Try Try Again

Many many hours and tears went into this year's Christmas photo card. Most of them were Mommy's and Daddy's. I hear, from my other toddler twin mom friends that this seems to be the norm in all of their households. Lovely.

At first everything started off fine. We sat by the fire and read a story. Look how focused and calm Em and Roo seem to be.


Then, Daddy tried to pose the girls by themselves.

It did not go well.
We finally gave up for the night. It was exhausting.

The next morning, I changed the location. Perhaps the fireplace was freaking them out.
No go. Em unhappily stood still and Roo refused to even come outside.


Third try's the charm, right?
Well, it would have been if the camera settings had been correct.

Ok, fourth try. Roo was ready!


Wait! Come back Em!
Alright! That's what we're talking about!

Oh, the love. Sisterly love. Finally! I'm crazy about Em's little closed eyes in this picture.

Here's one that almost made the cut for the Christmas card.
You'll have to wait and see the final product, though.

Decorating with Help

alternate title: put down the camera already and help me!



Em tried her hardest to blow out these "candles".

Roo was a little (ok, a lot!) annoyed that Daddy wouldn't let her take the Cookie Monster ornament to bed that night.

Em worked so hard to master those little loops and hooks and help put everything on the tree. This is a big change from last year!


Here's a quick little video of this year's assembly process.

Practicing

Soon they'll be ready to go herping with mom!

Touche

Em threw a fit today because I told her no.

She rolled on the floor and kicked and screamed.

I talked for her. "Emme says, 'I'm mad! I'm mad!'".

Roo came walking by just then and casually added, "and loud".

Recap

Recapping last week with Mammaw won't take long (unfortunately).

We were sick. She was sick. We went to the doctor. She went to the doctor.

We took a lot of medicine, slept and snuggled

and cried
and laughed and slept some more.

And towards the end, we felt a little better.

So we went to IKEA to play.

Good Enough

Em and Roo are slowly, but steadily, recovering from the cold that rocked McThanksgiving.

Today Roo felt good enough to bug her sister. That is a return to normality.

Not So Fantastic

The Rowdy Girls are seeeee-ick.

After a very happy Thanksgiving...

with the McGrandparents and all affiliated aunts, uncles and cousins...
the coughing began. Then the whining. Then the fevers.

What we seem to have going on is an early onset case of pneumonia in Em and an ear infection with loads of coughing and congestion in Roo. Em had a chest x-ray yesterday and they both saw the pediatrician. The entire surface of their dresser is littered in prescription and OTC meds. Poor poor babies.

This is the first major illness they have had. Unless you count the NICU days. Which I don't.

Mammaw is visiting this week and has not had quite the experience for which we hoped. But, man are we glad she's here! The extra lap and set of arms to snuggle a pitiful toddler are mighty helpful.