Christmas Unwrapped

Between all of the doting parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles (and Santa, of course), there was a mountain of presents needing to be unwrapped.

As it was, there are still presents unopened under the tree. It was a progressive effort throughout the day.

We had 3 things working against us.

First, toddlers are easily distracted. It's hard to stay focused on the unwrapping when there are so many cool things to look at and become fixated upon. I knew we were in trouble when the first thing the girls noticed was a replacement Duck book - an early favorite that had been tragically dismembered months ago.

Second, Anni is frightened of unwrapping.

(But, Elli is not.)

Third, we are slooooooow.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Anni mastered the guttural air expenditure required to give a Ho Ho Ho today. (Elli did, too, but only once.) And, as the girls do for other seasonal symbols, she can also reference the source in her handy holiday manual.

Ho Ho Ho

L.Y.L.A.S.

Love You Like A Sister

Ho! Ho! Ho-Hum.

Santa Claus attended the same party we did on Saturday.

We had been gearing up all week to meet him. Because I didn't know how the girls would react, we looked at a book everyday that had a picture of Mr. Kringle in it and I always said, "Nice Santa" accompanied by a "Ho Ho Ho". This led to them petting Santa on the page each time we opened the book, and Anni saying "Heh Heh Heh." So, I thought we were all set.

Unfortunately, I underestimated the clout that Santa has.

When it was announced: "Santa is almost here!" at the party, 50 children went screaming wild to form a line to meet him. Little girls were crying with joy at the very thought. Nay, sobbing or weeping might be a better description. Several little ones were writhing in the grip of a parent to break from line and wait by his chair.

When the Jolly Fellow finally did arrive, an awed silence came over the party. This was promptly broken when the third boy in line announced: "That's NOT Santa! He isn't real!" Oh, the trickery! The misery! Would Santa play such a cruel joke, if he even exists at all? Those once crying with joy were now in hysterical confusion. That little boy was placed directly on the Naughty List by all in attendance. (Boo! Hiss! Coal lumps!)

The girls and I were hanging out toward the end of the line. When we made it up to sit on Santa's lap... I got nothing. No reaction. I could have been sitting them on my own lap, for all they cared. The water bottle and ball in their clutches were cooler than he was. So, I guess we're not scared of Santa, but we might not ever believe in him after today, either. Ho hum.

The Wilder Side

Anni started walking yesterday. Just 4 steps at a time, twice before bed. Today she didn't seem very interested in doing it again, but I did manage to catch just a couple of unassisted steps.

Anni gives Gerald some exercise.

Elli takes a stroll.

Bonus: Our favorite game... still.

Did you miss Anni taking unassisted steps? It happened at 0:22 in the first video.

The Wild Side

We're walking on it!

This morning, to get from point A (the bathtub) to point B (Gerald, the ladybug), Elli decided to take 4 steps. She didn't know it was anything remarkable until I started making all sorts of exclamatory statements. Anni got really excited, too, and kept pretending like she was going to do it. (She did take 2 single steps a couple days ago.)

My attempt to get her to repeat the action.
Lots of adrenaline here!

Different time. Same place. New game.

Stuck in spin cycle.

Thankful

Today we are thankful that we have many things to be thankful for.

Thankful to have a hard-working daddy waiting for pictures of us.

Kisses for Daddy.

Thankful to have a reason to get all dressed up: spending our 5th Thanksgiving with great friends.

We look gooooood.

Thankful that our friends and family have such a great sense of style.

Thanks to C&C for our dresses and Grandma B for our headbands.

The Apple Orchard

While we were visiting Iowa, we went to an apple orchard. (Because it's the right thing for Midwesterners to do in the fall.)

Proud Grandpa & Grandma A

We sampled apples. (Anni)

We took a tractor ride over the river and through the orchards.


We talked on a gourd phone. (Elli)


We did it all wearing hats reminiscent of Mongolian warriors. (Elli & Anni)


We picked our pumpkins.


Clearly, we were "Having Fun!"


Up until we were supposed to touch pumpkin guts. Ew. (Elli & Anni)

Heroic Exploits

Some snippets from our Halloween adventures! Most of these are very short.

Sound Effects

Psych Up

Staging

The Approach

The Fist

The Getaway

The Zig Zag

The Last Hurrah

Many thanks to Aunt Liz for running and providing sound effects with me, to Uncle Dave and Grandma A for their photography and videography, and to Grandpa A for acting as bodyguard.

Zero to Hero

How did the little Doubleshots go from Clark Kent zeroes to Super Girl heroes?

"Zeroes" to heroes!

First, we don the equipment.

Every superhero wears a base layer when in Iowa.

The arm bands didn't last.


The masks didn't make it either.


Guess we'll stick with the capes.
Anni is concerned that she is the only super hero with a scalloped-edge cape.

Second, pre-flight checks.

Anni checks the thrusters.

The Dynamic Duo powers up.

Here we come to save the day!

The Caped Crusaders are off!

Stay tuned for videos of our exploits!

Trick-or-Treat

We scored some super loot tonight.

Treats!

And, there were so many great pictures and videos that I can't decide how to post our story yet. Here is a sneak preview to whet your appetite...

Tricks!

My Cup

Sometimes, when Life starts putting the smack-down on me, I forget that I have no room for any stress or fear anywhere, because I'm so full-up on Love.

My cup runneth over.

Magic Show

For our first magic trick, we will fit two babies on one little wagon.

Look what we did by ourselves, Mama!
(Including the removal of the wagon rails.)

I'll scratch your back, Anni...

... But, you can't scratch mine.

Dismounts are never graceful.

For our second magic trick, we will make one baby disappear.

Abracadabra.

Is Elli under here?


Oh. THERE you are. Humph.


Elli claps for herself.
(As she does every time she stands up. Not for Anni's magic trick.)

Gross Negligence

I'd like to think I'm on top of things, for the most part. One shortcut I often do take is to leave the girls in their PJs all day. Whatever they wore to bed, they wear the next day.

Imagine my utter shame when I was undressing Elli for her bath, only to discover a little "solid" on the loose in her outfit. How long was it hanging out in there? Since last night? Since an hour ago? My kids eat a lot of fiber, and, thus, make a lot of odious diapers, so there is no way of knowing for sure.

Perhaps this explains some of her behavior today...

That face of reproof when I put her in her car-seat, which I thought was because I strapped her in before her sister? Maybe she was judging me for smooshing something slimy up her backside.

Or, the once-over she gave the elderly lady at the fabric store who referred to her and her sister as boys, repeatedly? It's possible she was trying to send her a signal that she was in the hands of an unfit mother.

Or, the unfriendly raspberry she blew at the other elderly lady at the fabric store who tried to convince me that Anni had a lazy eye? (REALLY? REALLY? She doesn't, I assure you.) Perhaps she was trying to communicate to everyone the unfortunate situation she had in her pajamas, which she had been wearing for going on 18 hours.

On the other hand, I'd like to submit to the universe that perhaps parents in the early 1900's were grossly negligent in teaching manners.

Sometimes Mom even puts pants on our heads for her own entertainment.

Got Milk?

We are deep in the trenches of weening. And, with all of us here having spent the last 8 days fighting off fevers, sore-throats, and the like, it dug us even deeper. The biggest obstacle is getting the girls to drink any substantial quantity out of sippy cups. We have tried countless models, but, alas, they would rather drink out of regular cups. (This has proven too messy for me to cope with.) Today we finally made progress, and it was very serious business.

Bottoms Up!

Well, not that serious.