Same old, same old

Not too much exciting going on in the Peters household lately. The cold weather has been keeping us inside lately during the day.

I've been trying to keep Gracie busy with different activities and games. She is getting better all the time at playing on her own while I work around the house. She is getting more interactive with Faith and tries to play with her.

Faith is growing up so much. She is rolling all over the room now. She can also get from a laying position into a sitting position and is much better at sitting up on her own. She gets up on her hands and knees, but can't quite get the crawling down yet. Although she was very close today so I don't think it will be long. Her hair is getting so long in the front that it hangs into her eyes now so I've been trying to put it up some.

All the cold weather put me in the mood for some new projects. I got our guest bathroom upstairs painted last weekend. I've also started sewing a curtain for Grace's room. It's the first one I've done so I'm not expecting great things. I thought I'd do her room first before I move on the the living room and kitchen.

Out and About

Today we are finally getting some warmer weather. Grace and I got out this afternoon while Faith took a good nap. We hadn't played outside for a few days so we both needed the fresh air.

Faith was in to the doctor for her 6 month check up. She is not at 15lbs 10oz. She did well for getting four shots and one oral vaccine. It is certainly much easier with a baby then it is with a toddler!

While Faith was at the doctor Gracie got to play at Sarah's house. She saw some old daycare friends and of course had a blast. She wasn't ready to leave when I picked her up.

Lately I've been getting antsy. I think I need a new project. Mabye some more painting, or a sewing project?!?

I'll try to get some pictures posted soon. Seems like I never get enough time to do that.

Our Christmas celebrations have come to an end. We had our last celebration on Sunday with the extended Flantz family. It was great to see everyone and catch up.

Faith is flexing her muscles to start walking! Lately she has been rolling all over the floor. I have to keep the gate at the top of stairs closed and anything I don't want her to get into has to get taken off the floor. Gracie seems to get annoyed that her sister can now get to her toys. Little does she know it is only going to get worse once she gets even more mobile. Tonight Faith took the next step and got up on her hands and knees. She was so excited and was rocking like crazy. I remember with Grace that once she got to this point she seemed to move along pretty fast to crawling.

Long Weekend

We have been enjoying the long weekend. We had friends over for New Years. We didn't do too much exciting, but had a great time visiting. Nick was off New Years day. We took the day to get projects done around the house. Seems like there is aways something that needs to be fixed! Today we visted Nick's aunt at the nursing home and did some errands in town. I'm not enjoying the cold weather, but I am thankful that I don't have to bundle the girls up and head out to work every day.

Faith getting so active and inqusitive. She is now rolling from one side of the room to the other. She is getting better at sitting up, but can't do it on her own yet. She is trying to get her legs under her into a crawling position. I'll certainly have my hands full when she is more mobile!

It is so much fun to watch Gracie play. She loves her dolls, coloring and playing in her little kitchen. She also likes to make pretend phone calls on her toy phone. She goes through all our family talking to people on the phone. She is getting more verbal also. I realize that sometimes I'm the only one who understands her, but she is really trying to repeat more. Nick says that he got her to count to 10 the other day, but haven't seen that yet.

Christmas

We had a few Christmas celebrations this year. We spent Christmas day with the Peters. It was a quiet Christmas with just us and Chuck and Jo Ann.

Grace helping to open Faith's present. Grace really got into opening gift this year and had a great time.

Trying out the sled they got from Grandma and Grandpa. Grace said "too heavy" to having Faith sit on her lap.

Grace and the animals at Grandpa and Grandma's house. She always likes to take them out and play with them.

Grace always plays with her hair when she goes to sleep. The other day I found her during her nap sleeping on the floor with a giant tangle in her hair.

The girls sitting on their new toy chest (okay, maybe this gift was more for me so that I can have a cleaner house:)

We were able to spend a very enjoyable Christmas Eve together with our little family. I made a fun supper and we opened presents together.

Grace trying out the sled.

Faith got a ride too, but I didn't get a picgture of it. Her she is all bundled up after her sled ride.

We celebrated with family the weekend before Christmas. Mom and Dad went out to Portland to visit Abby and Sam and Sarah were in Texas this year. We have a New Year's Eve get together with some friends on Thursday and then the extended Flantz Christmas on the 10th. I love all the family gatherings this time of year!

Nick thought this would be funny. I was in the house with Faith while they were cutting down the tree.

Grace's decorating. All the ornaments she put on ended up on the same branch.

Opening her birthday gifts

Marta and Faith

Thanksgiving

Guess I've been busy lately since I haven't blogged for awhile!

Gracie is now two! We celebrated her birthday with family on the 22nd. She didn't understand what was going on, but she certainly liked getting all the attention.

Marta and Sebastian were back for Thanksgiving. They were here for about a week so we got to spend lots of time with them!!! Of course Gracie just wanted to play with Marta the whole time.

The weekend of Grace's birthday Nick finally got all the corn out. It seemed like such a long harvest this year. I certainly did miss having him around in the evenings, especially with me being home all day. Grace got in a few combine rides so that gave me a break too! Nick took off Friday after Thanksgiving. It felt odd, but good, having him home for four days in a row.

Lately we have just been getting ready for Christmas. I only have one last gift to get and then I'm done with all my shopping! I've been playing Christmas music and baking Christmas cookies. This last weekend we got our tree up and decorated. We cut a tree from our yard and it looks great in the house. This was the first year Grace got into decorating. Only one ornament was broken and although she wanted to play with them instead of putting them on the tree, most of did eventually get put up.

Faith is growing and changing so much! She rolls over all the time. She wants to be sitting up and in the the action, but can't quite sit on her own yet. She has recenlty started to suck her thumb and had her first taste of rice cereal the other day.

Gracie is getting more talkative everyday (about 3/4 of it is understandable). She is doing well sleeping in her toddler bed and is starting to get the hang of potty training.

Trick or Treat

I always seem to post pictures in the wrong order. This was after trick or treating. They don't look like here, but they two very tired little girls.

Grandma with a bee and a flower.

Faith

Our pumpkins. Grace drew a face on this one.

Walking up to Grandpa and Grandma's house.

The little bee. She didn't want to get her picture taken so I didn't get many good shots.

Grace is a very neat and clean girl (except when it comes to picking up her toys:). She wouldn't stick her hand in the pumpkin to get out the seeds. I gave her a spoon to use, but that was still too messy because her arm touched the side of the pumpkin yet. FYI: she also doesn't like s'mores because they are too messy. She defianately takes after me with this rather then Nick!

Our big pumpkin and the beautiful bush by our steps.

Thought I'd try to get some pictures posted from Halloween. Gracie was a bee and Faith was a flower. We only went to the few places trick or treating, but Grace made a haul and it took us past bedtime.

Other happenings in the house:

I spoke too soon when I said Grace was sleeping well in her toddler bed. She does great at night, but the last few days she has not done well at nap time. It takes her a long time to get to sleep. For some reason she also thinks that she wants to nap on the floor (not sure where she got that idea). The challenge is keeping her in her bed for naptime. She stays in her room though so that is one positive.

I have been trying to start potty training. We bought Elmo and Dora underwear (Gracie's choices). She has had a number of accidents so I've been doing lots of laundry, but I think she is also starting to get the idea of it.

Faith on the other hand has been doing great with her naps. She is finally on a schedule and taking nice long naps:) Most days I can even get them both to nap at the same time for at least an hour!!!