A picnic with Erwin

I came in the family room to see an elaborate picnic set up for a few chosen stuffed animals and her very favorite animal, Erwin. We are trying to fight the winter doldrums and can't wait to spend more time outside when spring rolls around.

Allie-girl

surprised me by counting to 6 tonight all by herself!

A 60 degree February day...

A taste of spring weather and melting snow is all we need to keep our spirits up through the next few months until it actually is the season. Isabelle and Allie really enjoyed being able to play outside and we were able to take a very muddy trip to the park too. It is amazing how warm 60 degrees feels when it was single digits just a few days prior.



Allie took a one step tumble down a very hard concrete stair a few days ago and it left a big scrape on her beautiful perfect nose! She tells me all about it in the picture where she is pointing to her injury.

Solo bubble bath

Just a sweet pic of little Al that I just couldn't resist posting. She is quite a talker and also quite an opinionated 23 month old. If she is fussing and you fake cry like her she gets her serious face with her big eyes and pointing finger and says "NO! Allie cry!" I also overheard some very serious debating with her big sister Isabelle this week on if the picture was a rhino or a hippo...Allie was wrong but kept insisting that she was right. She also decided to wear a toy silver and pink ring around and was announcing that, "I princess, I princess". Yes Allie, you most certainly are!

Pucker UP!

The girls like to play in the mud, dig in the sand and pocket sticks, rocks and pinecones and they also like to put on make-up and paint their nails. Allie loves to eat chapstick and will furiously lick her lips after a fresh application of gloss.

Happy (early) Valentines Day!

Allie and Isabelle want to show you their new Valentine's Day shirts but also want to update you a little on what is happening in their world...

Allie:
requests for breakfast: toast (every morning), and don't you dare try to give me something different!!!!
favorite drink: chocolate milk
did you hear: that I am a regular chatterbox
I am not afraid to: voice my opinion...very loudly
I never refuse: a piece of cheese
I love love love: Dora the Explorer and Diego
I always have in my hands: my Dora and Diego figurines
I know and can tell you: 5 colors (pink, purple, green, blue and red)
I hate: getting a ponytail put in.

Isabelle:
requests for breakfast: Cherry pop-tarts
favorite drink: apple juice
did you hear: that I am down to one bubble in swimming class...I just have to remember to keep moving my arms and legs to tread water continuously so I don't go under.
I am not afraid to: ask the question Why??? Why????? Why???????
I never refuse: a piece of candy
I love love love: Erwin the cat
I always have in my hands: a stuffed animal or animal figurine
I know and can tell you: upper and lower case alphabet and my numbers
I hate: when my shirt gets stuck over my head!

Best friends...

Although they occasionally battle over the same toy, Isabelle and Allie really love to play and be with each other. It makes my heart flutter when they show such spontaneous kindness to each other and give each other hugs and kisses. How can I be so lucky? I found them playing happily with each other one morning where Isabelle apparently had to give little Allie a boost to get on the bed.

Indoor activities

With the Indiana winters, Isabelle and Allie find alot of things to occupy their time inside like...




bumper cars...

harassing Erwin...

discovering their inner Van Gogh...

or Picasso...

surfing the net...(sesamestreet.org).

On a rare day that Isabelle isn't taking a nap, she really enjoys one on one time and especially the opportunity to play games on the computer. She finally understands how to work the mouse and so I don't have to stand over her shoulder to constantly help when all she wants to do is be independent.