How do your kids watch TV?

Yes, they do this on their own.  I did have to lift Lainey onto her chair, but she insisted it be up beside Paige.

How does a person break their children from a finger/thumb sucking habit.  I just can NOT figure it out.  Paige had quit for 2 months and is back to sucking her thumb.  She just sucks off whatever we put on it.  We've tried bandaids, tape, Mavala Stop. . .nothing seems to work.  I'm not too concerned right now, maybe next month.

All Things Paige

Paige cannot pass by a bottle of "hanitizer" without putting some on. This is not a bad thing, but I find it a bit excessive. And now she has Alaina asking for it. Crazy girls, at least their hands are germ-free! 

Sweet Thing!

I got to go hold my new neice yesterday.  She is the tiniest, most precious baby girl I've ever held (besides my own, of course).  She really has a sweet spirit.  Her mommy and daddy are so proud!

My girls got to love on her, too.

Paige is such a good cousin and Alaina just wants to touch her.

I can really see how big MY babies have gotten when I look at this picture.  (And how much they do look similar.)

I caught her mid-sneeze!

Isn't the dress just precious.  We couldn't help but play dress up. 

We are praying for you little Olivia.  May you grow up strong and wise with a heart for Jesus!  And we love you tons!

For Nana and Papa

Bowling!

We decided to go bowling with the Isaacson's on New Year's Day. We had never taken the girls before, and I think they had a good time. Alaina, of course, did not bowl. She just had snacks and played with her favorite toy. . .a wipe. I don't think we thought it would take us 2 hours to finish one game, but with 3 kids and four adults playing. It took a long time. The girls' balls took f o r e v e r to get down the lane. But they enjoyed it and that's all that matters.

The final scores are on the right above the 0.  Aren't we great?!

Helmets Anyone?

UPDATE:  I did consider the bike helmet.  But I don't think it would fit correctly with a hat and I don't know how you would keep their ears warm without a hat.  But it would be better than nothing.  The style of helmet pictured is more what I was thinking of for sledding.  The American Academy of Pediatrics does recommend using helmets for sledding.   Maybe next year we will have to see about getting some.  I don't think we will do much sledding yet this year.  Alaina is still pretty little. 

ORIGINAL POST:  I realize that becoming a mom has changed me.  I worry about things now, that 3 and a half years ago I wouldn't have given a second thought to.  As my girls are getting older, they are able to try more things.  More things that do not include me holding them and protecting them from harm.  One of these activities is sledding.  Call me crazy (Mark and Greg watch it!), but I would really like my kids to wear helmets when sledding.  (And maybe bubble wrap!)  But in all seriousness, I've just heard of way too many sledding accidents where kids/adults have hit their heads. 

We do not currently have helmets for our girls and am still debating the thought of actually buying helmets.  Is it worth the money?  What are the chances that they are truly going to injure themselves?  Would a helmet even help?  Do we actually go sledding enough to make it worth it? 

My girls ALWAYS have to wear a helmet when they ride their bikes/trikes, and even when they are being pulled in the bike trailer.  I want them to grow up doing this, so it becomes a habit and they won't know any different.  To me it's like wearing seatbelt. . .why not just put it on!

What do you think?  Are winter helmets a waste of money or money well spent?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

Introducing. . .

my new neice, Olivia Sky,

Born January 8, 2009 at 7:48pm

6lbs 8oz

19 and 1/2 in. long

Congratulations James and Jenna!

"How do. . .

. . . YOUUUUUUUUU eat your Macaroni and Cheese?"

"Like this,

 or perhaps more civilized, like this,

or using your hand as a scoop while holding your spoon, like this?!"

I guess it's yummy no matter how you eat it!

Christmas with Nana and Papa!

We all got together at James and Jenna's this year.  They are expecting their first baby and didn't want to travel.  I don't blame them, but having 9 adults, 2 kids, 6 dogs, and a partridge in a pear tree, at their house couldn't have been all that relaxing.  They seemed super laid back about it and it was nice for us to only have to travel a little over an hour.  We usually are home for Christmas morning and travel in the afternoon, but with the winter storm coming we ended up going on Christmas eve, just to be safe.  They ended up getting around 8 inches of snow the day after Christmas, when we took this picture.  They had no snow when we got there 2 days before.  Thanks for hosting James and Jenna.

We decided to do pictures without the dogs this year.  The most memorable dog incident had to be Casey peeing on James and Jenna's white comforter on their bed.  We were SOOOOO mad.  I don't know why she does it, she never pees in the house on the floor.  I don't even know the last time she has peed anywhere but outside.  It has been years.  She has now peed on our bed, my parents bed, and James and Jenna's bed.  Who's next?

Lainey and Paige with their Auntie and Unkie!  Gotta love their expressions!

The girls were Papa's elves and helped him unwrap Rum Cake from Tortuga.  It was delicious!!!!

Lainey with her new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse blanket.  Hot Dog!

Paige with her Piano book.  Paige and Alaina opening their new art easel. 

Loving their new GIANT remotes!  I guess we won't lose that one!

Showing off their new Jump-o-lene.  More pics to come!

I had to add this picture because Alaina could not open presents if there was paper on the floor.  She went around picking it all up.  She couldn't let even the smallest scraps go unnoticed.  I will definitely work to keep this trait alive. 

Loving her new Sound of Music Lamb puppet.  It sings the yodeling song.  I love it!

"Thanks Aunt Amber for the lamb."

I think she should be on the commercial for Smuckers.  Yummy!

Working so well together. 

I know Paige will hate this picture in the future, but it cracks me up.  I'm not sure what she is doing.

Nice blue tongue.  Definitely taking after Mommy with the cotton candy.  We all love it.

These next pics are of the girls in their new Jump-o-lene.  I would have loved one of these as a kid.

It is huge . . .84 in. diameter! 

Paigey coloring at her easel while everyone else plays games and eats!  It's what we do next.

Alaina loving on Lucky and hitching a ride with Papa.

Our funny pic.  My fav is the snowflake on my mom's nose.