By Geri Imler on 1/29/2009 8:46 PM

Yesterday after naptime (and me shoveling half of the driveway and the sidewalk, thank you very much), I took the girls out to play in the mass amount of snow we have.  I bundled them up with two pairs of pants, a onsie and sweatshirt, hat, mittens, and coats, and off we went.  The girls had not seen this much snow before, so they were a little bewildered what to do with it.  At first they just looked at it.  Then they stood by it to see if it was taller than them.  Then they saw I was making snowballs and wanted ones of their own.  They quickly caught on to how to pick up the snowballs and how to throw them.  They also really liked to stomp on the snow and snowballs.  Then they figured out how to dig holes in the snow and really just started to explore it.  I even got them to taste it, which Abigail thought was great, but Emma thought was a bit too cold for her.  I caught Abigail "tasting" it off her gloves several times after I got her to try it!  Abigail was a bit of a daredevil in that she waded into the deep part of the driveway that I didn't shovel.  The snow came up pretty high on her legs, and she actually thought that was pretty neat to be "stuck" in the snow.  Emma walked up and down the shoveled part of the driveway, stomping on the snow.  In the end, we all ended up adding "sprinkles" (more snow) to our snow creations and pat, pat, patting them down.  Overall, the girls did NOT want to come inside and had a wonderful time playing in all of the snow!  Maybe we will head outside tomorrow for some more snow fun! 

    

Emma                                                                                                     Abigail

The girls measuring if the snow is taller than them....almost!

Abigail wading into the deeper snow and playing with snowballs.

Emma walking along the driveway, looking for more snowballs to stomp on.

By Geri Imler on 1/28/2009 12:03 PM

Well we woke up to TEN inches of snow this morning!  When it finally stopped this morning, the total came to 12.5 inches.  For Indianapolis, that is like a blizzard!  Apparently it is tied with the sixth worst snow storm for Indy and the worst snow in the last thirteen years, according to the news.  I am glad that we got to bunker down inside today and just watch the snow fall outside.  It is really pretty to look at, and it kind of adds a peace and quiet to the outside world.  I love that Mother Nature can just cause civilization to come to a screeching halt and admire her!  Anyways, I took some photos of our snow outside our house.  Meanwhile, what do you do on a snow day?  Well, we have read books, watched some fun shows on TV, played with A LOT of our toys, and spent some time coloring.  Hope everyone else had a nice snow day and didn't get stuck out in it!  Oh, and I have to give a shout out to my friend Hayley who is at the hospital today having a baby!  We are so excited for you all!  Best (and warmest) wishes to you!

Out our front door, you can almost make out where the two front steps should be.  Instead the snow is up to the porch, and our home security sign is almost covered up. 

Out in our backyard, you can see th snow is high up on all the things there, plus comes all the way up to the top of the two benches in the background that we use to sit on when outside.

      

Emma and Abigail watching some TV this morning.

Coloring Time!  Abigail looks up to see what I am doing.

   

    

Emma focusing on her coloring while Abigail shows me what she has been working on.

By Geri Imler on 1/23/2009 8:39 AM

After we left the zoo, it was just too nice outside to go home.  So we went to the park instead!  Tim often takes the girls to this park when I need to get things done or have errands to run on my own.  The girls love this park as they are usually the only ones there, and it is just their size.  The girls climbed and climbed, went down the various slides, had a blast in the swings, and kicked around the snow on the ground.  We even saw three deer off to the side of the woods while we were there.  The deer didn't seem to notice or mind the squeals of joy coming from the girls, so I snuck up on them to get some photos.  The girls were quite sad to leave the park, just as they were to leave the zoo, as it was just so nice to be playing outside.  We topped off the day by going through McDonalds to get them each their own small fry.  They love holding their own sack of fries...funny how it is the little things that can make them so happy!  They then ate even more for dinner when we got home, so I am sure they must have used up a lot of energy running wild at the zoo and playground.  They were pretty tired when bedtime rolled around!  Overall, a wonderful day! 

    

Abigail coming up to the slide and then heading down it.

   

Emma at the slide and then going down it.

   

The girls heading back for another turn, and then together at the top of the slide.

Abigal loving the swings.

Emma having a fun time, too, on the swings.

The three deer we spotted just across from us as we played.

I got about 10 feet from them.  They are through this brush...can you spot all three looking at me?

By Geri Imler on 1/23/2009 8:21 AM

Tim got home early yesterday from work, and since it was so nice out here (mid 40's with sunshine), we took the girls to the zoo for a while.  It was completely empty at the zoo, so it was like we had the place to ourselves!   We didn't even take a stroller...just let the girls run wild!  They had a blast walking around with us and seeing all of the animals.  Many of the animals were very active, like the tiger, and we got to see them feeding some of them, like the red panda.  The girls also got to see a huge cow type of animal and various horses up close at the petting section.  Unfortunately the zoo closed early due to its winter hours, but it was still so nice to just walk around (and not be freezing) together as a family at the zoo! 

    

Emma holding Daddy's hand as we walk.  Abigail so proud of a pinecone she carried around with her.

    

Abigail pointing to the bald eagle, while Emma looks through the fence at all of the large birds.

Can you find the seal head sticking out of the water that the girls see?

Abigail pointing out the tiger photo, while Emma actually looks for the tiger through the fence.

By Geri Imler on 1/20/2009 8:00 AM

Well, we actually got a little snow the other day so we let the girls go out and play in it.  The really liked just walking in it and kicking it around.  The did have mittens on so it was a bit hard for them to actually hold the snow.  At one point, Abigail watched her Daddy shovel the driveway, and then decided to help him with it.  Later, we got them their own "shovels" from the sandbox, which they used to scoop up the snow.  They did not stay out too long as it was a bit on the chilly side, but the time they were outside was a lot of fun for them!  Here are some photos from the snow fun they had.  

 

Walking around in the snow

Abigail trying to shovel the driveway.

Emma coming over to help her.

Using their own "shovels" in the snow

By Geri Imler on 1/14/2009 8:28 PM

Well, the girls have some news they would like to share with you all......

     

Abigail, what does that shirt say?!?  Emma, what does that shirt say?!?

Yup!  That's right!  The girls are going to have a little brother or sister! 

These are the shirts the girls wore on Christmas Day 2008 to tell our immediate family.  To say the least, they were very excited.  The girls wore the shirts under their jammies, and after we were done opening presents, we took off their jammie shirts, saying it was getting hot.  It only took my mom a minute to scream in excitement, and funny enough, it took Tim's parents like ten minutes to actually read the shirts.  Everyone was very excited and happy for us.  So....here is the scoop.  I am only about 8 1/2 weeks along (still very early), and my due date is August 23rd, 2009.  Today we had an ultrasound to make sure we weren't in for more multiples, and this time around we are going to have one little, sweet baby.  The little one had a strong heartbeat at 174 beats, and is looking good!  Here are the fun photos from our ultrasound today. 

The baby's head is on the right, with the little buds for arms coming out of the sides of the body.

Here is the measurement for the heartbeat. I just love hearing that sound!  So special!

I think the caption says it all..."Our Baby"

By Geri Imler on 1/12/2009 4:24 PM

So there have not been any blogs lately because the girls have had the flu bug.  It has been, to say the least, an awful weekend.  I will spare you the gruesome details but it has been rough around here.  We were up all night Friday, sick all day Saturday but looking like it was getting better, then wham!  Abigail gets sick again on Sunday and is so bad we almost took her in to the ER.  Luckily, after one final "hoorah" of the virus, she seemed to get better and actually drink some water.  Now we are trying to get back to normal today, even after they got up for good at 4:30am.  They are drinking water and munching on things even now, and hopefully it means their little bellies are back to a-okay!  Besides being tired myself, it was so hard to watch them go through all of that pain and agony without being able to take it away for them.  That is, for me, one of the hardest parts of being a mom....when they get sick.  You just want to make them better, but can only hold them and try to soothe them.  My anxiety level has been off the charts these last few days, but finally we are all starting to relax.  On a side note, we are super sad to have missed a visit from Gramma and Grandpa on Saturday that we had to cancel, and absolutely upset that we had to miss cousin Aubrey's first birthday party on Sunday.  Hope the party was great...we were thinking of you (especially since we thought not to come give you all the flu!).  Now back to finishing up the numerous loads of laundry that had to be done this weekend and more Lysoling of the house.  Here are some photos from yesterday of us all cuddled up and trying to feel better.  Seems that is all the girls wanted was for Mommy to hold them BOTH at the same time. 

Trying to get some comfort from Mommy (Emma on my lap, Abigail on my side)

Abigail

Emma

By Geri Imler on 1/6/2009 1:00 PM

It has been a few days since my last post as we have been busy visiting with MawMaw and PawPaw, playing, taking down Christmas stuff, and much more.  Yesterday was a day where we were going to try for the park in the afternoon, but it was just too cold to go.  So, even though the girls got a TON of new stuff for Christmas, I wanted to do something besides play with our toys and read our books.  I got the idea that we should have an indoor sandbox.  I took a big box from one of their gifts, cut off the top (which they used later to color on), and filled it with old sugar that I had in a container.  I threw in some cups, measuring spoons, and serving spoons, and the indoor sandbox (well, sugarbox) was created!  The girls LOVED it, playing for about an hour with the sugar.  They first spooned it into the cups, then just played with it in their hands (Abigail loved crushing the hardened pieces).  They also poured it from cup to cup and stirred it with the big spoons.  They then used the measuring spoons to fill the other measuring spoons up or their cups up.  You get the picture.  Overall, it was a fun time, and actually not that messy!  Just a swipe of the broom, and a little vaccum time, and the floor was clean again!  Here are some photos from our Indoor Sand(Sugar)Box Fun!

    

Abigail watching the sugar go through the holes in the spoon, and then showing you her spoon.

    

Emma pouring sugar from one cup to another, and then from one measuring spoon to another.

Our Indoor Sand(Sugar)Box

Sisters Enjoying Time Together

By Geri Imler on 1/1/2009 8:47 AM

A Special Message from Abigail and Emma:

The year 2008 has been a very good one for us.  We have made many special memories, continued to grow big and strong, played and had a ton of fun, and have had a ton of new experiences.  We look forward to another year of learning, even though we are not sure really what a "year" actually is.  Thanks for reading about us and keeping up with us!  Now, how about a game of hide and seek to end the year?!?  Try and find us!  Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

    

Abigail ponders her hiding spot while Emma finds a good one under the pillow.

    

Abigail                                                      You Found Us!                                            Emma

Oh man, there is no way we will make it up to midnight!  It is only 6:30pm, and we are fading already! 

By Geri Imler on 1/1/2009 8:19 AM

Yes, we had A LOT of Christmas celebrations this year!  We are very fortunate and blessed to have so many wonderful people and family in our lives.  The last Christmas we had was with my husband's parents at their house later on Christmas day.  (And yep, the girls got to stay in their jammies all day long!  It's Christmas, after all!)  The girls opened gifts, including new books to read and new clothes to wear, and enjoyed just being a part of the fun.  They even tried to help Grandpa put together a new part to his train set.  After we opened presents, we all sat down to have a lovely dinner together.  Overall, it was great way to end the Christmas celebrations!

   

Emma saying, "Cheese!" while a concentrated Abigail checks out her pile of presents.

     

Emma and Abigail opening their book gifts.

   

Emma trying to put on new jammies over the ones she has on already, while Abigail takes a swig of milk.

At Dinner: Emma, Tim, Abigail, Geri, Dave, Michele, David

    

Emma and her reflection on the table, and Abigail with some giraffes.