Ok, Ok...

I know! It's been a long while since I have updated the blog, so I thus offer my apologies. It's just been a little crazy around here. What's been going on?

1. Sort-of house hunting about once a week for half a day.
2. Delivering paperwork to Ayla's school that she will be starting in August (Free Horizon Montessori) - She got accepted! YEA!
3. Doing home "instruction" to Ayla and Sophie to keep their insatiable minds happy (see #4 for more explanation on why). We've been learning about snakes and shapes, numbers and letters, trees and countries!
4. Dealing with Ayla's show of independence, disobedience, or simply determination to make me crazy. Some examples of this would be cutting up my yarn with scissors or drawing on the kitchen cabinets with green sharpie marker, all of which are highly uncharacteristic of her.... :(
5. Knitting my fingers to the bone with my new budding sock knitting business. Suddenly, I am all the demand and currently have a wait list that books me until the end of March!
6. Spending time as a family - bike riding, visits to the zoo and Children's Museum, etc, etc

All of this goes on in addition to the typical daily chores, errands, activities... So, you can see how I get a little forgetful. :)

But, here are some pics to ease the pain. Haha!


Ayla regaling me with her music...






Jeremy and Jennifer skiing/snowboarding at Loveland






Jeremy's New Hot Rod


Thought you were supposed to go downhill ON the snowboard.


Both girls making faces together


Silly Ayla

Ayla's Artwork

Here are some examples of Ayla's artwork and writing. She blows our mind....

X-mas Morning Pics

We only took three pictures of the girls on x-mas morning, but we were a little occupied with presents. LOL

Sophie was very tired and not sure what was going on (haha)




Ayla in her super awesome mask and cape that Nana made

2008 in Review

So, I thought I would review all things the girl's have accomplished this past year. :) So, here are their Top Tens:

Ayla - Let's see......
1. grew an insane amount and is very tall
2. Learned to read AND write most of the alphabet.
3. Learned to write her own name (today, she also wrote Daddy's name and David's)
4. Can now count up to 20
5. Developed and fine tuned her amazing imagination, evolving into puppet shows, making up her own songs and stories, and creating her own set of multiple personalities (when she is a boy, her name is Aiyah and when she is not Ayla, she is Daisy. AHAHA)
6. Got to be flower girl at her Aunt Henry's wedding and stole the show (welcome to the fam, Uncle Jeff!)
7. Her artistic ability is becoming quite astounding. I will take some pictures this week of her works. I can't believe these come from a 3 year old!
8. Has maintained a perfect memory of the past year on what her 4th birthday party theme will be and has reminded ME at least every month. "I'm going to be 4 on my Hot Dog Party."
9. Adjusted amazingly well to her move to Colorado and proclaims to everyone that it is where we live.
10. Immediately recognizes Barack Obama on TV or when hearing his name on the radio "Mom, they said Back Bama!" or "That's Bark O Mama!" Tee hee

Miss Sophie:
1. Learned to walk and run
2. has started trying to draw and write like Ayla and is very intent on it.
3. Learned to use sign language to communicate. Her vocabulary includes: nurse, sleep, more, please, thank you, and all done
4. Has started to learn to vocalize some words. Mostly only mama, but she throws Ayla and Daddy in there, too.
5. Became highly proficient at saying "yes" or "no" by shaking/nodding her head profusely.
6. Has learned to become a good playmate for Ayla
7. Has learned to be a pain in the rear to Ayla
8. When I am sweeping or vacuuming, she has learned to help by getting her own broom and vacuum.
9. Seems to have learned humor and is wonderful at "trying" to make us all laugh at her antics
10. Become a sweet snuggler who can tell everyone "night night" with kisses and hugs before bed.

Enjoying the New Year

I was able to get off a little early on New Year's Eve and with weather in the high 40's I was able to convince the ladies to go for a bike ride in Bear Lake Park. It turned out to be a bit shorter then we anticipated as it got cool quick with the sun disappearing behind the mountains to the west. Never the less, it was a good time with the family.

Tabetha bundled up and enjoying the ride



Ayla with a cherry tipped nose



Sophie is hiding in the wagon...enjoying her ride



This morning I was able to get out for a few hours of Ice Boarding at the local ski Run...I say Ice Boarding as we had 90 MPH wind gust for about 16 hours straight three days ago. The result...nothing but ice left on the mountain. One of my falls ended in a 200 yard slide on my chest down the slope.

Cold in Windy





Rewinding a bit....this past weekend I took the girls to the Kids Museum and got them a year's pass with some of the Christmas money they received.

Sophie in the tunnel



I think we need one of these at home



Sophie crawling through a window



Ayla hanging out

We had a Happy Solstice and a Merry Christmas!

We've had a wonderful month of holidays here at home. Jennifer joined us for our Winter Solstice dinner before we exchanged handmade gifts. Jeremy was sweet and had some photos of the girl's framed, while I handed out knitted hats, mittens, and bowls. Jennifer made us a cool scrapbook that is ready for pictures! Christmas Eve, Ayla and I made cookies for Santa, leaving them on the table with a cup of milk and a note of thanks. She was SO excited to see the crumbs he left and the presents under the tree. It was fun to see her getting into "it" for the first time. The girls played with their new toys all day...

We have so many thanks to send out for the gifts and money given to us: Auntie Boo Boo, Aunt Jennifer, Nana & Pops, Grama, Aunt Debbie, Esmeralda and Family, Grandma and Grandpa Hedrick, Grandma Barnes, and I am told that there is more coming in the mail. Thank you, everyone, for your sweet generosity.

Jac's wedding was a lot of fun. It was wonderful seeing all the family again. We were thrilled to finally meet Jeff and certainly glad to have him as part of the clan. The girl's were great while in Florida, and while Tampa is on my most hated city list, I look forward to seeing my sister's again soon.










Here's some random pictures from this month (just 3):
This is Ayla modeling the sweater that I custom designed for her (yes, I am pretty darn proud of it!)




Jeremy out riding in the snow. It's starting to become a common occurence! LOL

Its the Great Puppet show; Ayla Hedrick