I swimming!

This morning, I came in to the kitchen to find Bethany dancing and moving her arms. Smiling, I asked her "Are you swimming?" "I swimming!" she enthusiastically replied. So I joined in the fun and we swam together and giggled in the kitchen.

This afternoon, as I was singing "I am a child of God" with Bethany before laying her down for her rest, the song suddenly morphed from sweet to silly, and by the end of the first verse, we were singing in "whale voices" (think Finding Nemo--low voices with our mouths in an "O" shape), and by the third verse, we were singing with angry lion faces and giggling.
After I laid her down, I explained to her that her lovey blanket was dirty and that I would put it in the wash in just a minute so it would be ready for her after her rest. She replied "No no no! It not dirty! Don't wash it! It not dirty!"
A little while later, I heard her asking for me, so I went in. When I walked up to her crib, she wrapped her arms around herself and said "I cold. I need a blanket" (meaning her lovey blanket). Oh my silly girl!

Today's Pictures:

Bethany showing sister some toys:

Grace the gangster, having fun in the sun ;)

 

I wanna tell you something

This morning, during Sacrament meeting, Bethany began to peel a crayon. Seeing what she was doing, I quickly asked her not to, explaining that it was too messy for Church. With a serious expression, she turned to me and said "I wanna tell you something...see, it not make mess!" I couldn't help but laugh. "I wanna tell you something" is her new sentence starter these days when she wants to get our attention or make us understand something. :)

A little while later, Grace and Bethany were coloring pictures with a couple of girls in the row in front of us. After a while, Bethany started turning around every few moments, and saying "See? ABCDEFG!" (as if she had written the letters), with a sweet smile and pleased expression on her face. It was too cute. ("See?!" is another new Bethany expression these days too.)

During Sunday school, the woman sitting next to me asked if she could hold Kaylee. I agreed, and although Kaylee was content in the woman's arms, she spent much of the time looking over at me with an "I know you...you're my home" expression. It made my heart happy. Then, at one point, while I was whispering to her and caressing her face, she began giving me the sweetest smiles and cooing. I sure do love my babies!

Today's pictures:

Kaylee (L) and Cambree (R) fell asleep in my arms again at bedtime, so I asked Travis to document it. :)

I yuv you

Feeling the urge for something different, we decided to make a new pancake recipe for breakfast this morning. Although Grace loved it (declaring how delicious they were), Bethany was struggling to eat it, so we were encouraging her. After taking a moment to look at and consider her pancakes, she said giggling, and raising her arms in the air "It's yucky!" It totally cracked me and Travis up.

A little while later, as Bethany was giving Cambree a hug, she whispered "I yuv you." It was so tender! Then tonight, when we were giving bedtime hugs, Bethany wanted to hug Grace and while she did, told her "I yuv you" too. She's SUCH a loving sister!

Today's pictures:
There are none...eek! I DID take one when I was out to lunch with my mom, but it was on my phone camera.  The reason I didn't take many pictures today is because my mom and I made a girls day of it and went out for lunch at a fancy Victorian tea room in Canfield called Picadilly Parlor, then over to White House Fruit Farm for some goodies, and then watched the General Women's broadcast tonight at home. We had a lot of fun!

The other exciting thing that happened today is....WE BOUGHT BUNK BEDS! I told Travis that I feel like we're "real" parents now, passing through another "right" of parenthood. It's weird to think we have kids that are old enough to be in bunk beds. :/ We're excited to set it up and get things moved around in our house so the twins are in their own room!

My dancing shoes!

This morning at breakfast, Grace declared that she wanted to be a doctor someday. Pleased, I replied that she definitely could be, and would just need to work hard in school, and later college and medical school. Then she asked "What do you learn in doctor school? Do they have play time?" Smiling, I replied, "No, you just learn how to be a doctor." After a moments pause, she countered "Well, we (meaning at preschool) learn our ABC's..." It was such a cute conversation!

After seeing me vacuum this morning, Grace caught the cleaning bug and decided to clean her room as well. She made her bed, then organized all her stuffed animals and books and made sure her dresser top was clear. It was adorable and made me so proud!

Bethany loves to play with Grace's Pooh animals, especially at bedtime. This evening, I was walking by her in the hall when I saw her holding Kanga and Roo together, making them "say" "I'm so excited (to) see you!," then pressing them closer together and saying "Hug!" It was adorable!

Tonight, at bedtime, Bethany put on an old pair of her shoes and started dancing around the room saying "My dancing shoes! My dancing shoes!" It was too cute! Then, just after we laid Grace and Bethany down, I heard Bethany call from her room "Mom! I wanna hug and kiss you!" So, of course I had to go back in and get some lovin from my sweet girl. :)

 

Today's pictures:

Grace chilling with the babies during tummy time:

Taking a little rest (Cambree L, Kaylee R):

Bethany wanted to help wrap one of the babies up for their rest :)

My parents were wonderful and watched the kids for us so we could go on a lunch date. Here are Grace and Bethany gearing up for a horsey ride. I love my Bethany's smile!

The weather was FINALLY nice enough to go out and play for a little bit, so my dad took them out to play just as we were getting home.

I adore the way Grace and Bethany run. Bethany full on pumps her arms across her body and sways her body from side to side while she runs.

Grace gets her arms moving too (though you can't see that here). Both of them are getting faster!

"Hike! Hike!" They love to "hike" in the yard with the fallen branches.

Leaf fun. I love the feeling this picture evokes, of letting go and being fully free:

 

Grace climbed down into the window well and invited Bethany to join her. (They always look down and to the side when I try to take a posed picture of them.) The cuties!

I wanna kiss it!

This morning, I was talking to Kaylee and she started smiling and cooing back so sweetly (five or more times!). We have to work a little harder to get her to smile these days, so it was a special treat. :)

Bethany's imagination has just started really taking off now that she's talking more independently. I noticed it yesterday for the first time when she was playing at the "rice station" and again today when she was playing with the Little People. It's so fun to see!

After breakfast, I was showing Bethany the owie on my hand when she said "I wanna kiss it!," then proceeded to kiss me tenderly on my finger. It was so sweet!

Bethany's favorite cup these days is a Frosty the Snowman cup we got around Christmas. Yesterday at lunch, I let her choose between the Frozen cup we just got and the Frosty one, and she quickly picked Frosty and then started singing the song "Frosty the Snowman..." She was still using the cup this morning at breakfast and would randomly bust out into song again throughout the meal. It's was too cute!

 

Today's pictures:

Travis making Cambree smile:

Grace loves to take pictures of the babies, and will often request a camera to do so when she sees them smile:

 

Cambree having some tummy time:

It's ok baby...don't cry!

Sometimes, like today, when Kaylee or Cambree are crying, Bethany will get up close to them and pat them gently and say "It's ok baby. Don't cry. It's ok." Then she'll try to tickle them and nuzzle their noses to help them feel better. And if doing that doesn't work, she'll turn to me or my mom and say "Take care (of) her!" She's SUCH sweet sister.

We've just discovered that if we tickle the babies cheeks, it'll usually make them smile, especially Cambree. (This same trick worked for Bethany as well.) We LOVE to see our babies smile!

Today's pictures:
Kaylee in an adorable outfit we got from our landlord:

Bethany wanted to be in the picture too :)

Double Snuggles

I decided to let Bethany skip a nap and have her rest time with Grace today. Next thing I know, I hear them loudly singing the theme songs to their favorite shows (Wonder Pets and Super Why), and when I go in there, the two of them are taking turns "performing" on the treadmill (as if it were their stage). Silly girls!

The split pea activity was such a big hit that I decided to do one with rice as well (the "rice station"), so both Bethany and Grace could play at the same time. Bethany was first to try it out this morning, and had so much fun that she spent almost an hour playing with it! Her favorite things to do were pretend that the purple dinosaur needed a bath and shower/cover him with rice, and just run her hands and arms in the rice. Bethany is a girl who loves to feel things, and do things repetitively, so this is a perfect activity for her.

Last night for the first time, and then again today, Bethany helped Travis say the prayer at dinner, repeating the words after he said them. It was so sweet to hear her little voice saying a prayer to Heavenly Father. :)

Tonight at the girls' bedtime, I was holding both Kaylee and Cambree while Travis was reading the scriptures with Grace. As I sat there swaying back and forth to comfort my sleepy babies, they both fell asleep in my arms. It was such a sweet moment.

Today's Pictures:
Here's how Bethany's and I's game of hiding and finding the dinosaurs went today in pictures.
Searching..."Where is it? Where'd it go?"

"Ah! I see it!" (with this cute "O" expression on her face):

"I got it!!"

Feeling proud:

 

She did this every time. It was adorable!

I love kissing!

This morning, I brought Cambree in to wake Grace and Bethany up. Seeing her, Bethany said "I wanna see her." When I brought her close, she tenderly placed her hand on Cambree's cheek and said "Oh, so cute."

This afternoon, we were watching the scene in Frozen when Anna and Kristoff kiss when Grace said "Ew!" "Ew?" I repeated. "You don't like kissing, huh Grace?" Giggling, she replied, "I LOVE kissing!" Silly girl!

I had just helped Bethany get a crayon peel started when she replied "Tank you mommy." "You're welcome, baby" I replied. Giggling, she repeated "You're welcome baby." Smiling, I repeated it again, and we went back and forth, saying those words and giggling.

Funny story from tonight: I had just finished telling Travis something, when he said, "That was the most bizarre thing I've ever seen." "What was? Something that Bethany did?" I replied, having just come from the kitchen and wondering if I had missed something. "No, it was you telling Bethany to put her jammies on, then measuring your hand with a ruler (to purchase winter gloves online) while chatting about a sale that Kohl's has going on." Laughing, I replied "That, my dear is a prime example of a woman's mind at work." ;)

Tonight, Kaylee started fussing after we had laid her and Cambree down for the night, so I went in to calm her down, whispering "It's ok, mommy's here" in her ear and patting her chest. She quickly quieted down, and as I kept rubbing her chest, quietly went back to sleep. It always feels good to be able to provide the comfort my children need.

Pictures from Today:

Bethany has just started getting really in to coloring with markers. She's so quiet and concentrated when she does it. :)

Travis helping Kaylee stand. Their legs are getting so strong that they can hold themselves up like this for several seconds!

 

Reading with daddy:

"Where'd it go?"

Bethany and Grace were SO sweet to Kaylee and Cambree at Church today! As soon as we pulled the babies out of their car seats, Bethany and Grace were adorning them with the sweetest hugs and kisses. It was so precious! They are so in love with their baby sisters.
Lately, Bethany and I have been playing a little game. She'll hide all or part of herself (like a hand or belly button), then ask me "Where'd it go?" She always has this fake "concerned face" when she asks it (mouth in an "O" shape, eyes wide), then a big grin and laugh when I find it. It's always fun.
Where formerly Bethany has mostly been saying just a few words at a time or repeating what we say, in the last week or so she has really started saying longer sentences of her own, and it's so great to see. We love to hear her little voice! She often uses it to let us know that the babies need attention, or to repeat what Grace has said to make sure we help Grace with what she needs as well. She's truly Grace's biggest fan, and is such a sweet sister to all her sisters. Bethany is also a great sharer, and will usually give Grace what she asks for.
Other Bethany-isms: Sometimes, when we tell her not to do something, she'll shrug her shoulders and/or hang her head, as if in defeat. It totally breaks your heart, and instantly makes us want to make her feel better.
Bethany also LOVES to pour. So yesterday, I decided to make a little pouring activity with some split peas we accidentally bought at the market. I put the peas in a large bowl with some little cups and toys that could be buried, and both Bethany and Grace have been loving playing with it ever since. They have fun filling up the cups and other toys, and playing "hide the toy and dig for it" with me. It's been a great activity. (Note: see yesterdays post for pics.)
Bethany also has a new job in the house--as our official mandarin orange peeler. A few days ago, after putting two and two together (that she loves to peel things and oranges need peeled), I asked her if she'd like to help me peel an orange. She's done it a few more times over the past few days. Then this morning, she practically ripped the orange out of my hand, demanding the peeling was hers to do ("No! No! My turn!"). I have to admit, I'm loving this new arrangement! :)

Today's pictures:

 

Our sweet Cambree:

 

Her and Kaylee LOVE to lift their arms these days. They're getting so strong!

Getting love on by big sister, and loving it.

 

Travis made these cinnamon rolls tonight using our new Blendtec blender. I could hardly wait til the kids went to bed to take a bite!

 

My baby sisters

This evening, I went in to check on Cambree in her bed, and found her calmly laying awake. Smiling, I told her "What a happy girl!" and she responded with the biggest grins and coos! So I said "What a sweet girl!" and she smiled some more. It was too cute!

Hearing the babies cry on the monitor, Bethany grabbed the monitor, and, somewhat distressed, said "Sisters. Sisters. My baby sisters." She's said their names before, but never called them that, so it was really cute.

Tonight, when we were giving hugs and kisses at bedtime, Grace was kissing Kaylee when Kaylee made a smacking noise like she was kissing Grace back! Grace said "She gave me a kiss!" and was so excited about it. :)

Today's Pictures:
Our fun new pouring activity (see tomorrow's post for more). Bethany played with this for a solid half hour! Loved her serious concentration. :)

These cuties looked too sweet together not to take a picture:

Silly Baby

Me and the girls were playing with blocks, when Bethany showed me the creation she had made and said, "I made it!" Smiling, I repeated "You made it!," adding "It looks great!," to which she nodded, as if saying "Yeah, I know, it does." :)

I was laying Bethany down for her nap when she realized she was missing her blanket. "Oh no!" she said. "Where's blanket?" Tenatively, I informed her that it was in the wash because it was dirty and that I'd have it ready for her after her nap. Still confused, she questioned again "Where's blanket? Hmmmm, where'd blanket go?" Her little "hmm" just made me giggle.

Today's pictures:

Smiling Kaylee:

Showing off her big guns ;) (it totally looks like they're doing that sometimes though, and I love it!)

 

Watching Frozen together. I loved how Kaylee was leaning in towards Grace:

This is what we found when we went to check on the big girls before we went to bed. That funny Grace! :)

I yuv you Mommy!

I was sitting on the couch this morning trying to wake up, when Grace (also having just woken up) walked into the room and climbed up on my lap and said "I love you mom," then sat there and snuggled me for a few minutes. Grace is a girl on the move, so snuggles with her are rare and precious.

This afternoon, as I was tucking Bethany in for her rest, I said "I love you baby." She looked up at me from where she was cozily snuggled under the covers and said "I yuv you, Mommy." Touched, I repeated again,  "Love you" and was about to turn and walk out the door when she said  again "I yuv you, Mommy."  Smiling, I told her I loved her again, and we went back and forth several times like that, giggling. Finally, I said "Love you, goodnight" and blew her a kiss and she did the same back to me. It was too sweet!

After rest time, I was holding Cambree when I started doing "This little piggy." When I got to the end, where the piggy "wee wee wee's", she gave me the biggest cheesy smile. Then Grace asked if she could do it and Cambree kept smiling at her throughout. It was so cute!

This evening, Grace sat on my lap while I taught her how to write her lower case r, a, and e so she can write her name. She did a great job, and felt so proud of herself, as did I. It was so nice to hold her and work (and succeed) with her.

Today's Pictures:

Cambree Cutie. (Note from March 23--she has been giving out the BEST smiles this week!)

We bought this cape when we I was pregnant with Grace, but the girls have just recently gotten in to wearing it (inspired by watching Hotel Transylvania). I love this picture because this is how Bethany poses (back to us, with her bum poking out and her head over her shoulder--just like I mentioned her doing with her backpack). So. cute.

Apparently we took too long to getting Kaylee wrapped up for bed, cuz she passed out like this on the couch. ;)

 

We bought the girls new pillows today and they were excited to have them (Note from March 23: I don't think the girls have actually slept on these pillows yet; we always find them with their heads just below them when we tuck them in at night--sillies!)

This is how Bethany looked today when I was laying her down for her nap and she said "I love you Mommy to me." Melt my heart!