Science Anyone?

Santa brought us science kits for Christmas.  It was cold outside, so we decided to test out some of the science in our kits.

First, we tried mixing colors... then we filled up a dish with a bunch of different colors.  Once we had the colors mixed, we added "rocks".  They grew into crystals the color of the liquids we had mixed.  We could not wait for them to grow... then could not wait for them to dry so we could play with them!  Of course, we also enjoyed the test tubes with colors - and held them in front of the sunshine to see how they changed in the sunshine (i.e. yellow and blue make green!!).  Brooke really enjoyed testing them out, too.

After we finished mixing colors, we tried Neela's "Foam" kit... it had a "small" project with baking soda and vinegar.  Mommy thought one kit did not show enough of what happens when baking soda and vinegar mix, so Mommy found a "few" more ingredients to try it again.  She even added food coloring!!

Here are the crystals - as they tried...

Later in the afternoon, we spent a little time entertaining ourselves... with our new electronic toys.  Yes, Mommy sets timers to limit screen time!

Cartwheel Camp... & SHOPPING!

For months, we've been asking Mommy to teach us how to do cartwheels.  Mommy can remember how to do them, but she did not remember how to teach cartwheels... so, for Christmas, Mommy and Daddy gave Kylie and Neela a day at cartwheel camp.

Kylie and Neela spent 2 hours learning to do cartwheels while Mommy and Brooke went shopping.  After camp, they had an open gym for kids 5 and under!  Mommy signed us all up - so we stayed for another hour, and showed Mommy several of our tricks!

We tried out the bars... the foam pit... the trampolines... the bouncy house... the balance beam... and everything in between...

We even "hung out" for a bit on the bars... three girls, or three monkeys??

After we left the gym, we headed to Subway... we LOVE Subway!

Then, we went shopping with Mommy... we did a few exchanges at Children's Place and Justice, and came home with some super cool outfits we will wear ALL the time!  However, we also learned how cool Justice is - and Mommy is worried we will want to shop there all the time :-)

A day with Mommy!

Daddy went to work today, and we stayed home with Mommy.  In the morning, we did projects around the house... laundry, coloring, games. 

In the afternoon, we convinced Mommy it was a great time to test out all of our new winter toys. 

Here is how that played out, as told by Mommy:

An excerpt from an hour of my 'vacation' day with the girls.... I told the girls they could play outside after lunch. I get them outside in their track making shoes from Aunt Angie, put on my snow stuff, look out to see Brooke with no mittens on... open door to help her, dog gets away ... get Brooke's mittens on, take off snow shoes, give them new sleds from Grandma and Papa, begin chasing dog .... stop chasing dog to tell Kylie to put her boot and mittens back on, snap pictures of Brooke and Neela sledding ... back to chasing ... ten minutes later, still have not caught dog ... been in two garages and through 6-8 yards... Brooke has to go to the bathroom .. Kylie still missing boot and mittens. Get Brooke in the house, snow gear off, and Kylie redressed ... back to chasing dog ... Brooke appears pant-less in front door ... Kylie cut her finger in hard snow ... still no dog ... work calls... get pictures of Kylie and Neela, with Brooke in door in background (pulled her pants up when I got the camera )... send girls in... back to chasing dog ... almost get dog home, UPS truck appears... dog chases truck ... Brooke screaming.... check on Brooke... Brooke cannot find her sisters ... they are watching TV 20 feet away ... back to get dog... neighbors come home - Cy runs right to them (after 45 minutes of chasing a 10" white dog in snow banks).... girls said I could not leave him outside :-)

Here are the pictures of our fun... our new sleds... and sisters on "Rocket Run":

After a crazy afternoon, it was PIZZA NIGHT!  We helped Mommy make the pizza... she rolled out the dough, put on the sauce, and we added all the toppings!  They were yummy!

Children's Museum!

Grandma Banana and Papa Pizza bought us a Children's Museum membership for Christmas... and we could NOT wait to go!  We wanted to go on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day... and we FINALLY went the day after Christmas!

First, we started in the castle - but we really wanted to face paint.  We spent 10 minutes in the castle, and then headed for the face paint :-)  We LOVED the face paint cart!

Kylie and Brooke tried riding on the "bugs" in the atrium.  They were fun to spin, push and ride around in circles.

Brooke and Neela spent a long time in the "City".  We used foam to build towers, slides, tunnels...

...then, we practiced hanging up laundry.  Do you think we can help Mommy next time?

We found the front porch of the house, and Neela decided she wanted to be friends with the puppy... he's almost as cute as Cy!

Then, Brooke decided to play postman.  She delivered mail, and then picked up mail from all the mailboxes.

Kylie spent time exploring almost every other exhibit in the building with Daddy.  Mommy, Brooke and Neela spent time in the restaurant, rode the city bus, then went to build with the blocks in the construction set.

After a little more time in the City with Kylie (at the "doctor's office"), we went into the craft room - and used food coloring in squirt bottles to color snow!  They brought in buckets and buckets of snow!!

We did not want to go home - but Mom and Dad said we can come back any time.  What an awesome gift!

Our First Christmas at Home

After a late arrival at home on Sunday, we all slept late on Monday - except Daddy.  Daddy had to work... so we managed to help Mommy with laundry, wrapping and a few last minute adventures.  When Daddy got home, we all got dressed up to go to church. 

Church was an adventure.  None of us really wanted to sit still... we all needed bathroom breaks, cough drops, tissues, wanted to sit on Mommy, wanted to sit in the 'restless Angels' room... we did not make it to the end in our original seats, but we DID make it to the end!  Then, we headed home for snacks - and to get ready for Santa!

Here is our treat plate for Santa... we even added a few last minute requests to our notes!  The nutcrackers, princess dolls and puppy were all favorites...

Then, it was off to bed!  Daddy told us we had to stay in bed until 8:00.  Brooke cannot read, but made it until 7:45.  Neela ran into Mommy and Daddy's room at 8:01 -- "I saw the clock said 8:00, but waited a little!"  Then, "Mommy, Santa left presents under the tree in my room.  Brooke, are there presents under your tree??"  And... off they went on a mission - but quietly, so they didn't wake Kylie!

Kylie woke up, missed the chaos in the master bedroom, and went downstairs.  She immediately found her stocking by the fireplace - and pulled everything out!  She was very excited to see what was in her stocking... of course, then her sisters had to open their stockings, too.

The Kindergarten "Christmas Countdown" Bells... we finally got all 24 paper chain pieces removed!

After stockings, we ate breakfast - egg muffins, blueberry muffins, banana muffins... then, Daddy went to a car accident.  So... we tried out some new toys from under our Christmas trees (the ones in our rooms).

Kylie's Legos:

Brooke's Minnie Mouse puzzle:

When Daddy got home, we started up again... this time, we went for the big tree in the living room... Brooke waited more patiently than Neela to open her gifts :-)

Brooke's "B" Ornament

Neela's Cupcake Maker

Kylie's Chocolate Cake Mix... cupcakes anyone?

Tinkerbell!!

Alvin & the Chipmunks

The Squeak-quel!

Rapunzel

Snow White

Brooke was trying to figure out who the "big" gift belonged to... "B-R-O-O-K-E"... it's MINE!

...but we all think the new kitchen will be a LOT of fun :-)

Before we got cleaned up for the "day", we took a picture with Mommy in our matching PJs under the tree.

Brooke got dressed up in her new "Rudolph" outfit from Aunt Renee and Uncle David.

(Can you see where she cut her hair?)

No one was really hungry for lunch, and everyone was quite concerned they had not received their Nutcrackers from Santa.  We really wanted to check the last trees in the house - in the basement - to see if something was there.  Daddy had to check if Santa was still sleeping in the Steelers room (earlier, Daddy checked... Santa had gotten sick, and rested in the Steelers room before flying home!).

Guess what? Santa was gone, so we headed down the stairs... and... found... MORE PRESENTS!

Kylie's iPod...

Razr Scooters...

Neela's iPod...

Brooke's LeadPad...

and... FINALLY... the nutcrackers!!

The house got pretty quiet after that... we tried out our new electronics, with the headphones, for a while.  (Notice how dressed up Kylie was during the day??  She chose "comfy"!)

For dinner, we had ham... the girls tried to sing the Berger table blessing... and offered their own words of thanks!

For desserts, Mommy FINALLY let us have Grandma's little cakes!

...and we also taste-tested our Gingerbread Houses...

Neela shared with Brooke...

It was a very fun, casual day at home!