Christmas Pictures SUCCESS!

Ahhhh the sweet smell of success. After the first failed attempt, I was more determined than ever to get it right. Not just get a good picture, but get "the picture". The girls were in quite the mood.

"Jillian, Jillian, please go stand by the tree."

"No Mommy, no WAY!"

"Jillian please, do mommy this favor and go stand by the tree."

"Katie, please put barbie down and go stand by the tree."

"Katie, do not take your belt off."

"Jillian can you smile for mommy?"

(((Silence)))

Me praying silently "Lord help me and give me patience."

"Jillian please stand right here for mommy."

"Katie quit hiding behind the tree!"

Yeah, this went on for about 30 minutes. Fun times with toddlers! But in the end I finally got the photo for our Christmas cards and ordered them just in the nick of time! The first three photos are on the Christmas card.

Here are some goofy ones, cute but nonetheless they did NOT make the cut. :)

Notice all the ornaments on ONE branch? The girls love to re-decorate the tree for me. So thoughtful!

Christmas Pictures Attempt #1

I say "Attempt #1" because every parent knows there are multiple attempts at the perfect Christmas card photo. My kids are no different. Just when I get them in the same shot....one sees my glee and takes off running. It's like a toddler sixth sense.

The first attempt I loaded the girls up and went to Crown Center here in KC. We met Holly and Aubrey at the center and quickly scouted out a great location. A big beautiful tree in a quiet hotel lobby. Literally 5 minutes after we arrived, hordes of other children and their camera-toting parents showed up. Great. Well, I adjusted my camera and went to work. What I didn't realize until we got home was that my shutter speed was set too high for the dim light. So, out of 207 pictures, maybe 10 were not blurry. FANTASTIC. I do believe steam came out of my ears that afternoon. Failed attempt #1

After pictures, we decided to stop into Fritz's and have lunch. Fritz's is a Kansas City original. It is a train themed hamburger restaurant. There are trains that circle the dining area and even deliver your food. CHUGGA CHUGGA CHOOOO CHOOOOO!

Further Hobo Proof

Seriously kids. Really? Plastic snack bag shoes? Hmmmm these crackers taste like FEET!

Early Training

While I was out of town last weekend Jason began teaching the girls clean up techniques. Specifically, the clean up song. They have been singing and picking up their toys before lunch and dinner. This keeps the common areas of the house fairly clutter free. Nothing says "love" like stepping on a rogue wooden block. OUCHIE!

Jillian isn't much of a cleaner. In fact, I am pretty sure we will have to wade through her room when she is a teenager. Katelyn on the other hand is very OCD. Just like her mommy. She likes to clean "her way" and is very eager to help out. She may enjoy helping now, but I am pretty sure she will be rolling her eyes and sighing heavily in a few years.

Now if I can get them to help me sort, fold, and put away the laundry......

Mommy's little Hobo's

Pretty sure I am raising hobo's. I was cooking dinner the other night when a fight erupted in the living room. Could they be fighting over a toy? a book? No. My children were fighting over a sippy cup in a boot. Hobo style. Girls, you sure know how to make mommy proud!

First measurable snow!

So earlier this week we got about 2 inches of snow. I waited a couple of days for the temps to get out of the 10's to turn the girls loose outside. They would have stayed outside for hours if I had let them. It was a kicking screaming fight to get them back inside. Kate was happy to run through the snow and scream "SNOW!" Jillian is more hands on. She liked to pick it off the bushes and feel it in her hands. Pretty sure she is going to be the first to peg her sister with a snowball. Good times....

Jillian

Katelyn

It's beginning to feel like Christmas

This year we decided to make a big whoop de doo about decorating the Christmas tree. We are hoping to take some of the mystery out of the tree. That way the girls are less likely to mess with the tree. Sounds logical right? Not with our kids.

So early last week, I pulled out all the decorations and began to go through them. I turned my head momentarily and heard a 'crunch'. Hmmm that didn't sound good. There is Jill holding a fake apple from the wreath. Apparently the apple is so realistic that she decided to try it out. Certainly not as yummy as the real thing.

Later that evening, we turned on the Christmas music and began to decorate the tree. The girls did better than I expected in hanging the ornaments. To be on the safe side though, we hung all the glass ones at top and the plastic ones at the bottom. They will occasionally re-arrange the ornaments, but that is just an annoyance. Now if I started finding ornaments all over the house, we would have some issues.

Here's to a beautiful Christmas!

The girls enjoying some milk and homemade gingerbread cookies!

SUPER BUNNY!

On a recent episode of Max and Ruby, Max puts his cape on and yells "SUPER BUNNY!"

Both of the girls immediately wanted their own capes and to run around the house yelling, "SUPER BUNNY!"

Thanksgiving

This year we packed up the car and headed to Grammy and Boots house in Honey Grove, TX for Thanksgiving. It was a great 8 hour drive. The kids were fairly good the whole way. Thank goodness for the DVD player. :)

Sam, the sweetest and biggest dog ever!

Grandpa Boots, Sam, and Kate

Cousin Eli

Anita, Shelly, and Max

Anita running with the kids.

Jason giving the kids a scooter ride.

Jason and Great GranDovie Shaw

Eli pulling Jillian to the park