Jill's blog

A Hole in the Head

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Finally! Ryan lost his first tooth! February 15, 2009. Since he is so cash-motivated and intrigued by the Tooth Fairy, he will probably start working on the rest of them as soon as possible! And unlike his sister, I did not knock his tooth out. He was sitting on the couch playing his Nintendo DS and bumped it out with his tongue! I don't know why, but I feel a little sad he's lost a tooth. I remember when that tooth came in!!! The kids keep growing up whether I like it or not!

Happy Valentine's Day

Was the picture all gray?

The kids are up early for a Sunday, and over in the living room watching Tom & Jerry. I could hear music from it and it is an old episode, the one where Tom is dressed in a tuxedo and giving a piano concert. Jerry is inside the piano getting smacked around by the moving parts inside. I'm not sure of the song, but it's something classical. Anyway, I just casually walked in there and said, "I saw this one when I was a kid." Ryan's like, "yeah, I've already seen it, too." But then I said, "yes, but I saw it when I was a kid, like 30 years ago." So Riley's response: "was the picture all gray????" Nice. Nothing like having your kids remind you on a daily basis that you are OLD.

Twins: Built-in friends

 

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A lot of times they fight, but they still have tons of these twin moments. Who knows what sets it off? This particular giggle fit started with them quoting the "Angels with Filthy Souls" movie that showed in Home Alone. And who knew that was even that funny, but they ended up in a heap. Music to our ears!

 

Pals

Cookie Dork

Or Cookie Lady, or to be more exact, Troop Cookie Manager. Yes, I volunteered to be the TCM for Riley's Brownie troop! I don't always get to help out at her troop meetings because of work, so I took a short-term assignment which is right up my alley. I mean, what's not to love about being the cookie manager? There's all sorts of forms, and organizing, and coordinating dates, and a kickoff party, and 2-PART RECEIPTS for goodness sake!!!!!! It's like playing cookie store. I can't wait. I got to go to a training meeting last week, and I sat right in the front row, taking tons of notes, nodding my head along with the lady as she talked. Sadly, not everyone in attendance was as enthusiastic as me. Some were downright cranky about it. When the leader asked if anyone had any questions, this one gal said, "um, are we going to finish by 6?" Didn't she know I would have gladly sat there all night to listen about all those important dates, and where to pick up the cookies, and that they come 12 boxes to a case, and that the troop gets 65 cents of every 4 dollar box, and that Operation Thin Mint sends ALL the cookies to the soldiers, not just Thin Mints?????

Truly exciting. It's like a dream come true! Long live the Cookie Mom!

Christmas Greetings

Christmas Card

Our 2008 greeting to all!

Digital scrapping is so much fun and has become one of my favorite hobbies. Thanks to Ginger for introducing it to me!

Credits: Papers & Alpha from "Gingerbread Lane" by Laura Deacetis for Shabby Pickle. Crystal snowflake by Lisa Hanks for Southern Creek Designs. Frame by Gina Miller Designs. Ribbon by Golden Girls Designs. Font: Pea Cammi. Tag by...I can't remember. If I figure it out I will duly credit that person!

We Wii

Wii

Yes, we Wii! We gave the kids their Christmas present today so that we could set it up and learn how to use it and not overshadow Christmas day. They played their little hearts out at soccer and then we came home and surprised them with their gift. Needless to say that's all that we have been doing since!

 

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Actually, what we have been doing since is "press A, no B, no stop pointing it at the Christmas tree, no it's my turn, can we play a different game????" Practice makes perfect, or maybe it makes us hate each other! 

Christmas Fierce & Fabulous

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Since when do 6 year olds "strike a pose" in favor of "cheese?" Their childhood is flashing before my eyes! We were on our way out and I asked if I could have a picture of them in front of the tree. I got Sassafras and her brother, Tough Guy. Doesn't seem that long ago that we had to put the play yard gate in front of it so they wouldn't eat the ornaments!

 

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Happy Saturday!

Our Elf on the Shelf

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This year we began our Elf on the Shelf tradition--thanks Mom! Introducing Wally, who is just about the cutest little guy ever. Our own personal Elf who pops up here and there each day to keep an eye on things and make sure the twins stay on Santa's Nice list.  If you have never seen this, check out the Elf on the Shelf website. While the kids think this is a magical creature who was sent personally from Santa, you can also pick one up at your local Hallmark! He allegedly reports back to Santa each night and comes back to the house to a different spot to watch the day's events. (However, when you go out to a Christmas party and come back extremely late, sometimes the Elf stays in the same spot and forgets to move--oops!) His little pixie face and sweet expression make me laugh out loud. I've taken a bunch of pictures of him, too. I can't help it.

A Month!

I'm back after no posts for a month! Wish I could say I have been traveling through Europe or sitting on a beach somewhere. Days turn into weeks that just keep going and going. We are enjoying Christmas preparations--shopping, driving through the local neighborhoods to see all the lights & attending a few parties. The weather has finally turned cool, the kids have begun wearing jeans instead of shorts, and my UGG boots came out for the season. Now Christmas is only a week away!

Last year I bought a gingerbread house kit for the kids and never got around to bringing it out--so it made its debut on Sunday. Riley had a blast sprucing it up and eating the year-old candy--nothing could stop her!

 

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Ryan kind of lost interest after he realized the candy was only to go on the gingerbread house, so he sat nearby and played his Nintendo DS.

 

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I need to go prep my cheesy potato casserole for our office potluck tomorrow, so I will leave you with this picture of the kids that was a part of our Christmas card!

Giggly kids