January

I know I haven't posted pictures forever. We just haven't taken that many, and the few times I have tried to post them here, it has taken way too long and I gave up. Now, though, I finally got the pics I wanted on here, so no more boring pictureless posts.

Allie likes to help me do the dishes. Although, usually she starts washing dishes and ends up washing her baby dolls instead. Still, I pretend like she's actually helping and let her do it. There is a limit to the number of dishes I like to wash a day...

She also likes to dress herself, and has been reminding me more and more of Punky Brewster lately. I actually let her leave the house the other day looking like this:

Her "rose dress," which she wears at least five days a week, leggings because I reminded her it was cold outside, her new socks and shoes, and a hoodie, because she doesn't like any other jackets that she has. She's standing in front of Kyla's pack n play in the store room, AKA Kyla's room. Kyla proved to us all yesterday that she can climb out of both the crib and the pack n play (she succumbed to our repeated chants of "show us!") , which could make for a very interesting nap time today.

Kyla also has started this funny facial expression when you say, "show me your smile!"

I don't know exactly what she thinks she's doing, but we find it quite hilarious. She also does it when she is embarrassed and wants to disappear.

Allie emptied out Damon's tool box one day and filled it with her own "tools."

I laughed too hard to be upset. Besides, I haven't had much use for these lately, anyway. My body is still trying to figure out that I'm not pregnant anymore, and I'm patiently waiting to have another period so we can assume that everything is working properly. Maybe I should keep the tool box around just in case...

The kids have also been enjoying the snow, although we really need a fresh layer of powder if we want to play in it again. We went sledding one day and found a kid's snowboard on the side of the road. Damon impressed us all by learning to ride down the hill without crashing. It only took him a few tries and now he proudly announces, "I am the only person in my family who knows how to snowboard." He can't wait to go again, but all the good snow is gone.

Damon can play out in the snow for hours. He wears his bibs and boots to school every day so he will be ready for recess. Kyla can stay outside a long time, too, and doesn't seem to mind the cold. Allie, on the other hand, can last about 20 minutes. Then she has had enough. Jeff and I giggle every time we get KyKy dressed up in her snow suit. There is just something that screams A Christmas Story ("wait up guys!")

Damon, in what has become his "school uniform."