Daddy Jungle Gym

We now have a tradition in our house - it's called "Daddy Jungle Gym Time", and it comes after dinner nearly every Monday and Wednesday night before Daddy has to go to his MBA classes. It's a welcome 30-45 minute respite for Mom, and it's a great time for the girls and Daddy, who spend their time listening to loud country music, "stomping guts," climbing all over Daddy and generally just roughhousing. The other day I got some great pictures of their escapades.

Fun in Rankin

We've recently made several trips to Rankin, and had lots of fun visiting with Ma, who always provides plenty of popsicles and plays outdoors with the girls to their hearts' content. Nothing is better for a three year old and near-two year old!

Superheroes

Anna decided a couple weeks ago to become Superman (I think she hears a lot about him from the boys in her class), and of course Megan wanted to join in. Here are their adventures:

Finally!

So, I'm a little behind on posting (!), so bear with me - this is not going to be chronological, but at least I'm going to get caught up!

Jimmy and I went on a cruise to the Bahamas a few weeks ago and had an amazing time, thanks to Nunny, Ma, Mimi and Pops who kept the girls for us. We slept, ate, and relaxed like we haven't in years, and so enjoyed ourselves. What a great trip - we're now desperately trying to come up with a way to go again!

The view off our patio in Miami

Atlantis in Nassau

New camera!

For Christmas, my parents gave me the best gift - a Nikon D60 SLR, which I have been using so much lately that Anna told me the other day to "take it off my face." (!) But how can I resist when I have such a fun toy to play with and the most beautiful subjects in the world all day long to photograph? Here are some recent photos of our exploits:

I'm in love with the way this camera photographs hair - and of course, the girl who owns the hair I'm photographing :)

If you'll check out Anna's (Jimmy's) right boot, it's decorated to the hilt with glitter stickers

Bathtub time for Meggy, who seems to be taking smiling lessons from her big sister

I asked them to splash, and I definitely got what I asked for

Megan's hair refuses to stay down - she has a constant cowlick these days. I find it utterly precious and take as many pictures of it as possible - and who can resist those eyelashes?

The best photograph of the bunch

Tonight Anna gave me the best gift ever - she was grocery shopping in the playroom, and talking to herself. I asked her what she was doing with her big basket of alphabet cards in the grocery store, and she told me that they are her coupons! Mommy couldn't be more proud!

We have been going through my old kid jewelry lately, and Anna has been pronouncing everyone "late" or that it is "closing time"

Megan learned how to play ring around the rosy in Musikgarten a couple weeks ago, so we had to teach Anna. Now we do it at least 300 times a day!

As far as photographic quality, this is my favorite - I'm just amazed by the detail (and isn't she beautiful?!?)

Christmastime

I just love Christmas. Jimmy knows when I'm getting into the Christmas spirit because I start listening to Christmas music around Halloween or earlier! It's especially enjoyable this year with the girls being old enough to really be excited about all of the presents and Christmas tree, but also the meaning behind Christmas, as well.

We went to visit Santa on Saturday and Megan warmed up to him immediately (she's such a ham!) Anna couldn't be convinced to come close enough for a pic, though.

We had snow in Midland earlier this week, so I followed my mom's cue and made snow ice cream! The girls loved it, though I realized after they ate almost all of it that I forgot the vanilla - oh well, next time!

Meggy having fun in the snow

Our Santa babies

Anna had quite a fabulous time making snow angels

Anna really likes to layer clothes right now - so I thought I would show you one of her ensembles. Nice blouse, black pants, and pink jean short overalls. She just looks so dang cute, though, that you can't help but help her put it on!

Megan couldn't stay awake long enough to help us put up our tree last weekend, so she was quite excited to see all the decorations when she woke up the next morning.

Anna helping Daddy put on the star

Anna and Megan have their very own tiny Christmas tree all to themselves this year!

Halloween for a whole week!

We have been lucky to get to celebrate Halloween for a whole week this year, starting with this weekend's birthday party for Parker (the girls got to dress up), the neighborhood Halloween festival Saturday evening, and the church Fall Festival on Sunday evening. This Thursday we've got Anna's school Pumpkin Party, and then it's trick-or-treating on Saturday evening. WOW! Luckily, we have really fun costumes this year that Anna at least loves being in - Megan's just not a costume girl. Thought you all might like to see some early pictures of Sulley and Mike Wazowski...

Megan is a serious horse lover - something we didn't know until we got to the Fall Festival at church on Sunday and she about had a baby heart attack if we took her away from the ponies. We rode them at least 15 times...too cute!

She is also a serious artist - and not being biased at all, I'm pretty amazed at how advanced she is in her scribbling ability!

Mike Wazowski

Sulley riding a swing. Anna loves her costume, so we have had a hard time convincing her that everyone doesn't wear their costumes all the time. To her, being Sulley is just part of waking up in the morning!

And here they are, that indomitable duo, in the only picture I have been able to snap of the two of them fully garbed!

I also wanted to share a couple new(ish) videos with you - one of Megan walking, which she has been doing for about 6 weeks now and I've just been lazy in putting it up. It's been so fun to see how excited both Anna and Megan are that she can walk - it makes playing so much more fun! The second video is of Anna "reading" The Napping House, one of her favorite books. She really likes to read to me now, which I think is endlessly entertaining. I know that all of her words aren't easily caught by people who aren't around her all the time, so some main phrases she says from the books are "In the Napping House, where everyone (or at the end, no one) is sleeping." She also talks about the characters - the Granny, the child, the dog, the cat, the mouse, etc.