More December pictures....

The girls made their annual gingerbread house. Liza thought it was great. Sam is pleased about the additions to his diet that come about every year at this time. And the girls have taken to snuggling up together every night. This has solved their scared of the dark problems.

1st Day of Winter

We had record high temps so the kids enjoyed a dip in the pool. They keep asking if we can do it again.

Thanksgiving 2010

We decided to go traditional with our Thanksgiving celebration this year....Americans and Indians. We had turkey, leg of lamb, stuffing, hummus. Almas and her father came over. It was his first American Thanksgiving. It was all about good food, good friends,and great memories [Almas and I can insert our own jokes here.] By the end of the night someone had even lost their pants, don't worry Ryan it wasn't you.

Halloween 2010

So Ryan's favorite holiday has come and gone. The girls actually cried when we took the Halloween decorations down. Isabel had to run and give Headless Harry one last hug. They had fun trick-or-treating with the neighbors. Ryan of course dressed up and scared the daylights out of those brave enough to come to our door. He has perfected the lights, music, and fog for maximum scare potential. Liza was Tinkerbelle and insisted on wearing Isabel's rain booots. Isabel picked out a 50's costume but on Halloween she decided she needed to be scary so she added a broom and witch's hat. She said she was a 50's witch which she explained to us was a witch who was born in the 50's. No explanation needed for me, I used to work for one of those.

The Boo-Boo

Last night Liza climbs into bed as usual and babbles away to her stuffed friends. Then at midnight I hear her screaming, which is very odd because she really likes sleeping (at night, naps are evil). After multiple trips to her room she finally tells me, "my tummy has a boo-boo." Just as I'm thinking, "aaahhh, what a cute and creative way to tell me she".......we entered into the most vile and disgusting hour of our collective existence.

Round one left me standing in a hazardous waste zone wondering why my mother wasn't on her way to clean this up. Then it hit me OMG I am the mother, I have to clean this up. Liza found herself floating in a bath not entirely composed of liquids while I disinfected the bathroom, mopped the hallway, scrubbed the carpet, and stripped the bedding.

Round two and more clean bedding is finding its way onto her bed along with more scrubbing of the carpet (I love how her room is one of only 3 rooms in the whole house with carpet.)

Round three-all the stuffed animals must have ducked in unison because amazingly not a single one of the 43 who reside on her bed was harmed (or splattered.)

Round four-what a smart kid, she's learned that nastiness should happen in the bathroom. Although a loud battle where she repeatedly and emphatically states, "potty, pee-pee, poo-poo" wakes her sister who wisely chooses to stay out of the matter.

Round five-here's your chance to use your potty, Ms. Stubborn. Oh and she learned a new word in the process, "diarina." Not to be confused with the fun and pretty (and far more hygienic) ballerina.

And she still woke up happy as a clam in the morning. Me, I'm just glad the washer has a sanitary setting, although I wonder if 3 hours, scalding hot water, and industrial strength detergent will be sufficient.

*No pictures will acompany this post*

Boo!

Its that time again. I came home one day to find all of our Halloween decorations out and the neighbor's 3 year old dressed like a witch, riding a broom through our kitchen. The girls love to show off their haunted house.

We've been busy watching football, cooking soup, and decorating the house for fall. Even though it still feels like summer. The girls love the Halloween decorations and invite the neighbors over to play haunted house. I'll have to take some pictures of all the monsters that have invaded.

1/6 of the school year is over....not that I'm counting or anything. Liza is doing well at her preschool, after a few trips to time out. She is on her way with potty training and very much has an I'll do it myself attitude. Isabel is navigating 1st grade and still going to dance class. She really wants to start gymnastics but we have to find more time in our schedule for that.