Merry New Year!

Party hardy.

Should I be concerned?

Harper using her tummy as a template for her sticker art.


Using their bodies as a canvas seems to be an ongoing trend.

Get your horns up

Harper just hit an important (in Austin) developmental milestone. Hook 'em.



We might have found this a little too entertaining. Lucy couldn't quite do it yet. And took it pretty hard. And then Lucy being sad made Harper sad too. That is one cool thing about twins, they have good empathy for others.

Bowls full of Jelly

The girls were showing off their super-full bellies after a big dinner + yogurt and fruit dessert. I thought it was a big bowl they would never finish, but they both polished it off.

A week of not working out has made me feel like a bowlful of jelly myself.

The familymobile

Merry Christmas!

We made it to church last night, though Harper kept saying "My ready go home now."

We made cookies for santa, and put out our reindeer food before bed. Santa is a good motivator, "girls, you need to go to sleep so Santa can come." Today on I'll have to go back to enforceable threats.

The girls love their dollhouse and babydoll sets (stroller, travel chair, bassinet, the works). We haven't even opened our presents because they won't stop playing with what they have.

Jenny 3ish?

I wish I had that dress for the girls.

Harper looked at the picture and said "Harper!"

Cookie man house

Today we worked on our Gingerbread house, or Cookieman house as Harper calls it.

Getting started


I love what looks like a disabled reindeer on the roof


The finished project

High heels

Jessica got the girls a tupperware bin full of dress up accessories, including these princess shoes. Harper walks in them quite well with tiny clacking steps. I have video that I hope I can post soon.

I park my Aerostar...

Its official. We're losers. Yesterday we put a deposit on a Honda Odyssey. It is a nice 2007 with low mileage and a good pricetag.

Several weeks ago, my VW Passat, the symbol of my post-MBA pre-baby days of financial and personal independence, died on Mopac. Like the repairs cost more than the car is worth. So we donated it to the SPCA. Greg's '96 Trooper needs a significant investment to keep it running, and its not fit to carry the girls (no rear airbags) so Greg also is also bidding farewell to a companion on many road trips and good times. Trading it in for a minivan.

I have to say its a perfect toddler transport system. The doors slide open. No more dirty looks from the car owners next to me as I try to juggle a door and two toddlers. I can just whisk them both in there and then worry about car seats. We can now go places with the children AND luggage AND the dog. We might even be able to drive a friend somewhere. Revolutionary.

Yet... several friends have cried "oh no!" when I declared I wanted a minivan. Friends with SUVs. Apparently minivans are not cool. The minivan got a bad rep in the 80s when it was the symbol of family mobile. And Neil Young wrote about Aerostars. But in the 70s it was the station wagon. And I have a station wagon. And I don't see the advantage of a large SUV. Its not safer. I would have to open doors and heave the girls up into it. Gas mileage isn't better. And its not less expensive. Its a good choice if want to tow a boat. Which we don't. Or if you just don't want to drive a minivan.

Enjoying books

Thanks Grammy for the new books for Christmas!

Equal opportunity

The twins like toolbelts as well as tutus.

Bossy

Yesterday, H&L got Hershey kisses from their advent calendars. Happily, L settled herself on the sofa. Mommy was harshing her mellow by threatening her to eat it immediately (she likes to hoard), "if you get chocolate on the sofa, no more kisses."

She stuffed them in her mouth and looked at me and said, "Mommy, go get dressed." and pointed to my room (I was in my bathrobe). Ouch. She is just like me.

Santa - still evil in 2008

With Santa 2008


With Santa 2007


More mobile means they wouldn't get as close and moved further away more quickly. Carrying on the tradition of emotionally scarring the girls.

Hollah at your boy!

Somewhere in my car there is a toy from a Happy Meal that we bought on the car ride to Florida. It is a zebra from the movie Madagascar II. I didn't even see Madagascar I, so I'm not sure what his deal is, but he seems to be light activated and jive talking. Lately, when I turn corners I can hear "Holla at your boy! You guys are crazy!" in Chris Rock's voice.

I have to say this is a big improvement on the "MOOOOO" sounds I hear when I sometimes walk through the toy room. Stop judging me, farm animal puzzle!

Get your ballerina on

This morning Lucy and Harper wanted to put on their ballerina costumes. As I was pulling on Lucy's leotard she said, "Daddy, my getting my ballerina on." They got their ballerina on all right. And wings, and boas and pom pons.

The prima donas



Getting down




accessorizing

Brrrrr

Its been cold here today. We went to school with hoods on.





And I got a classic shot of Harper's "funny face"

Better

We have been doing much better at our house. Lucy recovered quickly. Harper had a lot of night waking and a bad diaper rash we've attributed to 2 year molars. Poor thing.

Sick day

Lucy has been running a slight fever and vomited once last night. Thankfully just once. I had all the blankets, towels and extra pjs set out for a night of it, but it looks like I got of easy.

I did start getting a raging sore throat and painful ear/tonsil thing. We are taking it easy today. Went to the store to get chicken and dumplings makings and picked up Walle at Blockbuster.