Christmas Eve

On Thursday night, we went to see Tangled with the girls. It was the second movie we have taken them both to. We saw Toy Story 3 over the summer. My parents went with us and it was really fun. I'm a little concerned because Red Fish keeps talking about haircuts especially after seeing Rapunzel's hair cut off. Blue Fish recently had a haircut and so did Two Fish and it seems to have made an impression. I've hidden all of the scissors in the house.

After the movie, New Fish didn't seem to be feeling great and she got a fever. I took her to the doctor on Friday morning while Two Fish spent some time with his Mom and Red Fish. New Fish screamed like I have never heard her scream before and it turns out she is getting molars (which is weird since she only has 4 teeth total) and has a particularly nasty ear infection. The anti-biotics make her sick and turn her into a human explosive so she didn't have the best Christmas ever.

Doesn't he look thrilled?

This year we went over to Grandma and Bockum's for Christmas Eve. We had dinner, sang Christmas carols and opened a few gifts. I just helped Bockum publish his life history so he handed out copies to everyone. New Fish enetertained herself by picking up everyone's wrapping paper and collecting them in a big bag. It was really nice to have everyone together for Christmas eve this year. Now that we are all married it makes the holidays more complicated.

M.E. and Doo

We read the Christmas story and talked about everyone's Christmas traditions.

J, Lee Lee, and Mimi

By the time we put on the girl's jammies, New Fish was not a happy girl but they both fell asleep in the car on the way home and we just carried them up to bed.

This is my favorite part of Christmas right now. I LOVE being Santa. I went completely overboard this year and bought way too many presents but I think the girls love everthing they got. The left side is New Fish, the middle is full of things to share and the right side is Red Fish. Santa doesn't wrap in our house because I think it is way more fun to set up a little display of their toys. New Fish got a steering wheel, a huge box of foam stickers, dinosaurs, books, bath towells (so hopefully we can stop fighting over the dog towell that Grandma made) a puzzle and wood blocks.

They both got some musical instruments, and dress up clothes. I must insert that I love the dollar store and Halloween clearance aisle for dress ups. They got princess dresses and gloves and necklaces. I made them boas but those haven't gone over well. They also got some of the world's coolest popup books. If you have never seen of David Carter's books, you really need to see one. I'm not sure I can let the girls touch them because they are so beautiful.

Red Fish got bath towells, a whole bunch of animals and dinosaurs, a small dollhouse, books, puzzles, a bee flashlight, a small stuffed bee, and the all important bee game. She also got some new shoes and slippers.

Extravaganza

Yesterday, Lovely L and Miss C came from California to visit. We wanted to have an art play date and let the girls get to know each other a little bit better. It was the first time Lovely L has met New Fish and New Fish was immediately in love with her. (I think it stems from a shared love of accessories!)

We made some handprint ornaments out of sculpy. It went much better than last year's attempt at ornaments.

New Fish's painting

The girls did some paintings and had a bath.

We wish Lovely L and Miss C could come over all the time! Two hours a year just isn't enough! It was so fun to see them though. Miss C is getting so big. She was born almost between my little girls and I hope the three of them can be great friends.

After Miss C left to get a nap and New Fish went down for a nap, Red Fish was determined to keep creating. She got out all of the collage materials and started gluing. Then she got out the some mask templates and made herself a mask fitting for the mardi gras.

Then Lovely N and Miss A stopped by and the artistic flurry just kept going.

They colored some masks and chased each other all over the house.

Then the three girls spent the rest of the afternoon playing with salt dough.

And of course- the girls had to work on their ornaments with some more paint and a little glitter. We will insert pictures of them into the little frames when they are dry.

The creating didn't end until well after dinnertime. There was coloring and drawing galore. My house may not recover but the girls had a fabulous day!

Family Photos

Merry Christmas!

A Few Cute Things

There is way too much to write about everything we've been doing. I've had several blogs started that I haven't been able to finish. So here are a random smattering of pictures and things that I've wanted to blog about. Just a download of my brain.

We've been doing all things Christmas like. We've listened to music, watched all of the classic movies, wrapped all of the presents and made decorations galore. On Friday, Two Fish took me to see Irving Berlin's White Christmas. I LOVED it. My face hurt from smiling so much. The tap dancing, the music, and the costumes were all fabulous. I even loved the giant cheesy Christmas ball gowns at the end. It was so fun.

Baking cookies with Great Grandma.

Dancing with Great Grandma.

When I was a little kid, Santa used to ride a fire engine to all of the school bus stops and give us each a bag with candy and an orange in it. It was awesome. Holidays in small towns are the best. Now that our town is not nearly as small Santa can't come to each neighborhood anymore. This year they started a new Christmas festival and we got to go to a local mall to see Santa ride in on an engine and greet each of the kids. We didn't get the goodie bags because we didn't want to wait in line but Red Fish did get to hug Santa and remind him that she wants a bumble bee and some meat for Christmas. (Little weirdo.)

Red Fish has been begging to go see "the cute dinos" so we went to the Dinosaur museum. It's the first time New Fish has wanted out of her stroller and really gotten into visiting the museum. It was fun. Two Fish came and met us after work and we got some dinner at the deli. Then we saw some live reindeer. It was a fabulous night.

Red Fish learned to play Shoots & Ladders and Candy Land this week and she is completely addicted. She tries to convince everyone to play with her. Tonight she had "Pop Pops" play both with her. Santa is bringing Red Fish a bumble bee game that I'm pretty sure she is going to go crazy over.

"MeMine" and the girls.

We tried stamping on construction paper to use as wrapping paper yesterday. It turned more into a very messy finger painting session but the girls had a blast.

I keep wanting to blog about all of the babies we've been able to meet lately. My sister in law L got a new baby and we've had two good friends have babies. There is nothing better than seeing these little miracles come into families that have been waiting for them. The girls have loved meeting the new babies. Some of these pictures are from back on Thanksgiving.

Red Fish meeting Cousin P.

Meeting Cousin P. New Fish was MAD as could be at Uncle J for changing cousin P's diaper because he kept crying and she was convinced he was hurt. She is very protective over babies.

Here is New Fish loving on M&A's new baby. Red Fish has nicknamed him "Elmo."

The Invisibles

Our house seems to be under attack from invisible people. Yesterday, Red Fish couldn't go in her room to get her shoes because "a scary guy" was in there and he had her shoes. I had to yell at "scary guy" several times and tell him to "Get out!" before Red Fish could go in her room. Then today a "bad kid" was messing with the toys Red Fish was playing with and after she tattled on him several times, I had to get after "bad kid." Mysterious things are happening around here...

Two Fish's Birthday

For Two Fish's big 31 we stayed overnight in a mountain resort with some friends, M&B. I was teaching scuba across the street Friday night and Saturday morning so Two Fish got to just hang out and relax. After a fun breakfast out we did a little bit of shopping for Two Fish's birthday and headed home. Two Fish's Mom stayed with the girls and then we had a babysitter come in the morning. I missed the girls but enjoyed some time with the hubs. Plus we got some really nice hugs when we got home. Then we had dinner with my parents and siblings. It was a good weekend all around.

Random Bits Of Life

The other day we made puppets with friends. Rather Red Fish made a puppet and I made one for New Fish.

Little did I know that they were killer death puppets that eat faces and fingers.

Two Fish and I were under attack for days.

Red Fish gave New Fish lessons on how to properly twirl in a flippy skirt. New Fish was having trouble keeping her balance but she enjoyed the tutorial.

This is Red Fish's favorite skirt right now.

Red Fish wanted to put Blue Fish to bed the other night. She did an excellent job rocking her and reading her a story. I love that New Fish looks almost as big as her sister when she is sitting on her lap.

And a picture Two FIsh took of us girls watching a movie.

I swear, everyday life is just cuter with these two girls around.

Helpful

Today New Fish was hollering to be let out of her highchair.

Red Fish: "Mommy baby need help."

One Fish: "I know, I will help her in just a second."

Red Fish: Running and screaming. "BABY I COMING! I HELP YOU! I BRING YOU COOKIE!!!"

Apparently it was a cookie emergency.

Holiday Handprints

Red Fish

New Fish

I think Red Fish is officially obsessed with handprint art. New Fish likes having her hand painted over and over as well. We made a few wall hangings to add to our Christmas decorations and then the girls made about a dozen more pictures on paper. I think we are going to have to make some sort of handprint artwork for every holiday for a long time. The red spots are fingerprints.

Sunday Morning

Dog pile

I've totally become that mom that insists on dressing her kids for every holiday. They had several Halloween outfits, thanksgiving hair bows and they are well stocked for the Christmas season.

Red Fish is wearing a dress my Mom made me when I was three. It's too short for her because she is taller than I was but she looked cute.

I think it's funny that people keep asking for more pictures of my hair. This morning I had a flock of seagulls kind of 'do.