Christmas Day

Since we last spoke...

...I've finished the pajamas.
::We've given thanks.

::We took a trip with friends to Utah.

::We saw Twilight, in case you've been wondering :)

::Our computer keeled over.

::Charlotte has a new saying, "weshouldgethisonvid-yo," which she uses whenever she happens to be doing something cute.::Emma became a giant & attacked a small village...


then made herself a princess sandwich for lunch.::Amanda sampled our first snowfall...
a very light dusting compared to what we had this week.

::We celebrated Christmas with a lot of our family.

::We spent Christmas Eve reading by the fire.

It's so quiet...

Well, my mother-in-law came & picked up my girls. I told them to clean up before they could go and I've never seen them do it so fast! They love to spend time with their Granny. And I'm thankful because I get a chance to work on these little Christmas gifts for my chicas...

...without prying little eyes & wondering little minds. I was able to get a lot done yesterday with the tent distraction & all. But it's slightly different when Big Sister is home, lurking & wondering.
I heard a quote from Maya Angelou the other day. It was about how she strives to be grateful-for everything that comes she says thank you. That's hard for me to do-I get caught up in all that's going wrong & it brings me down. But from now on, I am going to try to say thank you instead.

Older & Wiser, Too

Emma was five on Sunday.Opening her gifts. She even let Charlie open the smallest one :) So this week, Emma's usual response to our comments [like, "Wow, you are so big-or a great artist-or an awesome helper-or so funny!"] has been, "Yeah, it's 'cause I'm five now." :) Older & wiser, I tell ya.

Waitin'

I'm growing to love the morning moments we have while waiting for the bus. The talk is all full of anticipation & love.

Amanda received this dress from Grandma & Papa for her birthday. Poufy hair courtesy of night time braids.Two little chicas patiently waiting for their time to shine.The littlest chica runs off as the other becomes a likely contestant for America's Next Top Model.
Again. And again. Until the photos become too blurry with her continuous posing & the bus rounds the corner & we all sing, "Love you, BYE!" & Amanda runs out the door & I yell out random pieces of advice like, "Have fun!...Be strong!...Look both ways!...Don't drink the water!...etc.".

Happy Halloween!

We roasted some pumpkin seeds this afternoon.A Halloween tree we made & decorated.

My first little babe was born on Halloween seven years ago. It was a rainy, stormy night.

Showing off her goodies.

Emma's gift to Amanda.

Happy Birthday Amanda!!! We love you very much!!!!

All dressed up as baby unicorn, wicked witch, & lady bug. Charlotte didn't want to wear her unicorn costume to the Trunk or Treat because "it's itchy". I found she'll wear it if you call it a "baby" unicorn :)

(L-R): Emma's scary pumpkin, Amanda's creation, & Charlie's vampire.

Three Great Pumpkins

Thursday we finally carved our pumpkins. We didn't make it to the patch this year-the little pumpkins we got from our neighbors a few weeks ago & I got the big one at Fred Meyer yesterday!

Amanda finally digging in. She has always had a big problem with texture.

Halloween manicures for all my little boos.

She didn't enjoy the smell either.
Emma had a ton of fun carving her pumpkin.

And we topped the evening off with a little Charlie Brown. Charlotte kept shouting, "I'M NOT CHARLIE BROWN!!"

The finished creations. Emma wanted to make hers really scary. Amanda drew a picture of how she wanted to carve hers. And every time I asked Charlie what kind of eyes-nose-mouth she wanted, she'd respond, "VAMPIRE!"

Emma-isms

At lunch, Emma was reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. It was spot on, but I just had to share her last line with you:

"...invisible with lizzardty and justice for all!"

***

Earlier, Emma says to me, "Is it the end of the world yet?"

Me: "Uh....no..."

E: "Well, when then? In like 10 hours or what?"

Me: "I really couldn't tell you. But most likely not in 10 hours. What made you think to ask this?!"

E: "Oh, ya know...the little chicken."

Me: "Oh, you mean Chicken Little?"

E: "Is Amanda almost home?!"

***

Em has been running around like Linus all day, with her blue blankie as a ghost. As she is plastered up against the window she says, "I wish I was a ghost so I could go right through this wall.....You could be my ghostie mommy......Let's play it!!"

***

This morning Emma lined up all her ponies, by color.

E: "They're having a birthday party."

E: "It's a bug's life."

::biker babe::

:: a girl & her gourd::

::pretty pumpkin::

::october flip-flops::

::lil lady::

::today's collection::

*craft room*

*because of the new dresser for the girls' room, we changed some things around. this old dresser & a book shelf were moved into the craft room*

*fabric storage*

*new shelf from craft/antique fair*

*i got this lovely little house-and some others-also at the craft fair*

*stamp storage*

*inspiration board*

*This is for sale....wanna buy it?*