Christmas Spectacular!

 For at least 2 years now Leah has told me that she wants to join our dance studios competitive team. She is always in awe of the big number the teams do each recital. We decided the first step would be to try out for the Christmas show. Leah made it and was thrilled. She rehearsed most Saturdays and some Sundays September-December. By late November, the rehearsals were 6 hours long. She had to miss some birthday parties and lunch dates with the rest of her family, but she followed through on her commitment. She really enjoyed her dances (she was an elf, a jack-in-the-box elf, and a Frosty) and the friends she made. Show weekend was intense--Saturday was a 12 hour day and Sunday was a 9 hour day. She complained a few times, but was a super smiley and excited elf the rest of the time. It was a lot of work, and she's wavered about whether she wants to try our for the team (which would be just as or more intensive and all.year.long). We're thinking it's best to stick with the show for another year or so, but she's reserved the right to change her mind at any time. 

 I volunteered backstage for 2 shows and we saw 2 shows as a family. Auntie Renee, Auntie Nicole, Auntie Robin and Anna and Grandma and Grandpa M also came to see her perform. She was so excited and asked me everyday in the weeks leading up to the show who was coming and on which day. 

Snow Day

 Leah and Juliet were thrilled when we had a snow day earlier this month. We got word during Leah's dress rehearsal, so we went to bed knowing we could sleep in. I love when schools call it early like this. Of course, Leah didn't sleep in because she wanted to go find the ding darn elves. Oh well. They played in the snow for close to 2 hours and then we ran out for lunch and a few errands before Leah's first Christmas Spectacular. It was perfect because we didn't have to rush out of school to get ready, we got to take our time and have a relaxing day. 

 Their favorite part was playing with Ollie and throwing snow on him. I'll always remember Ollie's first snow a few months after we got him. He got tangled in a bush for less than 10 minutes and was shaking like he had advanced Parkinson's. I went out to rescue him and his face was total fear. He was SO EXCITED when I freed him. He's grown more tolerant of the cold, but clearly prefers to be inside in front of the kitchen heater or in his bed. It's a good thing he's never outside by himself for longer than about 5-10 minutes.  

Gingerbread Houses

 Leah had a day of dress rehearsal for her Christmas Spectacular on this day, and Juliet waiting as patiently as she could for Leah to come home so they could decorate their Gingerbread Houses. This is the second year that they've insisted on each having their own house.

 Juliet and her finished product. She probably eats twice the candy that she puts on her house. She always wants it to look good, but really prefers for one of us to decorate the majority of it for her, while she puts on random pieces and eats. 

 Leah prefers to do the entire thing herself with as little help from us as possible. She carefully monitors Juliet's candy consumption, and is quick to remind her to "STOP EATING ALL THE CANDY!" It takes her twice as long to make hers. Only when Leah finishes will she eat the leftover candy. This usually leads to arguments because Juliet wants to evenly split what's left and Leah feels like Juliet already ate her half. It's the traditional candy argument. We would never change it. 

 We took a while to write out our lists this year. This is what they came up with. Buddy and Holly took both lists back to the North Pole. 

Christmas Prep

 These two are very excited for Christmas. They were thrilled when our elf Buddy brought a WIFE back to our house this year. Her name is Holly. I love how much they love these elves, even when they are being a little stinky, but I am ready for them to fly back to the North Pole. Leah wakes up early almost every day since they've come to run downstairs and see where they are and if they've brought anything. During her Christmas Show weekend, I had to tell the elves in no uncertain terms that they were not allowed to bring the girls ANYTHING. Leah was at the theater for 9-12 hour days that weekend--going to sleep at 11 and then waking up at 7 to go find the elves and see if they had brought her anything. 

 Both girls picked out new Christmas shirts per our tradition. I loved Juliet's, and it was very fitting when her class had Grinch day the week before Christmas. Both kids are in the spirit of the season and have enjoyed cutting down our tree, going shopping, picking out and wrapping presents, and watching Christmas movies. Even though this season exhausts me, I try to appreciate their enthusiasm for every little detail of the Christmas season. 

 Love these two cuties!

When Juliet was Sick and Thanksgiving

 Poor Boo woke up sick in November. We stayed home and watched movies and rested all day. When it came time for her to take a nap, both cats came and joined her on the couch and napped with her. Chris stayed home with her the next day, and the same thing happened. These cats may be annoying at 4am when the decide they want to run around our room asking to be fed, but we can always count on them for lots of love when we need it most. 

We hosted Thanksgiving! We had booked our painter to come and paint our dining room, downstairs bath, and laundry room. I was hopeful he could come before Thanksgiving, but he wasn't able to--he ended up coming 3 weeks later. Our dining room may be an ugly color in these pictures (never mind the PURPLE bottom we somehow lived with for 9 years!)  Oh well--at least now our dining room isn't ugly any more. 

We had a great dinner! We made a ton a food and ran to the store at least 3 times the day before picking up things we had missed. The girls were very eager to help me cook. We made plenty of food, and had leftovers for days (most of which ended up getting tossed). The big winners of the day were the cornbread stuffing (I even made the cornbread from scratch), pierogs (can't go wrong with these) and the deserts. We also really liked when Juliet sang us grace. 

 We celebrated all the Fall birthdays along with Leah and Juliet's. With Chris preparing for trial and living in Chicago for a month, we never had a family party. 

On this day we also began telling people that Baby Boy is expected in late April/early May 2018. I wanted to keep it on the down low for as long as possible, but at this point, at 17 weeks, there was no hiding it. We all have our fingers crossed that he arrives healthy. 

Halloween!

I'd write more about it, but I don't really remember. A fun time was had by all. It's December, and we still have some lingering Halloween candy. 

Pumpkins!

 We had fun with pumpkins this year. We looked a lot at Google for inspiration. Juliet wanted to be creative, so she spent 2 days drawing various sketches of ideas and asking us to vote on which one we liked best. She ended up with the Evil Queen. Leah liked the mean guy with crazy eyes. We made Chris do the one with gourds and the tongue (his tongue carving was so impressive, that I think he should start whittling wood as a hobby in his spare time). I liked the pumpkin eating a pumpkin. I think they turned out fabulously. 

 Earlier this month the girls painted Cinderella Carriage pumpkins. They turned out pretty cute!

Halloween Fun--Birds of a Feather Flock Together.

 We typically buy the girls costumes a year in advance. My favorite is when they want to coordinate. My two favorite years so far was when they were a witch and a kitty and Elsa and Anna. It doesn't always happen, but I always encourage it. Leah really wanted to be a peacock, and Juliet really liked the headpiece of the flamingo. I had to do almost no encouraging for coordinating costumes. Score! 

 Both girls were pleased as punch that their costumes came with fans. Leah loved that hers had a hoop skirt and real feathers, and Juliet liked standing on one leg and loudly saying, "Guess what I am? Guess! I'm giving you a clue!"

 We went trick or treating in DTP and Leah got to be a magicians assistant. I was telling the girls that I remembered trick or treating downtown when I was a kid. My mom always took me on "Devils Night". Is it still even called that? It was nowhere near as elaborate as it is now. But, I remember doing it a few times when I was a kid and always thinking it was pretty cool. Now it's during the day and they close off all the roads. 

 We still don't like Donald Trump. We would have never guessed a year ago when we took this same picture that he would actually become president. What a year. 

 Friends. 

 We also went to a Halloween Daddy/Daughter Dance, but I didn't take one picture. Chris did get a video which was even better. Juliet was a great dancer. Leah was too busy socializing and eating to dance much. 

The girls were very excited for their class parties. I got to go to both of them because they were at different times. I walked the parade with Juliet. She was pretty excited to see all the costumes. 

 My beautiful girls. 

 As usual, Chris took the girls out trick or treating. Juliet lasted about 40 minutes and then was done. She hung out and watched Simpsons and ate about 10 pounds of candy. Leah and Chris went back out and got more candy. They saw a lot of their friends while they were out. It was a great night. We were up later than usual and were pretty tired for the rest of the week, but it was worth it. 

Happy Halloween!