{1.18 - 1.24}

The girls enjoyed putting their Cootie Bugs to bed this morning. They kept telling them, "don't bite people!" I think, because when I tuck them into bed I always tell them "goodnight, sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite!"

They have been pretty cute about taking care of their stuffed animals. Always making sure they have a pillow and a blanket when they are tired!

{1.11 - 1.17}

*Alya*

We FINALLY made it to the park! I feel like we have been cooped up in the house for so long, because it's been so bitter cold! And the girls have NOT enjoyed being cold this year. I think they were more resilient a year ago!  

 *Lyla*

{1.4 - 1.10}

 Lyla noticed Mo was sleeping and she didn't want him to get cold. I think she used every towel in my kitchen!

 "I just cross stitching." Left: Lyla   Right: Alya

The girls are finally going to sleep in their new beds! They were so excited to help Dad put them together in their room!

They love them so much they couldn't stop touching them!  

I think this is possibly one of my favorite moments I've ever caught Alya in. She locked Mo in her bedroom so that she could read him stories! It was adorable!!! 

Dad really started something this day. Lyla now thinks it's the greatest thing to paint your face whenever you have the chance!

The girls' first ice fishing trip of 2016. It was...an adventure. Lyla threw up on our way there. Alya fell in one of the fishing holes and then she got stabbed by a fish fin. They FROZE after about an hour and there was no consoling them until they were warmed up in the truck. Despite all of that, it was a pretty great day!  

We all thought it was pretty awesome when Lyla's fish stuck to her coat!

{12.28 - 1.3}

The girls were given new baby dolls for Christmas, and they were really cute with them...at first! Now I'm a little worried that they don't know how to treat a little baby!

 [Lyla] She really likes to accessorize these days!

Left: Alya. Again, not napping at nap time has been rough. She fell asleep literally while she was coloring. Right: Lyla. When she wears that hat, she insists that we call her Frosty. 

We got to take the girls to Hardware Ranch in Cache Valley to see the elk. It was pretty cool to get an up-close and personal look at all the elk. The girls loved talking to them! 

Lyla has been quite the little builder lately! She LOVES the Legos she got for her birthday and the new ones Tia gave them for Christmas!

{12.21 - 12.27}

We had a lot of fun making Christmas cookies! These two are a lot to keep up with - it felt like a very busy baking session! HA!

I love watching her little fingers wrap around her paintbrush (or pencil) while she paints. And look how cute her left had is all flexed like that!

We let the girls open some Christmas jammies and their Christmas books on Christmas Eve. I love the book tradition that my mom started with my sisters and I, and I am so excited to continue this tradition with my kids! 

Santa brought the girls a little kitchen for Christmas! They love it! 

Since they have stopped napping, they sure fall asleep in some of the most uncomfortable-looking positions. Here Alya is, asleep while grocery shopping.

{12.14 - 12.20}

*Lyla* 

Left: Lyla

Right: Alya

 *Lyla*

My dad came down and we had a mini Christmas together. It was pretty great! 

Left: Alya

Right: Lyla

Left: Alya

Right: Lyla

{12.7 - 12.13}

The girls LOVE "My Little Pony" these days. They wanted these jammies so badly when they found them at Walmart. And how could I say no!? Look how happy they are!

Lyla helping decorate the tree.

We had a lot of fun decorating our tree this year! *Alya*

Can you spot the Lyla? She asks "Please cover me in toys?" fairly often these days. I think it's pretty cute!

 *Alya* I love her little braid!

We are hoping some new beds will help the girls sleep. Hopefully they will love them enough to want to use them!

{11.30 - 12.6}

These girls have been awesome helpers lately! Their favorite thing to do is clean the toilet bowl. I don't understand it, but I'm not complaining! (except that I am constantly nervous about them throwing toilet water around the bathroom!) 

These two have decided that they don't need a nap in the middle of the day, but rather right before, or during dinner. It's been kind of rough for everyone! I don't know what my options are, though, because now that they've learned to crawl out of their cribs, it's impossible to get them to lay down in their bedroom for any amount of time!

 I love when they sit at their table and paint or color. Sometimes it breaks my heart a little, though. They just look, and seem so big!

 This is Alya modeling my new jingle bell socks I got for my birthday!

 We had two opportunities to meet Santa this year. Alya did okay, but Lyla wanted nothing to do with him either time! Maybe next year, right!?

I celebrated my *29* birthday this year! EEK! I think it's safe to say that everyone enjoyed the chocolate cake my mom made me! (I know I did!)

{11.23 - 11.29}

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We did, as always!

Like last year, we went to cut down our Christmas tree with Matthew's family after Thanksgiving. I am really excited for it to go up in our living room!

{11.16 - 11.22}

We went to my mom's house this weekend so I could take some wedding pictures for a girl who grew up in my home ward. They turned out pretty good, for the most part. I think I did alright for my first (and possibly last) wedding.

I tried to lay the girls down for their nap and they kept climbing in and out of their playpens and laughing and fighting and after what was quite possibly two hours, I finally separated them. I moved Alya onto the bed in the other room and left Lyla on the bed in "their room." I went in a few minutes later to check on them, and found them fast asleep.

This was Alya's first time not sleeping in a crib or a pac n' play.

As we were packing up to go, the girls put themselves in the bottom of the pac n' play and pretended that it was a boat. It took a long time to get loaded because I just couldn't bring myself to make them stop playing and pretending!

Here are just a couple of the pictures I took for the wedding. I know that I definitely need practice, but it was a great experience and I am grateful for the opportunity I was given!