That's My Girl!

While doing some flashcards with Frances yesterday this is what I experienced...

Here is the flashcard I showed her...

Her response was this...

GO COLTS!

This is the actual answer (which she should have known as it corresponds with a video she has).

Gotta love the loyalty:) Wishing the Colts a great weekend!

Stroller

I have been wanting a new stroller for some time now and after much research I decided on one I liked. I found a used one on craigslist for a great price and it is in brand new condition! We had a nice day last Friday so I took Frances for a walk and she fell asleep! This is my girl that has given up napping! I would say the stroller was well worth the full price if that is the result! I just pushed her inside the house and let her sleep while I got some stuff done! I didn't want to risk waking her by taking her boots, mittens, sunglasses or anything off so here she is!

News Flash!

I forgot to mention what my mother received for Christmas from us! She got a picture frame with her four grandchildren's pictures in it! Sam is 51/2, Ben is 4, Frances is 3, and....arriving by the fourth of July is our new baby! Frances is pretty excited about being a big sister even though she doesn't completely understand yet. Here is a picture we were able to get for my mom's picture frame! I am fifteen weeks along and feeling pretty good. I am sure I will have pictures to share as I get "fat", I mean as the baby grows:)

Christmas Joys!

Well, Christmas has come and gone so fast! We had a great time traveling and seeing all of our family, even if for only a short while! First, we went to Iowa. We stayed in a hotel and Frances LOVED swimming! She is such a fish. She also had a blast playing with her cousin Trevor! They are only 5 months apart and got along so well we hardly knew they were there! I enjoyed playing cards (hand and foot) pretty much the entire time I wasn't eating. I am getting good at being the loser and still enjoying the game! Frances really loves her new puppy named "Molly"!

These two pictures were actually taken on the Fisher Price Digital Camera that Frances got for her birthday!

Next stop for us was South Dakota. We got to see many more family members and eat lots more good food! Frances got a doll that she named "Brianna" and it has plastic clothes that snap on and off. She has been really enjoying that toy the most so far! We also got to swim when grandpa Dave visited and stayed at a hotel with a really cool swim area. There was a kids pool and a HUGE waterslide! It was a toss up who enjoyed the slide more, Frances or mommy?

Then it was off to another town in SD to see my younger sister for New Years Eve. Frances instantly fell in love with her lifesize dollhouse. She couldn't even be persuaded to come downstairs and open presents! She played so well by herself for almost two hours! We played Pirates of the Carribbean Monopoly while watching Pirates 3. Not an easy task. I like to think that is why Mitch creamed all of us so badly! My sister made us a fleece tie blanket with the Colts on it! It is my favorite! Go Colts! They had a toddler bed in the spare room with the big dollhouse. Frances slept great in there all night long! Then we were headed towards home as it has been almost two weeks away! We stopped and saw my good friend Karman for an hour. Then we spent the night at Mitch's sisters before the final four hour trip home.

Frances also loved my sisters cat "Kiki"!

The holiday were great. We truly enjoyed seeing everyone and I am certain we will do it again next year but for now...it is good to be home:)

A few more pictures

Frances has been enjoying days that she can just stay inside in her pj's and play with her animals. She really enjoys lining her "friends" up on the fireplace.

Frances also enjoyed getting out in the snow with her daddy to make a snowman. Mommy opted to stay in and take pictures through the window:)

Frances thought paint was for her hands. this picture was taken while talking on the phone to my mom. It was so Gramma JoJo could see what an "angel" Frances was being.

Birthday Bash

Well, Frances is three! I can't believe how fast it has all gone. We had a double birthday party yesterday with our friend Brayden who turned three on Friday. It was a good time for all despite the snow and ice outside. Brayden had a cake from the movie Cars and Frances had M&M's.

The kids had a great time playing and eating from 4:00 until 10:00! I can't belive she made it that long but believe me, we payed for it later! Let's just say that turning three did not miraculously make her sleep through the night! Or take away any crabbiness! She received many great gifts and we look forward to playing with them over the next couple of weeks while we are on vacation! Next it is off to see all the family for Christmas. December birthday's can be so confusing as Frances said "Santa brought me my birthday presents!" Hopefully we can get her straightened out!

Parenting advice

So I talked with my friend Lisa the other day. Just catching up as it had been awhile. She was sharing with me that her son is now in a big boy bed. I asked how she kept him in as we continue to struggle with Frances at bedtime. I wholly respect Lisa and think she is a great parent with wonderful strategies so was anxious for the answer. She said her son sleeps with numerous stuffed animals and was told that if he got out of bed she would take some away. He tried it once and was devastated. I was very skeptical I will admit. But as I said, I trust Lisa so I thought, why not try it. Frances LOVES her stuffed animals and usually has at least one in her bed. So last night I am putting her to bed and she wants all sorts of animals, I am thinking "yes! this is going to help me out!". Kisses and hugs, sing a song and good night. Well, I look down the hallway when I hear a little noise and what do I see? The monkey I played with when I was two is literally peeking out the door. No Frances, just the monkey. So I go and talk with Frances and tell her that she needs to stay in bed or I will take her animals. She doesn't even rush back to bed with fear like I think she should. So I say...do you want me to take your monkey away? She says "yes". I say do you really want me to take your monkey and put it up where you can't get it anymore? She says "yes". So I take it. Back in bed. In a minute or so she comes out again and I just go and take all her animals away. She doesn't care. Then daddy came home, went in and talked to her and she never came back out. What next Lisa?

P.S.
Mitch does not always have this power over her as she can be just as disobedient to him. He just got lucky:)