Since the new year...

This winter so far has been pretty nice. We haven't had that much snow and for Chicago it hasn't even been all that cold. Fingers crossed February doesn't make us pay. Mya is loving continuing with our preschool, starting a gymnastics class, and becoming a sunbeam; she LOVES primary. Tessa is growing up so fast it scares me a bit. She loves to eat, sweet potatoes are her favorite, she enjoys sitting in their room and watching Mya play, and is very ticklish. We are starting to introduce sign language to Tessa and Mya is doing a great job helping out. They both love the baby signing time videos and Mya has gotten into the older ones as well. Here is a look at a some of the things we have been up to this month.

We headed out to the Field Museum one day since Dustin had never been.

Mya loved seeing all the Fossils

Mya & Sophie at the Zoo. We are so happy the Fluckigers have moved close by!

Mya making a snow angel

Tessa in her little corner of the couch

Tessa eating, she loves to feed herself

Looking cute but pretty tired

Mya, Mommy & Tessa at the Field Museum

Daddy & Mya playing in the snow, Mya kept following tracks in the

snow trying to catch a monster

Tessa playing

Big smiles

Mya & Andee at the zoo

More Tessa!

Loving the snow

Mya, Sophie & Olivia at the Zoo

Christmas in Chicago

We had Christmas in Chicago this year, and wouldn't you know it wasn't a white Christmas. That disappointment aside we had a lovely time. My mom, Nana, was able to come out for two weeks and be here for Christmas with us. We all had a great time visiting and getting into the Christmas spirit, Mya has loved all the carols and likes to sing along. Mya was even more fun this year and would continually tell us exactly what was going to happen with Santa and what he was going to bring, a Doll house of the Castle variety (a specific one) and then a week before the 25th she also decided Santa was going to bring her a jump rope as well; Still can't figure out where that came from, thanks to Nana for helping us prepare for the big day.

On Christmas Eve we had a delicious meal, relaxed all together and in the evening we were able to read the story of Jesus (or baby Jesus as Mya always calls him) from the scriptures and watched one of the church videos. She enjoyed it and knew the story pretty well as she had been acting it out with her nativity set all season. Later that night we set out treats for Santa, she wanted carrots for the reindeer, milk and chocolate cake for Santa instead of cookies so he wouldn't get sick of cookies. She also wrote Santa a note to thank him. She was amped about Santa coming and even though she said it was bed time around 7 she continued to come down stairs to discuss the finer points with us for the next hour before falling to sleep.

The next morning the first thing she did was look to see if he ate the cake etc, and read the note he wrote back to her. Then the opening began, Mya was a little hesitant at first but that quickly faded. Tessa was so good that morning and really just let us enjoy the moment. We had a wonderful morning and Mya loved playing with her toys. Being Sunday we went to church and afterwards made sure to Skype/call all the family. That evening we had desert with some friends and let the girls play (they have two girls as well) and get out some of that pent up energy. Our family had a great holiday season and I was grateful that Nana was able to enjoy it with us!

Nana and the girls

Nana and Mya

Tessa reaching for her gift from Mya

All the girls

Mya opening her gift from Santa

Mya jumping on her trampoline from Nana! Thanks to Daddy who spent

a cold Christmas Eve putting it together.

Mya bowling with Daddy's giant bowling set

Tessa giggling with Nana, she loved having

someone new to play with

Mya and Tessa in their new PJs Christmas Eve

Mya and Tessa in their Christmas dresses

St. Nicholas Day

We continued our tradition of celebrating St. Nicholas Day on Dec. 6th. Mya had fun this year putting out her shoes that night before for St. Nicholas to fill, she even put one out for Tessa. The next morning she eagerly went to look in her shoes. Now her gift didn't fit in the shoe (St.Nicholas didn't bring any candy this year either) and when she looked inside her face was pitiful and she just looked at me "it's empty mom". Luckily I simply pointed out the gift behind it and all was well. I love this little tradition from my childhood and enjoy getting to carry it on with the girls especially now that Mya is getting older. Her are some pictures since Thanksgiving.

We were out in our meager snow fall and Mya starting playing with the snow. A few seconds later she started looking at her hands saying "aw cold aw this is why I need hand gloves" I started laughing one because it sounds like something I would say to her and two because what other kind of gloves are there?

Tessa and her favorite toy, She loves to chew...on anything really

Putting the tree topper on

Picture with Santa, Tessa didn't cry but was not at all sure about the situation

Beginning to decorate the tree

Mya opening her gift

After opening their St.Nicholas day gifts

Tessa's favorite thing is her toes she loves to play with them

Mya nursing her baby, she has been doing this since I had Tessa but I just now got a picture

Mya & Tessa

Mya

Thanksgiving with the Hoopes family

My sister Rachel and her family were able to come up to Chicago from West Virginia again this year for Thanksgiving. Mya had a blast with her cousins and we were happy to have them see Tessa for the first time. Dustin prepared the entire Thanksgiving meal and it was amazing! Mya loved having the "big kids" around and after they left kept calling them "my Zoe and Ian". While they were here we were able to go to the Adler Planetarium, the zoo and the muppet movie. All had a great time and I loved getting to visit not to mention having others around to help with the girls. I hope one day soon the family can all live closer together, it is hard having to go so long between visits.

Mya and our thankful tree. We filled out a leaf everyday with what we were thankful for. Mya's ranged from dresses to nursery to her family. Three year olds are great!

Mya and Ian building at the Adler Planetarium

Zoe, Ian and Mya goofing around

All of them at the zoo

Zoe and Mya at the Adler

Rachel, Zoe, Ian and Mya video chatting with Nana and Aunt Kambra & co.

Zoe, Ian and Mya

Tessa with a big smile, she loved having all the kids to watch

Mya with her turkey

Daddy Daughter Date Night

At the local Chik-Fila they had a daddy daughter date night and I signed Mya and Dustin up. Mya was really excited to go on her date and made sure to wear a dress (she loves dresses and wants to wear them all the time). She asked all day if it was time for her date yet. The place had a carriage ride for them and instead of the fast food atmosphere they had waiters, tablecloths and flowers on each table to make it a little special while still having the food the girls love. Mya had a wonderful time with just the two of them and talks about going on another date with daddy. Thank goodness for now she doesn't want to date anyone else!

Daddy & Mya

Daddy & Mya on the carriage ride

Daddy & Mya

Mya ready for preschool, she wanted to take a picture and choose to pose this way

Again ready for preschool, she loves this twirly skirt and was making me dizzy spinning all day

Trick or Treat

Mya was hyped for trick or treating this year. All day before hand she wouldn't stop asking if we could go trick or treating yet. She loved running around with her friends saying trick or treat to everyone. Each morning for the last week she has been waking up saying happy halloween mommy! This might be her favorite holiday, she gets to dress up and get candy...what's not to love? Here are some pictures from trick or treating.

Mya & Jaxon at the ward trunk or treat

The family at the trunk or treat

The morning after Mya asked for candy for breakfast..of course we said no. A few minutes later she had disappeared....we found her under the table with her bag of candy. She said she was being very sneaky as if it was a good thing. Hard to discipline when you are trying not to laugh!

Stuffing down a hot dog (from the local fire station) before heading out to trick or treat on Halloween

Tessa all bundled up, she was wide eyed the whole time until she finally fell asleep in Daddy's arms

Mya & Andee trick or treating

Our love bug Tessa at the ward trunk or treat