Getting in the Christmas Spirit!

I don't know about you....
but over here - we are WAY into the spirit of Christmas!

Today at our church, we had the annual Nativity pictures.  Megan has been waiting all year to be Mary.  And try as I might to convince Nicole to be an angel, she'd have none of it... she wanted to be Joseph!  How cute is that Holy Family....

 

Last weekend, we joined up with some of our life group and the youth from our church and went Christmas Caroling in our historic downtown area.  The girls had sooo much fun!

Last week, Nicole had breakfast with Santa at her preschool.  She was so excited to see Santa...and she liked him - right up until it as her turn to get close.  She didn't cry and didn't run away - she was just not wanting Daddy to leave her side.  She kept a hand on him at all times!

 Tom and I got a little nostalgic, this was our first Breakfast with Santa without Megan.  It was just odd to not have our whole family there.  BUT, Nicole felt like she came into her own - her own breakfast with her little friends!

And of course, the girls started off the holiday season by helping to decorate the house.
Each year we give the girls a special ornament, and we have the best time putting their ornaments on and talking about why they are special. 

 

 

 

And it can't be Christmas without COOOOOKIES!

But.... one of the most fun outings we've had so far this Christmas was the Walk Through Bethleham last night.  Oh my goodness, I've been to several - but this on was by far the best I've seen.  It was a town and the people were amazing.  The girls were a little overwhelmed at first, and honestly they were terrified by the Roman soldiers, but all the shopkeepers helped to get them involved. 

 

 We learned about different grains and making bread, got a lesson in weaving.....

Got to work with some leather....

And tried out some perfumes and camel oil....

Of course, the living nativity was the highlight!

 It was amazing.  The girls really wanted to stay longer and can't wait to go back next year!



A few Blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving!

My sweet kids.... all 3 of them.
We've had such great fall weather this week that we've spent lots of time outside. Rocky is loving the leaves and he's discovered the squirrels.  I think the squirrels find him amusing - they run up a tree and then turn and look at him.  But he just watches them jump from tree to tree and waits for them to hit the ground again.  He's getting lots of exercise!

On an update note.... I have a new camera so hopefully I'll be back to updating the blog soon.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from our little princess and fairy princess...

We had a great night of trick-or-treating!  Nicole caught on really quickly - she realized people were giving her candy and didn't want to stop.  But after a fall off a doorstep (Nicole) and a trip and skinned knee (Megan), we wrapped it up in time to still have the girls in bed at a decent time.  Hopefully Megan won't be too hard to wake up tomorrow morning.

We hope your families had a spooooktacular Halloween too!

blog update:  So.... I have somehow lost my camera battery recharger.  So all my pictures are stuck on my camera.  My phone is my only camera currently and for some reason I can't seem to get those pictures to my computer (except through Facebook).....  but I promise, I will get my act together and get caught up as soon as I figure it all out.

Photo Shoot

Since I haven't had a chance to get on and get pictures posted....
Check out this link for the photo shoot we had 2 weekends ago at the Roswell Mill and Covered Bridge.  It was so fun and our special photographer/friend - Alix Cloud rocks!   I didn't know if she was going to get anything - with our crazy girls not standing still for a second.  BUT - she kept showing me her camera and I was amazed at the amazing moments she captured.  I've been waiting with eager anticipation to see how they turned out. 
So click this link:

Family Pictures!

And check out our family shots on Alix's website.
And if you are in the area and need someone - her prices have gone up since last year but I will tell you what - it is totally worth the investment to have GREAT pictures taken each year.

Still here... just "invisible"

I figured I'd post something.....

Yes - we are still here and doing well.  Lot's of fun things going on - but sadly, My camera is giving me some major issues.  Currently I can't hook up my cord to download my pictures - somethings happened on the camera to bend or break the connection so my pictures are in limbo (till I go get them on a CD, hopefully later today).  Then today as i grabbed it to take some final pictures on it - and the LCD display isn't working so I have no idea what I took a picture of, if anything.  I guess I'l find out when I get the card out and get them on a CD.  Ugh.

So although we don't have an pictures - here's our BIG news...

NICOLE IS POTTY TRAINED!

Woohoo!!!!!!!!  That strong willed, stubborn, "you can't make me" girl, finally decided it was cool to be a big girl and she was ready.  Seriously I started and then gave up 4 times!  That girl just wasn't ready and she just didnt want to.  No manner of rewards, threats, encouragement, pressure, nothing would sway her.  She'd go on the potty a few times a day but then would scream hystrically if you even mentioned it.  It was insane.  but then....  She went to preschool 2 days a week.  And that's all it took - literally - 2 days at preschool!  She came home from the 2nd day and told me, "I ready to be a big girl now!"  and never looked back.  That was 3 weeks ago and we've only had a couple of accidents.  She's so proud of herself and has overcome her fear of public toilets.  And I'm thrilled!!!!!!

Someone asked me the other day if I was a little sad since it was the end of a stage - my baby, growing up.... and I said - NO!  I'm good.  She is still my little snuggle-bug but saying so long to the diapers/pull-ups - yipee!!!!!

And Nicole loves her little class.  She seems to have passed the stage of hysterically crying when I leave her somewhere (mostly).  And that is a wonderful blessing to my heart as well.  Oh yes, and she's dropped her naps.  She might fall asleep occassionally but 99% of the time she's a non-napper.

Megan - loves kindergarten!  She's doing great and loves her teacher.  She's exhausted when she gets home and both girls are usually in bed around 7pm - and their little internal alarm clocks wake them up around 6am.   Where these early morning girls came from is beyond me.  They certainly did not get that from their momma!

So - that's pretty much it.  Tom and I are doing well and so far we are keeping up with those girls.  Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post soon.

I just remembered that I had posted some phone pictures to Facebook.... so here is a little glimpse of today - Doughnuts with Daddy Day in Kindergarten.

click on the picture and it'll make it larger so you can read it.

CFA and the Mermaids!

Last weekend, we headed over to our local Chick-fil-a for a special "mermaid afternoon."  The girls were dressed and ready to go!  And even the Mer-cow was there!!!!!

 The afternoon was really a product launch party for a new toy that is just now hitting the shelves, called Waverly and the Magic Seashells.  They had tables set up so all the girls could play with them and they could see what they liked and disliked.  The guy who created them is the same guy who created Pound Puppies.

 It's an interactive toy where each piece works together to make a whole new toy - so there is a "home" a magic seashell, a magic pearl that lets the mermaids speak, a wand that also fits in there and does something.  The girls were enthralled with it and Megan was begging for one.

(however, on a side note - all I could think was....  yeah, every part you buy separately and without the expensive "home" none of it really works.  Like great - Nicole won  seashell with a special sea friend and a magic pearl.... but all it is is a chokable ball and a shell she can't open on her own without a "sold separately" mermaid and her home (also sold separately). So I'm not seeing these finding a haven at our house.)   I'd rather them be a set of polly pocketish mermaids - that would last a lot longer in our house.  My girls love to use their imagination,so a playset that try to do that for them... no thanks.  BUT - thanks CFA - it was fun to play and see them.  They are great and fun and the girls loved them... but mommy - not so much.

Another Dancer in the Family

Nicole is the newest dancer in the family.  This week she also started her little creative movement dance class.  She was so excited!

 Here she is getting her groove on before class started...

1st day of Preschool

We have had a lot of firsts this August! 

The cherry on top was Nicole starting "big girl school!"

 She's was so excited to have a school of her own.  As we got near the school she pointed and said, "wook, there's  my Dede school."  And I reminded her, "no, that's not your Dede's school...that's YOUR school!"  (Dede is what she has always called Megan.  She will also call her Megan - but evidently in her mind "dede" means "sister").  Then she really got excited!

I was glad because to be honest I wasn't sure how this was going to go!  This is my little clingy girl.  You know, the one who still cries when I leave her in the church nursery, or walk away to go to the bathroom, or.... you get the picture.  

So even though she was all smiles when we left home (really happy about finally getting to use her new backpack!), I knew that it was iffy as to what was going to happen when I actually dropped her off.  So... I had a plan!  I made some fun little "1st day of school" teacher appreciation gifts for Ms. Mandi and Ms. Ester.....  How was that a plan for Nicole?????

Both her hands were occupied when we got there so she couldn't grab onto me for dear life!   May not sound like much to some of you.... BUT - I know my little girl.  If we could make it through the door without a "cling and grab" to mom moment, we would be ok.  And sure enough.  As we started down her hall, I could feel her start to get worried and start to pull back - so we stopped and pulled out the gifts and her little cards she made and she had one in each hand as we got to her room.  I know she looks a bit terrified in that picture but that's because she was watching a little boy across the hall who was crying.

No, she was so brave!  She walked in and gave each teacher a gift box (full of chocolate becaue I was sure they'd need it - and they did!).  And she was fine.   I stayed with her a few minutes to get her settled in and I kissed her head a lot!!!!  And finally I said, "I love you and I'll see you later - don't forget to be a big helper"... and she responded with, "I a big girl now!"

And with overwhelming joy I walked out... so thrilled that we had no tears, no screaming, no clinging.  It was a HUGE thing!!!!!!  My heart was a bit emotional too.....  my baby!!!!  But I have to admit that the joy seeing her take a step towards independence totally overshadowed the sadness - God knew I needed that! 

And then I went to breakfast at a big girl restaurant and just soaked in the "non mommy" moment!!!!!!!

Some girl time!

Since pre-school is starting for Nicole tomorrow, we've been making the most of our time together.  This past week we met up with a friend at Play!  We got there and Nicole only stopped running in order to jump into the foam pit.  She had a blast!

 Nicole and Bradley had a great time jumping together  - and the place was deserted so they jumped and jumped and jumped.

 and FLEW....

I must say, I love these moments with my baby!  I know they'll fly by too quickly, so I'm going to savor each one, while I can!

 As we were leaving, Nicole got to pick a treat from the treasure box - she wanted a magnifying glass.  So on the way out to the car - we investigated the flowers.  She was so cute trying to say "discover, investigate, explore" (from Sid the Science Kid).

School - for everyone!

Megan loves Kindergarten!

 If you ask her what her favorite part of the day is - she'll tell you....

 ... riding the bus with her new friend Ivey!
It's sweet - the bus driver takes good care of her every afternoon.  Megan and Ivey sit right behind her, and according to Megan, they take turns sitting by the window.

Megan is even ready for homework.  She's had a few fun things to do to practice some basic skills like letter sounds and practice writing her numbers to 20.  But her "real" homework starts next week, after labor day. 

 But she's not the only girl over here who's off to school!
Tomorrow is Nicole's first day in her little 2 year old preschool class.  Last week we had a fun "meet the teacher" outing at school so that Nicole could meet the teachers and see her class.  To say she loved it - is putting it mildly!

 She has a couple of good friends in her class, so that was helpful.  But THEN.....
She saw Ms. Mandi's dress up area!  Oh yeah - within minutes she'd found the perfect dress!

 Of course, she didn't want to play favorites so she had a few costume changes - as she floated in between the kitchen and the tool area.

 You know what I loved??????

Her teachers!!!!!!!!
Nicole is in Ms. Mandi's class - that was also Megan's teacher when she was in that class.  So I'm soooo thrilled.

 Here's her assistant - Ms. Ester!

It's so precious to me that they get to love on Nicole like they loved on her big sister.  The really cool part is that they were a part of our lives when Nicole was born.  So they've watched her grow and now they play a role in nurturing her sweet little heart.

The Littlest

This week I've been having some fun Mommy/Nicole time.  With Megan off at school, we've had lots of time together.  One of her favorite places to hang out is in Megan's room... dancing. 

She was measured up this week (for the Teddy medical study that she is in) and she's grown quite a bit!  At 2 years and 9 months, she is 38 inches tall and 41 lbs.  wow!  No wonder she can wear 4T and 5T clothes.  This weekend we went to get  new shoes and her "little" foot was sized into a 9 1/2 shoe.  Whoa!  I felt bad that she walked in wearing a size 8 shoe.  oops.

Of course the guilt continued as they sized Megan into a 13 1/2 and all the shoes she has are size 12.  So they each got a nice new pair of shoes... in the proper size.

For a little school update - Megan is loving Kindergarten.  Today she told me "it was a little overwhelming, but we got a lot accomplished."  She keeps me smiling. She's also loving her uniform.  Each day is a fun treat for her to pick out her what uniform she'll wear - I appreciate that because a few months ago she was really upset with the "boring colors".   I must say I do like the uniform, but dislike that I've had to get my iron cranked up for them.  boo for that one!   

Nicole starts her little 2 year old preschool class next week. She'll go 2 days a week - that will give me a day a week to volunteer at Megan's school.  She seems excited but very confused about who her teacher is.  I'm super excited that she'll have the same 2 year old teachers that Megan had!  AND, she has several good friends in her class - the little siblings of some of Megan's best friends (Macie and Sydney).  I think it's going to be a great year!

The girls

Sisters...
A fun afternoon starts with lots of dress up and dancing!

 And at some point (after a costume change), ends with some quiet time practicing reading.

Just got to love those girls!

Tiny Little Friends

One of the things I love about my little girl is her lack of fear about bugs.  One day this little caterpillar dropped out of the tree and landed on her.  I think I would've jumped and freaked - but Megan's response was, "ooohhh look - a tiny little friend!"

 She was so gentle with it....

 Even Nicole (who is terrified of creepy crawlies of any sort) wanted to check out the little friend.

 After checking him out and letting him crawl all over - we found a nice little spot for him to rest.

Go be free - tiny little friend!