Taking Brooke to Lunch

Ah, winter weekend mornings equals goofy playtime in the house. On this particular day Brooke discovered she can fit inside the cooler we use to carry our lunch to the pool! The photos don't quite do justice to how funny it looked!

Meanwhile, Keira discovered she can move the empty Keurig box around in the pantry to sort through the shelves.  Perhaps she's looking for a spice to help make dinner.

More sistertime, in Keira's room

The girls are endlessly amusing each other and "playing" in one another's rooms...  This day it was building a bed in Keira's room.

Keira Finally Says "Yes"

Keira's 2 favorite words:  "Mine" and "No"

I don't think I have ever heard her say "Yes" until tonight.  We were driving home from "family movie night" at Brooke's pre-school and Dad, Brooke and Mom were talking about how fun the movie night was.  The girls got to wear PJ's to it, it started after dinner which meant going out and staying up past bedtimes, they got to eat lots of popcorn, raisins and Teddy Grahams, and cuddle with Mom and Dad on a blanket on the floor of the church's community room. 

So, to include Keira in the conversation we were all agreeing how much fun it was and asking Keira what she thought.  Well she responded with a "Yes Yes".  Earth shattering, ground breaking!  The one and only time we've heard her say "yes".  Wish I had a tape recorder!

Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas!

Keira, being an early riser, was first down to see what Santa brought.

 She was happy to unwrap a new tutu!  (can never have enough tutus, dress-up clothes, costume jewelry, etc!)

Brooke was so excited to open up her "horse trailer".  It was "Just what I wanted!" she exclaimed.

Christmas dinner was enjoyed by all...Maddie probably even swiped some food off Keira's tray.

Merry Christmas to all,

and we thank God for the gift of his Son!

Christmas Eve 2011

First off, notice our tree.  There are no ornaments below (adult) waist level.  All ornaments needed to be moved up as little hands kept re-arranging and playing with them.

We tried for a family picture; only tried a couple times, and none of those really came out good.  Oh well.

Opening Christmas Eve presents -- new snowmen pajamas!

Besides Grandpa and Mimi in town, we also had another guest in the house...one with four legs: Buckeye!  A black lab belonging to friends whom went out of town on vacation.  Even though he probably has 3 years on Maddie, he kept her busy as he was always initiating play.

After opening the Christmas Eve gifts, we needed to leave the reindeer their food,

as well as cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.  Hopefully Santa didn't have any trouble with those logs we mistakenly left in the fireplace.  He probably twisted his ankle or something!!!

Brooke borrowed Grandpa's Santa hat for a while, thinking she was the one hollering "Ho Ho Ho!"

Maddie was exhausted from all these preparations.

Safe Travels to Santa!

Brooke's Preschool Christmas Party

Brooke had a great time at her preschool Christmas party.  One game we played was "Decorate a Christmas Tree" with one child being the tree while two other children decorated him/her.  Pretty hysterical! 

Brooke laughs as her friend Luke also gets decorated.

Classic Christmas Santa Picture

Keira and Brooke with Santa Claus.  Brooke was happy to tell Santa about the 8 horses and 5 dolls she wanted for Christmas.  Keira, uh, not so happy.

Keira's behavior wasn't too different from Brooke's when Brooke was that age ( 1 1/2 years old -- Dec 2009). 

Brooke getting some 1-on-1 time with Santa after the removal of a terrified Keira.

Brooke starts Dance class!

Brooke thinks she's a ballerina.  She's always enjoyed twirling around the house, so now that Fall soccer is over we thought her next "activity" could be dance.  She's enrolled in "Creative Movement" which is 30 minutes of "ballet" and 15 minutes of "tap". 

She loves it!  Her teacher's name is Miss Sam ("she's a girl" I'm informed by Brooke -- I guess versus Sam I Am, or maybe her friend Charlie's younger brother Sam...).  There are a handful of other girls, and while I cannot see into the dance studio, I'm sure they're having a blast!  Everyday she asks if we're going to dance today.  Little sister Keira of course wants to be part of the "troupe!"

Maddie Loving (or something like that)

Over the past 3 1/2 years, Maddie has been "subjected" to a lot by these little girls that have taken over the house.  Not to say it hasn't had its benefits, in the form of lots and lots of food being dropped, or in Keira's case being thrown, to the floor at mealtimes...

Keira is especially attentive to Maddie. Constantly laying on her, near her, riding her, sticking her face in Maddie's face for kisses and then laughing, rubbing her hand on her belly, etc.

Maddie also gets dressed up by the girls; wearing necklaces, bracelets, hats, shirts, vet-dress-up masks, band-aids, stickers, the list goes on...

A few times, while I'm cooking dinner, Maddie is always underfoot in the kitchen.  Keira will start crawling through Maddie's legs yelling "tunnel tunnel".  It's pretty funny -- gotta get video of that!

In the end though, she is the best dog in the world!

Keira is 18 Months Old

And boy, she's become a lot of fun and a darling lately!  She's always been quite a cuddler/hugger, and now it's really increasing as you can ask for hugs and kisses and she toddles over and gives them generously.  Very cute!

At her 18 months well check:

weight: 23 lbs 9 oz (39%)

height: 31 1/2 inches (44%)  (catching up to sister!)

We're still working on sleeping through the night many nights, and since the time change, 5:15am is the new wake-up time.  Ugg.  Mom spends 5-7am sleeping upright holding Keira in the rocking chair in her room.  I've logged more hours in that chair in the past year and a half than in my own bed.