Jumping through January

 Claire

We had our first nail painting party together one night when Shay went to bed and I got in the mood to paint my own nails and she caught me and demanded I do hers blue. She was pretty good except when I said not to move because she could twitch immediately after just to defy me I assume. She liked seeing them in the morning and comparing our nails which made a pretty cute video to remember our first experience! We've been stuck inside because of rain for a couple days but got to go to the park this week and she met a few friends and played tag even. I know she misses seeing other kids at our old gym's kidcare and our church's nursery, so I'm hoping making these random new friends at the park is making up for some of that. Shay is more playful with her at home, but she likes the novelty of new friends.

Shay

Oh she is learning so fast! I can't believe I didn't start Claire on these flashcards earlier, but Shay is already recognizing some of the letters on her own and saying sounds so well. They love it and remind me to play it with them every day since I have it in a place they can see on the bookshelves. Shay will say "A" and point to ask to learn which is a game too because they find the picture and then I have them say the letter and sound. It is amazing that she remembers the suction game with the finger toys that Chris started so long ago at church when Shay wasn't even born! It is funny when she asks me to do it and I always worry about leaving them on too long and her getting a bruise or something, but the game doesn't last that long usually and its been a while since she has remembered.

Bedtime

So in my boredom I made a bedtime chart to help us remember to brush the girls teeth at night and it has also given me the opportunity to start scripture and prayer time together as a family instead of just Chris and I after the girls are in bed. I have to work on what scriptures with pictures we can do that will keep them interested and teach them something because all I have right now is about people and they get too excited. The prayer was the best part because we all knelt down in a circle and Shay looked at me with her beautiful blue eyes as she walked over and sat down. Then we all held hands (they prefer it because mommy and daddy hold hands during meal prayers) and the spirit was really strong. It will forever be engraved in my heart as the most important moment in my time as a mother. It is my job to nourish and teach my children to be close to the Lord.