Hazel loves play time

Hazel is getting so big.  Next month is her birthday!! She has really started to enjoy playing with toys.  Here is another example of how she carries her toys around while crawling.

Everything goes in her mouth.

She really wants to go outside when the kids are out there.  Our backyard is landscaped with rocks. It is pretty frustrating, she cant crawl around or she eats the rocks.  But playing in the water table is something she can do!

Pinwheels

Kids are so creative!  One day they grabbed their pinwheels and just ran all over the backyard.  Gracin was sporting a sweet outfit:)

Snuggle

Hazel was suffering from another ear infection.  I sat her on the couch, she crawled over to Riley and snuggled right up to him like this.  I thought it was precious.

100th day of kindergarten

Rhylan recently celebrated her 100th day of school!  They made a huge deal of it at school!  They each had to make a 100's project to show to their class.  Rhylan used 100 beads to make this rainbow that we ironed together.

She is learning so much in school.  She last report card came home and she was at or above grade level in every assessment!  She is learning more about reading everyday, has the "best hand writing in the class" -her teacher said that.  She is a genius when it comes to math, she can solve word problems usually in her head and can count to 100 by 1's 5's and 10's. We are so proud of her, here she is working on her homework.

"Take my picture too!!"

"Mamamamama" that means take my picture too mama.

Playing together

My kids are getting better at playing together everyday.  Poor Gracin usually gets talked into (bossed around) playing what Rhylan wants to play like tea party, princesses, or Littlest Pet Shop.  He is such a good sport.  Sometimes they play school, house, queens/kings, super heroes, detectives, airplanes, ponies, doctor, restaurant, and anything else they can think of. 

Blue Eyes

Hazel is reading

 Hazel got several board books for Christmas.  Her favorite one right now is this touch and feel book with animals.  She likes to pet the bunny and chimp.

 Oh and she loves to peek outside or play peek-a-book in the curtains.

Hazel gets creative

Hazel has started doing something very creative these last several weeks.  When she is playing with a toy and wants to crawl around she will hold the toy in her mouth so her hands are free.  She does this with EVERYTHING!!  We think it is pretty cute and pretty smart.

Here is someone actually playing with and not eating the blocks.

One of Hazel's favorite things to put in her mount are these toy necklaces! 

80* at the zoo!

One day in January it was extremely warm!  It was over 80*!!  It was a perfect day for the kids and I to head to the zoo.  We have an annual pass and love to go often.  Gracin usually asks me a few times a week if we can go to the zoo.  He grabs his hat (not minding if he has pants on or even shoes) and says "I have my hat on, go to the zoo!!"  I was glad to make his day.

We really like to spend some time looking at the Giraffes.  They have 4-5 here and they are very friendly. 

Hazel can actually see the Giraffes and enjoys watching them too.

Here is the oldest animal at the zoo! They don't know actually how old he is.  He was caught over 50 years ago.  He is gigantic. I wish there was some sort of reference next to him so you can see his size.

The kids have fun in the bird aviaries.  They peek under bushes and chase all sorts of birds around just to get a better look.

Here is our favorite animal at the zoo!  These otters are so fun to watch.  They are usually swimming around doing tricks.

Rhylan the bird--she asked I take this picture as she said "caw caw!"