Christmas 2011

Given the girls LOVED all things Christmas this year, it was a special time. We were lucky to have Grammommy and Gramps visit for a whole week. Here are some photos and videos that capture a few highlights -- gifts from G&G upon arrival (you'd think it was already Christmas), a visit from Santa at the house (huge hit), Christmas morning gift opening (bounce house, doll houses, princess dresses, tutus, crafts, voice changer, legos, lincoln logs, etc), spending time outside on Christmas eve and day, museum visits, and a trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg (water park, bowling, arcade). Plus, terrible napping...go figure!

Fun at ChuckECheese

The girls always have something new and different to do. Today they went to ChuckECheese and had a blast on the rides, playing the games and enjoying their prizes (a straw, among other things).

Fun-Filled Holiday Weekend

This weekend was a blast! Friday, we went to the National Harbor with Amy, Bo and Clara. We met a cow, picked up balloons and peeps hats and then met Amy and Clara for dinner. Afterwards we headed over to the Gaylord resort to meet Bo for the tree lighting show with characters from Disney's Madagascar, an indoor snowfall, train ride, and picture with Santa. The girls did great with Santa; it was the same Santa we met last year. Evelyn made friends with a few penguins (look behind Evelyn in second picture above; they played peek-a-boo with her for at least 5 minutes...so cute).

Saturday we hung out at the house in the morning and then had a sitter to go to a holiday party at Belle Haven Country Club that evening. It was pretty over-the-top. Yum food, lots of drinks, dancing, etc. So fun.

Sunday, we had swimming. The girls are so relaxed in the pool! You can't dare touch them if they are swimming with a noodle. We grabbed a pizza lunch and headed back for naps (wait, they didn't nap!). That evening we went to the Bull Run Festival of Lights, which is 2.5 miles of lights and then a holiday village at the end. We saw Santa and went on a hay ride. So fun!

Trains, Planes and Automobiles

The girls and their friends (Charlotte and Mackenzie) drove to the metro, and then took the train to the airport. They had a blast going up and down the escalators, watching the planes, riding the metro, and enjoying lots of hugging in between.

Neighborhood Holiday Party

I was suckered into becoming the neighborhood social chair, so my first call of duty was to host the annual holiday dinner, which was held on Friday, December 2nd. Close to 100 people came, including Santa (which the girls were terrified of). We had hams, turkeys, huge cake and lots of side dishes. We even made crafts -- reindeer food was a huge hit and we put it out nightly for the reindeer on our porch. I think everyone had a good time. Here are a few bad pictures.

River Farm

The girls love their new friends (Charlotte and Mackenzie). Angela met their Mommy at the park and connected her with their nanny, Lindsey. So they all get together for park outings and craft play dates. Last week they went to Mount Vernon and a nearby playground where Sylvia pushed them all on the merry-go-round. Charlotte and Mackenzie are identical twins! I've been running with their Mom at 5am! What fun! Gotta love all that PINK!

Big Girl Bed Update

Well, at naps, Friday didn't go so well and neither did Saturday. Friday, the Sylvia thought it would be fun to tell Evelyn to open the door to her room so they could hang out. She kept going in there. Bad listener!

On Saturday, Sylvia did much of the same, but they finally slept.

Sunday, after Sylvia made her way into the bathroom and discovered the band aids. Applied 2 on her hand, brushed her hair for about 30 minutes, went to the potty about 4 times, she finally fell asleep!

Bedtime is much easier. They don't go in each other's room and pretty much stay in their beds. Sylvia went into the bathroom and discovered these flossing toothpick things and dumped them all over. I asked what she was doing with them "I have to dump them, I have to now clean them up." Silly girl. It takes a lot not to laugh at her curiosity. And, I'm consistently amazed how she can OPEN ANYTHING! No child lock will set her back. We've moved all the dangerous stuff out of her bathroom because once I found her with a bottle of Tylenol (childproof lid) OPENED. She just dumped it out. Thank goodness she knows Mommy gives her medicine and she can't take it herself.

More Holiday Spirit

We all helped Anglea decorate her tree. It's very pretty with white lights and all hot pink ornaments. I offered for her to put it downstairs, but she had a good point that she would enjoy it most in her room. So, I made some hot chocolate (which the girls didn't like) and headed upstairs to decorate her tree. The girls did a great job! So fun! Then, we went downstairs to hang her stocking with ours by the fireplace (and the 1950s Santa, which was my Grandma Benson's, btw...David wants to throw it away...shame on him)!

On a side note, the day before Angela and Mommy ran the hot chocolate 15k (9.3 miles). While the race was logistically a nightmare, both Angela and Mommy achieved personal records, at 9:03 pace (1hr 24min) and 10:06 pace (1hr 34 min) respectively. We were both thrilled! Mommy didn't register for the race, but her friend offered her the bib after she was injured. Both of us are training for a half marathon on St. Patrick's day, and Angela may go onto run a marathon in the fall.

Big Girl Bed Update

Well, to my surprise and amazement, the girls are doing GREAT in their big girl beds. Both didn't leave their beds at nap or bedtime today. They settled in, played with their blankets and sang a few songs. I actually think Evelyn does better in the new bed (it's actually the old crib with the toddler front)...she hasn't made a fuss one bit. Yeah for Evelyn and Sylvia.

Next Challenge? Staying dry at night! We tried a few weeks ago and they weren't ready. We will try again next week.

Big Girl Beds!!!

Santa suprised the girls with an early Christmas present -- their BIG GIRL BEDS (crib converted to toddler bed). We have been building this moment with great enthusiam since it's obvious they needed access to a bathroom during naps, so Mommy had to come to terms that it was time. 6 trips (3 each) to potty last weekend during nap was tiring us out.


Mommy ordered a cool new video montior for each room with talk back capability, further secured their bathroom drawers, reversed the locks on the doors (so we can lock them in) and converted the beds. Voila! Big girl beds. They were sooo excited (see videos). The first night was great. Evelyn got a little upset and threw all of her blankets/babies on the floor, but then put them back in. Sylvia discovered her room and bathroom like Curious George (going to the potty 3 times). I talked through the monitor and told her "go to bed" and we hear the pitter patter of her feet as she scurried back. Evelyn looked at me this morning and said "thank you for my big girl bed, Mommy." Then, she ran into the family room and told our stuffed Santa the same. So sweet.

I'm dying to know what happens at naps tomorrow!

Girls' Day

We invited Clara over for an all day playdate a few Saturday's ago. What good fun we had!