Thank You, Aunt Dish...

Thank you, Aunt Dish, for coming to visit and for playing with us.  You make us giggle and we feel extra special when you are here.  We miss you already.

Favorite Christmas Photo...

This picture makes me smile every time I look at it.  My girls are the greatest

gifts of all, and if I never received another present, it would be fine with me 

because their being in my life is enough to last me a lifetime of Christmases.  

My heart is full and I am blessed beyond measure.

Our First Christmas 12/25/12

Christmas Eve...

My sweets; just up from their naps and could barely contain themselves; love Poppi's expression; obviously Zoë was not willing to strike a sedentary pose.

The girls captivated by the snow falling outside 

All freshened up and ready for Santa.


Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

F

Baking Cookies for Santa

No, these are not my mother's home made cut outs, and she would not be impressed.  But, alas, I will endeavor to do better next year; and frankly, the girls really don't know the difference at this point and were more interested in eating the sugar sprinkles than decorating with them :)

Anticipation...

Music Class Graduation 12/17/2012

This was the girls' last day of their Kindermusik class.  They have been attending since September.  The class really has been instrumental (pun intended) in helping Zoë to come out of her shell.  She is a consummate instruction follower and began to memorize a few of the songs and the actions that went with them so that she could anticipate what came next.  Poppi's natural musical abilities were nurtured and while she enjoyed dancing and playing the instruments, her top priority was trading the different accompanying instruments until she found just the right combination, be it red and blue eggs, purple bells or a rainbow of gossamer scarves.

You will notice at the end when they are given their graduation certificates, Poppi knew to turn hers right side up when the instructor handed it to her upside down!

Amen - 12/07/2012

Last Monday, December 3, Poppi was playing her radio, onto which Daddy had just downloaded some new songs.  She was listening to a new version of "If You're Happy and You Know It...say "Amen."  And much to my surprise she actually said "Amen."  I had no idea she could pronounce it, and it was clear as a bell.  No, I did not have my camera at the ready; isn't that how it always goes.  Then, another surprise, Zoë began to say it, but with the zealousness of Jimmy Swaggert!   It was hilarious.

I recreated the scene, but it's my voice you hear singing, so I apologize in advance.

But, that is not the best part, that came later in the evening when Dan was "discussing" with the girls how Mommy had to do a better job of using "time ins" (this was because the girls were in the tub splashing and were oblivious to my pleas to abandon their mission of getting all of the water onto the floor).  And just as he said this, Poppi yelled "AMEN."

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Tree Decoration Revisited

The evolution of the candy cane pile...11/23/2012

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My heart is melting...

Poppi just loves her daddy; and he's pretty smitten with her too.

St. Nicholas...12/3/2012

Zoë sees Santa for the first time.

 I belong to a playgroup and we had a Christmas party and invited Santa.  The girls practiced their Ho Ho Ho's in anticipation.  This was the first time the girls have seen him in person and surprisingly, it went really well.  Zoë was smitten at first sight.  Poppi, not so much.  

Poppi set the parameters, no touching and no looking :)

Zoë enjoying an in depth conversation with the man in red.

Hmmm, I think Santa may have been pushing his luck, but Zoë was gracious and sat on his lap for a millisecond.

Zoë and her friend Alex putting Santa through his paces.

Poppi contemplating...

on second thought, maybe not.

Poppi warming up...

Ok, that's close enough pudgy man.

This was a wonderful way to introduce the girls to his Royal Redness.  No long lines, no loud crowds with overwrought children scared out of their wits.  And, this was the real Santa, no elastic holding up his beard, perfectly coiffed hair and he was wearing boots that looked as if they were just shined by his dutiful elves.  

All in all I think they had a fabulous time.  It is wonderful to see the girls beginning to come out of their shells and learning to socialize; they are polite and are very good at sharing, which is sometimes not always the case here at home.