#stuffElliesays

Our fish died a few weeks ago (RIP Ralph) and I took the opportunity to introduce the kids to death a little bit. I pointed out how he looked different, wasn't moving, etc. Avy nodded acceptingly then asked if we could get a hamster. Then Ellie piped in.

Ellie: "Hey Mom, could we eat him?"

....I can't say it's not a healthy question....

Birfday cakes!

We didn't have time to make birthday cakes on their actual birthday so they had part 2 on Sunday.

Nana Aldridge sent them cards with little music players and flashlights.. they were delighted!

Ellie looks so grown up...

They're getting so big!

Team work making the cake!

Avy carefully break the eggs while Ellie stirs.

The babies joined in at the last.

Just in time for tasting!

Oh yea. That's good stuff.

He's smelling them.

Our friend Henry spent the afternoon with us too. Theo loved him.

Birfday!

It was the babies birthday - they're two!! How time flies.

Ellie was very proud of her neatly made bed.

Going for a rainy walk!

Grandpa Donald send the babies beautiful cards and some cash. This was mindboggling to them: "Mine? Mine!?!"

I told them I was going to take the cash and put it in a "box" for safe keeping for each of them (we have savings accounts for them). Lily didn't want to hand it over so... she got a box!

Dinosaur tails! They've been mooching the girls' recently so I made them each their own (smaller). Lily's was patterned after an Ankylosaurus.

Theo's obviously rocking a Stegosaurus :)

The big girls got renewed interest in their tails, of course ;)

Lily liked the new counter balance and how it made her feel while she spun around ;)

What a morning

More toddler time for getting out the wiggles! A local preschool joins us every day so the kids are starting to have regular friends - wonderful opportunity :)

Everyone was on a great streak and I needed to buy some sewing supplies, so we trekked to the local mall. Dave and I have been looking for opportunities to have the girls practice saving/spending money and learn about scarcity so we practiced with rides. Each girl got 4 quarters and got to pick where to spend it, but when you were out, you were out! It was highly gratifying that a) there was no whining when they ran out and b) they even spent a quarter each for the babies to have a ride too, despite me telling them I would pay for the babies. They wanted to share :)

School! I loved Ellie's bear.

Her pillow looked kinda dice-like....

I don't think I've ever been so proud of Avy as here. She wanted to write "fish", but her S turned out a little funny. You can tell from her face she's not happy - she really didn't want me to take a picture. Generally I tell them after they've completed the word once, they can be done; Avy refused to be done. She didn't want to do it again, you could tell, but she kept muttering to herself, "I can do better!"

A few minutes of glaring at the board, and then she did this! And she was so proud :D Never give up!

Winter "break"

Just kidding, we don't slow down. We've combined our reading/writing class with an art class to keep flagging interest up - so far it's been a big hit. It's been fascinating to see the girls' drawing abilities progress just over a matter of days!

A few hours at toddler time to get the wiggles out. He was "stuck" here, couldn't get out but didn't really want me to help him ;)

Gingerbread houses at home! We bought kits, so the gingerbread was ready-made and it came complete with frosting - just assemble and eat... I mean decorate. 

Looking good!

Yea he's totally munching, can you tell?

Hey one's going on the house!...

...or maybe not.

Mr. Blue Teeth.

I see you hiding!

They had fun and the houses were actually covered in candy by the end! Except Theo's. He efficiently put the candy straight into mouth ;)