Just a trim...right???

Nope!

I decided to cut the girls hair...get all the baby hair off, dead-ends off, and make it look healthy. The next goal is to grow the bangs out.

Kendall looks a bit out of it and her side pony is a bit crazy, but she just woke from a nap...

Sydney on the other hand had to show off her new look. She even made the comment while getting her hair cut "I cute." Yes you are!!!

Easter 2010

For Easter we headed to Wisconsin to celebrate with Papa, Grandma Elaine. We had a great time. It was a pretty large group with Grandma Elaine's kids and grandkids there too. All the kids had a great time playing together. Best part of the whole deal...Papa and Grandma Elaine did all the cooking and boy did they cook. I think it was Chad that said..."have you guys been cooking the whole time you've been here?" Hey, us kids didn't complain...we just kept on eating!!! Thanks for a great Easter!

On our way out to Wisconsin I received a text message from my brother...he is at my house. WHAT?!?!? I guess he decided to make a trip up from MO to MN to see us all. Good thing we were able to get home late afternoon on Sunday and get a chance to see him and the kids. They left Monday at noon...so it all worked out. Brandon and Emily have grown sooo much and are just the most loving kids you've ever met. Here are some great pics of them all:

Emily





























Brandon























Double Double Trouble

Funny thing...no matter how big their ears may be, they still don't seem to hear me...hummm

Happy Easter from our family to yours!!!

Easter Bunny...

The girls thought meeting the Easter Bunny was pretty cool...
just check out Kendall's reaction:

Easter Egg Hunt 2010

Grandma Karen signed the girls and a few of their cousins up for an Easter Egg Hunt in Brooklyn Park. They had a blast. They got their faces painted, did arts and crafts, searched for eggs and danced to D.J. Bob. Best part of all for Mom and Dad...it was all done inside which was great as it was VERY cold outside.

Sydney, Kendall, Elliott, Jordyn, Avery and Kyle

Miss Bossy

A conversation occurred last night between the girls. Well it wasn’t actually a conversation as Kendall did all the talking…Sydney just stared at her sister. It went something like this:

Kendall (looking straight into Sydney’s eyes):

“Look at me, look at me. No, no hitting. Okay...tay (with a nod of her head.)”

I just looked at Kendall with my mouth open, and then started to laugh. Is that what I really sound like when I have “the talk” with the girls? Too funny!

How Do You Spell Your Name???

When asking Kendall how she spells her name, she’ll reply:

T R E Y

This is our daycare son’s name. He is three and they have been working on letters and spelling with him. Erin, our daycare provider, did say she has been working on the girl’s name as well…but I guess she was only listening when they were working on Trey’s name.

Hey, at least she knows her ABC’s and can spell something, right!?!?!?

Just Some Pics...

Kendall & Sydney

Daddy and the girls

What's Going On...

I know it’s been a while since I’ve updated everyone on what’s going on in the Dobbelaere household. To be perfectly honest, not much. This time of year is our low key time…which is nice. Soon the camper will be opening and we will be gone every weekend. I like to take this time of year to “catch-up” on things around the house. But we are all getting the itch for summer!!!

The girls are doing great. Learning and growing everyday. They are such sponges right now…reminding us how we (meaning mommy and daddy) need to be careful in what we do and what we say.

Kendall is speaking like crazy. And she is starting to pick up on her letters. Just the other day they were eating Tator Tots that were shaped like letters. She picked up the M and said, “Mommy, look M.” Then proceeded with the O and the A…I had no idea. I love how she counts too…1, 2, 5, 7, etc. She definitely is our musical gal. She LOVES to dance and sing. What is she singing, who knows. This past week we had American Idol on in the background, and she just watched in awe. During the one of the commercials she grabbed a couple of books and used them as a microphone. She pranced around the house, singing into her microphone. Too cute!

Sydney is starting to talk more and I’ve notice she is starting to put sentences together as well. She could care less about her ABC;s or her 123’s. But she sure is a little mommy. She loves her babies, rocks them, holds them, bundles them, feeds them, and burps them. My favorite is when she smells their bottom and says “stinking baby…baby went poopy.” She then will pretend to change their diaper or bring them to their (meaning Kendall and Sydney) potty chair. And you should see this girl clean. Give her a rag and she’ll scrub floors, walls, tables, you name it. This must be a genetic trait from me…I LOVE IT!!!

Are The Bedtime Struggles Over?!?!?

I think so, or do I hope so…no I think so…well…I hope so.

Yes indecisive it is, as most of you know when it comes to kids! But this being said, I do believe we have turned the corner when it comes to our nightly bedtime struggles. Chad and I have taken turns over the last month with putting the girls to bed. This meant, every other night we would each sit in the room for 15-30 minutes until they fell asleep. This was working well, but we all knew that we could not continue to sit in their room until they were asleep.

One night we both tucked them in and it was my turn to sit in the room…I sat there for about 20 minutes, which at that point I thought they were asleep. I quietly left the room, within 5 minutes of me leaving, we hear the door open and two little girls giggling. I walked over to the door and with HUGE smiles on their faces both girls say “hi Mommy.” At this point I was a bit irritated…it was bedtime and they needed to learn to STAY in bed.

I walked them both back to their bed, and in a very firm voice explained that they needed to stay in bed and go to sleep. Of course they both agreed…but 5 minutes later they were out of bed. As I walked them back to bed, I thought…what if I took their most precious items away. That being Kendall’s blanky and Sydney’s puppy…not a bad idea. I got them all tucked in bed, then grab the blanky and the puppy and left the room. Of course they both cried, no actually screamed. After about 2 minutes of listening to this, which as a Mother is the worst sound EVER, I brought back their items. I explained that if they don’t stay in bed and go to sleep they don’t get to have their special items. To my amazement…it worked!!!

Since this day, each night when we tuck them in we kindly remind them they need to go to bed. If they get out of bed, then we will take their items away. And if they are asked…will you go to sleep or does Mommy and Daddy need to take away your blanky or puppy (depending on who I am talking to), they both exclaim…"no night night."

They’ve tested us once since. Which meant we had to remove the blanky and puppy from their room…again for about 2 minutes. When the items were returned, they quietly settled into bed and stayed in bed.

Let’s just hope this method continues to work…for our sake…and theirs!