Happening Today

Red Fish has been having a lot of foot problems and she sprained her ankle at a birthday party today so we had a fun little trip to the ER for x-rays. No break so we are waiting for our appointment with the specialists we took her to last year. Fingers crossed that we can figure out why she has been in so much pain.

Meant To Be Sisters

This is how they watch TV. Yes, we have more than one couch. They just like to snuggle.

Sweet Sisters

This morning I peeked in on the girls while they were getting ready for school and found them fixing each other's hair. It was the sweetest little scene. New Fish was especially excited to fix Red Fish's hair for her. Red Fish has fixed New Fish's hair before but this the first time I've seen them both trade. It made me so happy that they are sisters.

Inside Out

Red Fish loved this movie but it was almost more than her sensitive soul could take. She sobbed and sobbed when the imaginary friend died. New Fish loved the movie and thought Joy was fantastic.

Soccer Season

 One of Red Fish's favorite things is soccer season.

 We go to all of her games and cheer her on.

You can see my Dad behind her. Red Fish likes to have someone next to her when she is in the goal box. Mostly we just have to remind her to watch the ball since she is a daydreamer.

Tulip Festival

 Every year we go to the gardens at Thanksgiving point to see the tullips. This year we took our sketch books and did some drawing. Scott was busy with the camera so he isn't in any of the pictures. It was a glorious day outside.

The Sunday Before Christmas

The girls all ready for church today. 

Santa Lucia

For the last few years we have celebrated Santa Lucia.  We also take the opportunity to share the fun with our neighbors.  Some of our neighbors probably think we are a little odd showing up with our kids decked out like angels but most of them appreciate the little bit of extra cheer and the girls have a great time going from door to door.  We always buy and or make all of our favorite Swedish treats.

 This year we shared some of the fun with Lovely L and her kids.  We took our Swedish treats and outfits to her house and had a little brunch. It is always fun to share traditions with friends!

When Girls Play Superheroes

It involves 4 pairs of leg warmers and leopard print berets.

Giving A Little Bit Of Myself

I love this picture.  I made all of us matching Christmas pajamas this year.  I have always wanted to.  Partly because of this of my Dad, grandparents and aunts - (our pajamas aren't quite as epic.)

In part I also wanted to make pajamas because my mom and both grandmothers sewed a lot in the past and there seems to be something about making clothes for someone that includes a little piece of your heart.  I'm a serious sentimentalist and I love the idea of putting a little piece of myself into our Christmas traditions this year.  I could have bought cheaper pajamas and they definitely would have been more perfectly made but I'm pretty proud of myself for making time to check this small item off my bucket list this year.  I know it won't mean as much to my kids and husband as it does to me but hopefully they feel the little bit of extra love.

Tonight when the girls were getting ready for bed, Red Fish was drawing at her new desk.  She set up a spot for New Fish and was even sharing all of her new art supplies.  She was very excited when she told me "This desk is just perfect. It's just big enough for [New Fish] to have half!" It melted my heart that "perfect" means big enough to share with her little sister. The best gifts we can give are the ones that share a little bit of ourselves. Watching these two sweet girls be sisters is one of the greatest joys of my life.

After School Hugs

When Red Fish comes out of school, New Fish is waiting for her.  How cute is that?

"Take A Picture Mom! We Are Being Cute."

Tap Shoes

 New Fish and I have been tap dancing in the family room.  I am definitely not a gifted dancer but we have been having a lot of time.

We watched Singing In The Rain for family movie night and the girls tapped through the whole thing.  I've been trying to make a list of all of the great movies we should watch with our kids.  Any suggestions?

My Favorite Thing

For New Fish's fifth birthday, Red Fish asked me to bring her to school to eat lunch with the first graders in the cafeteria.  I thought it was the sweetest thing that Red Fish wanted to take her on a "lunch date." We bought lunch together and they wore matching outfits with unicorn tshirts.  New Fish could not have been more thrilled. It was a perfect little birthday celebration.

 After Red Fish's soccer game we had cupcakes.

Sweet Sisters

It was suspiciously quiet upstairs so I went to investigate.  I found them tucked into Red Fish's bed, reading to each other.  These two were definitely meant to be sisters.  They are generally so sweet and good to each other.  They have a special bond and they love each other so much.  I love watching them be sisters.

A Good Weekend

 We had been looking forward to a weekend of boating at the Lake House but the boat didn't cooperate with our plans.  The weekend became a string of swimming, hiking, making homemade ice cream, barbecuing, watching movies, long walks and making friendship bracelets out of embroidery thread. That is not a bad way to spend a weekend.

Meant To Be Sisters

The girls both have their own room.  They don't need to share a bed. There have been many nights over the last 4+ years that I have found these two mysteriously together in the morning. (Right before this photo they both had an arm around each other but they moved right as I tried to take a picture.) There is no doubt in my mind that these two were meant to be sisters.  They needed each other. They wouldn't be the same people without each other. How lucky am I to be along for the ride?

Easter

 Easter Sunday was a blur of church, family, dinner and Easter eggs.

Nutcracker

The girls in their Christmas dresses paired with snow boots because it has been snowing like crazy around here.

 Today I was riding in the front seat of the car listening to my girls discuss all of the reasons it is great to have a sister to love you and take care of you.  I cried, quietly so they wouldn't stop talking.  I'm getting more emotional the older I get and I was a crybaby from the beginning.  In moments like that my cup runneth over.  Seeing how much they love each other (even though they drive each other crazy a good deal of the time) brings me so much joy.  I think the conversation might have been inspired by seeing the movie Frozen this weekend but their list of reasons included things like a good sister will make sure you get a new nightlight for Christmas because the light-bulb in your other night light just burned out.  A good sister will help you get your snow boots on when the zipper is stuck. A good sister will hold your hand even if you are made of ice.

We went to the Nutcracker matinee performance downtown.  New Fish was in complete heaven the whole time and Red Fish liked the show but doesn't enjoy having to be quiet for two hours.  I kind of knew ahead of time that New Fish would like it more than Red Fish because she is more interested in ballet in general.

 My parents came with us.  They have sat through the Nutcracker hundreds of time but this was probably one of the first times they sat in the audience.  Two Fish is a very sweet Dad to his daughters and doesn't complain (often) about doing things with his girls like seeing Frozen and the Nutcracker in one weekend.  After the show we stopped by the mall and saw Santa Claus.  New Fish is all about Santa Claus and Red Fish is suspicious but happy to believe.  Red Fish was a bit dubious about Santa's explanation about how he gets around the world in one night but decided it was acceptable for now.  It's fun to be in this stage of belief and magic.  I will take it for as long as it lasts.  There are no pictures with Santa because they were charging an average of $30 and I refuse to spend that much on a snapshot with Santa.

Snapped on my Dad's cell phone.

When I was little I got to sit near the front row and watch ballets while my parents played in the pit.  Sadly our seats weren't as good because our tickets were for the second balcony but we bought a family pack so we can see a few shows much like we have done with the symphony the last three years.  Luckily we moved down to the first balcony during intermission.  The Nutcracker is still a fun experience from far away and the girls loved the sparkly costumes.  Sparkles are always a hit with my girls.  They kept asking if they were "real humans or fake humans on the stage."  If the story is fake then why are the people real?  I'm not sure they understand the concept of being an actor or performer completely.  To them, everything is real.