Krismas Njema

According to the interweb, the Tanzanian phrase for merry Christmas is,

"Krismas Njema Na Heri Za Mwaka Mpya" or "Happy Christmas".
(Mammaw and Pappaw?)

Regardless of the correct translation, it was a very happy Christmas for our family with our newly-returned-from-Tanzania grandparents. Mammaw, Pappaw, Aunt Gail and the boy cousins were unbelievably generous in their giving. Em and Roo now have a complete arts and crafts set up... easel, paints, markers, clay, brushes, cups, paper rolls, smocks, etc. And that wasn't the half of it.


Now, we're just hoping that Mammaw and Pappaw can come for another stay and do some art projects with us.

Roo and Em napped in the car on Christmas afternoon while we drove to second Christmas. As soon as we arrived, they hit the ground running and playing with their cousins, barely slowing down for round two of gift giving.

I think they properly annoyed cousins Charlie and Clint with their constant attempts to mess with their game systems. Like any self respecting little girl cousins should do.

And they gave Mammaw a workout playing tag and chase and "surprise! I'm hiding behind this door/wall/pillar".


Roo roped Pappaw into reading Curious George: The Dog Show. A few hundred times. Her plan of attack was simple. She shoved the book into his hands. Backed into his lap. Looked back and up at him and said, "Ready. Here we go."

She also warmed up to giving kisses this Christmas. Finally! Daddy grabbed them whenever he could.

Em was all lovey with Pappaw, too. As long as they had about 20 feet between them. Then, it was all flirty eyes and blown kisses.


The Mammaw/Aunt Gail/cousin love was all up close and personal. Em's main attention getting ploy was to fake-sneeze on them and then say, "excuse me". Cute, huh? Or she just climbed in their laps.

On our final night before returning home, lots and lots of cousins came to the house for a party.
Pappaw, Aunt Terri, cousin Chad

cousin Paige and the RGs

Daddy and Maggie Dog

And Guitar Hero World Tour was broken out. Em loves to dance while the guitar heroes rock out. Both RGs made themselves at home in the basement during the tour. They danced and sang.
Paige, the RGs, Charlie and cousin Trey

They played hide and seek.
They cuddled. They just loved it all.
And so did we.

McChristmas

Em and Roo had a marvelous Christmas. The first part was spent with the McGrandparents, Aunt Kaki and Nannie. The girls were in love with Marmee's violin ornaments and holly sprigs on the Christmas tree. Em was convinced the holly berries were apples. No changing her mind.



Roo had her toy du jour, as usual. The stacking cups made the world go round on Christmas eve. She had no idea what all awaited her under the tree.

The service that evening was lovely. And we had a first. First year we haven't had to leave early. Em and Roo were boisterous through the entire recitation of the Christmas story, but cutely so. Except for that moment when Roo chunked a cracker into a pew two rows behind us. Sorry, folks.

The girls stayed up a little late and had dinner with us after the service. Yummy tamales!


And they were up bright and early for Christmas morning.
Roo got side tracked by the alphabet in her stocking. The whole family had breakfast while she played happily.

Em found sparkly "ne-sa-ses" in her stocking and then looted Roo's for some more.
Roo also got a Grover doll in her stocking and was freaking out at his addition to her "Sesame Street friends".


Both girls had a blast playing with all the new toys, clothes, bows and gadgets as each item was unwrapped. The McGrands, Nannie and the aunts were generous. Incredibly so. Overwhelmingly so.

By the time we finished opening everything, it was time to eat again!
Em said it best on the way to the table, "Mmm-mm-m."


Aunt Kaki entertained the RGs while the car was packed and loaded for the part two of our travels.



So, with warm hearts, full bellies and a ridiculously stuffed car, it was time to drive on to Christmas with Mammaw and Pappaw...

Three Wishes

The Rowdy Girl Family wishes you a MERRY CHRISTMAS filled with...

2006
...wide-eyed wonderment...

2007
...warmth and family...

2008
...love and laughter.

As you celebrate the birth of our Savior, we wish you
"Memmy Chrese-Moss"
translation: Merry Christmas

Calling Card

I just came upstairs for the night at the McGrandparents'. Apparently
the RGs had a little fun in the bathroom earlier today.

That's an upturned waste basket, aka drum. Various bed linens,
previously neatly folded and stored. And most of my Velcro hair
rollers, artfully arranged.

Thanks, girls.

Sweet Baby J

Nope, this is not a commentary about a James Taylor song. This is a warning. And a request for understanding and the feigning of deafness.

IF you should hear the RGs yell out, "Sweet baby Jesus!" sometime in the near future, please please do not:

a) judge
b) say, "WHAT did you say?" (thus causing them to repeat it)
c) spit-take
d) laugh

Just ignore. Or if you must say something, maybe start singing "Away In A Manger" or "What Child Is This".

Let me explain. The RGs have this little nativity scene (courtesy of the McGrandparents). It's so darling. Each piece is a finger puppet, but can also stand alone. So, Roo walks around with her finger stuck inside the manger holding the baby Jesus.

And she keeps chewing on Him!

In response, I remind her that it is not for her mouth. I say, "We don't put the sweet baby Jesus in our mouths." Or, "Sweet baby Jesus is not a chew toy, Roo, take Him out of your mouth."

Apparently the only part of those sentences that has stuck is "sweet baby Jesus."

Oh. Lord.

*****
Also, the Virgin Mary is MIA. She's been located at the McGrands house inside a toy train tunnel. With her twin (the Mary to cousin Jonah's nativity set). So, now we add to our list of fail, two kidnapped Mary's lined up on the railroad tracks in a train tunnel.

Feeling Poorly

You may have noticed that Em seemed a little less bright and shiny than usual in yesterday's cookie making session.


Towards the end of the cleanup she started whining. Then, she grabbed her blankie and then her thumb. And got in my lap. That's when I noticed how toasty she was. The thermometer said 98.9 and that's enough to feel yucky.




After some Tylenol, I gave her some snuggle time and she fell asleep quickly. About and hour and a half earlier than her normal nap time. So, she got to sleep in Mama's bed while Roo and I played, ate lunch and read stories.

before the fever broke

after - little sweaty head and pushed off covers

She woke up from her nap feeling lots better, but by bedtime was running a fever again. This time 100.3. I called the on-call doctor because this is so close on the heels of her pneumonia recovery. Em has no other symptoms of illness other than the fever. So, we're to wait and see.
Full recovery and excellent health prayers are most appreciated!

Me Want Cookie

Roo has a little pop up book entitled Cookie's Christmas Cookies. It's a short story about Cookie Monster wanting to make holiday cookies instead of his usual fare. The whole Sesame Street gang comes to his house, slaves over a hot stove cranking out the cookies, and well...
You can guess how the story ends.
Roo LOVES the Mmm-mm-m at the end. She's working this new guttural Cookie Monster voice that makes J roll with laughter every time he hears it.

All that to say, with the constant requests to reread this book, I wanted to give the girls a chance to make their own Christmas cookies.
Aprons were donned. Rolling pins procured.

They like to make an entrance.



And many star-shaped cookie cutters were offered to allay any arguments over who gets what shape.




As the video shows, clean up was longer lasting fun than the actual cookie making process.

Poor Bert.




The cookies turned out great. Some are going to the neighbors, some to Nannie and the rest have already been appropriated. Em and Roo called dibs on at least a dozen cookies. I just looked in the cookie tin on the table and every single star has powdered sugar finger prints, or missing points, bitten off or tongue marks.
That, folks, is how you call dibs.