Archie's game

Archie makes up lots of fun games!  I'd almost forgot about this one until he did it again the other day.  When we would pretend to get Archie or tickle him, he came up with his own defense.  He would lick his finger and then get us right back.  It is the most bizarre thing and we have no idea where he came up with it. He first came up with it a few months ago, maybe February, and he hadn't done it in a while until May 1st when out of the blue he started doing it again.  He hasn't done it since then, but we did manage to catch a cute video, in case you are curious as to how the game goes.



Some Archie's other games include:

1)  When we shake our head, then he shakes his head.  Then we would nod really big and then he would start to nod really big too.  This went back and forth over and over and was usually played when he was in his high chair. 

2)  He would point to different people in the room, usually while we were eating and he was in the high chair, and then we would say the person's name.  Now that he has started talking more, we point to people and he tells us the person's name.  Again this would go round and round, over and over again. 

3)  He also loves to laugh and be tickled and is not shy to tell us so.  He'll come up to us and say "Tick me" and use his fingers to show the tickle motion on himself.  It's really cute!

Avie has also made up her fair share of games.  Right now, her favorite games are hide and seek, tag, and monster.  Monster is her own game where Mommy or Daddy or whoever is willing chases her and Archie around pretending to be a monster while she and Archie scream and run away.  And whenever Daddy is the monster, the kids like to hide in Avie's closet, so Daddy must be a scary monster. 

Avie also told me last week that she was playing a game called "Hairy Leg" while she was taking a nap (or quiet time in her room).  I asked her how to play and she said there were sea serpents on the floor in her room and she had to save all her babies and stuffed animals from them.  I have no idea what that has to do with hairy legs, but that is what she told. me.

Avie - Teddy Bear flashback

I just came across this cute video of Avalon acting out the "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear" book.  It is so cute, I had to post it.  My favorite parts are when she "sings a song" and then the ending "I love you."  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!  The video was taken on December 3, 2010 when Avalon was about 2 years and 4 months. 

Avie's new bed

Avalon has a new big girl bed.  Per our request, Grandpa and Grandma picked up the bed from IKEA on their way into town.   Daddy and Grandpa put the bed together to surprise Avalon. 

 

After it was complete, we brought Avalon up to her room to surprise her with her new big girl bed.  She was really excited and of course, the first thing she did was jump on the bed.  Avalon picked out the comforter herself a few weeks earlier. 



We are excited that Avalon has decided to sleep on her bed again!  She was so cute sleeping next to her care bear, I couldn't resist posting the picture.


 

For at least a week, maybe two, Avalon has been sleeping on a blanket on the floor.  She has also had many times in the past year that she has decided to sleep on the floor instead of her bed.  Her toddler bed still had her crib mattress from when she was an infant.  It is so firm that it is probably just like sleeping on the floor.

Grandma and Mommy also went out and picked out some pictures and stickers to decorate Avalon's room.  Avalon has since moved all the stickers around (at least the ones she could reach), so that all of the butterflies are together, all the lady bugs are together, and all the dragon flies are together, "to be with their friends."  Too cute!

Archie Climbing

Now that the weather is nice and we are back out at the park, Archie has started climbing up everything.  Here is a video of Archie climbing up a structure that Avalon climbed around 16 months (see blog post climbing - flashback).  I guess if we would have had this structure just outside our door with warm weather all year as we did in CA when Avie was this age, Archer probably would have climbed it earlier too.  This video was taken a few weeks before Archie turned two.  Way to go Archie!



Also, note the climbing structure behind Archie that is an arch. The next week when we were at this park, Archie decided to climb up this structure on the other side of the park, which is twice as high. I saw him halfway up it and ran for him. He attempted it several times and didn't fall, but he also never made it all the way to the top.

Avalon's first dance recital

Avalon took her first dance class through the Ames Park and Rec this year.  She always had fun and was excited to go to class!  Although, she did tell me that she never talks during dance class.  No surprise there.  Her first dance recital was April 1st.  The girls were so cute in their dance costumes! 

 

Avalon was really cute on stage.  She mostly just stared out at the audience with a serious (or maybe it was focused) face and occasionally did the movements when she remembered them.  At one point, the teacher came out guided her to run in a large circle, which she continued for much longer than the other girls.  It was really cute!  But my favorite part was at the end.  After their performance, the other girls ran off stage, but  Avalon just stood there looking out at the audience until finally the teacher came and led her off stage.   Overall, it was a really cute performance and it was just fun to see all the girls dressed up in their costumes!

Many of the pictures were taken during Avalon's last dance class where all the girls dressed up in their costumes again and they go to show us Mom and Dad's what they have learned during class.