Will not conform..

This morning, as the girls ate breakfast and I was reading our devotion, we read about not conforming to the world (Romans 12:1-2). As I attempted to make it relevant to them, I referred the Zhu Zhu pets that were all the rage this fall. Making note that just because their friends had them, didn't mean they needed them. When I mentioned the Zhu Zhu pets, Breanne (as if on cue) rolled her eyes perfectly. (I have no idea where she's ever seen that before.) I kinda giggled at her and then Madison said, "Mom, you want to see how I roll my eyes?" Of course, seconds later, Aliya says, "Mom, I roll eyes." You can see the just of it because after laughing, I told them, "Squeeze together, cheek to cheek, mom's gonna get her camera!"
Today is 100 Day at school. Over half way through the school year. The girls are doing great! Aliya started going to story time at the library. It definitely stretches her sit time.

Last weekend, Derrick went ice fishing with his dad and some friends while mom got to spend the weekend with the girls at our house. The biggest catch was this northern in the middle: 15 pounds, 36" long!

"Do a funny thing!"

A month or so ago, I constantly heard Madison and Breanne say, "Aliya, do a funny thing!" It's a good thing I take pictures of funny things that happen, or else I'd totally forget to laugh later! Settling back into the regular routine of school, work, home, etc, after Christmas, we decided Aliya was ready to potty-train. Here we are, about day 4 into the endeavor and it's time to bring sisters to school. Now, mind you, when we're home potty-training, Aliya is probably running around in her undies and a t-shirt so we aren't wrestling with pants when we "gotta go." So, when I tell Aliya it's time to get sisters to school in the morning, she simply does what she has always done, she puts her boots and coat on....never mind the near zero temperatures. Although we were running late (as usual) I said, oh, girls, we gotta stop and take a picture of that one. Then, when she realized, that her sisters were wearing snow pants to school that day, she proceeded to put on her snow pants..over her boots and coat. That didn't go so well, but now we are seriously running late, so I pulled them on best I could and buckled her up to go. Aliya protesting all the while that it's just not right (my particular girl!)

On a high note, it was about day 4 of potty training where it just clicked for Aliya and she's in big girl undies. It needed to be in Aliya's way, in Aliya's time. She's a big girl now she likes to say. Derrick and I are still shocked at how she's picked it up. One night he came home from work and I said, "pinch me, is this for real?" Go Aliya!

Breanne is one beautiful, toothless wonder! The day after I posted last, she lost her other bottom tooth. She's now missing both top and bottom teeth. I don't have a clue how she bites into anything. Come to think of it, today she started eating an apple and when I walked into the room, she said, "Mom, can you cut this for me?"

The big girls are totally into taking showers as of late...together (there's not much the do apart). One night, Madison comes out of the bathroom saying, "That was the craziest shower I've ever had!" There's a whole lot of giggling, laughing, silliness and craziness that goes on. One day, I walked past the door and they were posing in their goggles. Cuties!

This past weekend, we were able to take Madison and Breanne downhill skiing at Red Lodge. They did fantastic! Both girls were able to take a lesson and worked up the courage to do the chairlift and go down "Miami Beach" (the bunny hill). Unfortunately, all this news is second hand and pictures formed in my head from the stories Derrick's told me. I kept Aliya in the lodge while they skied. Derrick said multiple times, "That was just a blast! I had so much fun with them." Apparently, Madison is a little bit out of control at times, to which she would reply, "I got it dad!"

Three beautiful, sweet, healthy girls--we are so blessed!

Snow, ice, teeth and "get me" adventures

Ah, the adventures of the DeWildes continue as we traversed in the "front-wheel drive sleigh" through the ice skating rink otherwise known as I-90.

Before we left, we did have a rather large celebration of our own. Our birthday party for Jesus started out with a smile on mom and dad's faces as we looked through Madison and Breanne's Christmas projects from school. Madison had brought home a Santa with a cotton ball beard. On it said, "What I understand most about Christmas is...(she filled in the blank) Christmas is Jesus' birthday. What I do not understand about Christmas is...why there is presents! The true meaning of Christmas is...Jesus' birthday!" What a joy to know your kids totally "get" it! Later that afternoon she said, but I know why there's presents, because Jesus was God's present to us. We sang "Happy Birthday to Jesus," blew out candles, decorated with balloons, read the Christmas story and then, to top it off, we finally opened presents!!

The 3 cars from Ms. Marlene and Mr. Gordon were a hit! Wowie, wow, wow! Look at those shiny rides.

I had the joy of making hats and scarves for Madison and Aliya and a big pillow for Breanne. (She calls it the reading pillow.)

Earlier in the week, Madison invited Aliya and mom to come to school, helping to decorate her "winter scene." Ms. Barkac also included Aliya who made her own little scene. Not sure the picture was taken BEFORE she ate some of it. Oh, well.

Once, safely in Minnesota, let the good times roll! The girls' favorite parts were playing games with grandma Barb, Madison getting to sleep in grandma Linda's bed with her, Breanne and Aliya getting to sleep in front of the fireplace, Aliya playing perfection with papa Verlyn and playing "get me" with papa Leon and uncle Bryce.

We also got to go bowling with all the cousins...a highlight for Derrick and Becky loved watching everyone have fun...Aliya enjoyed the popcorn and Breanne the Sunkist.

I love this picture of the girls all at the breakfast bar at grandma Barb's.

We also got to visit the Sechler cousins at their house for the first time in probably 4 years! It was fun to spend one-on-one time with them all and allow the girl cousins more time to play school and Barbies.

Playing in the snow was fun. Rebekah and I were especially into making a snow house complete with bedrooms, entry rooms, kitchen, garage, and driveways. My oldest nephews beat me at Cribbage and Caleb read me a book and retaught me how to play Mousetrap. Although, the funniest moment was when the big kids decided to climb on the roof and jump off into the snowbank...mom, is that okay?

While Aliya rests, Madi smiles sweetly on the pig, Breanne says, eww, it stinks in here.

We visited the Children's Museum in Brookings, SD until the ice storm put a kibosh on that. The girls loved it and would have spent the whole day there! They played store, restaurant, farming and got a teaser of the art center.

After a week and a half of life in a suitcase, we were relieved to be home and in our own domain again! The girls started playing with old and new toys alike. Some toys are just a winner..like the shopping cart that doubles as a "stroller"? We came downstairs to Madison pushing Aliya around in it...a great toy..even 3 years later.

Before heading to bed we played a rousing game of SkipBo (the newest game in the girls' repertoire) when Breanne's bottom tooth fell out (tiny little thing..we were afraid she's swallow it.) Hopefully the tooth fairy remembers to come tonight (she apparently couldn't find the tooth under her pillow last. Oops!