It's Christmas Already!

It's Christmas time already. What has happened to the past six months? I guess the old adage that time flies when you're having fun is true, but it also flies when you work a full time job and have two incredibly adorable twins, a great husband and awesome friends who love to have a good time. So here's what's been going on..

Lately, everything is all Christmas. The girls are very into Santa Claus this year and all things Christmas. They even put up their own little tree. Rowan has been singing Christmas carols. Her favorite is, "Rowan the Red Nosed Reindeer."

She is really one of the funniest kids I've seen. We went to cut down a Christmas tree at the Elgin Christmas Tree Farm. As we were walking through the trees, Andre and I were saying, "how about this tree..." "how about this one.." Rowan was walking behind us and said, "how about this tree?" I turned and looked, she was pointing to a tree stump! So funny. And she knows she's funny and loves to make people laugh. So if you laugh she'll repeat the joke--whether she said it or Evelyn did.

Andre's mom, Carmen, is joining us this year for Christmas. The girls so adore their Abuelita and have had a great time with her.

My last post was in June, so let's begin with July. Andre turned 36. We had a very tame birthday party at one of his favorite restaurants. The girls also got their first hair cut that month. We kept Evelyn's hair long, but a couple of months later she cut it herself--quite short.

Rowan came running down the stairs saying, "Evey's cutting her hair! Evey's cutting her hair!" I ran upstairs and Evey was no where to be found, but piles of hair were on the ground. I found her hiding in the closet. She said she, "wanted a change." So she now has a really cute little bob.


In August, I became Of Counsel for another attorney who has been in practice for many years. It was a huge career move and I have been so happy working there. I now have staff to help me with my practice, a mentor, an incredible business manager, and some really good friends.

We also went to the circus. Which the girls, of course, loved. Evelyn is very fond of elephants, and Rowan still adores the white tigers. They agree though that cotton candy should be eaten every chance they get.







In September we went on a cruise with my mom and her longtime friend, Sue. We went to Jamaica, Cozumel and the Grand Caymans.

We went to the beach in Jamaica with my mom. Saw turtles, turtles, and more turtles in the Grand Cayman and swam with Manta Rays.


While in Cozumel we signed up for a "Dolphin Encounter." You can touch the dolphin, let it kiss your cheek, and shake hands. After our encounter we explored the national park, swam in the pools, and went to see the Sea Lion show. Our tour guide approached us and asked if we'd be willing to take some promotional pictures for an excursion they were putting together for the Disney Cruises. Of course we would! So the girls were able to ride on the dolphins, get pushed on a boogie board, and truly interact with them. The photographer said they got some great pictures we were given copies of all of them.


In October, we took a trip to South Padre Island for a bagpipe training/ playing event. All of the people in the band and their families went. It was a lot of fun. Andre left a few days early to drive down with some other band mates, so the girls and I flew. It was my first time flying with both kids by myself. But it was a short trip and everything went great.

We also had our first annual Halloween party. The girls invited all of their friends from school and friends they know outside of school too. We had an outdoor film projector showing Charlie Brown's The Great Pumpkin. Rowan dressed as Belle and Evelyn was Tangled. Since cutting her hair she is very intrigued by long hair. Andre and I went as Morticia and Gomez Addams. The party was a great success and it was so fun to have a little kid party that is not a birthday party, there are no presents, no "special kid." Just a bunch of people wearing costumes, eating candy, and having fun. Everyone loved it and it ended early enough for Andre and I to then go to an adult Christmas party.

Evelyn was very insistent that we invite "Daniel" to her party. Daniel is a cute, little three year old with a bowl haircut. I placed the invitations in each child's cubby, but Evelyn had to personally hand Daniel's invitation to him, told him to open it, and then getting very close to his face said, "it's for my party." All she could talk about leading up to the party was Daniel, so I was happy that his mom called to say they were coming. And he did come. He dressed as a transformer and played with her toy kitchen half the time.

At the end of the night I said to Evelyn, "Well, it was a great party, all of your friends came, and we had a good time." Evelyn said, "But not Daniel!" "Evey he did come, he was here." "Whaaa!, I no see him!" Ha! Such is life, eh? Anyhow, she hasn't mentioned him in a long time now, so I guess she's moved on.

In November, Andre and I took our first kid-free trip. We went to New York to visit my friend Swan. It was so much fun. She lives right in the middle of Manhattan in a gorgeous apartment. And another close friend, Christina flew in to meet us. We did so much, but I think my favorite thing was riding bicycles around the city. New York is the perfect place for a bike. The streets are flat, the cars are at a standstill, and everything is within biking distance. Honestly, I think it's faster on a bike than a cab. It was so nice to see my friend too. The good thing about having friends who live in cool places is that you get to visit cool places, the bad thing is that you miss them the rest of the year and can never visit everyone every time.

So that brings us back to December. Have I forgotten anything? Somewhere along the way we realized one of our chickens was a rooster, Andre built a chicken coop that looks like the Dr. Who Tardis, we repainted the house, we went to Dallas, and San Antonio for conferences, saw the Book of Mormon, the Addams Family with Brooke Shields, the Moth live at the paramount, went on the Polar Express in Grapevine, Andre was in two or three parades (I forget), the girls had ballet lessons, swim lessons, I started swim lessons and we went to the Serengeti Resort with the Connell's. No wonder I'm exhausted!

I think the biggest thing though is how much the girls have grown. They play together every day. They wake up and get out their barbies and their dolls and just play. They are such a joy and this time with them is going quick. I miss my dad and wish he was here to see them growing up. He would have loved to see them at this age.

Looking forward to another year of fun. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Peter Pan Mini Golf & the Cousins

I took the girls to play mini golf this weekend. I was a bit worried that they would be way too young for it.

Then I remembered that it doesn't really matter if they can truly "play" mini golf. The point of it is to just have fun and they had a great time. They weren't that great at actually putting. I'd say it was closer to shuffle board, with the girls pushing the ball with the putter and occasionally just picking it up and putting it in the hole. Needless to say, we had a great time.



I also took some great pictures of the girls handstands against the door. They did this on their own, and wow, were we impressed. I can't believe the upper body strength they have. I guess all children are like this, but so few adults.







On Sunday we met up with Tia Ivette, Isabella, and Austin before Isabella went to church camp. Oh, I remember how great church camp was as a kid. Little Austin was so sad to be without his sister for a week. If I have ever seen something more endearing, I don't know what it was. Such a great kid. They both are. The cousins are getting so big too. Its hard to imagine that Isabella was the age of the girls when I met her. Time is speeding by.

Swim Lessons

I was so worried about the girls going to their first swim lesson. The instructor told us that it would be best for the girls to be at the lesson without us. Children do better without their parents hovering over them? How could that possibly be true?

Afterwards, Evelyn beaming with a huge grin said, "I swam all by myself." They learned to float like jellyfish, swim under the water, and kick. They'll continue taking the lessons every Saturday. Perhaps indefinitely.

For Andre, teaching the girls to swim is on his list of things the girls must know how to do for basic survival skills and we will fail them as parents if they don't know basic survival skills. I'm not sure how long the list is, but I think being able to wrestle a tiger was somewhere on it.

I like being able to put the girls into different lessons. I remember as a kid it was always difficult for our family to come up with the funds for extracurricular activities. We did a few things now and then, but not like our kids are doing. I vaguely recall my father saying boldly, "best way to get yer kid to learn how to swim is to throw 'em in." Which would explain why I still tend to doggy paddle and dislike going underwater.

I think its important for children to have actual lessons (as opposed to the "throw them in" technique). For one, to do something as a child, even for a short period of time, appears to have a long term impact on your ability to pick it up again as an adult. For example, Andre took tennis lessons as a kid and his ability to pick up other similar sports is great. Even if you don't use the skill later in life, you have still learned to think a different way.

I also believe that is important for children to have something they enjoy doing. Something that gives meaning to their lives. Gives them something to be proud of and something to work for.

Easter

Last night the girls set out their Easter baskets at the bottom of their beds. When we went to check on them they were both sleeping on the floor. Perhaps they thought they'd catch the Easter Bunny. Evelyn woke up first, saw her basket filled with candy and little toys and said, "It's Easter day, wake up Rowan! The bunny! The bunny was here!"

Almost every morning this week either Evelyn or Rowan has asked me if it was Easter morning. They've been anticipating the Easter Bunny, singing songs about him, and talking about the candy they believed they'd get. I tried to add practical things to their baskets too since they're too young to not think of everything as a gift. So they got new swimsuits and panties as well.

We sat on their bedroom floor with them, trying to prevent them from stuffing chocolate with the aluminum wrapper in their mouths, and opening various toys.

This is what I wanted for them and I wanted them to have memories of Easter being a fun time with their family. I remember being a child and waking up with my sister to find our Easter baskets waiting for us. Easter was always a beautiful time in our lives.

I believe that it is really important for them to grow up with joy in their hearts. To know how to play and laugh and have fun. Their lives will not always be perfect; everyone has hard times. But if they have a foundation of happiness then I think it will be easier for them to find it as adults. Maybe they'll know what to look for. Or maybe how to create happiness for themselves. And its great for us too. Sharing such fun times with them is my happiness.

After baskets the girls got ready and put on their new Easter dresses. They love wearing anything big and poofy and girly.

We had time to talk to family members on the phone and through Skype before I took the girls to church for Easter service. To be honest, we're not regular church goers. I think this became apparent when everyone closed their eyes for a prayer and Evelyn said, "they go night-night?" "No honey, they're not sleeping, they're praying."

But I do enjoy church on Easter. It struck me how Easter is one of those times in which you can pretty much guarantee what the sermon is going to be about. The minister will talk about the resurrection and work in a sort of "life renewing" kind of theme. And it occurred to me how difficult it must be to have to speak about the same subject every year and yet somehow make it slightly different than last year, but not too different. Easter is definitely not the day for exploring some obscure part of the bible.

The girls wanted to sit in the main church, but after they felt the need to dance and twirl during the first song, I thought it might be best to take them to Sunday school.

Unfortunately, Andre had to work, so we sort of had two Easters. We decorated eggs, cracked cascarones (confetti eggs) and broke a pinata on Saturday. Then today we did it all over again at my sister's house. The girls each had their own pinata and I bought 100 confetti eggs, so that worked out well.

We were also able to swim in the pool for the first time this year. I am really looking forward to the girls taking swimming lessons. I think they are going to really love it.

For some reason, Easter dinner with my family always means ham. You know, the little chicks, the lambs, the rabbits, they're all appreciated over the holiday--but the pig?...oh no, poor little piggy he's sitting on the table. It seems unfair. Yummy, but unfair.

So, that was Easter this year.





This is not Easter, but it was a more entertaining video than kids hitting a pinata. This video is from last weekend when we went to the local zoo.

Rowan and Evelyn feeding goats from Leigh on Vimeo.

More Blog Security

I utilized a security feature of the blog so that it was no longer public. I tried to invite people who I either know read the blog or may want to. If anyone hears I missed someone or knows someone who wants to read it, then just let me know.

Thanks

Happy Birthday: Babies turning 3

We celebrated the girls third birthday this Sunday. It was the first birthday that they were able to make some of the decisions--shall we say, it was their first party-planning experience. They chose the ever popular, "My Little Pony Theme," and went with a guest list of fellow classmates. Their colors were pink and purple (of course they were). Evelyn decided on a confetti birthday cake (white with sprinkles), while Rowan (reluctantly) decided on strawberry flavored. They both wanted to wear matching Hello Kitty pink tutu dresses for their party.

Of course the most important decision is always location. The twins agreed that the party should take place at "Hoppin' House," their favorite inflatable playground. So for the past three months anytime we went to Hoppin' House they reminded us that their birthday should take place there.

It was fun watching the girls with some of their little friends. Mary, from across the street, came too. She and Evelyn are pretty good friends. Here is a picture of the two of them together. Evelyn can't say, "Mary," so she calls her "Mitsy" instead. Rowan likes Mary and will play with her, but Evelyn adores her. She'll throw a big fit if she sees Mary playing outside and we won't let her go out and play too. They are just about the same age. I think the girls are a few months older, but not by much. Mary has an older brother named Jack who also came to the party. They're both great kids.

We invited all the kids in their class, because you can't invite some kids and not invite all of the kids. Unfortunately none of the classmates RSVP'd so we had no idea how many kids were coming and since it was at a location and not our house we couldn't invite very many other kids. A few of their really good friends from school came though and they had a great time playing together.

For their presents from us, the girls both got new bicycles. Their first "real bikes." The little kid bikes nowadays are really cute. Evelyn's has a little miniature seat in the back to put a doll or stuffed animal. Rowan's has a basket and bell. We let the girls pick them out themselves.

Apparently, I had some misconceptions about teaching a child to ride a bike. You always see the stereotypical scene of a parent running with the kid and then triumphantly letting go as the kid sails down the street. They fail to show that leading up to that is a lot of bending over, back breaking, as you try to show the child to "peddle, peddle, peddle." Ugh, parenting is so bad for the back and there's just no easy way around it.

Nevertheless, the girls seem to have it down now and can consistently peddle--mostly without any help. They even managed to purposefully run into each other a few times. They also had their first race. They've come a long way since the days when we would put them on the floor and see who could crawl faster. The baby races...ah, those were good days too.


Its so much fun to see each new step. As I was watching Rowan take off on her bike I couldn't help but think about her learning to stand. She was so determined. She would push up and then keep trying over and over again. Then one day she was standing just like nothing. Then she was walking, then running. Now she can skip and hop and jump and twirl. Each new stage is such a big accomplishment. As the parent, you see them pushing themselves to do it and you think, "come on kid, you can do it," and you hope that you're right. Then they do and they are on to the next step. Today it's a bike, tomorrow a car.

Rowan almost 3

Rowan is almost three now, but if you ask her she'll tell you that she's turning four.

She is a funny child and constantly has us laughing. She makes little jokes that are so funny and then she laughs hysterically at her own joke. She likes to knock on the door and say, "little pig, little pig, let me in," and I'll tell her, "not by the hair of my chinny chin chin." So she starts trying to blow down the door. Sometimes she wants to be the little pig and she'll tell me to play "big bad wolf" with her.

She has still maintained her love of animals. Tonight she said, "Ro ro will be a doctor for animals and Evey will be a doctor for people." Evelyn then said, "yeah, I'll give them shots." Rowan will always choose to carry around a stuffed animal rather than a doll. Her "favorite" varies day to day. She also loves cats, which she calls "meows," and has been asking me to get her one.

She's a smart girl. She likes to read, to sing songs, and to color. Speaking wise, the girls still have a baby-ness to their speech. I have heard them speaking to each other in a sort of odd twin language and I think they are actually dropping the consonants of the words. It sounds like gibberish, but they are talking back and forth so fluidly that it must make sense to them. Yet, when we read stories at night I've had both of them repeat words and read along with me, and then they sound much clearer. So perhaps they will grow out of it.

Rowan is tall too. She has long legs and can wear a size 4 in some clothes and her feet are a full size larger than Evelyn's. Although, she seems about the same size as her friends at school.

When she was born, she was so strong physically that we believed she would turn out to be the roller derby girl or the tomboy out of the two. Oh, were we wrong. Rowan is sensitive and sweet. She gets scared easily and she's cautious at times. Evelyn will get into a bad mood and say, "I don't like Rowan," and it always makes Rowan cry. I can't recall ever hearing Rowan say that. Evelyn doesn't mean it, she can just be ornery at times. The girls are both very bonded to each other.

Rowan loves to wear dresses, and anything pink and fluffy. Thanks to the girls, I now know that tutus go with anything for any occasion, fancy dresses are for any time, and tiaras, bows, and other accessories should be not be worn in moderation. Our home is filled with pink and purple. Disney princess is on every item from the toothpaste in the bathroom, to the band-aids on their boo boos. Rowan's favorite princess is Snow White and so if she has an option for which princess, then it simply must be Snow White.

Rowan is still our night owl. She doesn't like to go to bed at night or wake up early in the morning. Sometimes she'll wake up in the middle of the night and cry and we'll let her sleep in our bed the rest of the night. Last night was just such an evening and this morning Rowan said she went wahh, wahh (a cry) last night and got to sleep in mommy's bed--like it was all planned out. Andre said we'd been duped, but I don't care. She's nice to cuddle up next to.

She really adores Andre too. She misses him so much when he's gone and she'll ask me, "where my daddy go?" I'll say, "he's at work." If she is sick or unhappy then he's the one she wants to comfort her. She says that she belongs to Daddy, but I think he belongs to her as well. She is a daddy's girl.

Rowan is a beautiful child. I love her so much.