Last day of January!

Happy 3 months Birthday!

We have a snail!

Just found him!

Crazy!

Boys have a Polar Bear Campout

So the girls do their own kind of campout. We watch a movie and then the older girls sleep in the playroom in their sleeping bags. I'm not sure why they like it. I think sleeping on the floor is rather uncomfortable but I didn't have to do it. Marissa is actually on the foot locker in the back left corner of the room, tucked behind the piano. She eventually moved in the middle of the night because that was just too uncomfortable. I'm glad they enjoy spending time together, most of the time.

Naomi slept in her crib,

and Harmonie slept in her bed.

After I put the girls to bed, I stay up to paint - because Kevin's not here to tell me to go to bed. I don't get to do this as much as I would like but oh well. It is fun when I can do it.

I got the idea for this one from a friend who posted a picture on Facebook. I immediately thought to myself, "I can paint that." It turned out very well and I'm please with it. Hazy day at the lake.

This one also came from someone else's picture but I quickly found I was changing it too much and it didn't quite turn out how I wanted and I'm not quite as please with this one. Oh well. That's what learning is all about. It's my first one with snow on the trees and ground.

Now she can get the left thumb

When I leave her on her back, she will usually end up like this. She is definitely a thumb sucker but only time will tell which thumb wins out as the preferred sucker.

Bruised Ear

Yesterday, while at Joy School, Harmonie was playing with her friends, She fell and hit the side of her head on a chair. The ear took the hit and she got it just right so that it swelled immediately and became very discolored. Poor girl. She got over it quickly enough but we keep talking about it because we can see it and we just assume it must hurt.

First of the birthdays for 2016!

Happy Birthday Xiomara!

She turned 10 today and was totally thrilled! We enjoyed mint chocolate chip ice cream with our pancakes - it was actually yummy.

She opened her card from Grammy and Gaffa, with a couple helpers.

She helped make and decorate her ice cream birthday cake!

Party time. Grandma Nichols wasn't feeling well so Grandpa Nichols had given us the present at Church. They were not able to attend the party so they were missed.

Kemiah gave her presents first.

A picture and a paper R2D2 type unit.

Memere's gift was next -

she brought it when she was out for Naomi.

Beautiful dragonfly necklace.

Grandma and Grandpa Nichols' present was next.

Dolphin Tale 1 and 2

Knitting starter kit - 

I think it might start a craze.

Tamara will teach us all!

Dad got a little crazy with the bags.

She asked for strawberry powder.

She remembers putting it in her cream of wheat

when we lived on the island.

Crazy things kids remember.

That was one successful birthday.

Oh, this is what the cake looked like inside!

Xiomara is fun, friendly, always excited to be included, tough, ready to push her physical limits. We love our little monkey who is growing up!