Littlest Sister

While trying to snap a quick picture of our 10-year-old, the littlest sister stepped in to assist . . .
Sweet Emmy wanted to be a part of the action :)

21-month-old Emory is so special :)
Joy!

(I later realized I never got a picture of just Maegli - oops!)

Addy

"I not done yet."
"That's weird!"
"That's my favorite"
"Emmy no do that."
"Emmy do this."
"Don't touch me."
"Mommy look me color this."
"I sit there."
"Please leave door open mommy."
"I wipe Emmy hands."
"Me hold it."
"Me do it."
"No I do it myself."
"I can't do it.  I can't walk." (when asked to "come here")
"Mom you missed it.  Silly mom."
"I want sit your lap."
"Mommy me wotion (lotion) my belly."
"Stop Tess-ee-eye."
"Tess-ee-eye my turn fly."
"I Emmy, you Addy."
"I not painting my dress."
"I want go Aidan house."
"Hiwot can't make me do that."

I love you Addy.
"I like apple juice.  I like Kolpin."


Addison at 2 years-8 months:
. . . raisins, sneaking into her big sister's room, stealing candy, climbing out of her crib, no bananas,
loves reading books, her "Winnie the Pooh" blanket, wants to be covered up just right at bedtime, sneaking crackers from the pantry, wants to site on mama's lap at breakfast (fussy every morning), wants to be a part of everything, puts on her coat and boots whenever anyone is leaving the house, little stinker, hates to be left behind, bounces on her knees in her crib, bounces, bounces, bounces, likes to color, tantrums, snuggler, likes playing with iphones (!), chips and crackers, always thirsty, changes her clothes several times a day, brings a clean diaper when she needs a change, dancing, active, giggly, sings songs (and sings along), best monkey hugs!. . .

We love our girl!

Snowmen

We've been living up north for one month.  We've had snow everyday - with sub 30 degree temperatures, the old snow sticks around is continually refreshed with new snow seemingly weekly (although during the "deep freeze" sub zero temperatures, it's too cold to snow).  This magical white winter wonderland is expected to stick around till the spring thaw in April.  The novelty has not worn off for our formerly snow-deprived kids.  They're outside almost everyday making lots of tracks, and continually shoveling the driveway (Hendrick has taken charge of the shoveling and he's learning lots of snow removal tips from our neighbor).  

Experiencing our first real snowy winter, our kids also have the pleasure of building their first real snowmen.  Never before have they rolled a small ball of snow across a snowy lawn for it to quickly (and magically) grow HUGE! 

The kids have been busy building an army (or family?) of snowmen for our front yard. 
(we also have impressive snow forts flanking our driveway). 

Cold weather experiments have also been quite fun - throwing boiling water into the air freezes instantly when it's 20 degrees below zero! 

*Our current snow depth ranges from 10-15 inches. 

TEN

"Hi, my name is Maegli, I just turned ten.  I love to read and play with Legos and draw.  I live in Minnesota with my five sisters and five brothers.  I'm the middle child in the family.  I'm excited to be ten because I can finally read the fourth Harry Potter book and I can watch bigger movies and earn a bigger allowance if I work very hard on my chores.  I'm finally double digits."

Maegli, is our spunky, creative, passionate, dramatic, beautiful first daughter; game creating, princess drawing, character acting, little sisters' favorite playmate; song singing, dancer, masterful stage performer; wild, emotional, impulsive, hair-pulling roller coaster; quick learner, spelling test ace, bookworm; make-up playing, painted fingernails, headband wearing tough fighter; eager to jump into anything, sensitive and quick friend, story creator, night owl, and so much fun . . . she's always been our tough girly girl - she's a beauty and she's ten!

Happy Birthday Maegli!

Favorites:

food:  Zuppa (spicy sausage and potato cream soup)

drink:  rootbeer

dessert:  homemade strawberry cake

restaurant:  Lakes Cafe (Since we moved it's Lakes Cafe.  Before it was Burger Bar in Bristol and Red Robin in Jackson)

color:  pink, red, purple and blue

superhero:  Wonder Woman

movie:  Harry Potter (even though they leave out stuff)

music:  that's a tough one, I like all music.  Rock, classical, Christmas

flower:  roses, I love roses

school subject:  handwriting, spelling, and fun reading

book:  fantasy and fiction books, Harry Potter is very favorite

sport:  does dancing count as a sport?

animal:  Panda Bear

inside activity:  Legos, reading, and art

outside activity:  playing in the snow, ice skating, running around the yard, riding bikes

with sisters:  play princess

with brothers:  me and Kolpin play Lego games and sometimes Davis joins

with dad:  go out to breakfast

with mom:  going out to dinner

outing:  PACC (our community center) - the swimming pool has a huge slide that goes all around the room and a tiny slide with a big drop.  There's also a climbing wall.  

vacation destination:  OuterBanks, NC

career aspiration:  first I'm going to try to be an artist, if that doesn't work I'll try to be a Lego designer, if that doesn't work I'll be a librarian, if that doesn't work I'll be a regular mom.

my life in 25 years:  I might be a librarian.  I'll live on a lake in a huge house with a lot of kids (17, 18, or 19 - a lot).  I'll be married to the handsomest man alive and he'll believe in God.  We'll have lots and lots of books in our house.  The house will be painted blue and some of the rooms will be pink and purple and red.  We'll have a fancy house.  We'll travel to the Outer Banks and all over America in two huge trailers since I'll have a lot of kids.  I'll have a lot of nieces and nephews, probably, and they'll call me Aunt Maegli.  Mom and Dad will be living on their own campground with lots of little cabins and playing fields for their children and grandchildren.   

my best quality:  I'm good at art and reading and spelling.  I'm a good friend.  

dislikes:  tomatoes, mushrooms, math, sisters sneaking into my room and eating my birthday candy, boys, having to wait in a line for a long time, having to do five hours of school a day, hair tangles, bugs, snow in my shoes, pranks on April Fool's Day

top favorites: dancing, art, Legos, reading, strawberry cake, ice cream, Cherry Delight, peach ring gummies, peace and quiet, babies, warm blanket, sitting by the fire, playing in the snow, hot cocoa, eating out at restaurants

For her double-digit birthday, falling on a busy Tuesday school day . . .
"we had french toast casserole, online classes and school, lunch out at Lakes Cafe (with two HUGE pancakes), dance class (I met a new friend), balloons, dinner of Zuppa at home, homemade triple-layer strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting (I helped ice the cake), quiet time in my room to build Legos and read my new book.  It was an amazing day." 

new book, fuzzy socks, lots of Legos (!), new sweatshirt and dress, long underwear, and Lego figures from Hendrick and a white Lego crystal from Davis

We love our girl and love having a day to celebrate her.  She's maturing into such a beautiful young lady and we are so proud of her. 
Happy Birthday Maegli!

Ice Skating

New to living in Minnesota, the kids are all eager to fully experience northern fun.  With Christmas gift money, Hiwot bought herself a pair of ice skates.  She (and us all) has never been ice skating before.  I admire her enthusiasm in embracing our new frozen home!

Thankfully we had noticed a public skating rink across the street from our new dance school, and thankfully we had a day of relief from our deep freeze the day her skates arrived (day temps of 20-30 degrees feel really good after weeks of negative temperatures!).  We all tagged along with Hiwot for her to take her new skates on a test run and were so pleased to discover the public rink's warming house stocked with ice skates to borrow.  All the bigger kids were able to lace up skates and try their skills on ice.

They were all such good sports and showed great heart out on the ice . . . and are determined to master this new skill.  Hiwot took to skating impressively quick.  In no time she was skating circles around everyone else.  She was quite impressive for her first attempt at skating!

I am so proud of my Northern kids  :)