~Sisters~: April 2012

Monday, April 30, 2012

Just Because...

....I love them so much and they are so cute (I'm their mom, I can say that...over and over again!)

Lily started gymnastics lessons last week at the YMCA. She finished up swimming and asked to take dance or gymnastics. I decided on gymnastics because it was a shorter time frame. It is only 8 weeks and I think the dance session was twice as long? I figured if she doesn't like it at least it is only once a week for a couple of months. It is a class of about 10 3-5 year olds and they really don't do much. They learn how to do somersaults (front and backwards), stretch, splits and walk on the balance beam. I don't think it is even called "gymnastics" ...it is called "Little Tumblers". She liked swimming so much and she moved on to the next level, so I think at the end of summer (when they can't be outside in the pool) I will sign her up for the next session. I enjoy watching her interact with the other kids and staff and having fun. She can be shy at times (do you believe that?!) and she sits back sometimes and doesn't hop up in line for her turn. She lets the other kids keep going ahead of her, but I'm sure she will get more brave in time! Last week I heard her telling the teacher that "I'm 3 1/2 and I have a baby sister named Avery!" That is my Silly Lily!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Bryan and Brenda's Wedding Celebration!

(Grandma Romaine, Rachel and Lily)

Last Saturday we celebrated the marriage of Bryan and Brenda Promes (Bryan is a cousin of Jason). It was a rainy, rainy day, but that didn't take away from the beautiful ceremony at Mahoney State Park. There were weather threats all day long, and although the rain came down, the thunder roared, and the lightning struck everyone was still able to enjoy the day and we all had a great time! It had been a while since the girls had seen their Kneifl family. Grandma Romaine hasn't seen Avery since she has started walking! Lily is always up for dancing and she did just that! Little Avery was so tired and half asleep on me at times, but once a song started she popped right up with bunny in one hand and thumb in her mouth and danced right along to the music.

On Sunday morning we celebrated Uncle Neal's birthday with a small breakfast at our house. He was in town from Las Vegas for the wedding and he stayed at our house on Saturday night. He and Jason stayed up past 1:00am to watch the brunt of the storm roll in...and roll out. The sirens never did sound as they had thought they might, but the winds were strong and the rain came down in sheets. I got up and made a couple of breakfast casseroles and stopped at Panera for some bagels and we enjoyed a nice Sunday breakfast with Uncle Neal, Uncle Matt's family and Aunt Trina's family. The girls had a ball playing with their cousins! All week long Lily kept saying she was so excited to see her cousin Rachel!

Congratulations to the newly married couple!

Before the wedding (a 2nd chance to wear their Easter dresses!)

Miles and Avery at the reception

Avery sitting with Grandma and Grandpa

Lily out on the dance floor

Rachel and Avery

Cousin Jensen sound asleep

Doing each other's hair???

Dancing with Daddy

Dancing with Rachel

Miles and his mommy...Sabina

Grandma and Grandpa on the dance floor

Lily with her Aunt Trina

Miles and Lily

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The Newest Kneifl...

......is a FISH! Yes, Lily got her very first pet today. It is a Betta fish. It is a male and she named him Boots. She was going to get a female and name her Dora, but the male was a prettier color so she chose him instead. She has wanted a fish for a long time, so I took her to the pet store today and got her one. Going to the pet store is a big deal for me. Pet stores give me anxiety. I am NOT an animal person and I get all panicked and nervous with animals staring at me in every aisle. We didn't tell dad ahead of time, but he didn't say much about it when we did tell him. We got him a little tank with some gravel and a plant. He is up high on Lily's dresser so little sis can't mess with him. Avery does think he is pretty neat too, but I just don't trust her with him. Who am I kidding...I don't really trust EITHER of them with a fish, but at least he came with a 30 day guarantee. Dead or alive, I can take him back and replace him with a brand new fish within the first 30 days. I wonder how long this one will last? We have talked about taking really good care of him, and feeding him, and cleaning his water.

Avery is 18 Months!

Dear Avery,

Today, you turned 18 months old! I tell you Happy Birthday, but daddy says it is not your birthday. Birthday or no birthday it is indeed a special milestone for you little girl. You have changed so, so, so much in the past few months. Your vocabulary has expanded and your temper has shown! You and Lily are best buds and you want whatever she wants or has! You have definitely become your own, little, independent self. You are definitely a little ball of fire, but something very special about you that Mommy LOVES is that you also have a very soft and sweet side to you. You still love to be held, rocked and cuddled. I hope this never ends.

Avery's 18 Month Stats:

Weight~24 lbs 7 ounces (53rd percentile)

Height~33 inches (86th percentile)

Head~19 inches (90th percentile)

Most important Stat of the day: Hemoglobin~13.4...NO MORE IRON!

What you are up to at 18 months:

*Words~No, yes, hi, bye, fish, nana (banana), Lily, mama, dada, papa, gaga, bubba, bop, snack, two, ball, cheese, sissy, book, Elmo, night night, Minnie, bunny, bow, ears, eyes, walk, sit, poop and hot

*Favorite show is Elmo, Dora, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

*Loves anything ELMO

*Bedtime is between 8-8:30 and you wake up around 8:00

*Bunny goes everywhere with you

*Still suck your thumb

*You know your body parts when asked to point them out (eyes, ears, teeth, nose, mouth, tongue, hair, belly button, butt, tummy)

*Wears size 6 shoes and size 18 month clothes

*Still in size 4 diapers

*Takes 2 naps a day

*Eating habits have changed...more like dwindled unless it is a snack or candy

*Drinks 3 cups of milk a day

*Likes to eat chicken, cheese, bananas, yogurt, french toast sticks, waffles, blueberries, toast, ham, crackers, cereal, anything sweet, mac and cheese, cheese roll up

*Started in with a little separation anxiety. You do okay at daycare, but get mad/scared at the YMCA daycare or Church nursery

*You have 11 teeth including your molars

*You like to sit and read books

*You wave at anyone and everyone

*Your hair is getting lighter, but NOT longer...please hurry up and grow!

The next letter I will write you will be on your 2nd birthday, which means you need to just slow down little one. I love you higher than the sky and deeper than the sea.

Love,

Mommy

Monday, April 9, 2012

Easter Sunday 2012

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die."

-- John 11:25-26

Happy Easter Everyone!

On Easter Eve the girls planted magic jellybeans around the tree in the front yard (Pinterest idea). By morning the jellybeans had grown into Lollipops! Lily looked out her bedroom window and was so excited! She said "Mommy, they started to grow!" There were colorful lollipops all around the tree and 2 big bunny pops for each of the girls! Thank goodness for magic jellybeans! :)

We had a nice Easter...not too busy...just perfect. The kids ate way too much candy, didn't have a nap, and I wanted to pull my hair out by the end of the day, but still nice. :) Avery ate nothing but chocolate peanut butter eggs for breakfast and Lily basically didn't eat anything all day. We went to Church in the morning with my whole family and then my dad treated us all to Easter brunch at Granite City. The kids were pretty well behaved at the restaurant, but neither of them ate a thing. We headed over to Ma and Pa Mike's after brunch so they could get their Easter baskets from them...they are just a bit spoiled! After eating some more sugar we tried to lay them down for a nap at home, but Lily wouldn't have it. Avery slept for a little while. I thought they were both settled down and in bed so I left and enjoyed a nice quiet peaceful 8 mile run around Lake Zorinksy...busy place! I got home and Lily was still awake. Jason said she messed around in her room and never did fall asleep. Lily got the movie HOP from the Easter Bunny so we all cuddled up in the basement and watched it. Cute movie! I had set some chicken out for dinner, but I was tired and crabby and didn't feel like cooking so we went out to dinner. The kids weren't the best behaved and they were overly tired which equaled one crabby mommy! I think we all needed to just go home and go to bed...and we did!

Despite the sugar overload, no naps, and crabby kids we really did have a nice Easter. It is important to remember that Easter is not about the candy, the eggs, or the bunny. It is about our Lord, Jesus Christ who did the most amazing thing for all of us. He died on the cross and forgave our sins. Through his death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, which, for all who believe in Him, means an eternal life with Him.