Four. Three Years Old

 4. 3 Years Old

• Christmas Eve was special. We have been going going all month. I really wanted to go to GHR to visit Grandmas with you kiddos, but I was visited out with RS. so after not seeing dad for the last four days, we just stayed home after church and chilled out. We watched a movie, played games, and got ready for our evening. That night, we had clam chowder in bread bowls by candle light, reenacted the Nativity story, sang We Three Kings, opened up robes for the hot tub, and wrote a letter to Santa. You all slept in the girls room. I dragged the kids tree into that room so you could sleep with the lights on. It was magically. 
• Christmas is so special. I love it. We told you kiddos to not call us until 7:30am on the Alexa. I think you guys woke up around 6 and just played with each other until we came down. I am amazed that none of you have figured out that you could just peek if you wanted to. Well, Santa brought you a pink doll bunk bed. You were so excited. You also got ski socks, hair clips, and hair coloring stuff. Dad and I gave you a white cardigan and tights for church, a new pinkalicious book, and a gymnastic bar. You of course love all the chocolate, and ate half of yours by the time we were finished opening gifts. Maggie gave you clothes for your dolls, Millie gave you Disney princess Lego set and Sam gave you a unicorn rocket. We ended the night with the Browns coming over for Cafe Rio. 
• The week after Christmas was full of movies, playing switch,  friends over for hot tubing, and slow days. By the end of the week, you kids were ready to go again and have a crazy week in Utah.
• Utah was a big trip-drove to cabin, sledding at the cabin, painting nails with Auntie Kami, going to the semi final rounds in Uno with the help of cousin Sarah, day in Provo with the Cowles, warm weather so we could play outside, Cedar city, hiking with both Price family, skiing at Brian Head (you were awesome on the green hill!), another day in Provo with the Barbers at the trampoline park, Brigham City, Day with Grandma and going bowling, building snowmen, and playing games, watching Wonka movie, up late for the last night. We were all so tired by the end, but it felt good to be with friends and family.
• It never is a trip with family without someone getting sick. When we got back, you got strep throat. You hated the steriod. You told me that it tasted like soap, but you love the pink antibodics and ask for it everyday so we haven't missed a day yet. 
• The other day, you were fighting over a teacup with a younger boy and it broke and sliced the pad off your thumb. We have had to badge it up all week. Maggie was cute and took her sharpies and drew cute pictures on it like a case. I love all the cuddles, but boy you are not that tough with pain. 

Four.Two Years

 4.2 Year

• We spent Thanksgiving in Oregon. Some of the highlights were dodgeball at the school (you loved getting me out) and hungry hippos, last time at Grandma's old house (so you had to do the zip line and took over the piano room with paper dolls), eating KFC on actually thanksgiving day, watching Wish with Grandma and Papa at the movie theaters, Thanksgiving dinner at Annie's with all the cousins and sushi, dressing up and making up plays, and ginger bread houses at the library. It was crazy and awesome at the same time. I love how you got a lot time with Jessie. She really is one of your favorite people. 
• Side note: you got the Princess Aurora night gown from Grandma for your birthday and you wear it all the time. One time, I caught you wearing it night, the next day, the next night, and was trying to wear it again during the day, but I finally told you to put it in the dirty basket. 
• Preschool here this month was on snow. There happened to be snow outside (we haven't got much yet this year) and it was fun to see you fill up the bikes with snow and ride around. That same day, after we painted pictures of Christmas trees, we delivered them to the different Grandmas in the ward. They all loved your pictures and shared candy with you girls. We were also able to go on a field trip this month to the post office to mail our letters to Santa and then walk over to Creme for drinks and games.
• Christmas is going strong here. We have been doing the different advent day calendars (I should say we did them the first half of the month but then it got to be too much for me so we just put the rest of the playmobiles together on the 24th), had the Happy Birthday celebration with the Rupps, cut out snow flakes, had Santa on the Fire Truck come to our house!!, and been trying to watch more Christmas movies. 
• We got to watch your first dance recital. You loved being on stage and really worked hard on doing your dance moves. The next week, your picture was the main photo on the front of the local paper. It was darling. Millie was jealous that you were the star. 
• We invited a few families over to the church to play floor hockey and chair soccer. It was really fun to run around on a Friday night. Its hard to be the youngest one, but you worked hard at getting in the action and hitting the ball a bit.
• We went skiing as a whole family and you got to go!!! You have been asking about skiing these last few weeks, so it was so fun to take you. Dad taught you on the bunny hill while I was out with the big kids. I guess it was not going well and you wanted to be done at lunch. You told dad that you wouldn't go out unless I was with you. Well, I am not good enough to teach you, so after lunch we all went to the bunny hill to encourage you. It was sweet to see all your siblings cheer you on. You were doing so well and I was able to help you. Dad then took the big kids off to do the bigger hills. By the end, you wanted to go down and do the lift by yourself (don't worry, I stayed with you) and you even told Dad that you were better than him. I am glad that you love it now. 
• Dad had to work the weekend before Christmas so we invited Laura Collins from Elk City to come out here for four days to spend it with us. You think Laura is so fun (may have a hard time sharing her with your siblings). I would find you, Millie, and Sam all cuddle up in her bed with her in the mornings watching silly clips of dogs or something. One of the days, we went to Lewiston to go ice staking. The place had big stakes of buckets that you could use to hold on to while skating. It was just a bit too heavy for you to push on your own, so I ended up skating backwards the while time pulling you along. I love that I got to see you laugh the whole time. You told me that you felt like Pinkalicious. We ended the night at Tomato Brothers and the Train park with the fun lights. It really felt special. 

Four.One Years Old

 4.1 Years

• Preschool is going really well. Having just the three of you girls have been easy and wants me to do more of the creative things with you since I don't have to worry about behavior. I hosted the halloween party. Your favorite activity was making a witch's potion. I set up this tray with different halloween theme science stuff including colored vinegars in potion bottles, baking soda, eyeballs, glitter, cauldrons to mix them with and bones to use as stir rods. It was a real hit and I love how you girls were laughing and ohhh-ing the whole time. 
• We have had a lot of fun with Halloween. Deciding costumes has been a bit crazy with you because you keep changing your mind. I had to keep bringing you back to the idea of a unicorn princess. In the end, you hated wearing the hat, but oh well. Our friends the Zechmanns hosted a Halloween party. Each family was suppose to bring a haunted food. We made shepherd's pie and piped the mashed potatoes to look like the small intestines. The veggie tray has red coloring dripped over it like blood. You had a really hard time wanting to eat any of the haunted food. We also were able to go to the ward Trunk-o-treat. I brought our pears and gave them to each kid. We spent actually Halloween night in town. We started at the city's Trunk-o-treat and there was a hay ride. Nora started to go out with us house to house, but got too cold and bailed. I was surprised how well you handled the cold. When it was time to go, I couldn't find my keys. Both Dad and I retraced my steps, but no luck. The next day, we found them on the lawn of your friends house, which you thought was a miracle and reacted so well.
• You wore the funniest outfit to church. It included crazy curly hair, two bows, a head band, lacey dress, pink tights, painted nails, and using a barbie dress as "gloves". Your sense of style is such your own. I try hard to guide you on wearing cute, matching outfits, but you will just change it to something your own. You are loving your "Chelsea boots" and ask me to wear mine so we can match. 
• You and Millie are such best friends. I love seeing how much you two get along. Lately, you girls have been playing with dolls. The weather hasn't been too cold, so on one of our Sunday walks, Millie pushed hers in a doll stroller and you held on to Junie while riding your bike. The next time we went on a walk, you got the stroller, but after the up hill, you ditched it to the side of the road because it was too much work.
• The Browns are the new family/doctor so we have been trying to introduce them to new things here. This year, the weather was beautiful, so we took them up the mountain to cut down a free Christmas tree. It was fun stomping through the mud (no snow). You really liked all the tiny trees so we ended up picking out little ones for each of your rooms.