snapshots and song

Christmas 2010 was lovely.

The best parts were the days with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

Those were the memory makers.

Although, the giant lollipop of 2010 will probably go down in history. Thanks, Nannie.

my favorite gift

Em and Roo came home from school 2 weeks ago toting gifts wrapped in hand painted paper. They were addressed to us and were "top.secret". We put them under the tree and I planned to pack them up and take them for Christmas with the McGrands.

However, the night before we were to leave, Em ran to get her gift and presented it to us. It was to be opened. Right then. So, Roo ran for hers, too.

J and I opened the cards first.

"Merry Christmas"

Then, the paper was carefully untaped and the gifts unrolled.

So extremely precious!

Em and Roo were both incredibly proud of their work and their gifts and as soon as we relinquished them, they ran for the Christmas tree to hang them in places of honor.

I left them there.

Because, they so totally belong in a place of honor.

5th Christmas... just keeps getting better

Wishing you and yours the merriest of Christmases.

love,

the Rowdy Girl Family

I wanna wish you a merry Christmas

best tunnel ever

Last night the girls put on their pajamas and joined us for a 45 minute drive to a park. A park full of lights, lights and more lights. For $5, our car got a two hour tour of the most amazing light display the girls have ever seen. The whole show wrapped up with a drive through the best tunnel ever.

the reindeer pokey

This was the best footage we took that included both Em and Roo. Roo has her back to the audience and Em is being dramatic in her teacher's lap.

sing-a-long

The girls' preschool hosts a sing-a-long in lieu of a formal Christmas program or pageant. The audience participates in the first portion and then the grade levels get up to perform a few special songs on their own.

Em and Roo were none too excited about the getting-up-in-front-of-people part. Their teacher and I have been working on them for weeks, trying to make it sound appealing.

So, the day finally arrived. And Em appeared to be revved and ready. Roo was anxious, but not out of commission.

The four year old classes performed last. These are the girls in the Tiger class. Yes, Roo is facing the wrong direction. Em bailed right after the picture was taken and sat in her teacher's lap, all sobby and dramatic, until the singing was over. Roo did her part, but wouldn't look at the audience. She performed the entire show with her back to the audience. Clever coping mechanism!

J and I were pretty pleased. One out of two ain't bad!

Afterwards, all the kids found their parents and had cookies and punch.

And were forced into posing for photos.

They made a "M" for Merry Christmas.

conversating

Em told me this morning that the kitchen was smelly.

"What does it smell like?" I asked her.

"Daddy."

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Em took one of her doll babies in the car today on our errands. While she was fussing with its clothing (her own preemie clothes), I mentioned that she was about the same size as the doll at birth.

"Roo, you were even smaller." I said.

I told them their birth weights, 3lbs 5oz for Em and 2lbs 8oz for Roo.

Roo puzzled over it for a moment and said, "Two hundred and eight dollars?"

"Oh no" I said, "You cost a lot more than that."

Roo thought another moment, then said, "Oh. Two hundred and eight million dollars."

Yeah, that's a little closer.

Paint me

Roo asked to have her nails painted this morning.

This was a first. I've been offering for, oh, a year or so, I think.

Em loves to have her nails painted, but Roo has always refused.

But this morning, she spotted the polish on the vanity and said "paint me".

She let me take care of her right hand but insisted on doing the left hand herself.

The Awesome Song

Improv night at the dinner table.

37th street

Last night we took the girls out for dinner and then to meander down 37th street on a Christmas lights stroll.

Cheeseburgers and curly fries at EZs.

Then, on to 37th. A 3 piece band was playing at the end of the street and we feared Roo would not budge. Because, drums! trombone! And, behind the house there was a stuffed animal petting zoo ringed in lights. She had to be carried away.

Moving on...

Sparkly lights everywhere they looked. Em said all the homes looked like gingerbread houses.

A sock monkey nativity scene? My absolute favorite!

(lost a little with the flash on this one)

Behold. Paul Frank monkey moped in red? Yes, please. Roo had to be carried to the car at this point. Fortunately, we were finished.

Then, we listened to Christmas music all the way home. By that I mean we listened to Alvin and the Chipmunks sing about hula hoops... on a loop... all the way home.

It was a fun night. I really mean that!

favorite things

Mine and theirs.

I love, with pink puffy hearts, their adorable collection of hair bows. (Most have been made by my talented friends.)

Em and Roo love those two fleecy bathrobes. Warm, snuggly and beyond cute.

Cuter still when they wrap up the Rowdy Girls.

body language

A Christmas Carol

Our favorite theater offered up a performance of A Christmas Carol. It was fabulous and just the right level for the house full of 3-8 year olds that sat wide eyed with wonder.

At the conclusion, the cast takes a seat on the stage and signs autographs. Usually the girls pass on this opportunity. But today, they wanted to meet the players!

Em waited patiently for a chance to talk to Tiny Tim. She didn't want to sit down and have her picture made, but she made sure to show off her blue fingernail polish and also to invite Tiny Tim to play at our home.

Roo wanted to meet Mr. Scrooge. She had a shy moment when it came time to get close, but still had a tiny conversation with him.

Next up, a walk to the Capital to attempt some Christmas card photos.

There's so much to explore on the way.

And this was all before noon! Hungry set in. We barely made it to our favorite diner before the grumps landed. Coloring always helps distract from growly tummies while the pancakes cooked.

A lovely day it was.

what tomorrow are we going

Em and Roo ask at least once a day "what tomorrow are we going?"

Because there's always something to look forward to...

...the Christmas stroll that included a parade and tons of neat kid-sized activities.

...errands with Daddy (and 5 Sesame Street dolls shoved into pockets)

...outings with Mama to get new shoes

...impromptu side trips to the Disney store for secret presents and a special Mrs. Potts ornament that just wear you out

... enough extra time before school to drive around the kitchen 3 or 4 times.

window shopping

We met some twin friends for a little window shopping on a lovely Friday morning.

After Starbucks treats and lots of pennies in the wishing fountains, we set off on a meandering walk.

The kids peered in every window. The only store they asked to go inside was the Apple store.

Smarties.

At the end of the long sidewalk was the biggest tree Em and Roo have ever seen.

They spent at least 45 minutes exploring every nook and cranny.

Next, a walk on the opposite side of the road. New windows to peer into and neat-o surprises on the ground. The last stop, Neiman Marcus. They have a magical installation piece above the escalators. Dancing butterflies that shimmered in the sun beams streaming through the skylight. We rode up and down 3 times and could have stayed a lot longer.

But, we had a lunch date.

butterflies in action