ABCs

Addy has been learning her letters since preschool started last August. She has loved learning and practicing each letter she has learned, but lately she has really gotten the hang of it. The last couple of weeks she has been writing her name constantly. I am so proud of her! What a big kid! She even wrote her name on all the Valentines she has given out. Sometimes she writes her 'D's backwards but I figure that still spells 'Abby' and since that's a real name it's not a big deal:) I'll have to post a picture of her name soon.

Brynn is in the stage of reading the same book over and over again. I can read it to her a dozen times and then she'll go to Dad to read it another dozen times. It's cute and annoying and funny all at the same time. After I finish her most favorite book, Bubbles Bubbles, I'll say "All done" and then she'll say "more, please"...oh she's cute.

Brynn is starting to get into dress-up now. How am I doing to deal with two little girls changing their clothes constantly throughout the day? The funny part is Addy encourages Brynn to 'try something different on'. I keep telling myself this stage won't last forever so enjoy the crazy outfits while it lasts.

Our family has turned into professional artists as of late. We color all the time. All of us. It cracks me up when we have all four of us at the table coloring pictures from a princess coloring book. Dad colors the pictures of the prince...so it's more masculine! Addy actually does a pretty good job of staying in the lines and Brynn just loves to scribble everything in sight.

I am so blessed to have such a great husband and two wonderful little girls.

Winter Time

We've been busy this past week but I actually took very few pictures so there's not much to show. Some of the fun things we did are...
Thursday after church basketball (which we won!) I went to go get a massage. Partly because it was my reward after Todd had been away on business and partly because I just really love them!
Friday the girls and I went out to dinner at The Olive Garden because Todd was working late. I don't know the last time we had been there and it was really fun. The girls are getting so easy to take places. After dinner, we met up with Todd at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Always fun to see the grandparents.
On Saturday we took the girls to Kangaroo Zoo, a place with lots of inflatable jump-arounds and slides. They had a great time and when we got home Todd decided to take Addy sledding. I guess she did great. Her friend Emma was actually at the hill when they got there so the two little girls went down the hill all by themselves. Talk about becoming a big kid:) Addy loved it. There's a hill a few blocks away from our house and I can't believe that was the first time they had gone this year. We'll take Brynn next time, she's a daredevil!
Todd and I were invited to the Jazz game Monday night with some of our friends. It was a little strange to go on a Monday night date but we had a blast. The seats were great and the game got pretty exciting. We need to go to more Jazz games:)
Brynn makes me laugh! She LOVES the game duck, duck, goose and constantly goes around patting our heads and saying"duck." She has also started to roar like a lion or bear. Truly entertaining!

Here Brynn got our the oven mitts and then tried to pick up her kitchen toys.

Addy and Daddy ready to hit the hill!

Weekend Update

Some of the fun things we did this past weekend.

• Friday night Addy and Mom went on a 'special'. We went to go see Princess and the Frog...at the theater. We rarely go to the theater so this was a big treat. Addy loved the movie and really loved the popcorn and candy that fed our tummies! The movie has lots of music and Addy just had to get up and dance during some of the fun songs. She kept saying "This is the best night Mom. I'm having so much fun!" I love that she's getting old enough to recognize fun, special times with each individual parent.
• Saturday, Grandma Bassett was tending some of the other cousins and invited us to come along swimming. We went of course and had a great time. Addy had a life vest on so she did really well swimming beside her cousin Sage in the deep end. Brynn loved going down the slides on her tummy and wasn't even scared of the big, dark green slide.
• Later that evening, after a quick dinner at Applebee's the girls stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Bassett while Todd and Jen went to get Todd's tooth fixed. His temporary crown came off and since he was leaving to Las Vegas the next morning for five days a nice friend offered to take him to her dental office and fix it at 8pm on a Saturday night. So grateful for generous people!
• Sunday at church Addy gave her first talk in Primary! She did so well! I helped her of course but she wasn't shy or scared at all and spoke especially loud and clear as she bore her testimony! I was so very proud of my little girl, who doesn't seem so little anymore.
• Brynn spoke another word on Sunday. Ice. This is thanks to our other daughter, Addy, who strongly prefers ice in her water. Brynn has now caught on and very clearly requests 'ice'. Other words she speaks are: this, that, Mama, Dada, Brynn, Addy, book, more, yes, dog.
• Addy's cousin Sage came over for a play date today. I enjoy watching Addy interact with her friends. She does great sharing, playing pretend (the monsters are always chasing her around the house) and just being silly. Today the girls were very concerned with dressing up and wearing high heels. Sage informed me she "doesn't believe in socks" to which Addy no longer believes in socks either. Really? It's 30 degrees out and you're three years old!

So Far in 2010...

Todd bought Addy a princess fishing pole set and promised to take her fishing. We went down to Utah Lake and found a pre-made hole. Addy had the best time. The pink sunglasses came with the fishing pole set and since Todd told her they would help her see all the fish, she was set on wearing them. She didn't catch anything but she's not giving up yet!

Dad and Brynn while we went out for pizza one night.

Just because she makes me giggle!

One of our nightly dance parties. Addy's current plan is to marry Dad. They practice dancing to their wedding song almost every night. It's usually a song off of the Hannah Montana soundtrack, but changes nightly so you never know.

Addy really has turned into the best little helper. She really cleans off the dishes before I load them into the dishwasher. And with a smile on her face. Love her!

The first couple of weeks of January this was our life...for both the girls. I could never get a picture of Brynn taking her medicine because it took two of us to hold her down:)

The first Sunday of January was a big one. Addy attended her first week in primary as a Sunbeam and Brynn started nursery. So far she's adjusted great and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Addy got some big kid games from Santa. So we now play Hi Ho Cherry-O and Don't Break the Ice on a regular basis.

Brynn's nickname has been 'Bumper' for over a year now so Grandma Bassett was very excited to find a cereal with the same name in the health food store. Too cute!

Anniversary Getaway

For our 4th Anniversary Todd and I took a little vacation to the Homestead Resort in Midway. We really enjoyed our time there, even if Todd had the flu the first night and I had the flu the second night. (Why does that kind of thing always happen?) It was the first time I had been away from the girls for two nights and...they survived. Even Brynn did great. The first day, before we got sick, we rented a snowmobile. It was a blast! We had so much fun and it was a good reminder to us to do this kind of thing more often. It reminded me of all the fun, crazy things we did before we had kids:) I sure love Todd and I am grateful for everything he does for our family.

Here we are at the top of Wasatch State Park. It was beautiful.

Todd and the snowmobile.

The Homestead is known for its crater. It is a natural warm spring that doesn't smell.

Inside the crater.

Here we are. You can barely see us with all the steam but we had to wear life vests so those are more noticeable.

Todd's Birthday!

Todd's birthday also known to others outside the Bassett home as Christmas Eve was new for us since we didn't have the usual big family birthday party for Todd. Instead, Todd took the day to himself while Mom and girls worked hard to make him his favorite jello cake. Then after stopping at his parent's house for a quick dinner we headed up to see the lights at Temple Square. We had never waited until Christmas Eve to visit the lights but we loved it. It really brought the spirit of Christ and family into this special evening. This will now become our yearly tradition we think.

The girls in front of the Christmas Tree in the Memorial Building

The girls in their new Christmas Eve princess pajamas.

Singing 'Happy Birthday' to Todd!

Addy was so excited for her Dad's AND Jesus' Birthday Cake, she had to help blow out the candles!

Christmas

Christmas morning was wonderful. The girls were more than excited and even a little overwhelmed by everything Santa brought. It really is completely worth all the craziness at Christmastime to see how happy the girls are Christmas morning. My Christmas was just as happy...I finally got my Bosch mixer!

Brynn woke up first. She still has no clue what was going on.

All Addy wanted was this particular Hannah Montana dress! It made

her entire Christmas.

Brynn just makes me giggle!

Santa brought the girls a princess car. They were so cute driving around. I can't wait until spring when they can really enjoy it. And no, I'm not a bad mom, Brynn refused to wear a hat!

Brynn sat in the car all day long!