Anya singing to Abby

Fun with family

Today we met up with my cousin Jared, his wonderful wife Nicole, and their cutie pie Evan at an indoor playspace. Anya had a blast. Afterwards, she told us that Evan is her buddy and that Jared, Nicole and Evan are very nice. We will have to do it again soon!
Puppet show

Go Evan!

Anya was flying off the slides!

Arrrggh I'm a pirate!

Build a Bear

One of Anya's Christmas presents from my parents was a gift card to the store, Build a Bear. I had been saving it for a snowy day but this winter has been so mild we haven't had any! On Friday we used the gift card and Anya picked out a kitty cat named Tabby. She had a blast stuffing her own cat, giving it a 'bath', and picking out outfits for her.
Here she is with her new pet.

our growing group

Our Wednesday playgroup started with four babies that were 3 months old. Look at how big the group is getting now..

The kids were celebrating Caroline's first birthday. Anya loved her little elephant that was in her goodie bag :)

Valentines

Our Valentines Day has been quite eventful so far. I started the day by attempting to make heart shaped chocolate chip pancakes. I think I only got 2 or 3 good ones out of the batch before I switched over to the classic circle pancakes.
In the next photo, Anya was saying whoooo like an owl..

We gave her a walking piggy stuffed animal. I took it away to get a picture and she was asking for it back... We headed to gymnastics class where they had a big bounce house/slide set up as a special treat.

After gymnastics we met up with daddy at a 50s diner for lunch. I LOVE this picture of these two. She kept on giving her valentine hugs ;)

Mmmm chocolate milk..

Oh and over the weekend I got some special surprises in the mail too ;)

Happy Valentines Day!!!!

rock star

Dwight was gone with Marty ice fishing all weekend so the ladies had some fun too. Anya had us laughing while she showed us how to look like a rock star...


Abigail and Anya watching cartoons Sunday before hitting the mall..

Cousin Love~

Potty

I figured I would update on Anya and the potty. She is amazing. She went from one day of not using the potty to the next of being completely potty trained. We switched over to underwear all day the second day of training (other than bedtime and naps.. (although after nap she has been dry the past few days). The biggest thing that has helped is #1 - She was ready. I'm so happy we waited and didn't push it at all. I always told her that once she went on the potty she would get her balloon and cupcake. I didn't tell her to 'try' and I didn't start a schedule or anything like that. The day she went on the potty we headed to the store and got her a balloon and cupcake. I started giving her 1 m&m for pee and 2 for poop (a month later and she forgets to even ask for the m&m most times now). Anya has an independent little thing and I know it. Before training, I did ask her if she wanted to try going on the potty about once a day and she was saying no. The first day that she said yes is the day it all started. So here we are with a potty trained girl. She rarely has an accident. I'm thinking she has had 2-3 accidents in the past month?! We go out to playdates, playspaces, long car rides, etc... and she is wonderful. I really couldn't have asked for it to go better. She tells ME when she has to go... I do stop her and bring her to the potty after a couple hours in an exciting place (disney on ice, indoor playspaces, playdates w/ her favorite people.. even I forget that I have to pee around great people ha!) Dwight and I are both psyched.. this went better than we could have dreamed. For parents out there... WAIT.. it's worth it.

weekend fun

Anya loves Abby... the girls were ready for the superbowl on Sunday :)

Today Dwight had the day off so we surprised Anya with a trip to Chuck E Cheese. She had a blast and we practically had the place to ourselves.

She was on tv! haha..

indoor playground fun

We met up with some friends at an indoor playspace today. Anya had a BLAST. She would have stayed there all day if I let her :)

This next picture is her friend Caroline laughing with her. They are both signed up for the same preschool class for the fall. We are excited!


When did she get this grown up?!

little stories to remember

* Yesterday, Anya looked up at me and said "Mommy, I make you so happy". I looked down at her and said "You bet, you make me the happiest lady in the world".

* At a different time of the day I said "Anya, you are my buddy". She replied with, "I am your buddy too".

:o)

Welcome, February!

We played with our Wednesday playgroup this morning. It has been so fun to watch the kids change over time. Now, they actually play together which is amazing to watch. When we started meeting they were the wee age of 3 months. They could hardly hold their little heads up to look at eachother back then. Now, they play games like 'birthday picnic'..
Today is the first day of February and temps are in the 50s. Yes, I said 50s.. in New England. I am loving it. I wouldn't mind one big storm to get Anya sledding once again.. but other than that I will take this for the rest of the winter. The kids made play doh snowmen and Anya decorated hers all by herself. I think she has an artsy brain... or maybe a math brain (buttons all lined up)..

Anya and Kayla made their snowmen talk. It was funny because they changed their voices while pretending.
The kids played ring around the rosie while in dress up clothing.

I took this picture of Camden's sister, Caelyn. Just look at her lashes!