Little things in February.

After a Costco trip these boxes of rice milk and almond milk stayed in the middle of our garage for about a week.  The girls liked to sit on them and both times I saw them doing they asked if I would take a picture.  Twist my arm, girls.

The girls had been quietly and happily playing for about an hour in Harriet’s room with her door closed, while I was folding mounds of laundry.  I fully expected to find a huge mess and maybe even something severely damaged, but instead I found this when I peeked into the room—Elna reading a pile of books to Hattie.  (And the room was spotless).

Harriet has been a less-than-ideal sleeper lately.  This is one of her tricks.

Walking into library story-time, hand in hand.

School bus sighting.

Found these cute people on my evening walk and had to take a picture.

Elna wanted me to take a picture of her house.

This is how we find this little girl several times a day—with a pile of books.  Preferably they are board books.  She’s ripped/shredded a few real books.

I went to a RS activity on Saturday morning while Brian stayed home and had fun with his girls.  Pretty toes and fingers!  He’s the best dad!

This tongue has started coming out more and more—especially when she’s feeling shy.

A warm winter!

The weather this winter has been unreal!  It has been sunny most days with very little rain, and we are loving it!  I know I should love rain since I live in Oregon, but I just don’t.  So, with a winter like this we have been showing our gratitude by soaking it up as often as possible. 

Brian had President’s Day off and we had a great day together!  We went on a long walk, to the park, did some shopping, and probably some other fun things I’m now forgetting.

Another day I took the girls to the park to feed the ducks.  We’ve fed ducks a few times before, but for some reason, this time, the girls thought this was the best thing ever.  Every time a duck ate their bread they squealed.  It was so thrilling for them.  And it was thrilling for me to watch them be so happy over such simple pleasures.  I really love being their mama!

Their faces in this last picture makes my heart happy!

Another day in February we went to the zoo with Angie and Cody!

The day the girls stayed in their pajamas all day.

…and they must have been acting extra cute, because I took a bunch of pictures.

No one gets bathroom privacy in this house.  Really.  I try to sneak off without them knowing, for a minute of restroom peace, and somehow they know and within seconds I have company.  Elna might not love this picture years from now, but it was too cute to pass up.

A party in my bed.

Having a tea party.

You can’t really tell what she’s doing here, but she’s holding her play cell phone up high and saying “cheese” so Elna will smile for the camera.  She does this many times a day.

I love when the girls want to exercise with me.  It’s much nicer than me having to stop over and over again during my workout to split up arguments or hold a crying girl.

I’m now remembering this day a little better.  This is the girls watching a Disney movie, which we almost never do.  The girls watch maybe 2 hours of TV/movies a month.  But this day was HARD, despite the cute pictures pretending otherwise.  I must have been taking those pictures to remind me how much I really do love these little crazies, because they were grumpy and at each other all day it seemed.  The minute Brian walked in from work that day I told him I needed  a break and said “good luck”.   It’s just the reality of motherhood I suppose, and it’s worth it, but man, some days I feel especially tested.

On another note, watching Aristocats with these two was so funny.  They react so differently to movies and shows.  Elna is completely focused and absorbed, but does not react.  Harriet is very reactive and laughs or gasps at all of the right times.  It’s been this way from the first time Harriet watched a show.  I enjoyed watching the girls more than watching the movie.

Another shining moment in an otherwise gloomy day.  I sure do love these two!

Valentine’s week.

I gave these cute heart dresses to the girls the Thursday before Valentine’s Day so they could get a few uses out of them.  They were pretty darling in them at toddler story time at the library.

We love story time!

Friday, the day before V-day, we made sugar cookies for a fun cookie decorating party later in the morning.  They were so yummy!  I’ve been wanting them every day since.

I love how Elna put her arm around Harriet as they are watching the cookies bake.

My friend, Jillian, threw a little cookie decorating party at her house.  We all had such a great time!

Jillian is such a great party thrower and was so prepared for little kids.  There were 7 little kids and she had wax paper all laid out for each kid, bowls of frosting, and lots of different sprinkles.  Elna was such a careful little frosting spreader and decorator.  Harriet just loved eating the cookies and frosting.

After cookie decorating they played together for a while and then they had these fun drinks and we played a game of Valentine’s bingo.  Jillian even sent the kids home with coloring packets.  Such a fun day!

Friday night, Brian’s parents took the children so we could go on a date.  The girls stayed overnight and loved it!  Brian and I went to a Lebanese restaurant we love, then to a movie, and then to frozen yogurt.  Such a nice night!  It was also nice to sleep in without worrying about the girls waking us up early—thanks to Brian’s angel parents! 

I love these last 2 pictures and these girls so much!  The best little Valentines ever!