Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve - do you know where your kids are? To assure a safe New Year's for ours, we agreed (in a weak and senseless moment) to let Bailey have a couple friends sleep over for New Year's Eve. Although her friends are great girls - smart, personable, fun-loving, polite....they are, afterall... 6th graders (sigh). This means the evening was filled with OBNOXIOUS squeals and yells, running up and down the stairs, spilled M&Ms, countless cans of caffeine, innocent baby sister smotherings, party horn blowing, which began HOURS before Midnight in any U.S. time zone. Poor Sadie howled (or was it a moan?)- a moaning howl every time they blew those #$% horns.
They finally settled down to watch some of Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year (and Ryan Seacrest - it's called HAPPY New Year, ABC...not shove a dull needle into my eye socket Eve - sheesh). Shwew - they were quiet and the giggling had subsided to a dull murmur heard through the heating vents. Oh - but wait! Now only one minute left until the ball would drop in NYC! Now I heard SCREAMING from downstairs - and more horn blowing. And then the counting began in whatever the opposite of unison is in this context. 60, 59, 58... (OMG - they were counting the ENTIRE last minute of the year!). By now - I was letting out a moaning howl right along with Sadie.

Finally - 2007 arrived on the East Coast and three minutes later the horns ceased to blow, the screams stopped and peace resumed in our basement. I decided to go check on the girls and take a couple more pictures before the memory card was full. (I let them take their own pictures at one point - be sure to see some of these below).

A COMPLETE DISASTER ZONE!!! But - three pre-teen girls are still getting along after many, many hours together - and having lots of fun. So I guess that's the measure of success in a situation like this.

Here's to 2006 - what a great year it was....and to 2007 - that it may be another year filled with good health, good friends and 365 days of joy and laughter. Happy New Year!

Dora Dancin'

Lauren's Dance Grooves

Bustin' a move to the Backyardigan's theme song.

Merry Christmas 2006

Well, I couldn't get them posed in front of the Christmas tree - but they are both smiling. Good 'nuff.

Christmas EXCiPodMENT

If Bailey had any hope she might get an iPod for Christmas this year, it was gone after opening her gifts this year. Lots of wonderful things - but no iPod. But wait - one large box remains - and it is for Bailey. But it couldn't be an iPod because the box is big. And they cost too much - and her parents would NEVER buy her one - even though "everyone" has one. Christmas miracle DO happen though - and the proof? Santa brought Bailey an iPod for Christmas!!! (parents are suckers for seeing surprise and joy in their daughter's faces Christmas morning). See reaction below:

The Christmas Box

Eight THOUSAND new toys for Christmas - and here she is...playing with a BOX?!#$

Ho, Ho, Ho...Merry Christmas!!

After weeks of anticipation, today we FINALLY took Lauren to the mall to see Santa. We strategically planned our trip to NOT coincide with a) naptime; b) meal or snack time and c) a time when every other little rugrat was in line to tell the old bearded man what they want, want, want this year for Christmas. I am happy to say we were successful!

No line and all of the time we wanted with Santa. Lauren was AMAZED. She has been saying "Santa" around the house and "Ho, Ho, Ho" (but never on command). She watched from outside the gate for awhile and then when we entered the Santa area, she toddled right up to the big guy in the red suit and hopped right up on his lap. In true Lauren style, she didn't smile much - but was VERY curious. We know she liked him though because he gave her not one toy - but TWO....one for each tiny little fist. And that's JUST the way she likes things - whether it is a cracker, a toy - whatever...one for each hand, please.

Where is big sister Bailey, you ask? MUCH too cool to be seen at the MALL with SANTA! Not even for a quick picture. Maybe if Santa hadn't been sitting right outside of the beloved Aeropostale we might have had a chance.

Merry Christmas!