My Grinchy birthday

 

For my birthday, I had the bright idea to take the family to a Grinch-themed ice sculpture exhibit. 

Things started off OK until we all had to put on ill-fitting blue jackets and then spend the next hour in a 9-degree walk-in freezer. Actually, I think everyone had a good time except the 2-year-old and her caretaker.
 

 Lily trying to find out how the Grinch achieves such fabulous lashes.

 

All the Whos down in Whoville. Lily informed me that their toys "aren't real. They don't really exist."

 The Grinch tying one on. 

This is about as happy as Amalia got yesterday. 

 

Lily drooling over the roast beast. 

 

After the ice exhibit, we weren't sufficiently hypothermic, so we decided to go ice skating. Actually, Lily's been pining after skating for several weeks (I think she watched the Charlie Brown Christmas special where they're all whizzing about on the pond), so I figured it was as good a time as any to let her try it out.

The above picture is about what we looked like the entire time. At one point in our sloth-like progress around the rink, Lily said, "I wish you and Daddy knew how to ice skate."  Too bad her parents both grew up in sunny California.

 

A Christmas tree made entirely out of marshmallow peeps! I guess they're trying to branch out into other holidays.

This is what Amalia looked like most of the day. Well, except for the time she was making that face inside a big blue parka.

And yet, as we were leaving, she felt the need to stop and share a tender moment with the Grinch on the kiosk. A woman of many moods, that one.

Fah who for-aze!

Welcome Christmas! We've watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" about half a dozen times this season, thanks to two girls who never tire of it. To be honest, neither do I.

 

 Spending Christmas Eve with family in California (thanks to the magic of Skype).

 Christmas morning. Can you imagine a prouder new mom? 

 Well, maybe this one.  

 Amalia testing out Andy's stocking stuffers, so to speak. 

 Snow!

Guess how long this peaceful side-by-side scene lasted. Actually, this house has a lot of potential for some sibling togetherness.

 

Lily was impressed that Santa brought this item on her wish list (pants with a skirt attached) since, as she admitted, it doesn't actually exist. According to Lily, Santa's elves had to make it. 

 Lily is one child for whom clothes are not a disappointment.

 Appreciation for (and from) the arts. 

 Contrast Lily's painting style...

 ...with that of her sister. 

 Already mixing the colors. 

Norman Rockwell would be proud.

In the words of wise Dr. Seuss, "Christmas Day is in our grasp! So long as we have hands to clasp! Christmas Day will always be! Just as long as we have we!"

Boxes win again

 

Inspired by an episode of Caillou, Lily decided to make her own cardboard toboggan, complete with racing stripes and snowflake decorations. This morning, she was nice enough to invite her sister inside. We'll see how long that lasts.

 

Sharing a toboggan-friendly snack. Now, we wait for the snow...

Bedside manner

Yesterday's note from Amalia's daycare:

"Amalia played doctor to Rohan and Kaan Demir but needed reminders to use gentle touches during her 'exams' with the stethoscope."

Birthday boy

The closest thing Andy's going to get to his mom's special birthday ice cream pie (Oreo cookie crust, coffee ice cream, chocolate fudge topping): me ordering it from Coldstone Creamery. Note also the dinosaur stand-in for the number 1.

 

 Andy making a wish. Lily and her finger are telling him to keep it a secret. 

Deck the halls

Andy spent much of his birthday making paper snowflakes with Lily. The house is looking oh-so-festive.

Oh much fun!

Wish we were there

A special greeting to Grandma Carol and her sisters enjoying the warm beaches of Hawaii while we
"enjoy" snow, 25 degrees, and 40 mph wind gusts.

Different types of love

In senior year religion class, I learned about the Greek terms for love: agape, eros, philia. 

 Perhaps here Amalia is demonstrating storge, or a parental, affectionate form of love, for Elmo.

But I'm not sure what term would cover the kind of love Lily is demonstrating for her gingerbread man.

Science at the dinner table

Lily just informed me that our meal of succotash and beans 'n' weenies was a "mixture dinner." But that the Italian salad dressing was "a solution." Thank you, PBS; more specifically, Zula Patrol.

Cuckoo for cocoa

Andy was home alone with Amalia earlier this afternoon while I took Lily to her art class. Looks like they had a nice time. I think it may have been her first time trying hot chocolate.

It's quite clear to me that she was saying, "sausage."

Santa at Stoddert

Tonight our neighborhood had its annual Christmas party at Lily's school. It was quite the controlled chaos. Here, Lily is window-shopping the Toys for Tots table. Good thing the Marine was standing guard.

 Amalia and her new Christmas tats. 

 

 This is what Amalia did when I asked her to show me her hands. 

 Playing with balloons in the gym.

 Lily and Garrett with our neighborhood Santa. 

 Lily "helping" Garrett open his gift from Santa. 

Let the season begin

Today was the day we headed down to the basement to break out the Christmas decorations, much to the girls' delight.

 Silly me, I'd told Lily she was too young to wear stockings. Note also the jingle bell belt accessory.

General basement silliness. What's funny is that most of the stuff down there is in the donate pile. But somehow when it's discovered in the basement, it's so much more fun than when it's been in your room the whole time.

 How the Grinch used the old don't-tell-them-you're-already-recording trick.

So thankful...and just plain full

We had a lovely Thanksgiving yesterday with our friends (and their families). Beth and her husband have three kids, two of whom are about the same age as Lily and Amalia. Above, Lily is using digital technology to answer computer math questions.

 

Amalia is a lover of dogs and babies as it turns out. When Claire, ~8 months, was napping yesterday, Amalia kept asking, "Where's the baby?" Over and over.

 The Claire-proxy and Amalia eating dinner. Their border collie, Xavier, hoping she'll get lucky.

 Beth's husband, Brian, was kind (and foolish) enough to offer the kids kangaroo rides.

The pre-dinner time-occupier small-bead art project. Lily has me on the hunt today for more bead supplies since she enjoyed it so much. Big surprise.

Baby Claire. She usually is lighting up the room with her smile and happy noises. Seriously. I've not met a cheerier (or chubbier) baby. 

 Lily and Colleen planning their holiday performance.

 This is the first time Amalia had on tights. She called them "sock pants."

 I scream, you scream. 

 The jumper. 

 More kangaroo rides. 

 It was an ice skating show. 

 The Thanksgiving monkey pinata tradition. 

 Another attempt for a picture with the three of us. 

I don't know if Xavier is stuffed from all her food scraps or fake sleeping to get away from Amalia's persistent loving attentions.