A lot of Christmas Pics

Making Gingerbread houses at preschool family fun night. (Jammies optional).  One day Maya and I will make REAL, Martha Stewart houses.  Graham Crackers!  Psh!

Only one snowy day so far this year.  I got the girls a new sled (big enough for 2) and Maya some ice skates, so hopefully we'll be able to use them this season.  Christmas was not WHITE.

We made silhouettes for some of our Christmas gifts this year.

Preschool Christmas Show.  Very cute.  Maya really surprised me with her enthusiastic performance.

Present time!  A really cool double puzzle.

Here Genna is unwrapping one of her favorites.  A new crying/laughing dolly that Maya picked out herself.  She chose Spongebob Golfballs for Jeff and really shiny dangly earrings for me.

SCORE!  Aunt Andi found some great 2nd hand princess costumes.

Genna exploring the MagnaDoodle with her baby.  Combining her 2 latest favoirites: drawing & dolls.

OK, everyone is costumed, unwrapping can recommence.

So glad the Boyans could join us for Christmas before their big expedition.  The kids really enjoyed the Hoot Owl Hoot game.  It's pretty cool.  Thanks Babçia & Grandpa. 

Aslan was so tolerant of Genna.  She can be such a pain.  

(As playgroups all over Kalamazoo can attest to!)

Maya will miss her cousins SO MUCH!!!!

I'd say our best hour of Christmas was the evening of December 26th.  We made popcorn on the stove and watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" together.  Genna even sat on our laps for about 15 minutes of the 26 minute cartoon.  

x-mas list

Above is Maya's Christmas list. 

I told her if it was not legible, Santa could not read it.

Genna's Progress Report

Genna had her 18 month check up last week.  She is getting to be so big!  Here are all the big-girl things she can do now.

She... 

• is 25 lbs.
• can put her socks and pants on herself.
• prefers to drink out of a cup with no lid.
• has gone pee pee on the potty a few times.
• is finally gaining new vocabulary... like "NO!"
• can roll her eyes at her parents.  How mature!
• can walk down the stairs by herself.... without holding on to the rail.  
• requires less sleep.  Only naps half the days now and wakes up at 6.  Resting is for Babies.

Here is how the Carroll family used its extra hour on Daylight Savings day.

• Maya used an extra hour to procrastinate cleaning up.
• Papa took an extra nap (for a total of 2)
• Mama used the extra hour re-baby proofing Genna's room because......
• Genna used the extra time to figure out climbing out of her crib.

So Mama will use her extra hour on Monday to sew a new bigger sleep sack.  Oh wait, there is no extra hour today.  Darn.

P.S.  as it turned out there WAS an extra hour on Monday.  Genna woke me up at 5:30 - so I had plenty of time to make that sleep sack before everyone else was up!  Yay!

halloween

How do you get Genna to smile in a picture?  Ask her to say, "Papa!"

School Pics

Phoenix Visit

Phoenix is known for fabulous spas.  Maya expected no less than the royal treatment here at the Oo La La Salon.  The house specialty is every other nail a different color.

 A short hike to the "Waterfall" in the White Tanks.  With several stops for rock climbing en route.

 Running away from our 4th unsuccessful geocache near Butler Park.

 Naps were few & far between 

(Unless there was a long drive strategically placed after lunch).

Or a long, hot hike.  Then Genna may just plop down face first, mid-trail.

 Hat shopping in Jerome.

 The Verde Valey Railway Excursion.  Thanks Grandpa!

 Maya had just told Aunt Courtney that she sleeps with her eyes open.  Actually, she does!?!?!?

 Oo La La!  A fancy luncheon at the tea house.  Thanks Grandma!

MVP - "Mini Van Plan"

Maya plans her birthday cake all year round.  One of her favorite bedtime stories is a cake design book.  Her birthday request is always centered around her favorite theme of the moment.  She generally plans on having a princess cake, doll cake (again) or sometimes a Dora cake.  But now she wants a Minivan cake.  You know when the item hits the birthday-cake-design request that it holds a very special place in her heart.

The MV obsession began in August when she had several occasions to ride in Aunt Joy's.  (Ok, I acknowledge, this is a pretty sweet ride, from the passenger's perspective). Then in September we stumbled upon the minivan mecca, A.K.A. "Preschool Pick-up/Drop-off".

Poor Maya is so conflicted.  I've explained to her that having a car that is larger than you need is not good for the earth.  She IS catching on and earnestly does not appreciate producers of "stinky smoke".  However she remains attached to the dream of owning a minivan.  At least she's decided that hers will run on wind-power batteries.  Hopefully in 13 years, those will be available.

Good Morning Little School Girl

Pancakes on the 1st Day of School.  "Kirsten Braids" by request

Becky's Birthday

Our only beach outing this summer.  Maya was NOT afraid of the waves!  Genna was so tired after climbing the dunes she plopped face-down in the sand, begging for a nap afterwards.

We got to spend a lot of time with Babçia & Grandpa during their hurricane season stayover.

Making a Fairy House

Climbing Trees, Petting Chickens, Flying Kites, Shooting Rockets @ David's 3rd Birthday Party.

end of the summer

  This Project was an attempt at outdoor "finger paint"......or hand & foot print paint, I guess.  Hmmm.... flour + water + food coloring + corn startch......... a month later and several rainy days, and I still have foot prints on my driveway!!!!

Visiting Bob & Joy, late August

 

The Big Bend Bike Posse.  (that is one tough looking leader)

The hit of the visit was the indoor swings.  Maya kept saying she wanted to go to the playground.  She meant upstairs to this playroom!

Maya was so proud of snorkeling.  Now how do we get her to ditch the floaties?