We finally had some warm weather yesterday. The girls started out in the garage riding bikes and scooters. Then we decided to walk around the park. They enjoyed playing in the snow and climbing trees. When we got home, they spent another hour playing in our backyard. It was great! I cannot wait for spring!

Breah was not very happy when she jumped off the bleachers and landed on her hands and knees. She got to ride the rest of the way in the stroller. Addi did not seem to mind until she could not get out of the basket!

reverse pyschology

I have had a hard time finding the right punishment for Breah. Most of the time nothing phases her. Timeouts, charts, surprises, even spanking, don't make a difference. So, I have started using reverse pyschology.

It has been pretty funny watching her reaction. She will say something really mean to me or her sister, then wait for a response from me. I say something like "that was so nice Breah, thanks for being such a good little girl." She gives me a funny look and says "I was being naughty, mom." I say, "Oh, no, Breah that was such a nice thing to do." She just looks confused and tries to explain what she was doing.

It is interesting to see how different she acts when she does not get the response she is waiting for. I may not be teaching her the right way, but it seems to make a bigger difference than anything else has for a long time. Especially as Kylie has picked up on it. I have heard Kylie respond to her the same way a couple times. I think it helps that Breah is not getting what she expects from pushing everyones buttons.

Breah is too much like her dad, she loves to get "a rise" out of people.... I wouldn't even know how to explain to anyone who doesn't know them. I guess Kylie is too much like me, she is easily annoyed!!

Multitasking

I don't have a photo of this, but I am sure you can picture it anyway. Collin has his laptop on while switching back and forth between 3 email accounts and Facebook. He also has his ear piece in while talking to one friend in AZ. And at the same time is texting his sister in WA! Wow! I think it is the first time I have ever seen him multitask!!

Breah's animals

I would like you to meet little lamb, unicorn, bear, ducky, and piggy.

It is good to know that we have enough dress up clothes for the stuffed animals too!

indoor playground

This is part of the bedtime routine at our house!

Valentine's

Do you like the new way Breah writes her name?

She has done this a few times.

I finally told her it was backwards, but she disagreed.

Kylie and Breah LOVE getting their pictures taken.

Addison, on the other hand, is a little harder to work with.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

island park

We had a fun, long weekend in Island Park with Collin's Family. His little(I mean younger) brothers just returned home from their missions in Brazil. It was fun to have the whole family together again.

Kylie, Maci, and Tristan loved sledding.

Danette, Jeremy, and Susan

Jordan, Mike, Lisa, and Riley back from a snowmobiling.

Vienna and Melanie (Playing with uncle collin's calculator. He brings it everywhere with him!)

The grandkids loved playing and watching movies in this little room. It had a ladder up to it and a railing looking down below.

The girls all wanted to go in the hot tub. Finally on the last day, we let them put on their swim suits and get in this one!

Susan, Branden, and Jeremy.

Taylor

Breah has finally started expanding on the same prayer that she has said for many months now. It has gone something like this, "Thankful for Mom, Dad, Addison. Amen." The past couple of weeks, she has started adding Kylie. Then she expanded to Jesus, church, food, etc. Now she goes on and on thanking Heavenly Father for whatever we did that day. Tonight in Breah's prayer, she prayed for Dad to get better and everyone else not to get sick, too. But the last thing she said was so sweet and one I have never heard from her or anyone else. She said something like, "thankful that when I get big like mom and Kylie gets big like mom, that we will go to the temple." How awesome! It is amazing watching children learn little by little. And what they remember at times when you are not expecting it. (If we had gone to the temple tonight, maybe I wouldn't have been so surprised.)

This is how I found Addison and Breah asleep tonight.

(I guess the flash was bothering her.)

It reminded me of a night a couple months ago....

This is the baby DOLL cradle.

Notice how she carefully placed the castle and piggy bank around her too.

Addison's 2nd Birthday

Addi had her 2nd birthday on the 1st. Her Grandparents came over to celebrate with us. She had lots of fun getting all the attention for once. She knew just what to do with the new clothes: hold them up to her. And she blew out the candles on the cake while we were still singing. Then she tried singing with us and clapped too.

She loved this toy and cute pink outfit. She insisted on putting it on immediately and spinning around in it!

She thought this chair and frog were pretty special too.

Christmas Morning

This was the first Christmas morning that Kylie woke up early and could not go back to sleep. We finally let her wake up her sisters about 6:45.  Kylie was wondering why she did not get everything that she asked Santa for. 

  Breah was so excited to see the Sleeping Beauty stuff.  Addi did not know what to think.



Addi got really excited when she opened the Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head set.

These are the first princess dressup clothes the girls have ever had. Breah immediately put on hers and carried around her new doll and horse.

  

Collin doing the dad's job: helping open presents and put on dresses.

 

  Addi's was a second hand one, I figured she didn't know the difference!

The three princess on Christmas morning.

My dad made this Barbie house for my oldest sister when she was little. Her daughter has had it and they passed it on to us now. The girls were very excited to see and want to help me fix it up.

Christmas Eve

Addi finally learned how to say "cheese".

Watching Grandpa's train.

Addi got really excited when it started.

Grandpa showing Kylie how it works.  Breah and Addi really wanted to touch it.

Grandpa has had this train since he was a little boy. He has put it under the Christmas tree ever since I can remember.

Chrismas Eve in new PJ's. Before we went home, Grandpa tried to help Kylie find Santa in the sky. The whole way home Kylie and Breah were looking out the window watching for Santa and his sleigh.