This was Arwyn's second Christmas, and while she was more interested in it than last year, she definitely did not "get it", and was actually a bit overwhelmed by all the chaos and abundance. She really didn't even open any presents on Christmas morning, and instead preferred to play with all of Leia's stuff after she had opened it. She basically spent the entire morning playing with and organizing all the tiny little objects that came with Leia's Princess Castle while Leia was distracted with opening all the other stuff. Every time we tried to give Arwyn a present to open, she just yelled "No, No!" and swatted it away. It was pretty funny. Josh and I took the girls skiing on Christmas morning (with the rest of our extended family as well), and while it took a lot of convincing and forcing them to go, both girls actually had a great time. Arwyn was able to stand up by herself on the Magic Carpet this time (rather than needing to be held), and she was loving all the speed of going down the hill so much that she was trying to jump up and down the whole way. It was really cute. Arwyn has started to be able to keep her spoon level while she's eating, and therefore can now keep most of the food from falling off. It's a pretty good skill development in my opinion. I also took the girls ice skating for the first time, and while Arwyn was too little to actually put on the skates, she ran all around the ice rink in her helmet and snow boots and just had a blast! Clearly she'll be good at broom ball, since she had no problems navigating the slippery ice. She even started pushing the training bar next to Leia, and was yelling out in joy the whole time, pushing Leia into all the people (who then proceeded to blame Leia, not realizing that Arwyn was actually the one controlling their movements). It was really funny to watch, and I was so happy it all worked out since I didn't really know what to expect with bring Arwyn.
Leia had been pretty upset that we didn't have any presents AT ALL under our tree all the way up through Christmas Eve, so when she came down on Christmas morning to see the huge display of gifts, she was totally awe struck! She was so amazed that Santa actually came and took a big bite out of the gingerbread house that we left out for hime too! Then when we said go, she was a total maniac trying to get all the presents open, with no interest in actually checking any of them out. Well, I guess that part can come later! And in fact, she did spend the rest of the day (and the days following) slowly going back to rediscover and play with all the great things she received. When we took her skiing on Christmas, she had no interest in going, but finally agreed to come watch everyone else. Of course, in the end she didn't want to be left out, so she put her boots on and joined us. We stayed down on the Magic Carpet this time, and she was able to ski on the leash without physical assistance again. We do so much better when we stay down on the easier stuff; she doesn't get scared, and doesn't revert back to her "hold me" routine. It's much better. I really wish we could get ourselves over to Northstar so she could get a much longer flat run. I did let go of the leash one time, and she managed to do a turn into a "180" maneuver to slow herself down and stop, so that was great too. We had my best friend from high school, Monica, and her children come stay with us for a few days. Jacob and Hayden were a little older than Leia, but they were all best buds instantly. Leia was so excited to have kids at her house to play with, and she did the best job of sharing her stuff that I've ever seen (well, until Mommy came home and she got tired, then it didn't go so well). But it was fun to watch them all have to much fun together. We went with them for Leia's first time ice skating, and it was a blast too. The balance required for ice skating is actually rater difficult, so I was a little worried about Leia, but I forgot that she's actually a ninja when she's having fun and showing off for other kids, so she did great. I was very impressed.
Successful day, let's head home!
Leia had been pretty upset that we didn't have any presents AT ALL under our tree all the way up through Christmas Eve, so when she came down on Christmas morning to see the huge display of gifts, she was totally awe struck! She was so amazed that Santa actually came and took a big bite out of the gingerbread house that we left out for hime too! Then when we said go, she was a total maniac trying to get all the presents open, with no interest in actually checking any of them out. Well, I guess that part can come later! And in fact, she did spend the rest of the day (and the days following) slowly going back to rediscover and play with all the great things she received. When we took her skiing on Christmas, she had no interest in going, but finally agreed to come watch everyone else. Of course, in the end she didn't want to be left out, so she put her boots on and joined us. We stayed down on the Magic Carpet this time, and she was able to ski on the leash without physical assistance again. We do so much better when we stay down on the easier stuff; she doesn't get scared, and doesn't revert back to her "hold me" routine. It's much better. I really wish we could get ourselves over to Northstar so she could get a much longer flat run. I did let go of the leash one time, and she managed to do a turn into a "180" maneuver to slow herself down and stop, so that was great too. We had my best friend from high school, Monica, and her children come stay with us for a few days. Jacob and Hayden were a little older than Leia, but they were all best buds instantly. Leia was so excited to have kids at her house to play with, and she did the best job of sharing her stuff that I've ever seen (well, until Mommy came home and she got tired, then it didn't go so well). But it was fun to watch them all have to much fun together. We went with them for Leia's first time ice skating, and it was a blast too. The balance required for ice skating is actually rater difficult, so I was a little worried about Leia, but I forgot that she's actually a ninja when she's having fun and showing off for other kids, so she did great. I was very impressed.
Happy girl loves her class at school!
It's almost Christmas...bring on the festive clothes!
Christmas Eve swimming class, playing with her good friend Annabel.
Big smiles because Daddy came to play in the pool with us today!
Arwyn figured out how to stay balanced and floating on her back without flipping over...it's all about the V-Position!
Christmas Eve with my girls.
Emmett and Arwyn doing a little gift exchange.
Happy about finally getting a few presents!
Arwyn got socks, and seriously, you've never seen anyone so happy about receiving socks...guarding them like gold!
Daddy snuggles.
Emmett did a really good job of handing out presents this year.
There's that happy smile!
"Hey guys, did you see these great socks?!"
"Thank you Nana!"
Ok, the new cell phone was almost as cool as the socks, but not quite.
Fast asleep...while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads...
It's 1 AM and Santa is in the house!
"Woooowwww! Look what Santa brought us!"
Do you think this girl likes presents?
"Hey look, Santa really did take a bite of our Gingerbread House!"
Merry Christmas from Arwyn!
Nana's got a bright red fro...things are getting wild around here!
Happy as a clam to play with Leia's doll house and ignore the chaos around her.
Ok, finally decided to look away from the doll house, and low and behold, a cool new easel!
Going in deep to retrieve more presents!
Wearing Leia's new boots and holding Leia's new tea kettle...luckily Leia was too preoccupied with presents to notice!
Merry Christmas Steelers!
Tucked right in to her new favorite spot!
Trying out Leia's other new shoes...and that's a "I'm guilty" grin if I ever saw one!
Snow White wearing her new favorite ballet shoes!
Poppy is surveying the wreckage...what a whirlwind!
Family Christmas Ski Day...I've got my charges all packaged up and ready to go!
Arwyn standing up by herself on the Magic Carpet!
Go Leia on the Magic Leash!
Snack break!
I like hugging this little girl when she actually lets me!
Arwyn, our little ski jumper, propelling herself into the air!
Password = Arwyn
Day 2 of skiing at 18 months old...she already likes the speed and now she's trying to do jumps!
It's a whole family affair today!
I know she's having fun, but she sure takes it all so seriously...maybe she takes after me?
Successful day, let's head home!
Yep, right back into her cozy little spot.
If Arwyn's going to play with Leia's dollhouse, then by george, Leia will play with Arwyn's.
Such an overwhelming and exhausting morning...we just couldn't fight the request to nap on her couch, we were lucky to get a nap at all!
Look out, here comes Arwyn the Wake Up Monster!
Christmas Dinner...another fun party!
And more presents for Emmett!
"Whoa, cool gift Emmett!"
Leia demonstrating some of her best ballet moves...she really has the arm positions and pointed toes down pat!
Making friends with Cooper's rejected bear while working on the abacus...maybe she'll be a math wiz!
Bedtime, storytime, snuggle time!
Eyes with pupils, hair, noses, teeth, and tongues...she's really getting good details!
I thought you're supposed to get clean in the bath?!
Eying the rink and getting psyched for her first time on ice skates!
Yep, she's a professional figure skater already in her skimpy leotard!
Monica and Hayden turned out to be great little skaters themselves!
Fired up to be running around the ice with everyone else...don't think she even noticed that her "boots" were different!
I was glad to have Monica to help Leia figure it out since I had to keep track of Arwyn, but right away both girls figured it out and left us in the dust!
Arwyn always loves a good people watching opportunity.
Now she's getting the hand of it!
Password = Arwyn
Leia's first time ice skating was a big success. She moved around both solo and with the help of balance bar. Big smiles here!
Uh oh, look out, Arwyn is driving that train and she's not looking where she's going!
Screaming with delight!
So much laughing, it was amazing!
Arwyn taking a quick rest while Leia eats it!
Arwyn crashing Leia into Hayden.
Password = Arwyn
Arwyn was screaming with delight while pushing her sister around the ice rink, just a little bit out of control!
Instant best friends!
Here comes Jacob, testing out his skills without the helper bar.
Glad we could finally get our families together...it was a fun couple days!
Goodbye hugs are bittersweet.
My cutie little Arwyn puffing out "Da Belly" again!
Oh boy, Auntie M has made a dream come true...high heeled glass slippers!
And a beautiful new Princess Sofia gown, being modeled right in front of the real Princess Sofia in the background...it's the never ending Christmas...and how big is that smile!
Enjoying their nightly snuggle time...love these two cuties!
And look who found another one of Leia's presents!
Clearly we have another princess in the making!
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