Nora 22 Months

 Every day I slowly watch my baby grow into a toddler.  Which makes me happy and sad.  I just want to freeze her little for a little longer.  

Highlights

1. Starting to put more words together and also telling you real words what she wants.  You have to listen hard but I can usually understand what she wants.
2. Still obsessed with her 3 paci's.  After the new year, we are going to faze them out.  It will not be pretty.  There will be lots of tears and crying.  But it's time.
3. Loves pretty Christmas lights
4. Doesn't like hot food at all. She'd prefer all her food to be luke warm or cold. 
5. Favorite song is Let it Go and sings it all the time and wants to watch it.
6. Got a couple more teeth - I think at least 2, maybe more. 
7. Does not like wearing gloves so this has been a challenge with the colder weather. 
8. Is the most stubborn of all 3 of the girls. 
9.  Loves milk and yogurt and cheese
10. Loves to help herself to "snacks" in the cupboard

Greta's Basketball Season - Part 1

 Greta and I wrapped up part 1 of our 3rd grade travel basketball.  I jumped in to coach a great team of 10 girls, including Greta who was super excited.  And our best team manager or helper, Lola.  We finished the season undefeated and made great improvements.  

Greta improved a lot as well.  Her shot is getting better.  She even scored some points, including a free throw in one of our first games.  Her dribbling is getting better.  And she's a great passer and really looks for the open person. Her biggest strength is defense and rebounding.  She's fierce and even sometimes I don't want to mess with her (haha). 

The fun continues through March with tournaments and practice.  Lola will also start on her own team as well.

Toledo Zoo Lights

 A fun family night on a random warm December Tuesday.  We loaded the sleigh and headed to the Toledo Zoo to see all the lights.  And the girls loved them.  Nora's comment... ooo pretty!  

Luckily temps were in the 40s and no wind.  

The girls also got to ride the carousal and we did an ice slide - which I think was their favorite!  We also got to see quite a few animals as well - snow leopards where our favorite because in the summer we never see them. 

Lessons learned for next time...

Unless it's freezing, where tennis shoes.  I made the girls wear their boots and boots are heavy. So that made for tired feet.

Bring hot chocolate.  The lines were really long to buy it.

Go early.  We arrived at 4:45 and it was perfect. When we left at 7, there were cars lined up to get in. 

2 hours is long enough to see everything and after that the girls were tired. 

Nora Loves the Bath Again

 After a very long month of screaming every time it was bath time, Nora is back to loving her bath.  Still not sure if some hot water dripped on her after the water turned off or if she slipped and was scared.  She still only wants to sit on her knees and not her butt, but squeals and laughs and doesn't want to get out now. 

Ice Skating and Santa

 A fun afternoon with friends... first ice skating which the girls love! And are getting good.  The didn't use the walker hardly at all.  I personally loved spending time with just the big girls for a bit.  

It was all lots of fun until, Lola discovered some big blisters forming and Greta had sore feet as well. But we made it about an hour - which is great for me!

Then after we left, we headed to Mancino's and were the only ones there!  Had some pizza and then Santa showed up... the real Santa if you ask the girls!  Again, only ones there for a good 15 minutes.  So lots of one on one time with the big man. Would have been a perfect opportunity for Nora to test it out but we left her home with daddy (cranky teething baby).

Another Christmas fun checked off the list! 

Saline Parade is back

A great part about our town is the holiday parade!  And last year, there wasn't one so we were glad it was back this year!  I had head there was going to be no candy, but to the girls great surprise, there was LOTS!  And great floats and kind people walking.  Nora also loved it all!  She even did a little dancing when the band came by.

Germs and sickness

 Just before Thanksgiving, Nora got a little cold, but seemed to get better.  So we braved it and went to the Delaney's for Thanksgiving... probably not the best decision, but luckily wasn't influenza or COVID, but a really nasty cold!

First Nora... then Lola... then me... then Greta.  Ryan held strong.  

All got tested for COVID... negative.

I got tested for Influenza... negative.  But I had an ear infection so antibiotics. 

All home on Monday.

Nora goes back on Tuesday.

Greta goes back on Wednesady.

Lola goes back on Thursday. 

Praying that we remain healthy over the Christmas holidays. 

These pictures sum it up!

Christmas Decorating 2021

 Despite not feeling the best, I did my best to get into the Christmas spirit and did a LOT of decorating!

The girls were also super excited to put up the big tree, but that meant finally biting the bullet and removing all the lights from the tree and putting up new lights.  Something I'm sure my hands are going to pay for, for a LONG time. 

I'm pretty proud of all the decorations!  And Nora is loving them and loved helping hand ornaments to daddy and the girls to hand up.  And so far hasn't messed with any of the ornaments, which I was worried about.  

Thanksgiving Fun

 This year we headed to Columbia City for Thanksgiving.  Fun times despite no one feeling the best.  We even managed to get some great family pictures. 

First COVID shot for the girls

 After lots of discussions with my doctors and the girls doctor, we decided it would be okay for them to get their COVID shot.  They both really wanted to get it but didn't want to get the shot.  After a long wait at Walmart to get it, they both cried and said it hurt soooooo bad.  Poor Lola's arm bled quite a bit.

Before

After

Next shot is December 20th, praying this one goes better. 

Nora 21 months

 Oh Nora! She just keeps getting more fun and maybe more stubborn, but who's keeping track of them.

1. She knows so many words!  Last week, she told me, excuse me! And meant it.
2. Eats when she's hungry... and that's it. There is no convincing her.
3. Has the most amazing laugh!
4. Loves to flirt with people, but often takes a while to warm up, but then the charm comes out.
5. Is a mama's girl and if I'm ever taken, just send her out and she'll find me.
6. Loves play outside and is made when she can't go.
7. Squeals when she sees the cats or Miller chases after his ball.
8. Will tell you No or Stop when she doesn't like what you're doing.
9. Got a few new teeth - at least 2, maybe more!  Poor 3rd kid, I have no idea how many teeth she actually has.
10. Still loves her paci's but I've decided they are going away after Christmas.  Pray for us all!

What a difference a year makes

It’s crazy to think how much can chance over a year but when you have little kids it seems so obvious. Yesterday I tried to recreate a picture of the girls form a year ago. Nora was way easier to work with last year so this is the best we got. Greta and Lola both look so much older too. 

Slow down time!

Fall Fun

One of our favorites days is Leaf House day. I remember doing it as a kid and the girls love to know make their own. This year they did most of the racking and room making themselves. It was our biggest one yet. 

Giving Nora a tour

Then of course we had to jump in the leaves and borrow each other. Nora wasn’t sold on the jump yet but loves covering Miller up and eventually liked running through the leaves. 

Greta the Swimmer

This fall, Greta decided to try out doe the swim team. She made it and she been practicing twice a week. This Saturday we had our first inter squad meet - at her level she’ll get to have 2 or 3 of these I think. I didn’t know what to expect but to my surprise she shocked me! 

2 peas in a pod - Greta and Izzy

First up - backstroke which she said wasn’t her best… she won her heat! 

Next up… breaststroke… which she said is her least favorite … I thought she won but didn’t get the heat ribbon. So 2nd.

Last up…. Freestyle which is her favorite and she won her heat again! 

Then the final results were published and she was the overall top swimmer for 8 and under for breaststroke (so she did win) and freestyle and 2nd overall for backstroke and last to one of her besties who swims 2 levels above her and it was close. 

So proud of her! I love when kids surprise you and kick it up a gear.. She’s definitely competitive so we’ll see where this goes. Season doesn’t end until March so more fun to come! 

Lola the Artist

Lola came home from school and said she had something to show me. He handed me 2 pieces of paper stapled together. I quick glanced it over and asked her if she knew what this was. She said no. I jen proudly told her that he piece of art had been selected to be in an art show. Instant smile filled her face. She was beamed with excitement! 

I then read her her the letter and she explained her art to me. 

Can’t wait to go see it all set up this week! 

Halloween 2021

Another Halloween with pumpkin carving, trick or treating, school and friends parties and lots of fun!

First we painted pumpkins and then girls did a great job carving their pumpkins - they sketched it out and did almost all the carving themselves. Daddy helped scoop the guts out… of mine too! 

School parties 

Friends Party

This year we had - Audrey from Descendants, a cute fox and a sweet kitty. 

Trick or treating 

Meeting an idol 

Amazing friends! 

All lite up!

Happy Halloween!!