So embarrassing. . .

A friend of mine came over for a visit. Observing all the girls playing in the living room by the fireplace, she remarked, "You have a beautiful family." Emma, in a very exasperated voice, said, "Ev-er-y-one says that!"

I laughed at the tone of her voice but inside I'm thinking, wow, I definitely didn't instill a very good understanding of how to accept compliments with her, have I. Granted, that was the first time she had said it loudly to the person that actually gave the compliment; other times she has just asked me why we get comments like that while in the grocery store, Costco, mall, restaurant, etc, after they've already left. We've addressed the issue a few times since then to try and drive the point home. Hopefully it's worked.

Dead People

A few weeks ago, as we left Todd's office, Abri remarked, "There are dead people back there." Confused, I asked, "Where? What did you see?" "Back there! But they've turned to stone."
And then a lightbulb went on--we were passing the cemetary just down the street from the office. Funny, I never realized just what kids might think about tombstones over the graves.

Handsome Drawer

A conversation I recently had with Abrianna
Me: Abri, could you put this in your closet? (Referring to one of her belts)
Abri: I'm going to put this in my handsome drawer.
Me: What's that?
Abri: It's the drawer where you have stuff that you look cute in.

I had to laugh. I think the genes for girls to have clothes preferences are definitely built in.

Christmas Highlights

• Abri and Kayla randomly singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Christmas Bells are ringing" throughout the day
• Having a Supper Like the Saviour eating lentil soup, flatbread, meat strips, and dried fruit with grape juice while sitting crosslegged on the floor of the living room by the light of the Christmas tree
• 12 Days of Christmas Devotionals each night
• Angel service--our gifts to Jesus that we put into a stocking when we service for each other
• Advent calendars with Chocolates from Aunt Sherry
• Searching for and then finding Cami under the Christmas tree playing with the tree skirt after she crawled under there one afternoon
• Caroling in a big group to friends' houses

Star Features

Its interesting how each of our girls, so similar, has their distinguishing traits. Kayla-at top-has the trademark curls at this age and unique blue eyes which light up her whole face that get comments. Abri has beautiful, long, blond hair with perfect curls just at the end that people frequently comment on. (She would have been a perfect Aurora for Halloween if we had gone that route.) Emma has these insanely long eyelashes that she inherited from Todd--sorry, no pic.

Abri's hair in particular is a bit of a thorn in Emma's side. She's told me before--"will you please cut Abri's hair? Everyone says how beautiful it is and no one talks about mine." (Sadly hers doesn't loog as good long, so I had it cut when Emma was about 3 and I've kept it on the shorter side ever since).

I'm just hoping there isn't too much sibling rivalry when they get older, i.e. teenagers.

How a 7 yr old shows off to her 4 yr old sister

Emma to Abri: Abri, what’s 100 + 100?
Abri: um [long pause], a lot
Emma [laughing]: yeah, that's true too.

but then the 4 yr old still manages a surprising answer. . .

More Tales from the Twos

Mom: Kayla, put down the marker.
Kayla [looks up at me, looks back down]: Shh
Mom: Kayla, put it down.
Kayla: Shh [puts finger to her lips]
Mom: Kayla, last chance or you go in time out.
Kayla [points to the next room]: GO! [looking at me]
[Putting a toddler in time-out—not so funny]