A Charlie Brown Christmas (Tree)

We went on our annual pilgrimage to Home Depot this year to find the perfect tree.  Yes, going to Home Depot is definitely a pilgrimage

Elle was not so interested in picking a tree as she was in running up and down the aisle of trees.  Kate, however, was pretty into it this year.  So, we let her choose the tree.  And, fittingly, we ended up with a very spunky tree - much like our Kate!  We weren't quite aware of how spunky it actually was until we got it home.  Ah well - I liken it to Charlie Brown's Christmas tree - we just had to give it a little love & affection.  It was the perfect tree for us.

Here are a few pics of the decorating process.  Amazingly, no big light issues or fights that always seem to revolve around this annual tradition - hooray!  And, apparently, decorating the Christmas tree with no pants on is the way to go.  Take note, everyone.  Elle is on the cutting edge. 

This picture of Tyler makes me laugh.  Not sure what's going on.

Please excuse the placement of Elle's hand.  We are working on that.

The finished product.

Almost there....

I'm almost to Christmas, y'all!  And it's only January 11th!

But before Christmas, there are a few random snapshots that I wanted to make sure made it on the blog.  These girls are quite hilarious, sweet and crazy so I must record all of that for posterity.

When left to her own devices with makeup...

Painting Daddy's fingernails

Playing in leaves is SO.  MUCH. FUN.

Fun at the park

This is how we picnic, yo.

"Look mom, I'm a punkin head! Take my picture!"

Crazy family portrait

They like to give each other "rides" on their trikes.

Big pile of leaves + Daddy = Awesome

Hanging at the Aquarium

Music Party!

One of the girls BFF's celebrated her birthday with a fun music party and the girls had a lovely time.  This sweet friend is moving away soon and we are so sad (and by "we", I mean "me", as I have not told the girls) and will miss her & her parents tons!  I'm serious, guys.  Her mama is awesome and a great friend and neighbor and I may start sucking MY thumb and rocking in a corner once they've moved away.  To another COUNTRY.  Thumbs down.  But total thumbs up for it being a great opportunity for their family.  I suppose the thumbs down is really just for me being selfish and wanting them to stay.  :)

But, as usual, I digress...

Elle & Kate got to make their own noisemakers and tambourines and then participate in a music class where they sang songs, danced, and clapped and engaged in all manners of music-making.  Kate?  Not so much into it.  She just kinda wanted to hang out with me quietly and watch everyone.  Which, if you know Kate, seems a smidge out of character.  The child is hilarious and loves to be silly and dance.  I always happy for snuggles from my girl though.  :)  Elle jumped right in and joined the fun!

PS - Christmas posts coming soon.  Promise!

I'm supposed to clap?  And sing?  Um, no.

Crafting it up - making their own musical instruments.

Starting to feel the music.  :)

Sweet pic of Elle & the bday girl!

Brusha Brusha Brusha

The girls first trip to the dentist was infinitely less dramatic and scarring than I thought it would be.  Hooray!  Both did an excellent job and did just what Karla, the friendly neighborhood hygienist, asked.  And even got BACK in the chair when Dr. Berger (who they call Dr. Hamburger - of course) came in to give them the final once-over.  Holler! 

Tyler and I have prayed that our children would get my teeth and his eyes, therefore avoiding braces & glasses in adolescence.  That's not too much to ask, right?  I'm not sure our thumb-sucker will escape the braces, as she has already been referred to an orthodontist, but I'm saying my prayers that if we nip this in the bud while she's young, maybe we can avoid it!  Shockingly, Dr. B did not take me up on my offer to come to my house and get my 3 year old to stop sucking her thumb.  Hmph.  However, BOTH kiddos were told they had very little plaque and tartar build-up.  Score. 

Here are a few pics I took to commemorate the occasion.  Also, they got prizes at the end.  When prizes are involved, it's a good day. 

Kate actually volunteered to go first!

No big whoop, Mom.

Nervous giggling

Dr. B checking out the bite

I'm sorry, what?  I have to stop sucking my thumb?  I don't understand.

Death by...

CUTENESS.  The track suits.  The pigtails.  I can't take it.  And it needed to be recorded on the blog for all eternity.  That is all.

Spiders and Kitty Cats in Pumpkins..Oh my!

Happy (wayyy belated) Halloween!  We had an action-packed, fun-filled one here.  This may be the only time in their lives that I am able to convince the girls that because they can fit into them, they should wear the same costumes they did last year.  I took full advantage and voila!  A spider and a Kitty Cat in a Pumpkin.  You will recall last year that Kate wanted nothing to do with the pumpkin part of her costume.  She started out that way again this year, but after cajoling and promises of eyeliner-drawn whiskers, she consented.  So it was like, a TOTALLY different costume for her.

Leading up to the big night o' Trick or Treating, the girls were able to celebrate in style at our local library during story time, and at a church Trunk or Treat.  We went Trick or Treating with our dear friends and neighbors on Halloween night and they racked up even more candy and had a great time, despite accidental beer spillage on the Kitty Cat.  For the rest of the night, she was a Stray Cat who reeked of booze.  HA!

Story time at the library with their friends, the Flamingo & the Ladybug

More candy?

Getting candy from Ms. Laura at the library - she's famous at our house.

Sweet friends!

Approximately 1 house into Trick-Or-Treating, we are already checking our stash

Kate even sat down for the occasion

They were PROS at this by the end of the night!

One house had a wheel of candy - fancy!

We also got to go to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to see the scarecrows on one of our Field Trip Fridays.  

Ready for the scarecrows!

There were tons of them!  Here's a troop leader and her scouts.

Posing in the gardens

And they celebrated BIG time at school!  I've never seen so many Halloween crafts.  Who needs Halloween decorations when you've got kiddos in preschool??  They got to wear these cool spider hats they made below and parade around school.

Now that Halloween is over, they are still requesting candy after every meal and for snacks.  Needless to say, Mommy is NOT their favorite person during those times.  :)  All in all - Halloween was big fun.  They were super excited about everything and really got into it!  Makes me even more excited for Christmas.  

Fall Getaway

The girls and I were able to take a quick trip to visit Mimi & Grandbob at their timeshare in TN earlier this month.  We had so much fun and are so glad they invited us.  We missed Tyler, of course, but he did an excellent job holding down the fort while we were away.  And then he got to go play golf.  :)

The leaves were starting to turn, so we were treated to some beautiful fall foliage on the drive up there and while we were there.  The girls kept saying "Look at all the pretty colors!".  They are loving them some fall leaves, for sure. 

Here are just a few of the highlights of our trip:

• Eating out at restaurants.  The girls love to eat out at "westauwants."
• Swimming in the indoor pool with Grandbob
• Reading stories with Mimi - The Berenstain Bears is a favorite right now. 
• Swinging on the playground
• Staying at the condo.  Elle & Kate have been talking about the condo since we went last year.  And this year?  There was a spiderweb on the stairs.  They were mesmerized.

When I asked them what their favorite part of the trip was, Kate said "Watching TV!" (HA.  Again, she is her mother's daughter) and Elle said "When Mimi drew a picture of my family!".  We brought magnadoodles with us and they had a great time telling Mimi what to draw - one of those things being their family.  

A few pics below.  Thanks, Mimi & Grandbob! 

Reading with Mimi

Swinging!

Yes.  I'm a weirdo.  But I thought this was a cool picture.

Grandbob doing the swing countdown - fun stuff.

First taste of coffee.  Psych.  They thought they were so big drinking water out of these cups though!