Sun Nien Fai Lok (Happy New Year)

Now that the snow is almost gone, it's time to celebrate Chinese New Year.  This year the girls were in cute little outfits my mom brought back from her Penang trip.  Layla couldn't wait to get into her red outfit, claiming she looked like Kai Lan.  We hope everyone has a prosperous year of the Dragon.

Sledding at Home

Over the weekend, we got a lot of snow at our place.  Yesterday, there was still enough snow to build our own mountains, and go sledding in the backyard. 


This was Layla in our backyard yesterday.  The snow covered her boots!



The snow was even higher for Adelyn.



Trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue.



Down Mountain #1



Adelyn's turn...



She LOVED it!



Down Mountain #2

And there's more snow in the forecast...

Burnaby Mountain Fun

Yesterday, we went sledding on Burnaby Mountain.  Layla wasn't too keen on it, so she only went up three times.  Adelyn on the other hand, LOVED sledding.  She had would giggle with delight as she went down.  I lost count of how many times Addy went down, and I know she can't wait to go again.

Playing in the Cold

Today, I promised the girls I would take them to the playground after lunch.  We walked back to the school, and had some fun while school was still in session.  After playing in the cold, the girls enjoyed a treat, hot chocolate with a jumbo marshmallow.  Mmmm...good!

 

Not So Baby Mui Mui

Adelyn is also changing from being a toddler to a big girl as well.  After her hair cut, it seemed like it transformed her into a big girl.  Len recently converted her crib to a toddler bed.  It seemed really high, so we ended up putting Layla's old toddler bed into her room.  With both the toddler beds in Adelen's room, Layla can still sleep over if she chooses.  On the first night, Adelyn did great, but she fell out on the second day when she woke up.  I remember Layla had a few falls when she was transitioning too.

  

Adelyn loves to be just like her sister.  She copies her, and she's her partner in crime.  Adelyn enjoys playing with her sister, and they are much better at taking turns.  Arguments and fights still erupt, sometimes over the slightest thing.  For example, Adelyn will get upset if Layla continues to sing a song that she has requested her to stop singing (usually in the car).   

When the girls are playing nice, it's nice to hear them getting along and laughing together, music to my ears.  When the girls have their baths together, they like to float in the bathtub together, often silly and giggly, and with water everywhere.   I hope the girls grow up to be the best of friends.

Adelyn is interested in:

• not wearing a diaper.  She will take off her diaper, and her pants..."hey, where's your diaper?!?!"
• playing with babies, bathing them, feeding them, changing them, taking them around in the stroller
• anything Layla has or does, and it has to be equal
• doing things herself, like eating, putting on her shoes, getting in her car seat
• always saying "oww... you hurt me..." it's a common phrase around the house
• colouring her hands when markers are involved in a craft, once she used a marker like lipstick and got it all over her face (the picture didn't turn out very well)
• playing on the swings, going down slides, climbing around the stairs
• singing songs, especially ones with actions
• sitting in your lap to get one-on-one attention
• penguins, she really likes Happy Feet, and her penguin pjs
• playing with the parachute, running in and going crazy
• playing with puzzles
• role playing with little figurines



When Layla drew on Adelyn's arms with a pen (markers were self inflicted)



Using a marker as lipstick



We love you, Mui Mui!

A Date with Layla

It's been a long time since I've made a post about Layla's progress and development.  She is a big girl now (almost 4!), and she reminds all the time.  Today, I  had a chance to spend some time with her alone since Adelyn slept over at Grandma Lam's. 

We went to Metrotown for a train ride, a visit to Chapters, and a very happy visit to the Disney store.  Sushi and noodles for lunch, and mango flavoured Pinkberry yogurt with strawberries, and juice bubbles.  Yum! 

My big girl loves pretty and pink things, and is drawn to things that shine and sparkle.  Definitely a girlie girl.  She likes to ask me about things that I did when I was younger, and loves it when she discovers that I did the same thing too.  I love how we can have conversations about school and her friends.  I like to ask her questions, and she likes to ask me questions.  I hope that we can more of these.  Big hugs to my girl!



The girls playing in the Brentwood play area when I went to pick up Adelyn.

Here are some things that Layla is interested in: 

• taking pictures with a camera, and recording things on her camcorder
• playing games on the computer, itouch, & iphone
• dot-to-dot can keep her occupied for a long time
• anything to do with making crafts, painting, stickers
• finding coins on the ground delights her, she gets so excited, and she also likes throwing them into fountains
• playing house with her sister is still a favourite
• skating around the house (piling on the winter gear, and sliding on the floors with socks)
• watching tv (Caillou, Super Why)
• baking, she loves helping Mommy in the kitchen
• splashing in puddles when it's raining
• pretending that she's driving with Adelyn, they set up cars and rockets
• playing dress up
• anything princess, fairies, or Barbie
• playing school
• flashlights
• wearing dresses
• sparkly jewels & trinkets
• singing & dancing, performing for an audience
• going to school and seeing her friends
• playing with her friends, and celebrating birthdays

Love You, Laylee!

Bowling in the New Year

Okay, I still have a few more shots of Adelyn in her fresh hair cut.

On New Year's Day after dim sum, we went bowling at Revs.  Ten pin bowling was so fun for the girls!



Bowling with Kow Foo Eric. He surprised everyone by coming home for the holidays.

 

Happy 2012!!!