This is Christmas

Our stake is hosting a nativity display for the weekend and Chopper and I took the girls today as part of our Christmas advent calendar activities.  And that's a whole other story!  The cultural hall was beautifully decorated and there were so many nativities!  They had a scavenger hunt for kids to do (which we didn't), but some of the items on there were to find nativities made of walnuts, wooden blocks, and duct tape.  Very clever that one, it didn't even look like duct tape!  Of course I couldn't resist taking pictures of the myriad of nativity quilts that were on the walls.  Now I know what my mission is in preparation for next Christmas -- a nativity quilt!

 They also had a life-size stable set up in one corner that was really nice . . . 

And they also had a children's room with nativities that the kids could play with, a cute and simple manger craft, and a spot set up to sit and read Christmas books.  Of course Megan's favorite thing was the teeny tiny sheep.  She kept asking to go back to that!  

I love these reminders of what Christmas is really about!

A flurry of activity . . . but no snow.

On the contrary, we've had really beautiful weather this week.  Good thing too because Grandma Gasser came to visit from Michigan and it's pretty cold up there so it was nice for her to have a break!  But with only 4 days to spend together, we have been busy!

 We spent a day in Grapevine, Texas which is apparently the Christmas capitol of Texas and I have to say it just might be the Christmas capitol  of a lot more than that!  Every single store had a decorated Christmas tree outside and decorations inside.  Every single little park or square was decked out -- this one with various little houses featuring carolers, elves, polar bears . . . all things winter and Christmas.

 We had a great time browsing cute little shops and admiring Christmas decor.  In fact, we liked it so much that the next day we went back at night for the Christmas parade!  It was packed!  And actually really warm too.  I wish I had some better pictures of the lights and the floats but unless you have a darn good camera (which I don't -- not THAT good), those night pictures just don't come out.  But it was spectacular.

 Yesterday we went to the zoo -- yes in shirtsleeves.  I'm not trying to brag really, it's been quite the adjustment for me and so far I am loving it!  Megan actually fed the birds and got the biggest kick out of them eating the seeds off her stick.

 After this one bird pecked her clean, she tried giving the stick to other birds but they weren't fooled.  They knew there was nothing left.

 So we fed some fish instead . . .

 Made sure to pet the goats . . . 

 Took a ride on the monorail (with Abby going for the camera) -- and where were the ZOO animals you ask?

 Well here's one.  This giraffe really wanted Megan's leaf . . .

 But he couldn't have it.

 Of course we lions, gorillas, zebras, elephants -- all the good stuff, and not just on the carousel.  You've probably seen all of those things and don't need me to prove it to you with pictures.  But we had a good time.

 Abby is doing fabulous in the movement department -- still going backwards though -- but loving it just like she loves pretty much everything else in life.

 And we spent time wrestling and flying with Grandpa.  I think that Megan is winning.

We're a little sad to see them go tomorrow but really very grateful that they are able to come and visit us.  Especially at this time of year.  It has really started our holiday season off right!

It's About Time!

I am happy to report that after days and days of drooling, snotting, and chewing, and after several false alarms, Abby has finally sprouted her first tooth.  You can feel the sharp edge poking out of her gums so we know that this time, it really is official!

Just Because

 It's been a week since my last post and I feel like it's been too long!  So I guess I don't have anything really special, just a few everyday things.  First, Megan has discovered candy canes.  Notice that the tree is decorated with candy canes.  We'll see how long that lasts . . . 

 I've been trying to get good pictures of the girls for Christmas.  Unfortunately, Abby is starting to take a page out of Megan's book and only smile when you go to great lengths or tickle her.  So I don't know yet what you're getting in our Christmas cards but these may be the only ones we have!

Look at that hair!  Her eyes are turning brown on the insides and her hair is staying a light ashy brown.  That's pretty dark for our family!

 Abby is doing pretty well on her tummy and starting to move a little.  Problem is, it's backwards.  Actually, since we're all decked out for the holidays now, maybe it's not so much of a problem. . . .

 Abby also has the best laugh and is SOOOO ticklish!  But today, it was laughter just to laugh.  I love hearing this!

 Last but not least, this is a little boy we were watching for a friend the other night.  This is why Megan needs friends!  I think they could start a band though -- this kid was so good on the harmonica and drumming on whatever he could drum in my house and Megan?  Well, that's her singing along.  Now we just need a name and a concert venue and we could make some serious money!

Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was delicious!

Amusing Tidbits

Yesterday Megan saw the Dora house that we're saving for . . . something.  We haven't decided if it's going to be Christmas or birthday or when but it's a great playhouse with furniture and Dora the Explorer's complete family that some friends handed down to us.  Chopper left the wrong door open and Megan kept asking for the house.  When I finally figured it out I told her "we can't play with that right now, Mommy can't reach it."  She looked at me and got quiet for a minute and I could literally see the wheels turning in her head.  Then she says, "Can Mommy get a ladder?"  Well how do you argue with that?!?!?!  You tell them the ladder is too heavy that's how.  I hope it gives me enough time for her to forget just a little while longer that it's there . . .

I've been giving Abby Cheerios every now and then.  Yesterday she figured out that she likes them.  I had dumped a few on her tray for her to play with while we finished dinner and she was trying so hard to get those Cheerios in her mouth.  The problem is, she can get them in, but hasn't quite figured out how to release once they 're in there.  Hopefully that milestone isn't too long in coming or she'll be one frustrated girl!

Explorations

The old Children's Aquarium is reopening and are running special prices for November's sneak peak month so we decided to take a trip.  It's a cute little aquarium but the neatest thing was the location -- right in Fair Park with the Cotton Bowl Stadium, the Texas Star Ferris Wheel, and all the museums are housed in beautiful old Art Deco buildings.  I think that exploring the area was better than the museum! 

 Megan can be really cute when she thinks you're not watching . . . 

 But of course the minute you ask her to smile, that's the end of that.  Chopper did though!

 A lagoon / playground area in the middle of the park that Megan was fascinated with.  It was really cool though.  And the fir trees were beautiful in their changing colors.

 Another visitor was gracious enough to take our picture.  Megan was not gracious enough to hold still.

 Then she got made because we wouldn't let her ride ON TOP OF the elephant.  Apparently, sitting on the trunk was just not good enough.

 Chopper had to take a picture of the Cotton Bowl stadium.  If we could get tickets when Boise State plays here Chopper would be in heaven.

 This is one massive ferris wheel -- here it's behind the Aquarium building.  I don't think I would ever want to ride this thing.

On the way home we missed our exit and since we were navigating by map it took me a few minutes to get out bearings.  Then I realized that if we continued on the road we were on, we would end up at Bass Pro Shop in Grapevine.  Well, enough said.  So off we went!  Besides being a really nice Bass Pro Shop, they had Santa Claus at his house and free pictures (which Megan refused over and over so I didn't try to make her) and a holiday carousel with reindeer to ride.  It went nice and slow and Megan actually rode it and then asked for more!

 Here's Santa!  Just to say we actually did see him . . . 

Sometimes I Forget She's a Toddler . . .

Because Megan is not your typical toddler.  Playing with buttons was the motivation to get her to start standing on her own.  She hates being messy most of the time.  And she's very very careful and cautious.  But of course she is still a toddler and sometimes it really comes out.

Like when we made these paint sample turkeys that I saw here.  She enjoyed making turkeys but the fun part was putting the beans in the bottle (to make them bottom heavy) and then evolved into putting beans anywhere that she could throw them . . .

 And then feeding them to the turkeys.  Cause hey, we need fat turkeys for Thanksgiving. 

And then of course we had to make Thanksgiving cookies.  But Abby wakes up right in the middle of it so I leave Megan licking a beater and thinking that will occupy her for a few minutes . . . 

I guess it wasn't enough because we had to dump out the flour and then eat that too.

Yup.  She's still a toddler.

I love you THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS much!

Who was that artist who painted the same thing over and over and over until he got it right? Megan is that artist. Either that or she just loves her Grandpa. Because that's all she draws. Ever since Chopper taught her to draw faces, she draws them constantly. Yesterday we rolled out the paper that had been collecting underneath the easel and this is what we've got:

 A kitchen and dining room full of Grandpa portraits.  Because if you ask her who it is, it's always Grandpa.  So one day for kicks, I asked her to draw Grandma thinking it would be the same and she just "says" that it's Grandpa.  Nope.  There is a clear difference:

I'll give you one guess to tell me who Grandpa is and who Grandma is.  And that is her only portrait on these several feet of paper.  Sorry Grandma. 

Oh and as I type this, Megan is in the other room reading The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree.  I know because I'm hearing bits of the story told with the same inflections that I use when I read it -- maybe I can get that on video . . . 

The Spittin' Image (Get it?)

Abby just started talking today.  But it's minimal compared to her favorite thing -- spitting.  Some of you may remember too that Megan at about this age would nod her head yes to every question I asked.  Abby prefers to say no.

Imagination Takes Flight!

I had to hit the after Halloween sales at Target and I couldn't believe how little there was literally the day after!  And their whole Halloween area had already been converted to Christmas!  Megan loves it but I want to have a little Thanksgiving first.

I did score Megan a princess dress for $6.00 and a pair of wings for $1.00.  She won't really wear the dress because it's too long and she doesn't like the feel of always being on the verge of tripping so I need to hem it, but she LOVES LOVES LOVES her wings!  I love watching her play.  I love catching her in her dream world and watching her realize that I'm watching -- the look on her face is great but really it reminds me of when I would play and be "discovered".  Your imagination is just for you I think.

I also finished a quilt for a friend of mine -- I don't think she'll see it here before it arrives in Pocatello (at least I hope not).  I'm sad to see it go because I fell in love with it, but it couldn't go to a better home!

Boo at the Zoo

Ok actually the Dallas Zoo doesn't have "boo at the zoo".  Instead, they do Halloween Nights and the setup for that looked like it would be a lot of fun.  But we had a good time anyway.  The zoo has some great animals and for being a Saturday, there was no one there!  Of course we saw all your typical zoo animals:

 I didn't take a ton of pictures because we found out the camera's battery was dying when we got there.  But they have a lot of areas where you can have an "up close" experience with various animals.  We saw the elephants and the lions that way when they were being fed.  Megan of course is more than willing to sit on any statuary we see (and they have a lot), but refuses to ride the pony around the ring.  They have a fun children's area with barn animals you can pet and a little playground and Megan made a new friend!

We may have to go back periodically to visit him!