Naughty List

So this Holiday season, we incorporated The Elf on the Shelf into our household. For those that have never heard of it, here is how it works: There is a book called The Elf on the Shelf that comes with a little elf. The story tells children how their elf sits in their home and watches their behavior and listens to their wishes. Each night, he flies to see Santa and gives his reports, good and bad. He then returns to the house and finds a new place to sit and watch. Rules: You can talk to him but he can't talk back, kids can't touch him or his magic will go away and he can't go to Santa. Our elf, Andy, has been quite effective and the girls have fun trying to find his new hiding spot each morning. However, a few days ago, Cupcake yelled at him as she was on her way to timeout for the millionth time that day, "Andy, don't look at me". Yesterday, we went to visit Santa at the mall. Both girls were very excited. When our turn came, Sweetie Pie jumped right on his lap and Cupcake proceeded to pull apart all the snow (cotton) on the display (right in front of Santa) She refused to stop so Brett had to pull her away kicking and screaming. Enough that a mall security guard came over and asked if she was okay. MYOB Today, my mom sent me a link to a website, Portable North Pole. I was able to create a personalized video for each girl. The video was amazing! Santa actually says their names and references personal information. He opens his book and shows them their "page" in his book. I was able to upload their pictures so they could see their name and face in his book. They were amazed! Sweetie Pie got a great report from Santa and was told to keep up the great job. Cupcake was told she was on the naughty watch list and that she needs to try harder if she wants a surprise from Santa. She looked at me like I was a traitor for revealing to Santa that she was naughty. I blamed Andy. After watching the video, Cupcake goes to her toy box and pulls out the envelope that we made to give to Santa yesterday. She asked me to give it to Santa and tell him she is better. I told her I would and finished what I was doing. I didn't even look in it until just a few minutes ago. She stuffed it full of her Cinderella doll jewelry. Great, my child is trying to bribe Santa. She knows more about the real world than I have given her credit for. Final note, take a moment and imagine what I am in for when this girl turns 16. Now stop rolling on the floor laughing and go about your day.

Happy 3rd Birthday!

We survived! Our very sweet but very busy girls turned 3 and what a whirlwind it has been! I can tell you that most of the first year of their life is a blur of diapers, feedings, schedules, and lots of oohs and ahhs! Thank goodness I took so many photos to clue me in on what happened. The second year was much better in that we started to get the hang of things and realized we could handle this parenting thing...most of the time. The third year was a blast. They are all about inquiring and exploring. I don't want to say that things have gotten easier but the challenges are different. I love that they can tell me what they are thinking and feeling. I love that they enjoy playing together and play well with other children. I love that they are great sleepers. I love that I have focused so much on nutrition because they are really good eaters and eat a variety of foods. Did I mention that they are good sleepers? ;) I am so thankful to have them in my life because there were times when I truly didn't think it was going to be possible. My heart goes out to the families that continue to struggle with infertility. So the photo, this was taken on their very last night as 2-year-olds and my very last night of having 2 2-year-olds. We were putting them to bed when Cupcake asked if she could sleep with Sweetie Pie. Normally, Sweetie Pie really appreciates her very own bed and prefers to only have animals stuffed with fluff keep her company. On this night, she agreed and they slept together. My heart melted as I listened to my sweet girls giggling and being silly in their bed until they fell asleep. They slept like this all night along with their many Georges and Taggies! Happy 3rd Birthday, Sweetie Pie and Cupcake!

Where are you Christmas?

Wow, the holiday season really snuck up on me! We had such a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving dinner at my Aunt's house. She had a dvd of some old home movies and it was so fun watching them but also sad because it made me realize how much I miss my Papa Mainard and how I wish Brett could have known him. He was so funny and laid back and really was so much fun to be around. I don't ever remembering him being grumpy or impatient with me. On that note, Grandma was a real peach for Thanksgiving. She really is such a sugar cube! ;) My Papa would have just thought it was so neat that we had twins and he would have loved seeing all our kids running around and playing. I get sad thinking about how they will not get to hear his Donald Duck voice or sit on his lap and try to straighten his broken finger.

So Thanksgiving night, I braved the crowds with two of my friends, M and A, and waited in line at Toys R Us for the doorbusters. We got everything we wanted and were out of the store by 10:30pm. We even got up enough nerve to brave Walmart and had a successful trip there. I was out all day on Friday shop, shop, shopping and finished most of my Christmas and Birthday shopping! Yay, me! With that said, I am patiently awaiting my Christmas Spirit to set in. I thought the red cups at Starbuck's would do it but not so far. Last night, we started putting up Christmas decorations. The girls were so excited to see the Christmas tree. We started a new holiday season tradition by reading "The Elf on the Shelf". After much debate, we named him Andy. (Cupcake wanted to call him Santa, Sweetie Pie wanted to call him Elf, Brett wanted to call him Hakeem and I wanted Fritz) We decided on Andy because Toy Story is one of their favorite movies. Today, when the girls woke up, Andy had "found" his way to the top of the microwave and is quietly writing his report for Santa. It's not looking good for the ladies so far!

Last year after Christmas, Brett was such a helper and took all my garland and ornaments off the railings and put them away for me. While going through the bins of Christmas stuff this year, I found a Target bag filled with the ornaments from the railings with a wadded up paper towel on top of it. Nice wrapping job, my love! Nothing was broke but Seriously?!?!

Happy Birthday, Brett!

This weekend was Brett's birthday weekend. I really like to make his birthdays special for him because I know it is difficult for him to be away from his family on special days like this. This year was even more fun because the girls really got in on the fun. They picked out their own cards for him and helped me pick the gift bag (Toy Story). We practiced singing Happy Birthday when he wasn't home even though as soon as he got home, Cupcake would ask him if he wanted her to sing Happy Birthday to him. Last night, we had dinner at PF Chang's with our friends and then came back to house and had a blast playing board games, drinking and shaking our groove things playing Just Dance 2 on the Wii. Brett had a bit too much fun last night so we had to cancel our scheduled visitors today. This morning I had the girls sneak downstairs with me to get his cake (we get him a Carvel Ice Cream Cake every year). They helped me write Happy Birthday on it and put the candles in it. We sang Happy Birthday and had ice cream cake for breakfast! Well, Cupcake, Brett and I had ice cream, Sweetie Pie had yogurt because, "I not like ice cream, it's yucky". Brett was able to do a webcam with his parents and then my parents came over for dinner. Brett got to do his favorite things, eat and watch football, all day!

Money Card

Cupcake and Sweetie Pie are eating lunch at the island when Cupcake starts going through the pile of mail sitting next to her. She comes across a thank you note that I got from my friend for the shower gift I had given her. Cupcake says, "Look, Daddy, a card for me". Brett tells her the card was for me from my friend. Cupake opens it and says,"Oh no, it doesn't have any money in it". Thank you, Grammy for convincing my children that every card we receive should contain a gold dollar. :) It should be really interesting once the Holiday cards start rolling in.

Christmas Wish Lists

So Brett and I are thinking of getting the girls either a ride on car or big girl bikes for Christmas this year. We went to Toys R Us tonight to let them sit on the bikes to see what size they would need and to see if they could handle pedaling them. Sweetie Pie was worried more about which hat (helmet) she was going to wear and Cupcake only wanted the bike that had the seat on the back for her baby doll. We walked over to the cars and Cupcake went straight for the four wheeler. I told her, "Cupcake, if we get you one of these cars, we have to get one with two seats so you and your sister can ride in it". After that, before she would get in any of the cars, she would count (out loud) how many seats and then say, "Yes, this has two seats, one for me and one for sissy". Awww! On another note, these cars are unbelievable! They have working radios, stitched leather seats and mp3 hookups. Are you kidding me? This year is going to be so much fun with them. They get so excited and for the past two weeks, Sweetie Pie has been walking around with the Toys R Us and Target Toy Books like they are her personal play books. She looks through them over and over and says, "Mommy, I need that or I want that". Obviously, we can't get them everything they want but now I get the struggle parents have because, of course, I WANT to get them everything their little hearts desire. I believe that spoiled is less about the actual size or cost or number of possessions, but more about my children's attitude toward gifts and material things. Are they thankful and appreciate the things or are they demanding and throw fits if they don't get what they want? The struggle is finding a balance and also making sure we teach them to appreciate the "things" they do have and to understand the most important "things" aren't material things.

Garbage Day

Mondays are garbage day in our neighborhood. After Christmas last year I got a greater appreciation for the job that our garbage men do every week. It's freezing cold in the winter and boiling hot in the summer and they have to haul other people's trash. in our case, they get the added bonus of double the poopy diapers. So after seeing the huge amount of trash we had last Christmas and seeing our neighbors' garbage, I started to feel bad for the guys. They were nice guys, if I was out there with the girls, they would make the basket go up and down for them. I noticed that one day, they would take their afternoon break along our fence so I started bringing them hot chocolate in the winter and lemonade or ice water in the summer if I was home when they came by. All of a sudden, one day I notice they are taking their break across the street by my our neighbor's house. What?!?! What did I do? Not that we were best friends forever but I thought we had made a connection. I know darn well my neighbor isn't bringing them goodies, he can't even bring his sprinkler in, pretty sure he isn't sharing his delicious hot chocolate (with marshmallows) with them! I told Brett my dilemma and he thinks it's hysterical. He says I am my "Mother's Daughter" getting upset about something silly like that. I am not going to lose sleep over it but it does bug me seeing them chew the fat across the street. We'll see if they change their tune come January when it is 12 degrees outside without the windchill. They will be begging me for hot chocolate and I will just have to say, sorry fellas, I gave it all to the street cleaner.