Lila's 1st Birthday Party

We were so excited when Lila received her first invitation to a birthday party. She's been to others but this was the first where it was just her friend and Emma wasn't included. Her little friend Serena invited her to her 4th birthday party. It was Strawberry Shortcake themed and she came home with tons of goody bags and the biggest smile!

Lydia's Playin' Dress Up

Our Aunt Marti bought Lydia her first dress up during one of her trips here last fall and on this day we decided to break it out. I didn't want to completely undress her so she got the dress up experience over her clothes which I don't think she was too excited about. Lila decided that she wanted to be twinners with Lydia and so here is our two Snow White's.







Lydia gets extremely excited when she gets to play in her sister's room. There is never a dull moment there, that's for sure! Here she is playing Barbie's with Lila...










reading books...













and just generally enjoying being in the thick of things.

Mischief

So as I was going through my pictures for this latest blog, it was becoming blatantly clear to me exactly who takes more pictures on our camera. My children!

Just so you can see what they have been up to when I have turned my back here you go...

First, there are lots of rules in my house and most are just common sense. One of them that is farely recent is -there shall be no children on the computer as they do not know what they are hurting and have their own games and gaming consoles. (On a side note, this is a new computer that was purchased as a result of too many children playing on the computer.) Emma is going to learn that having her sister take a picture of her breaking the rules may not play to her advantage.

Lila is well known as our family acrobat and well, let's just say family tornado. Here is Emma documenting that fact.

Being almost 4, Lila is very into doing things all by herself. Today she decided to do her own hair... Luckily Mother is close by to help guide the child :)

Now, another one of the rules of our house is - we got you camera's of your own for Christmas so keep your grubby hands of Mom and Dad's!

This is Lila's opinion of that rule!

Say Cheese!

What I have Been Up to...

I realize that this is not necessarily front page material but I have received a couple requests from people to see what I have been up to recently.

This box is what Sherrill and I did when they visited last week. We learned how to decoupage and it was a blast. The added bonus was I got to use my Cricut which I have been looking for every available opportunity to do. I want to make more! :)



After the previous dress I made for Lydia got ruined (someone took scissors to it before Lydia could even where it) I just barely got the opportunity to make her another. I just finished it today :)
















I wanted to make the girls some jammies for Christmas but I just couldn't get them done. I cut out patterns for each girl to have 2 jammies each and just finished them the last week in January. Where does life take me I have no idea!

Our Climber

Well it would seem that Lydia has hit a new phase. Climber. In addition to our table, the couch, and pretty much every toy that stands to about her height, she really enjoys climbing on this shopping cart walker that she got from Santa Claus. I being the quirk I am was curious to see how she would get herself out of this mess.

At first I blamed Lila for putting her in there but now I am seen with my own eyes how Lydi Moo gets into her own brand of trouble.

At this point is where I stepped in!

T'is the Season...

We kicked off the Christmas season by visiting the fat man himself! We went to the Festival of Trees where we saw the most authentic Santa I have ever seen...Check out his beard!


One of the highlights this season was getting a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Cranney. We had loads of fun which was not limited to playing nonstop with Grandma and going to the live Nativity at Tuacahn...

We followed Grandma and Grandpa home to Salt Lake where we got to spend two days with Marti! We had our own Christmas party where we exchanged gifts and had some yummy treats! Thank you Aunt Marti for our presents! You do spoil us!

Here we are all dolled up to go to the Zollinger Family 1st Annual Ornaments Exchange...

Here we are at The Olive Garden...

After the exchange, there was a big snowstorm. Being from Saint George, this was a BIG deal for us! We just couldn't resist!



Hunter was fun to play with in the snow!

Here is Lila making a snowball. Watch out Hunter!

Our last night in Salt Lake we stayed at Grandma Cranney's. Matt and Loni braved the weather and came to a party. Emma's favorite gift of the night was her digital camera. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Holden was so much fun to play with. The girls loved on him...

I think he liked us too!








Here he and Emma are coloring together...

On Christmas Eve, we got together with Grandma and Grandpa Zollinger. Here is Lydia after her first try of some lemon flavored soda.

Grandma and Grandpa gave the girls some presents...Lydia was not too sure about the whole idea...

We made homemade pizza's which were DELICIOUS!

Christmas Day

Emma got her "Camp Rock" soundtrack. This was the big ticket, in every letter to Santa (and there were many!) item.



Everyone got a new mechanical toothbrush. There is a new excitement buzzing about our house over toothbrushing!

In true Emma form, she is much more excited about the items that cost pennies versus the expensive gifts. She thought this little toy was awesome!

She spent the entire day listening to Camp Rock on her new portable CD player. Now the day after Christmas her ears are a bit raw from listening for so long.

This year was the most enjoyable to watch Lila. She is enthusiastic and excited about EVERYTHING! She loved every toy and every toy was "just what she wanted!!"

Lydia has the eternal sweet tooth. There is no doubt she knows exactly what this little package holds!

She was hesitant with this bike, but I am certain in time she will LOVE it!

The older girls however LOVE it already. They have been scooting each other around. If the toy makes it long enough for Lydia to get old enough to enjoy it we will be surprised!

This little jungle toy was the favorite. Everytime it turns on she discovers something new and just can not help but dance!

Santa put Lydia's first toothbrush in her stocking this year. She darts right for it whenever it is in her sight. We are hoping that now she will stop putting her sister's toothbrushes in her mouth :p

Here is Lila on her first Big Girl Bike...She was so excited to have one just like Emma's. In true Lila fashion she smoked us the second she got on the road, and then turned around and did circles around us.

This is the first time since Emma got her bike, three years ago, that she has been able to really ride it. She is excited about the fact that she can practice every day and is convinced the exercize will make her faster on the track at school!