Crazy Hair Blues

Little and big

The littlest and biggest in the family have spent a lot of time resting and recovering this holiday season.

Monorail Fun

The guys have had some quality Lego time this morning while Claire was napping.

Holiday Party

Waiting to see Santa


Emma letting Santa know she has been good


Claire in awe


Someone met their sugar quota, and possibly went over

Claire's wish list

Bounce Crazy

A very hoppy birthday to the boy we babysit. The girls were invited to his bounce center birthday party, and they had a great time.

Baby Luge

Littlest Musician

Claire is practicing for her daddy daughter act.

Hibernatation

Some days were meant to be sleepy days.

Book Buddies

You know that moment when you realize the toddlers are too quiet, and your brain shorts out for a moment because you wonder what you will find. This happened to me and this is what I found, a blissful surprise.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Beginning to look:

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas here. I love the warm sense of a home a glow with decorations.

1st Week of Christmas Activities

1: Tree Craft: We printed this tree, and colored and pasted pom poms and star beads on the tree to decorate.
2: Playdoh menorah. (Oops a day late I didn't realize Hanukkah came so early this year!)
3:Tinsel Wreath: We will wrap tinsel around a circle to make a fancy shiny wreath!
4:Cut down the Christmas Tree
5:Ride the Polar Express

Oil Spill

While Claire was hopped up on steroids, she thought it would be a good idea to help in the kitchen. Who knew that in the time it takes a mom to go to the bathroom, a toddler can empty an entire economy jug of oil out. Oil is a tough one to clean...
So I freaked out, and then I thought well I better lay some newspaper down so that it can absorb some of the oil...

And that didn't work... It just helped spread the mess outward.

Using the power of technology and facebook a friend mentioned using salt. I couldn't imagine using that much salt so then she suggested flour. BRILLIANT! It was like making a giant batch of roux on the floor.

I have been saving this rubber bristle sweeper and I am so glad, because it was the perfect tool for the job.
The flour absorbed all the oil, and I managed to have a nice clean cabinet again.

Sick

I have fallen away from blogging, because the girls have been so sick. Emma had the worst tummy virus and couldn't keep anything down for almost a week. It was awful. There is nothing like trying to figure out how the upholstery of a car seat comes apart when it is foul, and needs to be washed. We were being defeated.

But when your down why not go all the way down and strike the baby too. Claire's virus chose not to settle in her tummy but in her respiratory system. She was having trouble breathing couldn't even tell me she wanted medicine all she could get out was med. I felt so helpless. We took her in and she is on a lovely course of steroids, and preventatives.

I wish Claire just rested and recovered, but she went on roid rampage it was crazy!

The face of plotting destruction...

And now Papa is feverish... Sigh...

New Bed

Papa built the girls a new bed. Their room lacked a main piece of furniture, and never was finished. The room was very hodge podge, and we felt it was time to work on completing a room with style for the girls.
I loved the look of the Kura bed from Ikea, but we didn't want to have to drive 3+ hours to get it. We found plans on Ana White's blog, and decided Papa could build the bed instead of buying it.



Claire has a nice little cave, and her bed is directly on the floor, so no rolling fears. It is also easy for Claire to get up and come get us if she is scared.

Emma's tower on top. She loves being able to get away from Claire, and having a place of her own in their room. I was afraid she would not take to having to climb a ladder, but she amazed me with her courage.

Cereal for Dinner

It isn't a meal I serve often for dinner, but our new schedule has changed our typical plans a bit. I asked Emma what she wanted for dinner, and she said cereal. I thought well that does sound quick and easy to me, let's do it!


I even let them pick out their cereal. Emma picked Mallow-Oats. It was a long day and it sounded good to me. I didn't even look to see how much sugar was in it, I just bought it, and served it. It was a strange feeling not censoring their diet, but it was in the health food isle so it at least wasn't completely bad. Emma loved cereal for dinner and had two bowls and a banana. Claire was like any typical kid went straight for the marshmallows, and like a completely untypical child she threw them on the floor.

New Hat

A modified version of the Sweet Baby Cap for Claire.



So cute but I think she hates it...

Bathtime Buddies

Pumpkins!

Let the pumpkin carving begin! Emma anticipated this moment for so long, it was torture to have the pumpkins sitting there so whole and bland. Every day around dinner time the questions would begin "Mom, is it pumpkin carving time yet?" "When are we going to carve the pumpkin." Finally that time arrived, and she was so excited.

Claire was a little unsure of the whole process, and looked on intently.

Pumpkins awaiting their fate.

Concentration

Some girls were deep in legos, and hard at work.


They mean business when they are building.