Happy 2nd Birthday, Lydia!

We had such a fun time celebrating our sweet, sassy, full-of-kisses, dancing, happy Lydia!  She knew the day was special and is still convinced it's her "BIRTHDAY!"  I plan to do a sappy post later (as soon as I do the Christmas post, Abby's birthday post, and Sam's birthday post), but we love this girl and feel so grateful she belongs to us forever!

The much-desired purple flashlight 

"What is it?  What is it?"

For those who of you who know my sister Cami, 

can you ever hear that question and not hear her voice saying it?

So many helpers!

Mom and Dad, thanks for the double gifts this year!

This book is the one you sent before Christmas! :) 

Always Good for a Laugh

Here are two videos we took tonight that should bring a big smile and hopefully a chuckle or two!

The Wrath of Abby

This morning, Roy was running out the door and couldn't find his umbrella so asked to borrow Abby's.  I gave the go-ahead and off he ran.  About 45 minutes later, I got a text saying he had left the umbrella in the a of the driver who took him in today (he waits at a big parking lot and people who want to take advantage of the HOV lanes into DC come by and pick up waiting passengers who are heading in the same direction).  This is not the first item (nor the first or second umbrella) that has been left in some random person's car.  Abby immediately burst into tears upon hearing the news of her umbrella and was very angry.  I explained that it was an accident and that Dad was probably just distracted.  After a little bit she asked to borrow my phone so she could send a text to Roy and get the anger out of her system.  Here's what she composed:

Your in big big big big big  big

big trobl so nevr lev    an

unbrelu  you caNt play on

your fone for one hole wek or

intl you git my unbrlu .

It's a BOY!

We are so excited that our sweet new baby is a boy!  Sam is especially excited for a brother, Abby warmed up quickly to the idea, and Lydia is clueless.  We're excited to meet this little guy.  Now to come up with a name...

The Last Snow Day

We have had SO much snow and so many snow days this winter.  Maybe it's wishful thinking that the snow we got today will be the last day of snow, but a girl can hope!  As nice as it's been for us to all have more time together and as many little projects we were able to do together, I think it's safe to say that if today were the last day of snow, the kids would be happy.  Today alone they threw snowballs, built a snow castle, went sledding, Abby did her snowboarding trick with the sled, helped us clean off the cars, and had a great time!

Capturing Abby

Abby has been bringing home her writing every day.  She has to use a certain word in her sentence and I love to hear what she has to say because it truly captures what is going on in her mind.  The word that is bolded is the word she was required to use.

Abby's words: "Will you come to fises our frt dor?  It fell oof.  Will you fises it for oos ples?"
Interpretation: "Will you come fix our front door?  It fell off.  Will you fix it for us please?
The Story: Our back sliding glass door is slowly falling apart.  We had a guy come out to look at it the day before so we could have the landlords convinced that we weren't being dramatic--the door truly cannot be fixed...it needs to be replaced.

Abby's words: "I like to pala with my brothre and my sister.  We like to play owxsigd."
Interpretation: "I like to play with my brother and sister.  We like to play outside."

Abby's words: "My Dad has sind up for beying a sokrco ch.  By the way are last name is Zwahlen."
Interpretation: "My Dad has signed up for being a soccer coach.  By the way, our last name is Zwahlen."

Abby's words: "I see my mom and my cozin.  One  name is Zach.  The ovr is Ethin.  The ygist is Sofe.  I love them all and my hll famle."
Interpretation: "I see my mom and my cousin.  One's name is Zach.  The other is Ethan.  The youngest is Sophia.  I love them all and my whole family."

Abby's words: "I like my mom and my famule and my mom les me sugl in to hrr and my sisdr is sille.  My Dad and Sam love to resll.  Lukle tha dot resll me."
Interpretation: "I like my mom and my family and my mom lets me snuggle into her and my sister is silly.  My Dad and Sam love to wrestle.  Luckily they don't wrestle me."

Abby's words: "This is me.  This is my famule.  This is my Dad.  His rel name is Roy."
Interpretation: "This is me.  This is my family.  This is my Dad.  His real name is Roy."

Abby's words: "Tar is a big famule in my hozs.  Tay lov me and I lov tim."
Interpretation: "There is a big family in my house.  They love me and I love them."

Abby's words: "This is my sisst.  Hrr name is Lytea was ating lik a two ye ld today she was lafing win I told mom."
Interpretation: "This is my sister.  Her name is Lydia.  She was acting like a two year old today.  She was laughing when I told mom."

Abby's words: "My femule is the best.  I have the best famule bkus I lik thim.  I love my mom sing to me in the roking cher so thas wyi my mo is the best."
Interpretation: "My family is the best.  I have the best family because I like them.  I love when my mom sings to me in the rocking chair so that is why my mom is the best."
Note: She drew a heart around the word love.  She really loves me :)

Abby's words: "My Dad went on a wrk chip.  He cold us evreday.  On Friday 20th 2014 he did sicp."
Interpretation: "My Dad went on a work trip.  He called us everyday.  On Friday, February 20, 2014, he did Skype."

Abby's words: "This is my mom.  Look at hrr tome see she is pegmit.  I bsibib that I wod col the dady Blom."
Interpretation: "This is my mom.  Look at her tomorrow.  She is pregnant.  I decided I would call the baby Bloom."

Abby's words: "We hav a lot of fan in the swiming pole with my mom and my Dad and Sam and Liydyai.  It is fan!"
Interpretation: "We have a lot of fun in the swimming pool with my mom and my dad and Sam and Lydia.  It is fun!"

Abby's words: "Mom come here to Serotogo Elomenenre skool.  Come to art come to PE and come to music.  Sing do fun crats and do hethe tings so Dad come and mom and Sam and Lidyia."
Interpretation: "Mom, come here to Saratoga Elementary School.  Come to art, come to PE, and come to Music.  Sing, do crafts, and do healthy things.  So Dad, come, and Mom and Sam and Lydia."