Swimin

Bath time is swimming time for this girl.  She just learned she could lay down on her stomach in the water and forever afterward she's "swimin".  She has to have her animals, a bath just isn't a bath without her animals.  Thanks to Audrey for buying them for her.  She used to hate getting in the bath, but after the animals joined us she felt more like it was play time and less like it was torture.  

Rae keeps me on my toes.  She never stops surprising me with hilarious things she says and trouble she gets into.  Today I found her in the pantry stuffing her face with chocolate chips.  She told me they were nummy and then said, "I hiding,  I eat chocolate chips".  Truthfully I don't know how many she ate before I caught her, but if the amount of chocolate on her face and hands was any indication, it was a lot.  The silence in the house gave her away.  

The day I took these pictures she cried and screamed at me at the end of her bath when she asked for cookies while she was "swimin" and I told her no. (Picture below)

She is crazy, hilarious, and a little bit sassy.  

Everyday after she gets up I get her dressed and take her to the bathroom to do her hair.  She's always particular with what she wants.  If she doesn't want a pony or a bow she'll make it known.  There's no distracting her enough to get her to forget while I slide it in.  She's the elephant that never forgets what she wants.  

Lately she's taken to saying "curses" when something frustrates her or if something is not working the way she wants.  It makes me giggle because it's something Paul has said for years and I never would have imagined my toddler picking up on it.  It sounds hilarious coming from her little voice.  

 

Cowlicks and Mohawks

Raelyn's hair is my favorite!  She has two cowlicks in her hair which has made for some epic mohawks.  Most of her hair is up top which makes it even better.  I usually try to tame it but this was the day we let it go.  Rae kept saying it was messy but also that it was cute.  I thought it was the best. As you all know I've been trying to take pictures once a day lately.  I have not been the most successful but I'm trying.  My favorite of the ones of this little session is the one through the window of Rae. I don't know why I love it so much.  Maybe because it's different.  Also... when did Audrey become so big?  When did she go from being my little girl to being a young women.  Everyday being her mom comes with so much joy and also challenges.  It's been a pleasure and a gift to watch her grow.

Besties

 Nothing makes me quite as thankful for living in Utah than these two being friends.  They both get so excited about seeing each other and I enjoy watching them play together.  I hope they are always friends.  I was able to watch Aves this morning because Aunt Kim went to a dentist appointment.  The girls played so well together while I did school with Audrey and then Audrey took a break and played with them Ring Around the Rosy using different songs until they both got tired.  They rode horse together and then they carried their horses around together.  We ate lunch and then Aunt Kim was back.  It was the best time for Rae and Audrey was sweet to play with them.  

Hopefully this is the beginning of many playdates!

I HAPPY!

When Audrey is busy with school work we play together.  Today she was putting figurines to bed.  She liked putting the bed together just like hers...complete with a blanket.  She required the blanket, not having it wasn't an option.  

Right now she is obsessed with a few things.  She loves to climb all over me if I am on the floor.  She usually climbs on my back and says triumphantly, "I ride horse". She loves to read books.  She doesn't care about the kind of book.  She will even sit and flip through a chapter book pretending to read it.  She love playing hide and seek.  She struggles with the hiding part and usually gives herself away far before she is found, but she's a pretty good seeker.  She's not so good at covering her eyes and waiting to find people as pictured below so it's sometimes a struggle to run away fast enough so she actually has to look.  When she finds someone she always has to announce it by saying, "I find you!"  She's loves music and it's not uncommon for her to request at least three songs throughout the day.  And lastly, my friend Melissa said it best when she said, "Rae is joy personified".  She is very good at telling me how she is feeling and usually says randomly throughout the day, "I HAPPY!"  She also has moments where she tells me she's sad too but most of the time this girl is just happy which makes me happy.  

Audrey is adjusting.  So far between sickness and holidays we have not had a week where we've been able to attend any homeschool co ops or make any friends.  I know at times she feels a little lost.  At church she is also moving up to a class for Young Women instead of younger kids which with all the rest of the change has been a little emotional for her, especially with me having just be calling in to teach the music to the younger kids. There will be some stretching over the next year and I know she's up for it, but it's not going to come easy.  I'm hoping the New Year brings time outside of the house for all of us. I've realized over the years that being apart of a community of homeschooling families is so important for me and for Audrey.  Without one I'm not the best homeschooling mom and Audrey's not the best student.  We work together better when we have time away from home learning and socializing.  

Here's to a new year living in a new place, making new friends, and learning new things.