baby dolls, but she loves dresses, jewelry, hair accessories, and purses.  I don't know where she gets it because I wear yoga pants and a pony tail every day.  Haha!

Here they are getting ready to go to school one morning.  I always say "Are you ready to go bye-bye?" and Laynie goes and puts her hand on the door to the garage and waits for me.

 Laynie is still such a good eater.  She is getting all four molars right now though so she is a little more picky than usual.  That makes eight teeth for her.  I asked her to say cheese, so she is saying "Eese!" in this picture.

And here is a video of Dada feeding her bananas.  Lord help me.

 She is talking a whole lot more, but still won't repeat anything for us.  She can say brush (when it is time to brush her teeth), apple, what's that? (wazzat?), hi, bye, nana (banana), book (booh), ni-ni (night-night), eyes, nose, Dada, Momma (once in a blue moon), and probably others that I am forgetting.  But, you have to catch it the first time because she isn't going to repeat it.

Little miss has quite the personality these days and can give some pretty strong looks.  Here's the look I got when I wouldn't stop asking her to look at me for a picture.

She is also a little daredevil.  She is not scared of anything.

Marlee started gymnastics last week at an new place.  To say that she loves it would be an understatement.  She threw herself down in the lobby when it was over last week because she didn't want to leave.  I was so embarrassed.  When we got there this week, she yelled in the lobby, "Yay!!!  We're at gymnastics!!"  And then she said "I'm not going to cry when we have to leave, Momma".  And she didn't.  When it was over, she said "I don't want to leave, Momma, but I'm not going to cry."  I could just squeeze her to death.

 This girl loves artwork.  She loves painting, coloring with crayons, coloring with markers, stickers, etc.  And she is always so proud. :)

These two make my heart so happy.  This video is probably my favorite right now.  Marlee loves Laynie so much and it just melts my heart.

Christmas 2014

We went to Bernie the weekend before Christmas and this is the only photo I have.  I blame it on constantly chasing Laynie to make sure she isn't eating something she shouldn't or falling down the stairs!

At least one of the girls was sick from Thanksgiving through Christmas.  That made for a VERY hard Christmas.  James and I were up way too late on Christmas Eve trying to make it all happen.  And I think I averaged 4 hours of sleep per night for about 3 weeks.  It stunk.  And I am SO glad it is over.  I know I set the stage in this house for how magical Christmas is for the girls and I put on a really good front, but I was worn out.  Here are my sick babies.  It breaks my heart.

And here is Lou bird one morning in my bed.  She loves to wake up in Momma's bed.

Both girls loved Santa.  Well, kind of.  Marlee loved him.  She was talking to him before I could even get Laynie out of the stroller.  Laynie, not so much.  She is only smiling in this picture because I am sitting beside her and Dada is behind the camera. ;)

I absolutely LOVED our Christmas card this year.  We had several people ask if it was taken on our property.  Ha!  I wish!

For the first time ever, we decided to stay home on Christmas Eve.  It was definitely weird going to church as just a family of four.  But, it was nice to be at our own church.  And, it was great to start our own traditions.

Candlelight service was interresting.  We found out they had childcare and we were Thankful for that.  Laynie was over it.  Marlee did really well and even turned to James while we were singing "Away in the Manger" and said, "I love you Dada.  Happy Christmas."  It was the sweetest thing ever.

 Marlee sat out cookies for Santa and Dada read "The Night Before Christmas"

 The girls were so excited Christmas morning.  It takes Laynie awhile to wake up. ;)

 Marlee's favorite toy was a toy that Santa brought for Laynie and Laynie's favorite toy was a wand from Dollar Tree. 

 Santa brought them this Frozen car.  They love to sit in the car and listen to the radio, but Marlee is too scared to drive it.  I think Laynie would drive it if she could reach the pedals.  She is our little daredevil! 

We spent Christmas Day at Ma & Pa's house.  I do not have any pictures from there either.  Again, I was chasing Laynie.  I did steal these from Jami.

 A few nights later was Christmas at Memaw and Papaw's house.  I only took two of these pictures.  The rest I got from Mom. :)  It is hard being out of town!

 Marlee got Frozen skates, which turned out to be her favorite gift.  They have not left her side since she opened them. 

 Marlee and I made chocolate popcorn and she handed it out at Ma & Pa's house and at Memaw and Papaw's house.  She has such a kind heart.

 And last but not least, I love this man more than he will ever know.  And he doesn't read this blog, so he still won't know. ;)  He is the only reason I made it through this Christmas without losing my sanity.

And that is that.  It's a wrap.  Thank goodness.  I am typing this in January and both kiddos have been well for a week (despite Laynie getting all four molars).  I feel like I am finally getting back on track!