Christmas card photo shoot

Lazy weekend

Skype-ing with Uncle Zach

The girls' first "fort"

I think Maddie is trying to bite Lena in this picture.

Nap time

I messed up today. Chris and I wanted to run a few errands this morning, so while we were out, we took the girls to play at the mall play area. They love it!! They run around and laugh the entire time. Well, this threw us off of the girls' schedule a bit, so we didn't get them down for their naps until about an hour after they usually go down. They also fell asleep in the car for about 20 minutes, so they got a little power nap in. They played- and cried- in their cribs for almost two hours before they finally fell asleep! I was just about to go in and get them out, and it finally quieted down. I went in to check on them, and Lena was wearing no socks, pants, or diaper. We heard them giggling for a long period of time...I wonder if this is what they were laughing about? I had to run back out of the room, because I couldn't help but bust out laughing myself! After I took this picture, I somehow managed to get her diaper back on (it was a pretty bad job, but hey, better than nothing!). What a little stinker!

Best presents ever!

It is a Christmas miracle that our tree is still standing. When I came home from Chicago Chris had put it up and decorated it (well, decorated the top half of it anyway). M and L are so interested in trying to reach the few balls that are on the top, you often see the tree swaying. Clearly it is a fake tree, and it is really light weight. I don't think it would be a hazard if it did tumble down- even so, not something I would like to see happen. Chris and I usually wait until the kids go to bed to plug it in, because when the lights are on, that brings the challenge to a whole new level. Oh well, at least we can enjoy it in the evenings!

Winter Wonderland

The guy taking pictures kept asking if I would like a retake, but I said "No, thanks. This one's a keeper!"

Maddie with her Dora cup before we left the house. She barely even drinks out of it, because she is so busy looking at Dora's picture on the outside.

Miss Maya watching the puppet show.

Lena dancing to the Christmas carols while sitting on my lap.

Maddie is the one in the brown turning around to make sure I haven't moved. She got down off of my lap when the singing started. She had to get up close, so she could bust a move.

Tim with his little girl, Sophie. Maya is buddies with Tim, so Katy watched the boys while Tim kept an eye on the ladies.

Maddie "coloring." Both M and L were just stealing crayons off the coloring table. Lena ate an orange one. She was not happy when I took the last bit of it away before she could polish it off.

Katy's boys Jack and Adam love trains! Maddie is trying to join in with the big kids.

Katy and Maya

Both of the girls are in motion here...notice they are headed in opposite directions. I am surprised I got any pictures, since I spent most of the morning chasing one of them. This was a "Winter Wonderland" at a nearby senior center. It was probably better for older kids, but I decided to take the girls anyway. It went ok, but we had to leave our stroller at the door. I had a quick moment of panic before I thought we could give it a shot. I think they reacted pretty typically for their first time out of the stroller in public- they tried to get into everything possible! There were at least six Christmas trees in this place, and M and L found and tried to dismantle every one of them.

Adam and Jack still checking out the trains!

Christmas at the Parmentar's

Spoon? What's that?

Oooohhhh...pretty color!

The wrong end of it makes a good chew toy.

I showed them both how to use their spoons, but clearly Lena didn't have the patience for it!