Fancy Dancing

Awhile ago I said  was going to post a video of the girls at their Christmas show but apparently blogger didn't like my video so I had to upload to youtube.  This video is of Anna Kate and around 1:15 cuts loose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTiOTIAYaxE

I should get Elizabeth's as soon as I get the actual video from our neighbor...we had technical difficulties during Elizabeth's performance.

Elizabeth's Camera

Elizabeth got a camera from (white) grandma for Christmas and she has some strangely neat pictures.  Pictures from a kids view is pretty interesting.  There are two pictures at the end that Aunt Mandy took while Elizabeth was having fun on an adventure with her aunt and uncle.  But I loved looking through the 400 + (yes) photos she took in a day and half to post.

Wrapping up Christmas!

By this point the girls were getting tired of the required pictures and were wanting to just dig into the treats.  The pictures were getting harder and harder to take but they gave me a few opportunities.

The 21st

This kid loves her some jelly beans, she would of been happy if the entire thing was filled with jelly beans.

On the 24th, Anna Kate had already been in the candy and I found her eating chocolates on the stairs so I had to refill the treats so Elizabeth would not question why there were only wrappers.  I guess the secret of how to open the buttons is over for Anna Kate, it was nice that it lasted for 23 days.

Just so she could outdo Elizabeth and her two paci picture taken several years ago.

Christmas morning...

Anna Kate spotted the scotter right away and wanted it.

It's pretty stable but she still goes from side to side, not to worry, Grandma got her a helmet.

While Julia was in town from Pennsylvania she was able to stop by and let the kids all play together.  This is not a great picture (you try to get four kids four and under to take a good one) but I do love that starting with Jillian on the left, the age order 1,2,3,4.  Jillian, Anna Kate, Jake and Elizabeth.

Santa, I want a....

Elizabeth told santa I want a "real" ipod and a phone.  I wish I could have snapped a picture of the look Mrs. Clause gave me.  I just shook my head no. Santa actually asked her what she thought she needed a phone for and she said, to call my boyfriend with.  omg, poor santa, he must have thought I was the worst mother ever.  Since then Elizabeth and I have had a talk about her "boyfriend" not having a phone either. I will continue to take deep breaths.

That is Anna Kate shaking with fear.  She was having no part of Santa.

She even did the back arch freak out when I tried to give her to Mrs. Clause so I just gave it up and decided Anna Kate did not get a picture this year, maybe next she will be ready for one.

After Breakfast with Santa just hanging about outisde the Casements.

The event took place at the Casements in Ormond which happens to be the restored winter home of John Rockefeller. I think it is just really cool that the building is such a part of our community. You can check out a little more of it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Casements

Santa was handing out spinning tops (Elizabeth's is blue and in her hand) as a treat after they sat and took their pictures.  Elizabeth got outside and said something about her dreidel, haha.  She's so darn well rounded :)

Day 13 - 19

The days continue with opening our special present everyday.  The following are pictures of the girls with a few highlights.

This is my favorite.  Little Miss Anna made it to the prime spot first and just refused to give up the opening job.  Elizabeth was so unhappy the next picture is the one of the best so far.

Classic grump.

The cousins came for a visit so we snuck some extra presents in so everyone got something.

I love this picture.

Elizabeth got a Strawberry Shortcake doll last night from Aunt Mollie and Uncle Terry.  She has not put it down yet.  It smells just like all of mine did when I was a kid.

I am posting some pictures of the girls Christmas performance at school and their visit with Santa as soon as we return from our Sunday afternoon outing.  It may actually be a double post day :)

Days 6-12...

We are continuing our countdown to Christmas with our daily presents!  The girls love the daily treat and truth be told we only missed one day because we woke up with about 25 minutes to get out the door. 

Elizabeth tries very hard to just start the button through and let Anna Kate pull it the rest of the way.  I think that is a very thoughtful thing to do when she knows there is a prize waiting for her.

Princess bracelets...you can just see how excited Elizabeth is.

This is the morning Anna Kate had a melt down that I took off her pink monkey pajamas.  So she wore the top to school over her shirt.  At this point as long as we are there on time, the day is a success. 

I had to include this photo, the happiness just radiates right through.

What chocolate are you talking about...I didn't eat any chocolate.

They make some of the best faces so early in the morning :)

My Day Begins...

 With Elizabeth grabbing my face and saying "can I open number..." depending on which day it is.  It does amaze me that she says the right day each time.  They have both been really good sports about letting us take pictures before any prizes are opened.  Hopefully we will continue to take our photos each morning!

  

It's Christmas...almost!

To kick off the Christmas season, Aunt Cindy got the girls their very own Advent Calendar.

We looked high and low to find the perfect place to hang it.  Finally, after much discussion we found the perfect place.  Not sure if we will be able to keep little hands out of it before the end of the month but we'll try our best.  Since Elizabeth is the only one with fine motor skills to open the buttons I will be able to narrow down who's doing the peaking.

Day 1 - December 1

 What's the gift!?!?   SOCKS...



Merry Christmas!