Visiting Santa

My mom came up to visit on Thursday, Dec. 11. We went to the mall for pictures at Sears, and to visit Santa.

Payton did well with Santa this year. While we were waiting in line, she kept asking me "Where are Santa's reindeer?" I told her to ask Santa, and that was the first thing she asked him! For Christmas she asked Santa for a kitchen. When prompted for further ideas, she said "toys." This is much more specific than last year, when she asked for "a present."

Haley sat on Santa's lap and just stared at him. She's a little taken aback by Papa Johnson's beard, so I think maybe she thought Santa was Papa. Anyway, she didn't cry!

Christmas pictures!

Comments from School

Haley's teacher, Ms. Elaine, is great about writing down some comments about Haley's day. Here are today's...

I stood next to Reese in the high chair and every time Ms. Elaine gave him a bite of food I would open my mouth. My friend and I played chase in and through the tunnel, until he decided to stop and sit down inside. Ms. Elaine was feeding a baby a bottle and she couldn't see me. She called my name and I peeked from behind her chair. I then crawled out from behind her chair and smiled at her. I then crawled under the swing. I raised up my head and banged it on the swing, making the baby in the swing cry.

And here are Monday's...

I made Annabelle smile when I peeked at her as she sat with Ms. Elaine. Listened to "Where is the Bone?" and "Monkey See Monkey Zoo." TOok the little blocks out of the container one at a time. Enjoyed sitting next to Annabelle and touching her face. Shook the musical instrument with my right hand while I held the cup in my left hand. I chewed on the lion, then on the rhino, then back to the lion.

The Age of Exploration

Okay, I'm cheating and post-dating this... wrote it while pumping a couple of weeks ago...

Haley is at such a cute age right now. About a week ago, she figured out how to go from laying down to a sitting position. This past weekend, she started finally crawling with her tummy off the floor, though still not consistently. Of course, this means she can explore a lot more (read: get into things).

She'll find a toy, and settle herself down to check it out. Then, if she catches you looking at her, she'll hold the object up to you. Not sure if fhtis is "check this out" or "this is for you." The other day, Haley, Payton and I were playing with Little People. I had a couple of LP in my lap. Haley would crawl onto me, grab a Little People, then crawl over and hold it out to Payton. Apparently she'd decided Payton was the keeper of the Little People.

Last night, Haley was holding out her Cheerios to Keystone, who was only too happy to take them gently form her hand. She's also fond of droppoing things, then craning her neck over to view them on the floor.

Haley has one bottom front tooth. We keep waiting for the second one to pop up. Let's hope she doesn't use them to "explore" biting Mommy, like her sister did.

Yesterday, Haley learned how to clap! She finally figured out how to get those tiny fingers straightened out. It's her new favorite trick. She was laying in bed with us this morning in the dark, looking at her hands and clapping periodically.

Payton Twinkletoes

I'm putting the date of the pictures on this entry... here is a little video clip and some pictures from Payton's "creative movement" (dance) class. She really enjoys it. The class is for 3 to 4 year olds. I think Payton is the tallest girl, but not by a head like she usually is! I think her favorite part of class is when they do a little free dance with some scarves. She did tell me, however, that if she had to choose between dance and swimming, she would choose swimming. Hmm.

Bean up your nose?

Payton and I were lying in bed last night at bedtime, lights out, etc. Payton was quiet, but asked me out of the blue “Mommy, why would you put a bean up your nose?”

I was a bit taken aback, but said “Well, I wouldn’t put a bean up my nose. It would probably hurt, and it might get stuck. Then I might have to go to the doctor’s office to have it taken out. Why, did someone put a bean up their nose?”

Payton said “Yes, Lila did. But she didn’t go to the doctor. She just went hmmfffhh [blowing nose] into a tissue and it came out in the tissue.”

I asked, “Did it hurt? Did Lila cry?”

Payton said “She didn’t cry when she went hmmfffhh and the bean came out, but she did cry when they took her bean away and threw it into the trash can.”

Halloween

Payton being a monster

Here's my first try at uploading video here... hope I don't use up all my storage! Let's see...

More girls...

More Haley...

More Payton...

Finally got some professional photos!

We sent to Sears, as usual, but we think they do a good job...

A little smorgasbord...

I know, I need to update more often (cousin Donna)! I need to upload pics, but here is a little smorgasbord of pictures through the end of April...