Christmas puzzles

The girls got a few puzzles for Christmas. It didn't take them very long to tackle these easy ones.  (I think I only helped with a few clues and maybe a couple of cues.)

The Care Bear puzzle is the one Lilly got.

This dog puzzle which has a fake gemstone on a few pieces is Sophia's.  

Well one of us got her ears pierced

Sophia was so thrilled to get her ears pierced we were the first two to show up at Claire's on Thursday morning at 10 a.m.  When we found out that there was only one employee working we decided to come back later when Sophia could have both of her ears pierced at the same time by two different people.

When we arrived back at 1:00 Sophia selected her earrings and we went through the "maintenance how-to" and then it was time!  YEA!!!  Ok, they marked her ears with purple dots to determine the location.  They loaded the earrings into the "gun" and BAM! That was it.  There was no way Sophia was going to let anyone near her ears with that thing.

We left. I decided to take her to Target and we walked around and discussed that it wasn't going to hurt very much, that she was a brave girl and could handle it, etc.  We even saw a girl in her 20s that must have had 6 piercings in each ear.

In the process I somehow threw out there that I would get my ears pierced again just to show her that it doesn't hurt.  She decided this idea would work and we headed back to Claire's. I have to admit I was a little nervous as I sat in the chair and got marked with purple dots. It actually didn't hurt very much.  Just as I suspected.  A sharp pinch, but once I put on the cooling, calming cleaning solution everything felt much better.  I only noticed it for an hour or so.  I slept fine that night and was twisting them around the next day.  No sweat!

But now I have three holes on each side!

Christmas Day was a huge success

Sophia woke me up around 6:30.  We ran downstairs with the intention of having breakfast and waiting for the rest of the crew to wake up.  Sadie didn't even join us that early.  As soon as she made it downstairs she saw the two packages that Santa had left and she commented that hers was the bigger one (on the left). Then she ran into the other room to check on her stocking to make sure it was filled to the brim with presents instead of with coal.

We didn't even have a chance to make breakfast before Lilly was up and at 'em.  Of course, both girls ran upstairs and woke Will.

The coffee was ready to go and so we gathered around the tree with the camera and let the girls open Santa's presents.

Sophia went first and opened up the exact thing that she told Santa she wanted.  A "feel better" kit for her American Doll.  It included: wheelchair, crutches, leg cast, arm cast, and a sling thing. She was overjoyed.

Lilly went next and opened up a Furby Boom.  She yelled out that it was the exact one she wanted. We put in some batteries and off the Furby went....talking up a storm and moving all around.  The supposed "best" thing about the Furby Boom is that you download an app and can link your Furby to it so you can take care of him, create a city and collect eggs to hatch called little Furlings.  Lilly loves the Furby, but no matter how hard we try we cannot get the app to recognize the animal -  I read so many bad reviews this morning that I'm really super disappointed.  I think Hasbro needs to come out with an update to the app PRONTO!

After the Santa gifts were thoroughly inspected we moved onto all the other presents.  Some were from us, some were from grandparents and some were from aunts/uncles/cousins.  They were very lucky girls.

When were all finished opening up our presents Will and I announced that we had just one more present for each girl.  This was the BIG moment.

     __Earlier in the week Lilly saw the gift that we were about to give her because I was hiding in my car....it was a Slurpee machine....  I got so mad at her for peeking that I told her I was going to take it back to the store and that she would not be opening it up on Christmas day.  She was quite upset about it.__  

Sophia was about to unwrap two pairs of earrings.  This was our way of announcing to her that she was officially allowed to get her ears pierced. She's been asking and asking for over a year now and several of her friends already have their ears pierced.  She was completely surprised and overwhelmed.  It was a great moment!

Christmas Eve

Sophia had to sing at the 5:00 church service on Christmas Eve.  We had seats right in the front because I had to drop her off at 4:00 and had the pick of the litter.  Sophia sang loud and on key, but that's what Ms. Belinda expects from the second graders.  They are the "seniors" of the Cherub Choir.  Next year she'll move up and be a "freshman" in the Carol Choir. This picture was taken at church.

After church service we went to a party with all intentions of making it to the second party that we were invited to, but we never made it.  Considering that both of them starts around 7 it would have been tight to cram them both into one night.  We were all up until about 11pm and the girls didn't even need a story.  They went right to bed so Santa would come.

Of course, I had to prepare a snack for Santa which I placed near the Christmas tree and a few minutes later I noticed that Santa Sadie Paws had eaten all the cookies and left the carrot for the reindeer.  I prepared another snack and we hit the sack.

A Year in Review

Google+ has automatically created a "year in review" for me using some of the photos that I posted to my account.  I thought you might like to take a look:

With Will's Google+ pictures he was able to create a "cheerleading" video of Sophia. I think in reality she only cheered in a single game.  She's signed up for basketball for the winter and so far she loves it. She and Will practice after school when she doesn't have her normal practice on Monday nights.  Her games start on January 4th.  From what I hear from Riley's mom, Sophia might be the second best kid on the team, but I'll be able to tell after the first game. I think Will told me she's the second tallest too.

Another December, Another Day With Temps Above 80 Degrees

Lilly's school holiday program

Lilly didn't even tell us that she was an angle in the show.  She mentioned that she was going to be in a costume, but kept it a secret that she had a "part".  She looked so cute - mostly because she in an angle. (big smile)

There was a little dance to Joy to the World and she was partnered with the kid, Thomas, standing to her right.  He didn't do any of the hand motions at all.  Lilly was left in the lurch, but she still did the entire dance...at least I think she did.  Will was standing in the back and could see her, but I was sitting up front and wasn't able to see that part.

After the show there was a brief reception in the hall and then she was immediately released from school for Christmas break. It was the Thursday before. Sophia had school through the end of the day on Friday.  Lilly's school program ended around 10:30 am and I wondered how I was going to manage to get all of my holiday shopping finished with her around.

I dragged her around for the better part of Thursday, but on Friday we went to Sophia's class party.  It was fun...and Lilly enjoyed a plate of food with the big kids.

Here's a photo of Sophia's class sitting down before they did their book exchange.  Mrs. Burke, her teacher, organized a book swap.  Everyone participated so they were able to play the game.  They sat in a circle and passed a book to the music.  When the music stopped if you were holding a book then that one was yours to keep.  Sophia was pleased with the book that she received, but some of the kids in the class were in tears.  I felt kind of bad for Kaitlyn who lives on our street and happens to be in Sophia's class. When we got home from school we were talking about it and Lilly immediately offered one of her books to give to Kaitlyn.  It's a book that she had two copies of. I was so proud of her for offering.

Sophia had a sleep-over with Kaitlyn on Friday night (the first night of Christmas break).  They had been planning it for a week.

Lilly in my sunglasses

Christmas pictures

The girls have been so well behaved this month...the Elf on the Shelf has been with us since the beginning of December and they know that if they misbehave then the Elf will tell Santa!  It's been wonderful.  I have so many fun things to blog about in the last two months.  Here's hoping that I get some time this weekend to share.

I didn't get around to taking our holiday pictures in time to send Christmas cards this year, so instead I'm sending Happy New Year cards. They will be delivered just in time to send them out for New Years.

We had the girls photographed last weekend and I simply love all the pictures. Take a look at a few of them...

They are both so excited for Christmas this year.  Especially Lilly.  She's been counting down the days for about a week and a half.

Lilly's Christmas Dress and Fancy Headband

Sophia's Girl Scout troop

I organized an ornament exchange for the girls at our last troop meeting of the year.
The girls all got a kick out of it.  

It was a "Secret Santa Sister" exchange and to my surprise all the 

girls kept their recipient a secret until it was time to exchange.  

Yummy Cupcakes

Lilly has a cookbook that she reads all the time.  There are tons of neat dessert recipes in the book that she is dying to make.  We made and decorated these cupcakes one day.  It was a lot of fun and put us in the Christmas mindset.  A great way to start the season.

Another Puzzle Completed

Sophia and I love to put puzzles together.  This is our latest accomplishment.  I think it has 100 pieces.

Thanksgiving Photos

Lilly made this outfit at school.  

The Native American name that she gave herself was Playful Pup.  

Cousin Caroline and Lilly

Lilly and Cousin Jonas

Jonas, Lilly, Caroline and Sophia

Veteran's Day Parade

Both of my Girl Scout troops walked in the Veteran's Day parade this year and we were actually on the news!  We walked a camera man videoing the parade, but never thought that we would "be famous".  Our neighbors saw us on the 5:00 news.  They recorded it for us so we got to see ourselves smiling and waving our flags. Sophia and Lilly are both in the second row of girls.  I don't think you can recognize them in this first picture.  The girl on the right side looks like she could be Sophia, but it's actually Paige from Sophia's troop.  Sophia is right behind her.  Do you like the banner (above) that I threw together the night before?

Yard Sale Crutches...

So far she's tried to fool 5 people.  

Guess how many were actually surprised?  

 

If you guess zero then you were right. Lilly didn't believe her and told Will that Sophia was faking.  Then I let Sophia use them to go over to Riley's house to ask her to play. Amy, Riley's mom wasn't fooled and neither was Riley or Taylor.

Jillian's Birthday Party

Our little neighbor girl turned 3 last weekend and the girls and I went to her party. They are nice to always invite us and we always try to go. They have a playground in their backyard that the girls usually take over. This year they also rented a bounce house for all the kids to play on...and there were a lot of kids there.

Jillian is a cute girl and Lilly loves to play with her.
 

Halloween Candy

 A VIEW FROM THE SIDE....

 

A VIEW FROM THE TOP...

Lilly's School Field Trip

Lilly's class went on a field trip to a farm just before Halloween.  I went with her as a chaperone.  WE got a tour of the farm and had a quick lesson on how to make real butter where both Lilly and I skipped trying it. Then we got a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch where each of us was allowed to pick one to take home.  I picked a really bumpy one called a blumpkin 1, for real.   Lilly finally found the perfect one.

When we got to the farm, all the kids ate lunch and then they took a class photo.  There are only 15 kids in the class and more girls than boys so I think Lilly is really lucky.

 The Class

 YUK!!!

Norah and Sydney B

 

  

The Story of Ruth

In Sunday school we're teaching the story of Naomi and Ruth this month.  The second and third graders had "story-telling" as their class last week and they did a play to act out the story.  Take a look at Sophia.  She was a priest.  Ha ha ha!