Mooserific!

This was our best Christmas morning so far. Abby woke up first, and was surprisingly willing to let the presents sit untouched while we waited for her sisters to wake up. Josie was the second to wake, but no such luck with her. She wanted to investigate! We ended up encouraging Gwen to get out of bed so we could see what Santa brought us.

The girls had lots of fun opening their gifts, and giving gifts. The highlights were a toy train set, an indoor trampoline, some very cute animal hats and gloves, and a bright red toy monster truck for Papa, who just wanted a nice German car. (That was Abby’s gift to John. She looked at Papa’s preferred cars at the store and said they were “too grey, too blue, too boring.” She instead bought a fire truck for Josie, a camper with a beach scene for Gwen, and the monster truck for John. No sports cars for her!)

We took lots of pictures, but Tumblr only allows ten per post. (Sigh.) Christmas afternoon coming next.

We enjoyed our annual Christmas Eve celebration with family at our house. The girls had fun helping everyone open their presents during the gift grab. Looking back at the pictures to select some for this post, it looks like Ron was the most excited about his present. Good thing no one stole it!

Santa, how did you know we needed help for cabin fever?

A slight misunderstanding

Abby and I did a little last minute Christmas shopping together tonight. When we pulled into the driveway upon returning home, we spotted seven large, fat deer in our backyard. I slowed the car down, Abby got excited, and we watched as they scampered up the hill or back into the woods. They were gone by the time we got out of the car. A disappointed Abby asked me “when can we go hunting?” I told Abby that we didn’t want to go hunting, but she was insistent and so I told her to talk to her Papa. She then said “but I want to go hunting to pet the animals!” John says she doesn’t really understand fishing either. “Why would someone kill a fish and eat it?”

Instead of going to bed tonight, both babies tried to escape from me by climbing into the laundry basket!

With more snow coming soon, I was reminded that I didn’t post any photos from our last big snowstorm. John and I had a great time taking Abby outside. Abby loves to ride her sled, make snow angels, stomp around, toss snowballs, and eat snow. Yes, she really likes to EAT snow.

John had lots of help making “man crepes” for lunch. Everyone enjoyed eating them just as much as they enjoyed making them.

Funny bits

Three year olds do and say the funniest things.

Example 1: During snack time, Abby asked that I cut her apple in half just like the Man with the Yellow Hat did. When it was time to clean up, I asked her where the core went. “I ate it.” You did? Even the seeds, I asked. “Yes! They were crunchy.” I guess she wanted to be like Curious George.

Example 2: Abby has been very interested in weddings recently. This evening she said to me “I positively proved that I’m going to have lots of kids when I grow up.” You did? How, I asked. “I just did. Four. And a baby. And I’m not going to marry a man with a mustache.”

Example 3: Abby loves to sing a song from Barney about growing up to be a rock-n-roll star. She loves to tell people now too that Grandpa “doesn’t like this song because he doesn’t want me to have to ride the bus.” She’s taken his concerns seriously and now says she wants to be a firefighter in the morning, a doctor in the afternoon, and a rock-n-roll star at night. She still loves to belt out that Barney song.

Gwen took her first unassisted steps today! I looked up and she had let go of her crib and was walking towards the closet. She only went a few steps, but it was pretty amazing. I clapped and shouted “yay” over and over. Josie and Abby chimed in with claps too. I’m pretty sure Gwen said “yay” and “I did it,” but I was probably hearing things. We were all very excited. Finally!

Our house was filled with princesses today! After watching Abby play dress-up multiple times a day for the past few weeks, Josie decided she wanted to get in on the action. She grabbed a dress and was very loud until we put it on her. She was then all smiles as she proudly paraded around (in front of us and to the mirror, just like Abby). When Gwen realized what Josie was wearing, she wanted to wear one too. (She then went back to trying to open the front door.)

Gwen figured out how to open doors.

Thank you Amazon for providing endless fun (and diapers).

Just like her big sister, our picky eater likes pickles!

Gwen likes the new iPad Air too.

Watch out!

Our Gwen already understands the use of tools. After not being able to climb directly onto the ottoman in her room, she took a green basket off her changing table, flipped it over, and used it to climb onto the ottoman. From there, she climbed onto the glider, her ultimate goal.