Jolie learning how to sit.

 Playing a classic with Grandma P after Thanksgiving dinner.

 Dad wiped out after working Black Friday and Saturday.

 Our elf, George.  He flies to the North Pole every night when we go to sleep, and tells Santa if the girls were good or bad that day.  He sits in a different place each time he comes back.  We have to find him every morning.  Santa told him he couldn't talk to us, but we talk to him.  M and L think he is so cool.

 All the kids in the car.

Watching the trash man.

M and L had a Thanksgiving Feast at preschool.  The parents were invited to come back early and join the celebration.  It was great for a couple reasons- I didn't have to feed them lunch, and I didn't even take any of the food.  Maddie had pink eye on the day the sign up sheet was out.  Our neighbor (whose daughter also attends Central College) picked Lena up for me.  So I got off really easy that day!  The girls made their place mats, beaded a necklace, and made their smocks for the feast.

Thanksgiving at our house this year was relaxing and casual.  Grandpa and Grandma P came down for the holiday.  We tried to watch the parade with the girls, but they weren't interested anymore by the time the floats came on tv.  The first hour of Broadway wore them out.  Next year we'll wait a while before turning it on.  Grandma P and I did the cooking mostly while the kids were napping, so it was a relatively easy day in the kitchen.  No one even left the house that day.  We just hung out and enjoyed each others company.

I'm so aggravated... for a few reasons.  First of all, my iPhone stopped working today.  I took it to the Apple store, and they replaced it with no questions.  However, I lost all of the pictures I took over the weekend with my family in Illinois.  Ugh.  We basically went just to visit, but we ended up at a wedding (and I have- wait- had some good pics) of a family friend.  M and L labeled it the "best wedding ever."  It was SO kid friendly- face painting, games, clowns making balloon animals, a macaroni bar, the whole works.  They were so excited all day and so pumped the entire reception that they were completely exhausted by the end of the night.  They didn't even argue when it was time to leave.  They (all 3 girls) fell asleep immediately in the car.  We also hung out with my brother, my sis, and her boyfriend the whole trip.  It was such a good, relaxing weekend.  We visited with my Uncle Danny as well.  The girls know him as "Uncle Danny- the one with the licorice!"  He played videos for them online and fed them candy- they love him.   We wanted to squeeze in one last visit before Grandpa has his second knee replacement next week.  Grandma is pretty much tied to the house for a couple weeks then too to be his care taker.  M and L became especially attached to my mom this time.  She got up to go to work Monday morning, and Maddie started bawling.  "Don't go to work, Grandma, don't go!" she wailed.  We had a great time to say the least.

So, my other aggravation is that I took Jolie to her six month check up, and it was a mess.  The appointment took almost an hour and a half!  I have no idea why.  The nurse ended up walking off with her chart that I keep with all her stats.  I was so ready to get out of there I didn't even notice until I got home.  And I was not going back!  I'm pretty sure she weighed around 16 pounds, but beyond that I can't remember.  I know she is in the 90% for height and 50-75% for weight and head circumference.  I'll post exact numbers when I get my butt in there to pick up her chart.

I have had to try to explain death (quite unsuccessfully) to the girls on multiple occasions lately.  It was interesting, and I think they are more confused than ever.  1. Harry the fish died, and 2. we came across a dead bug.  I told Maddie her fish stopped taking breaths and that he went to Heaven to live with God.  She asked why, and I said that God loved Harry.  I found her later with the plunger trying to get him back out of the toilet.  Lena was afraid the dead bug was going to bite her.  I said, "Oh, don't worry, honey.  That bug is gone."  She looked at me with the most innocent eyes and said, " No it's not, mommy.  It's right here!"  This is clearly not my strongest area.

We took advantage of what will probably be one of our last warm fall days.  After preschool we ran to the grocery, scooped up some sandwiches, and went for a picnic and play time at Blendon Woods. 

Maddie's special day was Tuesday.  She was so excited after having to wait an entire week since Lena had her day.  It was brutal for her- not getting to go first.  But she made it, and she was ecstatic that morning.  She took fruit snacks ("You know, Mom.  Like the ones Lena got to take.").  She had an awesome day of being the leader, standing in the middle in muscles class, and wearing her star sticker.  Her poster told her classmates that she loves candy, princesses, riding her scooter, and her family (including Maxer).  She took Pooh for show and tell- of course.  It is so cute how she still totes that guy around.  I am waiting for his head to pop off one day.  She always carries him how she is in the picture. 

Already best buds.

 This is the class' coat of arms.  Each students chose three photos from hundreds that were provided that represented things they like or like to do.  Maddie chose an apple and the other two pictures were glued on backwards, so we couldn't see them.  Classic.  Lena chose a picture of a play kitchen, shoes, and another toy.

 The girls made themselves.  They are working on the "process" of projects rather than the finished product.

 They are learning lots of sign language.  In fact, they are teaching Chris and I quite a bit!

At the end of the open house everyone headed to the gymnasium (where we take muscles class M and L said) where there was a slide show of different class activities from the year.  There were refreshments, crafts, and family pictures being taken.

The girls had an open house at school last night.  They were able to show Grandma P and I around their classroom and gym.  They showed off quite a bit of artwork, and I met a few of their friends (again).  Chris got stuck at work- boo.  I know he hates missing stuff like this.  Before grandma went home we finished of the evening with a fancy dinner at Taco Bell.  We let the twins choose.

One of my little helpers

Today was Lena's Special Day at school.  The teachers recognize one kid per class instead of celebrating birthdays.  She was the leader, brought the snack (fruit snacks- her choice), passed out the snack, made a poster about herself, and brought an item for show and tell.  The poster told about her family (including Max), what she likes to draw (horses??), what she likes to read about (princesses), her birthday (August fif- as she says), and her favorite picture (one of her kissing Jolie).  She brought her bear Brownie that she made with Aunt Steph at Build A Bear for her birthday this summer.  She was a grouch when I picked them up, so she hasn't told me much about her day.  She sure was excited about it this morning when I dropped her off though.  She has been rubbing it in to Maddie since yesterday that it was only her special day!

 Practicing the princess wave

 Drinking the witches brew (green Kool Aid with gummy worms- the kids loved it)

 A few of the cul de sac kids

Our awesome neighbors Don and Michelle

Trick or Treating this year was lots of fun.  The girls immediately found Zoe, and we tagged along with her and her mom.  We hit maybe 10-15 houses before the girls were cold and could barely carry their buckets of candy.  M, L and I came back by the house to scoop up dad and Jolie.  We went over to our subdivision's gathering space, and we had hot dogs and apple cider with neighbors.  I bought the same amount of candy this year as I have every other year, but we ran out half way through the night!  Needless to say, there was an awesome turn.