Factory Tour

To kill some time before the ball dropped, Nick took the girls to a candy factory to see how candy canes are made.  The only thing they told me about it was that the candy canes were too spicy.  

Spa Day

Norah and Etta have spent so much time together over the last few weeks that they are really starting to bug each other, so Nick and I decided it was time to divide and conquer.  Etta chose a date to the Museum of Nature and Science and for Thai food with Nick, and Norah chose a trip to the American Girl store with me.  Neither of us really knew what to expect, and both of us were pretty overwhelmed by the experience.  Amazingly, she never asked to buy anything, but I did notice how drawn she was to the doll spa (who knew such a thing existed?), so I offered to get Mary Ellen's hair braided.  Norah was transfixed as she watched the doll stylist.

Fondue!

Goose Christmas

We celebrated Goose Christmas last night and enjoyed ourselves so much that we didn't take pictures - except of our two newest family members: Mary Ellen and Kit.  We'll have to thank Goose Santa later for initiating us into the world of American Girl dolls.  While Etta's still not so sure about the whole thing, Norah dove in head first.  We're already reading about Mary Ellen in her book.  As Nick said when he first saw the dolls, "Our lives will never be the same."  

Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful, relaxing Christmas morning.  The girls didn't rustle until almost seven, and when they did, we heard them run straight for the front room even though they're supposed to come get us first.  It turns out they were checking to see if Santa had eaten his snacks (he had).  Once we all got to the front room, they were most excited that everyone got puffs and yogurt drops in their stockings (a treat usually reserved for Julia).  While Julia snacked, the girls opened the gifts they picked out and purchased for each other at the Dollar Store.  Norah loved her orange mermaid, and Etta immediately tried out her Little Mermaid night light.  They know each other so well!  I donned the headbands and necklaces they lovingly made for me.  Then, we ripped the wrapping paper from the windows and appreciated the fruit of the elves labor: a playset for the backyard.  Unfortunately, it was a pretty frigid morning, so they didn't play outside long, but they are excited about the rock wall, tire swing, rope ladder, bars, swings and slide.  I can't wait for the weather to get nicer, so they can really enjoy it!  

Christmas Eve

Thanks to Kim we have the first-ever photos of my kids on Christmas Eve!  Thanks to Joma they were in cute, matching dresses!  We had a great church service, and the kids loved singing "Silent Night" in candlelight.  Then, we went to Steuben's for the tenth year for Christmas eve dinner (including Etta's first-ever "milk of flight").  And, for the sixth year, Popos took the kids home to set out snacks for Santa (water, toast with almond butter, and yogurt) and tuck into bed.

Unsilent Night

Last night, we participated in an "un-caroling" event at the church where we walked around the neighborhood and let our devices (phones, boom boxes, etc.) corporately create the "sound sculpture."  Since it was a pretty balmy December evening, it was a nice excuse for a walk downtown.  The girls thought it was a nice excuse for hot chocolate and Chex mix.

Well-Child Check

Etta had her well-child check this morning.  She pretty much refused to participate in the eye exam (saying "My don't know" for every symbol that she very much knows).  Other than that, it was a good exam.  Her current stats are:

Height: 37.5 inches (62%)

Weight: 31 pounds (54%)

A Strange, Strange Occurrence

On the way home from church today, I went by Safeway to grab a loaf of bread for communion at tonight's service and a salad for lunch.  Since I only had a couple of items, I didn't want to waste a bag and told the check-out clerk I would just carry the items out.  I didn't give it another thought until about twenty minutes after I got home when three police officers arrived at my door in three separate cop cars.  Apparently, the security guards at Safeway saw me walk out with items and called the police with my license plate number which is how they tracked me to my house.  Incredulously, I showed them my receipt, told them I bought bread for communion and asked if they wanted to see it.  After checking out the receipt, they said I was good, but then sat in their cars for another thirty minutes.  I assume they were filing their report from the car because eventually they drove away.  It was a strange, strange afternoon.  

Wild Morning at Church

Thanks to Joma the girls have matching dresses for every Sunday in Advent!  This week we went wild with animal print.  

Elves at Work

Last weekend, Santa texted Nick saying that the girls' gift would take a while for the elves to assemble and that we needed to cover the windows to give them time to work on it.  Every once in a while, we hear the elves out back working with their drills and hammers.  

Rub a Dub, Dub

Screen Time

Far less exciting than the Frozen sleeping bag, we gave Etta a laptop (very, very old) for her birthday.  In addition to a few games and Word so she can type her name, we also made a shortcut to Netflix.  She was so excited to watch Daniel Tiger on her own computer this morning.  

Our Big Three-Year-Old

I can't tell you how much fun it was to take today off and celebrate Etta's third birthday.  That little sprout is so full of life - everything is ecstasy or tragedy for her, and today was all ecstasy.  Since she and Norah chose to have a joint party at the Aquarium in January, we just celebrated as a small family.  Our first order of birthday business was making and decorating cupcakes.  Since Carter slept over last night, he joined us for the baking, and when Kim came to pick him up, she brought donuts and balloons.  Etta chose to spend the morning at the Aquarium and to invite Nana and Popos, and when they came to pick us up, they also brought donuts.  Everyone knows Etta so well!  For dinner, Etta chose the local trattoria because she loves that they serve oil and vinegar with the bread and that they have "spicy noodles" (creamy sausage rigate - it's delicious).  She capped off her celebration by opening presents - the highlight was the Frozen sleeping bag in the Frozen backpack - and eating cupcakes.  I can't believe my cupcake is three!