Anna's Photo Blog

We had a wonderful Christmas! At first I was disappointed to be staying home for Christmas, but it turned out so very perfect. Now I am very glad that we stayed home, and I can't imagine having a better Christmas anywhere else. This is the first year that L is old enough to understand everything, and to get REALLY excited. It was the perfect year to stay home and start our own traditions.

L woke up around 6:30. I was awake as well, and saw her run out of her room, and then hesitate in the hall at the top of the stairs. When she saw me standing there in my room watching her, she grabbed my hand and we both went down together. She went through her stocking, and it was so sweet, because she wanted to give me 3 of her 8 pieces of candy to me. It is incredible how much she shares.

About an hour later, M woke up, and L helped her go through her stocking.
































We had a wonderful, slow Christmas breakfast of aebelskivers, bacon, fruit, and juice (a fabulous Owen tradition) and afterwards, we opened presents. L's favorite present was definitely a 3-inch Cinderella doll with several dresses and pairs of shoes. She took her Cinderella everywhere she went, and helped Cinderella do everything she did.


M's favorite present was probably her barn with a bunch of animals and a farmer. It makes animal noises, and also has a little tune it plays, which L likes to dance to (like in the picture).

M is really good at pulling the elastics out of her hair, and naptime is the perfect opportunity. (There's nothing else to do in the crib!) I never know what she will look like when I go get her. Today, she looked especially great.


Oops! I told her she couldn't have the camera. Those feelings are very fragile right after a nap!


Luckily, books are great. They will fix almost anything.

L is getting to be so grown up! These last few months, she has been starving for knowledge-any and all knowledge she can get. It is so wonderful to see the joy she finds in learning! We do "school" every day, while M takes her nap. It just might be her favorite part of the day. We learn about all kinds of things-Eskimos, honey bees, how the calendar works, etc. And she is learning to read, and can sound out small words right now.


M is also learning and growing so much. She is very proud of herself, because just this last Friday, she figured out how to walk backwards, and has been doing it ever since, especially when she wants to make us laugh. M is a real fun-loving, happy, teasing, stinker, who loves to make us all laugh. Since Thursday, she has been walking around the house singing to herself! It is very cute.

I think M learns best from watching and copying her big sister. For example, she likes to stamp out letters from play dough and color pictures with L. Those are both things L never did at this young of an age, since she didn't have anyone to watch. The wonderful thing is, L likes M to do these things with her. She helps M get into her booseter seat, and shares her paper and pencils or play dough and stamps with her so willingly.


There is nothing sweeter in the world than to see L and M getting along and loving each other-laughing and giggling...it's the best!!

Last Monday, for family home evening, we made a trip to temple square to see all the lights. Both the girls loved it!



This is in front of the reflecting pool. At Christmas time, they put in lots of clear floating balls with artificial candles inside. It is really pretty!