Halloween

Halloween 2012 has come and gone, but it sure was fun!  The girls had a blast and it hands down was the best Wyoming weather we have EVER had.  (We're talking about trick or treating with no coats.  Not even a jacket either!)

This year's Halloween costumes were somewhat low-key.  I had envisioned coordinating costumes for the girls.  In fact, for quite sometime I wanted them to be Rapunzel and Pascal, but something in me intervened and decided I should ask Alayna what she wanted to be.  Who am I to choose for her?  

And guess what?  She wanted to be a ballerina.  (She even already had an outfit from our dress up barrel in mind, which was a win-win for my checkbook.)  This came as no shock to me since Angelina Ballerina has been a favorite around here for awhile now.

And when I asked what Brylen should be, Alayna insisted her being a ballerina as well. (After all, Angelina Ballerina has a little sister.) Who am I to argue the simple pleasures of a child?

So, ballerinas they were.

Lucky for us, they had several occasions to wear their costumes for.

Here are the girls after the tri-ward halloween social kids 5 and under. 

Alayna, practicing her twirling.

Gotta love this girl.

And this girl too.  They make beautiful ballerinas.

Getting ready to go trick or treating at Daddy's work.  (She loved getting all dolled up.  Especially the make-up.  She asked everyday for a couple days following Halloween if she got to put my make-up on again.  Um, no.  Four-year-olds don't get to wear make-up on a daily basis. Sorry.)

Costume, pictures and a teething baby just don't mix.  Ask me how I know.

But somehow I did manage to get a smile.

LOVE this!  

And a few close-ups of the littlest ballerina.

She even knows how to put her arms out to the side like a ballerina.

And look how flexible she is too.

Alayna wanted a turn in the lime light as well.  (Notice those bandaids.  She got six shots the day before Halloween.  And Brylen had four.  Poor girls.)

Now, on to the sorting.  What's Halloween candy without sorting.  

Pumpkins

This year we went to a small makeshift pumpkin patch in our town to pick out our pumpkins.  Alayna loved looking at all the different pumpkins to choose from.  But it didn't take her long to choose one.

Brylen was content to sit and watch in her seat.

Then the following week, the pumpkin carving commenced.

Layna was a great helper. In fact, she insisted on doing most of it herself. 

This girl is not afraid to get dirty.  She even attacked it with both hands.

Showing Mommy all the seeds.

Brylen seemed to enjoy the carving from her seat.

Showing off her pumpkin.  She came up with her pumpkin's face all on her own.  She was quite proud.

And Daddy's pumpkin. Pretty good, huh?  

4 sweet years

Four years.  FOUR years!  This little girl has been a part of our family for FOUR years.  And we absolutely adore her and her sweet n' sassy personality.

The weekend before her birthday we went to Grandma and Grandpa L's house to have a party with some of her cousins, aunts and uncles and of course Grandma and Grandpa.  It's been awhile since we have had the option to celebrate with family, so we jumped at the chance.

She was in heaven and had been talking about her birthday for weeks.  She knew she was turning four "just like Easton" (her cousin). 

This year she only made a few requests for her birthday.  She wanted there to be pink, ice cream and a round cake.  Little did she know that totally made this mom's day.  I can do that.  So that is what we did.  We had a pink party with a round birthday cake and ice cream.  I am so glad these little ones are so easy to please.  It's my philosophy that as parents, we might as well keep things simple as long as the kids will let us.  Why stress yourself out with huge, elaborate parties when the kids are just as happy with a simple one?

The birthday girl with her pink, round cake.  I think it's safe to say, she was pleased.

A close up of the cake.  Probably the easiest cake I have made yet.  I told Dan that she will be getting this same birthday cake every year.  It was that easy. (Sadly, that probably won't happen.)

Blowing out the candles.

Now, the presents.  Of course she was spoiled!  She loved everything she got.  And might I add, that this age was SO fun to shop for.  I loved it!  She knows what she wants and there are some pretty fun stuff for kids nowadays.  I would have killed for some of those toys when I was her age.

Why hello Brylen.  She definitely was enjoying the festivities as well.

Mom and Dad gave her Prince Eric.  

She was in love.  :)

Some of the decorations.  Simple, but got the job done.

We spent Alayna's actual birthday at home.  The night before, some of Dan's family came for another party.  (I know.  She's one spoiled girl.)  She couldn't believe that she got TWO birthdays.  In fact, it kind of confused her.  I tried to explain after her first party that she wasn't really four yet, but that didn't go over too well.  Then she figured she was turning five at her next party.  (Wow. That year went by in a week. :) 

So finally we settled for turning four twice.  

Here she is on her actual birthday.  We had to get donuts with sprinkles for breakfast.

And here she is at her second party.  This time we made cake pops.  (They fulfilled all the requirements.  They are pink. And round.)  

They were a hit!  Can you tell?

Blowing out the candle.

Opening presents again.  She was spoiled.  Again.

Some of her favorites.  Princesses, ballerinas, and barbies all in one.   You can't get much better than that.

And some more pink.

 

Oh how we love this four year old!  She brightens our lives everyday and we are so grateful she's in our family!

6 months

People reading the preschool posts, can you just indulge this mom for a minute and let me take a break from the serious stuff and talk about my kiddos?  I promise, the last preschool post is in the works.  It will be here shortly.

But I simply HAVE to talk about this SIX (practically seven) month old!

This sweet girl has been with us for half a year already.  My grandma always said that it really takes about six months to get adjusted to having to a new little member in the family.  And I would say she is about right.  Time has flown by, yet it's hard to remember life without this cutie.

Some big things have happened this last month.  Like getting a tooth, moving up from the bassinet to the crib (I know.  It was a long time, but I think our bassinet we have is extra big.), and learning how to sleep without being swaddled.

First.  Her tooth.  If you look close, you can see this little lady's tooth on the bottom right.

That tooth has created a lot of chewing...

And a lot more crying/whining than normal.  She has wanted to be held a lot more and just hasn't quite been herself lately.  And when I say lately, I mean like an entire month.  

And just as she started to get back to her regular sleeping schedule and her smiley demeanor, another tooth has shown itself.  Sheesh.

Along with the whining, Brylen has started making a loud screech/scream when she wants something.  If we don't respond to her in a time that she thinks is reasonable, she will just get louder and louder.  I do have to say, when this girl has her mind set on something, she does not deter 'til she gets whatever it is she wants.  Hmmmm, I think it's safe to say this mother and daughter are cut from the same mold.  :)

This last month we have retired the swing and moved on up to bigger and better things.  The bouncer toy.  And boy, does she love it!  The first day I put her in it, she was entertained for a good hour.  

We have found that she prefers to stand and see all the action instead of lying on the floor, so this toy is perfect.  It has allowed me to get many a thing done.   Thank goodness!  With the teething going on, this little girl has NOT been napping well at all.  In fact, it has really tried my patience! (to say the least)  Apparently she thinks 30-40min naps are sufficient.  And I have been trying to fill her in that they are NOT sufficient at all.  If you ever want to feel like you can't get anything done, try having a baby that doesn't nap.  Lets hope that we will get the napping situation under control soon so I can get some things done.

But don't worry, it's not all whining that goes on here.  We do manage to get some smiles and giggles out of her.  Alayna has the best record for getting Brylen to laugh.

And another first.  Eating solids.  

We found out at her doctor's appointment that she is in the 1st percentile for weight (12 lbs 8 oz) and the 61st percentile for height (26 1/2 in).  Yep.  She dropped from the 2nd to the 1st in weight.  I was sure she gained enough weight to bump her up more than that, but no.  So now the doctors are really pushing the calories.  

I am supposed to get her to eat as much as I can.  While she nurses great, she's still trying to get the hang of eating the solids.  She is starting to eat better, but is not great yet.  

She sure is cute with her bib on and ready to eat for the first time though.

While teething has not been the funnest, we still are so in love with this sweet little girl and are SO glad she is part of our family.