the Nutcracker

Em and Roo had the pleasure and honor of attending their first ballet performance with the McGrands and Aunt Kaki.

The Nutcracker Ballet has been highly anticipated by the girls, Em especially, for about a year now. It did not disappoint.

They had an amazing experience and toted home two miniature nutcracker dolls of their very own, thanks to their sweet Daddy.

treat or treat

The Rowdy Girls went trick or treating for the first time. Roo stuck with her pirate costume. Em switched it up and went as Belle from Beauty & the Beast. Aunt Kaki is Audrey .

Em was pretty shy and stuck to me like a burr. She poked her head around and would quickly whisper "trick or treat" and then hide again.

Roo shocked us all and embraced her inner pirate. She stomped down the sidewalk bellowing, "Arg!" and marched right up to doors shouting "Trick or Treat!"

She likes candy.

That would be three lollies in her hand.

Em's exhibitionist side reemerged once we were home and the sugar kicked in. Glow stick rave!

August 2010

This month has concluded the summer of 4. Em and Roo have matured and grown so much and there isn't much they can't do or won't try now.

For Roo, it has been the summer of the jump. She finally, at long last, got both of her feet off the ground and is catching air! It's been the summer of the princess for Em. She can't get enough of dressing like them and pretending to be in their stories. The best part is that she likes to play the prince or the dragon just as often.

August has flown by in a blur of summer activities. We've been so busy that the blog has had a lonely month. So, what have the Rowdy Girls been up to?

We've stayed up late for lots of special events or just because the music rocked and we were having a family dance party. The girls have lived in their bathing suits. We've been to movies and had more pizza and ice cream than anyone really deserves. There have been road trips and adventures; museums and playgrounds; birthday parties and parks.

And lots of irreplaceable time with family and friends.

Each night before bed they ask "What are we doing tomorrow?" Because it's always a new adventure and something to look forward to. In the mornings they chase the rainbows dancing about our living space in the slants of sunlight.

These long hot days of August have been some of the best I've ever had.

I hope Em and Roo remember them with delight.

sister trips

Dear Em and Roo,

I bailed on you last weekend and left you with your Daddy for 4 days. Y'all had a blast.

He's still recovering.

I did a little something I've always wanted to do... a trip to NYC with my sisters.

Your aunts Becky, Joy and Kaki and I flew in from our respective parts of the country and met up in the big apple for some long overdue time together. It was pretty amazing and we packed a lot into our stay... Broadway, shopping, central park, museums, lots of eating and sight seeing, catching up and laughing.

I missed you two a lot, but y'all had birthday parties to attend and jumpy houses to conquer.

I hope that in 20 years, y'all are meeting up with each other and your cousins in fun places and doing the same sort of thing.

I hope that in 20 years your aunts and I are meeting up in a different location from you and your cousins... and still doing our thing, too.

Mork

Aunt Kak included a surprise in the girls' birthday gift. Well, it was a surprise to Aunt Kak. She thought she was picking out an inflatable purple dolphin. Instead, what we found was this.

Meet Mork.

(the shoes and pajamas are Ruby's)

He's the breakout star of the birthday gifts. Maybe because he's just the girls' size. Maybe because he's purple and has a squeaker in his neck. Who knows.

What I do know is that he scares the fire out of me at night when they've tucked him in on the couch with a blanket and pillow.

But, you can't stay mad. He's such a good sport.

And dancer.

Novembering

This month has come and gone. While a lot has happened, not a lot has made it onto the blog.
Mostly thanks to a wicked run of migraines that made looking at a computer screen challenging. To say the least.

We had some fun playgroups with our twin and triplet buddies. None so eventful as the last one I documented. That's a good thing.

Em and Roo attended their first sit-down-in-a-theater play. The Little Mermaid performed at the Scottish Rite Theatre. It was a terrific hit thanks to a talented cast, lots of required audience participation, and a couple of lollipops found down in the bottom of my handbag.


Roo restarted occupational therapy with the divine Ms. D and is thriving under her attentive care. While Roo gets to swing and bounce and, just, play, Em and I have a coffee date at Starbucks. Em loves chalocolate milk and girl talk at a cozy table for two.

Em and Daddy took a road trip together to attend Aunt Gail's wedding. Roo and I stayed home to recover from our respective sickies. Em had an outstanding time being an only child. She slept in the big bed with Daddy, got to see Mammaw and Pappaw before the rest of us, drove a tractor, played football with all the boy cousins, and grabbed a fast visit with Nana. She's still talking about the tractor.


Preschool is rocking along and the girls have bonded nicely with Ms. Melissa. Em has a special affinity for a little boy named Jackson. She holds his hand during story time. Roo adores Wade's daddy, who is present a lot as he's on the board for the school. They've participated in safety week and had visits from police, doctors, nurses and firefighters complete with their truck. The highlight this month was the school-wide Pow Wow with a shared snack feast and joyful noise instruments.

Aunt Kaki had a birthday and Em and Roo threw a surprise party for her with balloons and cupcakes. Additionally, they had several friends' birthday parties to attend. As a result, they are still wishing everyone and anyone a happy birthday and asking to help you blow out your candles.

We were blessed to host Mammaw and Pappaw for Thanksgiving. The meal itself was delicious and just about the fanciest thing the girls have ever experienced in our home. Roo said the table was beautiful and Em was so proud to participate in the cooking.

They chatted everyone up throughout the entire eating experience. Roo asked everyone what they were thankful for and thoughtfully recited her prayers to name each person.
So, for those of you that we were not able to be with, know that you were prayed for, remembered and are loved.

Abracadabra

This year, for Halloween costumes, we dressed up as a family. Daddy was to be the magician, Mama the magician's assistant and the Rowdy Girls, the magic bunny rabbits. For our first trick, we made Daddy vanish for the month. For an extended work committment. So, Mama picked up the hat and cape and the show hit the road.

To the zoo for a Moms of Multiples club fall festival.

Aunt Kaki came with us, and that totally made our day!

Em and Roo were really into the animals this year and enjoyed the freedom of being stroller-free.

We did have perpetual wardrobe malfunctions, what with the bunny ears falling off and the rabbit suit riding up and panties creeping down.

All in all, it made for some pretty adorable photographs.

Back in the Jungle

Tuesday night, Aunt Kaki gave us a free pass and watched the girls for the entire evening.
Mmmmmwwaaa, xxoo, love & hugs & more kisses all to Aunt Kaki!
After eating our way across downtown, J and I spent an enjoyable night away at a beautiful and historic hotel.
Meanwhile, back in the jungle...

These are the text messages that Aunt Kaki sent.

Girls in bed, reading away at their books. We watched part of The Great Muppet Caper by request and they just snuggled up to me and were so sweet. They ate well and danced a little before bed. All in all, a good bedtime.

Later I replied to her text asking if they were asleep yet.

Yes, finally asleep... after Roo pooped. Then, Em swiped Roo's hat after she fell asleep and came out of the room to show me and ask me to change the cd to the Curious George soundtrack. Haha.

I apologized for the poop.

No big deal. They gave themselves away before I smelled it. They were chanting "Stinky Pants! Stinky Pants!" Crackin' me up..

This afternoon, after her full workday, Aunt Kaki wrote again to say...
Had a lot of fun watching the girls. We should do it again. They were so sweet.

Um, yes. Yes we should do it again, Kak. Just.Say.When.

fishing

Dear Roo,

We're on to your tricks. Aunt Kaki just briefed me on the green bean incident tonight. About how you kept a wad of veggies tucked in your cheek for the better part of an hour and refused to chew them. And how she coached you on chewing them up and you would play along, then stop. Eventually, she fished the whole, barely chewed mess from your mouth so you could, you know, go.to.bed. So, just know this... next time, green beans have to go all the way to the party in your tummy first! Then. Then, you can have bacon. Or dessert.

Love,
Mama

The Music Man

Last night we took the RGs to their first live musical production (if you don't count the Sea World shows). They are huge fans of The Music Man and our local theatrical company just happens to be performing it this summer.

We arrived early for good blanket placement on the hill and spent the waiting time eating and playing with friends.

I wasn't sure how the show would go over. Love or hate? Sometimes, when you like a movie so much, any other version is a sad and rude comparison. So, I held my breath just a bit as the opening number began.
Roo's eyes lit up like Christmas, then she jumped to her feet. And she bounced along with the actors and sang along with as much of the song as she's learned so far. Hilarious! Everyone around us was cracking up... at Roo!

A few numbers into the show, she turned to us and said, "Oh, thank you Mama! Thank you, Daddy!"
Oh, baby, you are so very welcome.
Em was mesmerized during the entire 3 hours. She froze in place for each musical number and then would leap to her feet at the end and clap wildly, yelling, "YEA!!!!!"

During the Shipoopi, Em grabbed Roo's hand and they attempted a little free-style dance. Tricky when you're perched on the side of a hill. But, super cute.

The funniest thing all night occurred close to the end. There's a scene in the final town hall meeting when the mayor yells at his wife, Eulalie MacKechnie Shinn, to sit down instead of standing and siding with the rest of the town. The girls love this line. The delivery and the physical comedy that follow absolutely slays them. So, J and I had a clue that there might be some RG audience participation as the line drew near. Sure enough. The actor delivered the line, the actress did her part, and then, there was just a half second of quiet. In that moment, Roo belted out, "EUWAWIE! SIT. DOWN." Everyone, even those on stage, heard her and started laughing.

After the performance, J took Roo down the hill to meet the cast. We packed up and headed home around midnight. And if the girls ask, I think we'd totally take them back tomorrow night for an encore. It was that much fun.

lollipops and cotton candy
the Shipoopi!

Braidy Bunch

Aunt Kaki worked some hair magic the other day with Em.
Her very first braids.
Beautiful.