snow days

 This winter has not been our greatest.  It has been cold, bitter cold.  And when it's not bitter cold, it's raining buckets.  And when it's not raining buckets or water, it's dumping ice and snow.  Have I mentioned it's been cold?  It has been so cold and we really are not used to it anymore.  It has been hard to be so cooped up.  Due to the latest cold snap and snow, the kids have been out of school a lot.  A lot.  As in, they got out for Christmas break on December 15 and they have been back to school a total of 4 days since then, which is pretty crazy considering January is more than halfway over.  I may not be crazy about winter weather, but the girls, and especially Heidi, have been excited for the snow part!

Here in the south they have some funny little wive's tales about making it snow.  Heidi came home the night before the snowstorm with her list of instructions: pajamas backwards and inside out, ice in the toilets, white crayon in the freezer, and a snow dance before bed.  They got a little snow and some sledding in so they were happy!  The weather is supposed to be nice this weekend and it looks like we will have a break from the cold for awhile, which will be very welcome. I know Heidi is pretty antsy to get back to school!

three and a half

 Caimbree turned three and half on December 19 and I am just now getting to her half birthday post!  We love this funny, calm, cuddly, kind, easy going little girl so much!  We were watching family videos for family night and watching how fun and easy she has been at each stage.  She really is just such a joy! 

*Everyone thinks she looks exactly like me.  Sometimes I see the resemblance, but to me she just looks like Caimbree!

*When you ask her what her whole name is she will say, "Caimbree Magdalena Hunziker" and then laugh.  Then she we will ask her what her dad's name is and she will say, "Daddy Magdalena Hunziker". We are pretty sure that she knows her middle name is Rae, but just chooses to be silly.

*Caimbree has always been so observant.  She doesn't miss a thing and will repeat and tell us everything that we never even paid attention to.

 *She has the prettiest blue eyes and she makes the funniest little faces and expressions with her eyes.  She likes to roll them and make a silly little face.

*Caimbree is very shy and will rarely say anything around other people.  If someone she doesn't know talks to her, she hides and tries to pretend she isn't there.  If she has a friend over or other kids are around she is fine and talks a mile a minute, but if there is an adult nearby, her lips are sealed.

*She prefers to wear dresses and she is very particular about what she wants to wear each day.  If she doesn't want a dress, she wants either black leggings or jeans.  If I convince her to wear something else, she generally changes within a few hours.

 *Caimbree likes her alone time.  When she has had enough noise, she will sneak off to her room and close her door and play quietly.  She often emerges in different clothes or a Snow White dress.

*Caimbree loves to dance.  If she hears music, she is dancing.  She just doesn't want anyone to notice or point out that she is dancing.

*She really doesn't like attention for anything.  If she thinks I am taking a picture or video of something cute she is doing, she gets upset and stops whatever she is doing.

*Caimbree loves her mom and her dad equally and is more than happy to have her dad do or help her with anything.

*She loves to be outside and she loves anything like four wheelers, lawn mowers, or even just being pulled in the wagon. 

 *When Caimbree is put in an uncomfortable situation like going to a new church class or left somewhere, she doesn't scream or cry.  She just goes and is very quiet. She seems to know that if she throws a fit, it will put more attention on her and she really doesn't want people to notice her.

*When we tell Caimbree to stop growing she always says, "But I will still love you when I am big."

 *Caimbree is very perceptive and seems to connect the dots in situations far more than I would expect someone at her age and always has.  From a very young age she has been able to express what she needs and why she needs something.

*She has the cutest, most contagious giggle.

*She equally well with Heidi and Savanna and is adored by both.

*She still wakes up occasionally with nightmares or just talking in her sleep. 

*Caimbree loves to watch shows far more than either of the other two do and gets very upset when it goes off so we really have to monitor and make sure she doesn't watch a lot.

*Caimbree is a little reader.  She is always reading to herself and loves to be read to. 

We just love this three and half year old and can't believe she is growing so fast.  We feel so blessed to have this sweet angel in our home and we love watching her learn and grow!

sisterly love

 The other day the girls were helping me cook.  While we were in between steps, Heidi started to play the piano.  Before I knew it, all three were on the bench and Heidi was playing with Caimbree on her lap.  It was the sweetest moment.

Caimbree has now officially entered primary as one of the newest Sunbeams!  I love, love, love having all 3 of my girls with me now!  Caimbree has adjusted like a champ and has had no issues.  When they were reciting an article of faith I looked over and saw Heidi and Caimbree with their arms around each other.  So, so precious. 

learning to sew

 Jeff's parents got Heidi a sewing machine for Christmas!  She could not believe it!  It is a good little machine and she has had a great time practicing and figuring it out!  I wish I was a better seamstress so I could teach her more!  I told her I could help her make a beanbag or rice bag to start.  She decided she was going to make Savanna a rice bag.  Savanna said, "I know!  You should make it for Mason!"  Mason is our friend who ended up with an infection that put him in the hospital.  Of course Heidi agreed that was the perfect plan so we got right to work!  When I gave it to Mason's mom, she took it to the hospital and said he was using it as a bean bag to play toss with because he was going to stir crazy after being there 5 days.  Heidi was so excited she made him happy!  Now I told we could look for some simple doll clothes or pajama patterns and try to learn together.  She can't wait!

matching with their dolls

 My parents got the girls some American Girl size dolls for Christmas and the girls fell in love with them.  Jeff's parents gave Caimbree a baby doll bed, high chair, and bouncy seat, so they have been having a lot of fun with their dolls!  When I saw what my parents got them, I found these pajamas that they could wear with their dolls.  Oh my goodness, what a hit!  They all look so adorable and want to wear their matching nightgowns almost every night!

sleepover

Heidi had her first sleepover shortly after Christmas.  She met her best friend, Avery, in kindergarten and they have been inseparable ever since!  Avery comes from a darling family of four girls.  Heidi and Avery have been in the same dance class for the last two years and just have a blast together.  We found out they even got the same pajamas for Christmas so Avery brought hers to wear!  They had a great time playing everything from Pie Face to school.  There wasn't a whole lot of sleep that happened, but they made some fun memories and I am so grateful Heidi has so many good friends from good families. 

opryland

We like to go to Opryland to check out the lights every year, but we have learned that it generally easier to get there after Christmas!  This year we went with our friends a few days after Christmas!  We had such a nasty cold snap come through, but the display is mostly all indoors.  It has never been that cold here, but thankfully it only lasted a week.  It was so cold that the heaters in the schools were not working and we got the girls home extra days for winter break.  I'm not one to complain when I get extra time with my girls!

christmas 2017

 I feel like these are the years I am going to look back on and wish I could re-live again.  Christmas morning is the best with kids and the girls are at the most fun ages.  They are so excited and grateful for every gift.  When they woke up they couldn't wait to come down the stairs.  Caimbree was so cute as she was looking in her stocking.  She was especially excited about each and every treat and pulled them one by one.  After stockings we had our traditional German pancake breakfast and then we went upstairs to open the gifts under the tree.  Each year through the month of December we write down kind things we have done or acts of service we have done on pieces of straw and put them in a manger.  Before we open gifts, we read through all of the things we have done throughout the month as our gifts to Christ.  It is always a great experience.  Then we opened gifts and oh how cute the girls were.  Caimbree wanted to read every book before she opened anything else.  My favorite part was how excited they were to give the gifts they had picked out to each other.  They couldn't wait to see each other's faces and watching their expressions and excitement as they waited to see the other one's reaction, made me a little teary eyed.  They all have the sweetest hearts and absolutely love to make others happy.  I couldn't be more proud of them and I feel so incredibly blessed to have these three angel girls.  It was a perfect Christmas and we all wish we could re-live it over and over again!

christmas eve fun

 We had some of our good friends and neighbors over for games on Christmas Eve.  It was the best night!  We feel so grateful for the friendships we have made.  We ate, we laughed, the kids had a blast together, and it really was just a perfect evening!  We had the kids put on a nativity and it was such a neat experience!  The kids couldn't wait to participate, which made it extra fun.  We sang Christmas songs together and it was just such a great way to spend the night before Christmas!  Our neighbor, Craig, is so cute with the kids.  He just loves to make them laugh and giggle.  He was hauling all of them around on piggy back and it was so funny.  After our company left, the girls opened their Christmas pajamas and we read the story of Christ's birth in the scriptures together and had family prayer.  I am so grateful for this time of year and for the opportunity to remember our Savior and all He did for each one of us. 

christmas eve service

 I was so excited that Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday.  The perfect way to spend the day before Christmas!!  The girls wore the Christmas dresses they got for Christmas last year from Grandma and Grandpa H. 

We had a beautiful sacrament meeting at church filled with lots of beautiful messages and music.  It was my first time leading the primary kids in sacrament meeting, but they did fantastic!  We came home from church and spent time together reading and playing while we waited for company to arrive for a nativity and game night! 

sugar cookies

 I love Christmas traditions!  When Heidi finished school for break we started baking!  I love how the girls love to help in the kitchen and that they are always a part of almost everything I am working on.  They were so excited to bake all of our Christmas goodies.  They did such a cute job decorating and we had such a fun time together.  They had just as much fun delivering the goodies as they did making them!