Lily 17 months

It is hard to believe Lily is almost 1 1/2 years old.  Adventures are never far from Lily.  She is energetic, sweet, fun loving, and silly.  We love her so very much!  Here are a few highlights of the month:

• Lily loves to play with Emily!  Each morning they are both excited to see each other and begin the play adventures of the day.  After fussing mornings, Lily brightens right up at the sight of Emily!  It is fun to see them play more together each day.
• Loves to dance - she jumps and taps her feet to music.  She especially loves to spin around and do "Ring Around the Rosie"
• When trouble is to be had or something mischievous, Lily gives a special smile and laugh as if knowing she is being silly.
• Says a new word it seems everyday: baby, stuck, ashes, more, cheese, help, snack, thank you.
• She loves to play with cousins, especially Natalie
• Loves opening presents on Christmas
• Enjoys reading books, especially with Emily
• Loves caring for babies, watching the choo-choo, and going on adventures

Bowling

My brother Trent and his family flew in on Christmas day evening for a ski adventure for their family.  We were able to spend time with them and all my sibling's families today.  The day started with brunch at Kneaders followed by bowling fun.  The girls loved pushing the ball down the ramp with their daddy.  They were better bowlers then me!

Christmas 2015

This Christmas brought a lot of joy watching the girls experience it all with family around.  They loved celebrating with cousins on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Being with family was the greatest gift we received.  

On Christmas Eve we enjoyed a party at the Handy house with family.  Nana and Grandpa spoiled the girls with Sunday dresses (Ariel dresses according to Emily) and dollies for Lily and a car for Emily to go with her dollhouse.  They both loved opening the packages as much as playing with the toys.

On Christmas morning the girls arose at the same time around 7:00 am.  I carried them into the family room as routine to sit on the couch for a few minutes together and snuggle.  Emily soon asked Lily if she wanted to watch Mickey Mouse in accordance to our routine.  As she looked over at the Christmas tree aglow it was then she realized there were presents underneath the tree.  Emily's eyes sparkled with delight.  She whispered, "Santa presents!"  Immediately she was eager to open them up.  After gathering Nana, Grandpa, Sissa, and Daddy we enjoyed watching the girls see their surprises in delight.  Emily was especially Santa brought her a "Barbie" present like she asked.  I love the magic little children bring to Christmas.

After a snowing morning of about 8 inches of fresh snow, we headed up to Layton to see the Yates family.  Thankfully the roads were manageable for the most part.  We enjoyed Christmas dinner, presents, and playtime up there.  Emily had fun with her cousins having a tea party and makeup party.  Lily loved watching all the kids play.

We were grateful for the special angels that added to our Christmas joy this year.  They touched our hearts as we recognize their generosity as a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas - unconditional love and service.  Thank you!

A Favorite Past-time

One of the girls' favorite activities is to read books.  I love watching them read together, apart, and with me.  We love to visit the library and explore new books while rereading favorites.  It is exciting to see Lily develop a passion for reading like her big sister.

Gingerbread Houses

For Family Home Evening tonight we decorated gingerbread houses - a favorite Yates' family tradition.  Emily loved preparing, decorating, and admiring the "Santa Candy Houses."  She was a great helper!

Princess Crowns

For Christmas this year Nelson's brother David and his family have given us 12 Days of Christmas presents.  The girls have looked forward to opening gifts everyday to see the surprises and fun.  Today's gift was "5 Gold Rings" or 5 gold bracelets.  Emily and Lily love to decorate themselves with these "pretties."
This afternoon I caught Emily pretending to use the bracelets as crowns for the block people she was playing with.  Emily would pretend to place a crown on each of the people's head.  Then the people would drive to and frown the dance at the castle.  I just love watching Emily pretend.  It is magical!

Swimming Soup

In the freezing cold of almost winter, Emily requested presistently to wear her "swim soup" today.  We checked out a book called, Brownie and Pearl Take a Dip, at the library this week.  It is about a girl named Brownie and her cat Pearl who go swimming.  It is quite the contrast from on the holiday books Emily chose.  Thinking about Brownie and Pearl, Emily wanted to wear her swimming suite.  I told her she could but it was too cold to go swimming.  She danced around the house in her swimming suite for over an hour this afternoon.  What a silly girl!

Christmas Temple Lights

This afternoon I told Emily that we would be going to see the Christmas Temple lights downtown.  She was excited as she loves to see the Christmas lights!  Soon after I told her we would be going soon, Emily was insistent that she get her dress on so that she could go to the temple.  I tried to explain to her that she didn't need to wear her dress because we weren't going inside the temple, just walking around the outside and seeing the Christmas lights.  As much as I tried, Emily was persistent to wear a dress. If it wasn't so cold, I may have agreed.  In the end, we all headed out bundled in coats, gloves, pants, and hats.

Emily and Lily were amazed at all the lights and people!  I loved watching their eyes and Emily's sweet exclamations, "Wow!"  As I told Emily to look at the temple, she sweetly touched Lily and encouraged her to look at the temple to.  Once again, Emily asked to get her dress on to go inside the temple.  I told her that one day she would in a pretty white dress.

Throughout the night, Emily asked several times to get her dress on even when we got home.  I was amazed at what Emily had learned from me.  Each time I go to the temple, I wear a dress so should she.  Such a simple act, but a great teaching point to her.  It was a great reminder to me to be a good example in word and deed.

Visiting Santa

Today we journeyed to Fashion Place Mall with Nana and Grandpa to see Santa Claus.  We enjoyed doing a little Christmas shopping for Aunt Sissa and exploring some of the stores as we waited for Santa to arrive.  Soon after he came, we got in line.  The girls were thrilled!  I loved watching her see Santa for the first time in person.  She was brave when it was her turn to hold Santa's hands and talk to him for a minute.  Lily kept saying, "Ho, ho, ho!"  On the way home, I asked Emily if she liked seeing Santa and she smiled.  I asked her to tell me about the colors of his hat, boots, and hair.  She knew them to be red, black, and white.  What a cute, smart girl!

Choo- Choo

Both girls, especially Lily, love to watch my Dad's trains multiple times each day.  I love how Lily sits next to the trains while pleading, "Help!  Choo-Choo!"  I think my dad finds great fun in their delight in the trains.

Lily 16 Months

Lily is our sweet, spunky, and tender little girl.  She brings so much joy into our home.  Emily loves to play with her!  Whenever naptime is over, Emily is the first one to greet Lily.  I love watching them engage together more each day.  Lily seems to be learning new words all the time.  I love her sweet voice and watching her think about shaping her mouth as she speaks.  Here are a few highlights of the month:

• Teething is a challenge, but Lily has almost 10 teeth by now
• Loves cousins, aunts, and uncles and the attention she gets from them
• Finds it silly to climb on her rocking chair and stand up
• Loves babies and stuffed animals.  She is sweet to snuggle, carry, and hug them
• Mischievous at times - she knows when she is doing something silly and laughs
• Loves to play with Emily, although she is sometimes picked on
• Runs more often than walks
• Loves tubby time
• Says: mama, dada, bye, hi, uh-oh, help, choo-choo, Lily, nana, milk, cracker, cookie
• Enjoys playing Ring Around the Rosies.  She sings the song and holds your hands even!
• Sweet snuggler

Thanksgiving 2015

 Thanksgiving for the past 4 years has been quiet away from family in Arizona and St. George.  This year we enjoyed celebrating with both families.  On Thanksgiving Day we enjoyed games, visiting, and a feast with my family.  On Friday the girls loved decorating ours and Nana's Christmas tree.  They have since redecorated our tree everyday or at least taken off all the bottom ornaments for me to decorate the tree again.

On Saturday we spent much of the day with Yates family with a games, visiting, and breakfast.  The girls loved exploring Grandma's toys and playing with cousins.  Emily was insistent on wearing her hat from Sherie on the way there.  Silly girl!

Aunt Sissa

Emily and Lily love their Aunt Sissa!  They (and me too) look forward to seeing her often at Nana's house for Sunday dinner and some week night in between.  The girls love to play, dance, sing, and of coarse watch her phone together.  I am so grateful they have such a beautiful, caring, fun-loving, selfless aunt!

Playing Pretend with Houses

One the girls' favorite things to do lately is playing pretend with dollhouses - of every kind.  Emily has loved to play with my old dollhouse, Grandma's Christmas house, the Disney Princess Castle, and Barbie house.  She loves to take her dolls to church, dance, the library, and of course to bed.  I love hearing Emily use the words we use to talk to her with her dolls.  She has quite the imagination!  The past few days she has played with these houses for hours at a time.  Lily too has joined in the fun, mimicking her big sister.  I know as they continue to grow they will love pretending together, instead of just side-by-side.

After much fun with the Barbie house yesterday, Emily and Lily enjoyed sitting in the tubs.  Emily insisted they sit next to each other and frequently asked, "Mommy say cheese!"  Cute dollies!

A Coat of Many Colors

My mom is a great saver of treasures, including two of my coats from when I was a little girls.  As we played outside they were both wearing them.  Emily called her coat her "Anna coat!"  I told her it used to be mommy's coat.  It is fun to think about wearing those coats when I was there age.  I often wonder how we are alike and different.  

Sweet Dreams

Each night as I check on my sweet girls, my heart skips a beat.  I love these two more than words can say.  There is something special about watching them sleep and thinking about all the ways I love them.  Maybe it is because when they are asleep things are still and quiet, quite different from the day's adventures.  I am so lucky to be their mom and hope their dreams are as sweet as they are.

Afternoon at the Park

Today with a little warmer temperatures in the 50s, we enjoyed the afternoon at the park.  Emily loved the slide with daddy.  They must have gone down the twisty slide 20 times.  Lily was content exploring the wood chips and swings.  We used to go to the park so often in St. George since it was just a short walk away, so I regret not coming to the park more with cold days ahead.  We will just have to take more advantage of it in the spring.

  

Museum of Curiosty

Nana and Grandpa treated us to the Museum of Curiosity to celebrate Nelson's new job to start next week.  The girls had so much fun exploring the variety of exhibits, including the farmer's display, lego room, washing machine, and ropes course.  Emily loved climbing through the ropes to sit in the airplane up high.  I was impressed by her bravery!  We are excited to visit again soon!

Fall Leaves

As the days are getting cooler, the girls and I strive to catch as much sunshine outside as we can.   Living in Arizona and St. George, the girls experienced a different kind of fall than here in Salt Lake.  It has been fun to see them experience falling leaves, leaf piles, frosted roof tops, and glimpes of snow.

Emily has especially enjoyed raking and jumping in the leaves.  The other day she asked me, "Mommy, come jump in the leaves with me."  I loved watching her joy, while capturing the sights and smells of fall.

Halloween 2015

Our Halloween was full of sweet treats with time together with family and each other.  We enjoyed a fun-filled Halloween party with my family Saturday mid-morning.  The girls loved playing Halloween games with their cousins, eating a Mickey Mouse themed lunch, and gathering treats.

After Lily's nap, Emily and Nelson carved a jack-o-lantern together.  Emily loved watching it glow on the porch.

Finally, the time for trick-or-treating arrived.  We have read lots of books about trick-or-treating, but I am not sure she understood it.  Soon, trick-or-treaters arrived showing her just how fun it was.  We got the girls in their costumes and they caught on really quick.  Emily sang "Happy Halloween!" as we traveled door to door.  She loved to knock on the door and pick the treats out.  Lily was insistent on carrying her pumpkin around even though it dragged on the ground because she is short.  After walking most the neighborhood the girls were ready for tubby's and good night treat.  I loved watching their excitement along the way!  

Lily 15 Months

Our Little Lily is growing and changing ever so fast.  We love the laughter, adventure and fun she brings to our family.  It is hard to name just a few highlights as there are always so many:

• Loves to play outside, but can get into trouble with eating dirt and leaves
• Happiest when she is with Emily, Mommy, and Daddy - especially when we are all together
• Folds her arms for prayer
• Says okay to answer questions
• Loves babies and stuffed animals
• Enjoys eating applesauce go-gos, yogurt, pasta, mac n' cheese, and crackers
• Teething lots!
• Knows wear her shoes are and will get them if you ask her to
• Squeals in delight when family comes home
• A climber of chairs and stairs
• Sweet as ever!

Ice Cream Lover

Lily loves ice cream!  She is even kind enough to share - sometimes!

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

Emily and I enjoyed a few afternoons making pumpkin sugar cookies for the Handy Family Halloween party.  Emily loved to dump in the ingredients, use the mixer, and roll it out.  She is sure a cute baker!

Sunday Sweethearts

It is a rare occasion to capture a few minutes before church to take a picture of these Sunday sweethearts, but we did today.  I love how cute they look dressed similar or alike each Sunday as we go to church.  It reminds me of the times my sisters and I dressed alike as girls.

Big Shoes to Fill

Emily loves to play with shoes.  Today she was caught trying to walk in her dad's shoes.  I told her those were big shoes to fill because of all daddy does to love and care for his family.

Big Sister

I feel Emily has taken the role of "Big Sister" lately.  She seems to show more of an initiative to watch out and care for Lily.  Emily is kind-hearted to give Lily lots of kisses, reassure when she is sad, make sure she has a treat or toy too, and avoid danger.  Of coarse she is still hesitant to share, but Emily sure loves to engage and play with her sister & friend.

The other day I caught Emily singing, "Head, Shoulder's, Knees, and Toes" with Lily.  She then asked Lily, "Where's your nose?" while showing her where it was.  Cute teacher for sure!

Fall Outside Fun

With the weather cooling down into the perfect outside play weather between 60 and 80 degrees, the girls have spent a lot of time outside playing and exploring.  They love to play with the balls, in the dirt, blowing bubbles, and jumping in the leaves.  They love to explore Nana's yard and her neighbor's too.  I love watching them play together and enjoy the sunshine.

Snuggle & Silly Big

One afternoon after lunch before Lily's nap, Lily snuggled next to me on a blanket for about 10 minutes.  She didn't fall asleep, just relaxed.  I love it when my girls are still enough to enjoy these quiet moments together.  Their snuggles are the best!

After Lily's nap on this day, she woke up super happy giggling in her crib.  We tossed binkies and stuffed animals for a while before she was ready to get out.  I love it when she wakes up all smiles!

Peterson Pumpkin Patch

After a few years away from a traditional pumpkin patch, we were excited to take the girls for some fall-time fun.  One evening after dinner, we went to Peterson's Pumpkin Patch.  The girls were enthralled by the field full of pumpkins - different from the shopping store bins in our hot climates of Phoenix and St. George.  They loved trying to pick up and carrying the big and little pumpkins to the wheel borrow.  We ended up with a few extras at times in the wheel borrow, but finally came home with 5 pumpkins - one for each of us including the new baby.

The girls have loved looking and sitting by the pumpkins on the front porch all month long, especially the two tiny pumpkins.  Lily loved to carry these little pumpkins around as they were just her size.  I love the way she investigated them day after day.

Library Lovers

These girls love to explore the library!  We go at least once a week and can spend an hour there reading books.  The fun continues as we come home and we repeatedly read the books over the week.  Emily is so smart that by the end of the week she can retell the stories page by page using similar words on the page.  I love my bookworms.