Easter in Moscow

I wasn't sure if I was going to post this week because it doesn't feel like much has happened. But this is what HAS happened...

As many outings to the park as possible since the weather is getting nice

 Nixon enjoys the fresh air...

 Lyza plays at her water table set up on our deck

 She even had lunch out there one day

 She has started to get more brave at the park

 Mamma gets the best cuddles!

 Yesterday morning Kim went to a Stake Women's Conference and Lyza and I were at home together. It was a bit chilly but we went outside and played for a while. Lyza had fun playing in my desktop sandbox

 We got a package from Grandma and Grandpa and Lyza was really excited to open some presents

 Hopefully the joy on her face is apparent

Right after Lyza opened her new book she told me "I love reading!"

So I had to recreate that moment and include a thank you to her distant grandparents...

She loves her new book and all of the sounds it makes

 Yesterday we babysat for a family in our ward with three young children so they could go out on a date alone. This is the family that used to watch Lyza when Kim was working so Lyza really likes playing with them

 She hit the ground pretty hard on the first run but then got the hang of it

 Their youngest really liked Kim, who could blame him?

 I thought my Mom would appreciate this picture. In her house this would be filled with delicate ornamental things : )

 Today our Ward had an Easter program because we have Stake Conference next week. Lyza got to wear her new Easter dress and of course looks like a princess. After we put the dress on her she thought it would be appropriate to wear a crown with her princess dress....we settled on a flower instead.

While I was taking her picture I got one of a sight that we have been seeing more and more recently...her attitude

That's all for now. Take Care

Princess Party

During spring break we took Nixon to a friend's house in the ward and she took some newborn photos of him as a baby shower gift. We got those photos this week and there are some cute ones (of course, the subject is Nixon!)

 This one is my favorite

 I think it is cute how Nixon will sometimes hold on to his pacifier while he is using it - maybe that is just because Lyza never used one

But it always falls out eventually

 Here is one of the beautiful sunsets that we see here often 

 Lyza is a goof! Here she is telling mamma "I'm fast asleep"

 Lyza at the park. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, Lyza has completely forgotten how much fun the park is and that the slides are not scary. So we had to start her off again at the little section of the park.

 I had to explain to Lyza how to use the foot holds to walk up the ramp (she has forgotten everything!). Here she is repeating my instructions

At least she still likes the swings

 Lyza attended her first Princess themed birthday party this week. She had lots of fun, although she didn't really understand the socialization aspect of a birthday party

 Most of the time she was just doing her own thing...like sitting by herself playing with a laptop. And what princess costume is complete without a Peter Pan hat?

 There was a Flynn Rider pinata and the kids hit it with a frying pan

Lyza could barely lift up the frying pan : )

  Kim gave Lyza a little plastic bag to collect the candy and she just stood there with the bag out in front of her waiting for someone to put candy in it. This is either because 1) she thinks she is a real princess and her servants should be doing the dirty work for her, or 2) that is how she has gotten her candy in the past from several parades. I am leaning toward #1.

 When she did get some candy in her bag she ran off into the other room by herself and stuffed it in her face as fast as she could

 Too excited to eat her cupcake to wait for the picture

 Her she is with the birthday girl

 Mmmm...icing!

 Here is our little Nixon

Here is a video of Kim reading "From Head to Toe" with Lyza

Here is Lyza "mothering" one of her dolls. Disclaimer: We never taught Lyza that it is appropriate to drop a baby.

And last but not least here is a video of Nixon "talking"

Take Care