Christmas Party

We had our work "family" Christmas Party the Saturday that Victoria was with us, which was a double blessing.  One-on-one defense is so much easier.

We went to the bounce houses first, but those don't really keep their attention for more than 20 minutes or so these days.  They wanted to go do the arts and crafts, so they did some stickers and made a necklace.

Then we had some cookies.

They wanted nothing to do with visiting Santa, but they were all over the ice skating.  We tried talking them out of it because there was a long line to get skates.  But they wouldn't hear it.  So we all got skates on (and Julie dropped a skate on my socked foot), except Victoria because she didn't have socks on.  It worked out best that way, though, so that Greg and I could take the girls one at a time.

It's been years since I've been on skates, so I was a bit wobbly to begin with.  Plus, it's a lot harder to skate slow than it is to skate fast.  Add in somebody trying to pull you down, and it was back-breaking. They actually had these plastic "trainers" that looked kind of like plastic high chairs (you can see part of a blue and red one in the picture of Greg and Julie below), but there were never any free.  Or, we couldn't get to them fast enough.

I took Emma around a full lap, and then Becca.  About 1/4 of the way through, Becca got frustrated and started stamping/kicking her feet and managed to kick me in the shin with the back of her skate.  I was trying to get her to just stand still so I could push her, but she kept moving her feet.  About 3/4 of the way around, Becca decided she could skate on her own, and insisted on letting going of my hands.  She didn't even make it a full step before she was on the ice and crying.  Poor girl.  But she did take my hands back and made it the rest of the way around.  That was about all this mama's back (and arches) could take.

After ice skating, we headed out to the park just outside, because it was like a 70 degree December day.

Everything's better with pink cowgirl boots.  Actually, these are over a year old now, and probably too small now, but the pink Target ones this season weren't as pretty.

This was a new challenge for them.  Of course Emma tried willed her way through it first.

Julie in cowgirl boots, too.

I'm pretty sure they took a good nap after lunch.

The Big Christmas House

Aunt Victoria came to visit us earlier in December, and because we know how to show our guests a good time, we took her up the street to see The Big Christmas House.

Love this one of all of them.

Aunt Toria, part 2

We took Victoria to the "red bowl house" for dinner on Saturday.  (Hm, we've been there a lot lately.)  We'd been thinking of going to the mall for a train ride, but the girls hadn't had a nap, so I was afraid they would fall asleep on the car ride over there.  Plus, it was really nice outside, so instead, we went across the street to a shopping center that's got outdoor concerts on the summer weekends.

The music was billed as "jazz," but it wasn't what I'd call "jazzy jazz."  It was kind of an "easy listening jazz."  Kind of hard to dance to.

But they took that as a personal challenge.

Julie has the drama thing down.

I'm really not sure how head stands fit in.

A little headstand/breakdancing action.  And yes, I try to get my kids to wear shorts.  But they choose dresses and skirts at any chance they get.

We got some ice cream, too.  Emma has been all about the mint chocolate chip lately.  A girl after her mama's heart.  Though, mama has become kind of partial to anything peanut butter lately.

Never a dull moment.

On Sunday, we got up and the girls wanted to play outside.

The lilies are blooming.  Now, the girls call all flowers "lilies."

Safety first, especially when you're kicking a big soft ball.  (And look, Emma's in that black and white striped dress AGAIN.)

Julie playing catch with Aunt Victoria.

Aunt Toria

Aunt Victoria was in town the weekend before last for work, and managed to extend her stay so she could come see us.  The girls were so excited all week.  They kept asking, "Is Aunt Toria coming this day?"

We got her up bright and early on Saturday, and headed for the park and the zoo.  It was supposed to be mostly overcast and cool, but of course by the time we got to the park, the sun was blazing.

At the park, we ran into a girl that goes to daycare with them.  I feel like we've been here long enough now that it isn't unusual for us to run in to people we know all over town.  (I know I cannot go to Costco on the weekend without running into at least one person from work.)  But I think it's so funny now that the girls are starting to do the same thing.  This isn't the first time we've been somewhere that they've known someone.

We finally talked them into going to the zoo.  It was Hot Dog Day at the zoo, meaning 50 cent soda, hot dogs, chips, ice cream, so it was busy, but not too bad.

Poor Victoria, trying to hold Emma and Becca at the same time!

J, R, E

Family shot on the bear.

This still makes me giggle.  The turtles were on this valve in the pond, and Julie says, "I see the turtle driver!"

Talking to Grandma on Aunt Toria's phone.

Ice cream sandwiches.  And sisters.

Emma...

...getting...

...every...

...last...

 ...bit...

of her ice cream sandwich.

Rehearsal

Finally getting back to these pics from the rehearsal dinner.

We got our toes painted for the first time.

Practice with a little prodding.

Such pretty light.

And of course running ensued.  One scraped knee to show for it.

 We went out for a nice dinner.  Perhaps too nice for my girls.  Too many glasses on the table in close proximity to each other.  And, you know, cloth napkins.

That's about all I got before it got too dark.  The girls, particularly Becca, had a hard time staying in their seats.  At first I thought they were just being difficult, but Becca had a valid point about it being too loud.  I think her exact complaint was that "too many people are talking."  :)  Luckily, we had family there, particularly Dan and Victoria who had more than their fair share of triplet duty, to take turns hiding in the other room with the girls.

A funny story ... Becca had to go to the bathroom, and I can't remember if it was my mom or Victoria who took her, but for some reason they went downstairs into the regular restaurant part (we were in a room upstairs).  There was a small band playing ... 1 or 2 people?  The girls were enamored when we first went past on the way in.  In fact, I think Becca wanted to go downstairs explicitly to hear the music.  Anyhow, apparently one of the guys in the band gave her a little egg shaker and let her "play with the band" for a minute or two.  I wish I had seen it.  :)  I guess we need to add some live music to our summer itinerary.

The Grandmas and the Papas

Our trip up for my brother's wedding was a bit of a whirlwind.  We drove up last Wednesday.  Greg's parents also drove down, so for Thursday, the girls had quite the audience for their antics.

First, the girls got Papa G to build a stool for them for the bathroom.

Then, Papa set up an Easter egg hunt for them had trouble finding all of the eggs that the Easter bunny hid, and the girls are nothing if not helpful.

The weather was a little dodgy - periodic short little rain showers, so we were inside and back out all day long.  Inside, we played "memory" and helped clean up.

It did clear up for long enough to go to the park, though.  (Hm, it rained on the way there, and then it started raining again as we were leaving...)

Julie monkey

They were brave and tried out some new things that they weren't big enough for last time, like this little bridge.

They were also spider monkeys on the rope web.

Emma wasn't too sure of it though - that look of terror on her face is genuine.  She did just fine, though.

Aunt Victoria and Uncle Dan got all three girls on the tire swing.  Oh, they loved it!  Look at their hair flying!

They were so dizzy when they got off ... stumbling around.  It was pretty funny. 

Uncle Dan and Becca.  They get along a lot better now that there aren't diapers to change.  :)

I went to the Disney store while we were there, since we don't have one around here, and the girls are just flat out obsessed with Mickey Mouse Club House.  I got the girls some Minnie Mouse cars, which they loved, and raced around the house with Grandma and Papa, and then later with Uncle Dan and Aunt Victoria.  (I love these pictures Greg got from floor level.)