The girls and I have all been so sick over the last week.  Somehow, between the stomach flu and a nasty cold, we managed to sneak in a semi-healthy trip to see the Disney Princesses on Ice.  Totally worth the trip!  They talked all week about how they were going to see princesses, and Maddie would wear her Snow White dress, and Lena would wear her Belle dress.  Once we were there and their princesses dresses were on, the girls literally sat on the edge of their seat as the show began.  They would yell to Chris and I the names of the characters as they came onto the ice..."Look, mommy and daddy! It's Ariel!"  It was a good show- even Chris enjoyed it.  Grandma Parmentar was supposed to go with us too, but she got stuck at home sick.  Lena was so wiped out from that she slept through most of the second half.  Maddie would get scared every time one of the witches came out, so she would bury her head in my chest.  They were so fun to watch.  The last picture is of me holding one of my sleeping princesses. 

While trying to sit on my lap this afternoon, Maddie started pushing on my stomach. She looked aggravated and said, "It's too big!"

 Maya and Lena

 FREEZE!

 FREEZE!

 M, L, Daddy and Coach Steve

 worn out after racing Dad

The girls started soccer classes last Monday.  They go once a week for half an hour.  We go with Maya and they all seem to love it.  Every other day they ask if we are going to play soccer.  At this age it is more about following the coaches instruction and getting some energy out than actually learning any technique.  The class stretches, has races, kicks the ball around the field, tries to kick into the net, and plays the FREEZE! game.  We'll go for the next ten weeks...until it is warm enough to play outside!

 M and L with cousin Brittian

 stealing Grandma's breakfast

 horsie rides with Richard from Uncle Dave

 kids table- best idea ever

 David's family

 Andrew's family

 favorite Christmas present of the night

 day before the stitches came out

 Aunt Steph coloring with Jalynn, Brit, and Richard

 looking at the ornaments

 best picture I could get- Maddie refused to wear pants

 story time

 two pretty fairies playing the piano and singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

 "helping" Grandma

We had such a great visit to my parents' house the day after Christmas.  I made the drive with the girls, and Chris flew in a couple days later.  Even though my dad was recovering from his knee surgery M and L were able to safely give him some love.  I was pretty nervous about how they wild they would be around him, but they did really well.  I told them about 100 times before we went to Illinois that Grandpa had a big boo boo, and we had to be super careful.  They thought if we took him Dora band-aids that he would get all better. 

David and his family were in from Iowa, and Stephanie was down from Chicago.  It was great to have all of the family there together.  We don't get to do that too often.  My mom cooked up some fantastic meals.  I seriously have never seen the girls eat so good.  Apparently I need to be asking her for some of her recipes.  They asked for seconds on most occasions which is rare- unless it is fruit or dessert.  The kids helped Grandma do some cooking and cleaning, too.

We also opened presents for one last round of Christmas.  Poor M and L, when we got back to New Albany they were looking under our tree again to see what was next to open.  I know they thought Christmas would go on forever.

Dad turned 60 two days after Christmas.  He is officially as old as my mom.  Her 60th was in September, and he tells her almost every day between their birthdays that he is younger.  Stephanie and I were sent to pick up his birthday cake.  The shop was closed, so we had to settle for one from the bakery at the local Kroger.  Some hilbily wrote on it for us (he didn't work in the bakery, I think maybe he was just cleaning in that area).  It was supposed to say "Happy 60th Good Lookin'"- at my dad's request.  Somehow it ended up saying "Hoppy 60th Good Lookn."  Classic.  At least it tasted good.  Hopefully the candles on it still produced a good birthday wish.