Luna Kitty

As some of you know from Facebook, we adopted a new kitten. Her name is Luna and she is absolutely adorable.   As you can see, she had to wear the Cone of Shame (remember Up?) for a little while because she was bugging her stitches where she got spayed.

 

It was pretty funny to watch her try to explore and play with toys with the cone on.  She and Ollie are getting along well. She likes to chase him and it is pretty funny to see a fat old cat run away from a tiny kitten. It's good for him- he's getting really fat!

We adopted her on a Saturday, but she had to get spayed at a local vet before we could bring her home. The girls spent that time creating a "nest' for her- complete with new kitty toys and some donated stuffed animals. EJ and I even found a pink fleece blanket with kittens on it at a thrift store.  For FHE I showed the girls how to make tin foil ball cat toys- the best kitty toys ever!

Birdy and Luna are quickly becoming best friends. Birdy spends all day playing with her, petting her and talking to her. She seems to like her a lot, too. It's great for Birdy to have someone special to play with and help take care of!  EJ likes her lots, too, but she and Birdy are special friends :).  As for Bear, we are just trying to keep him from hitting and/or kicking her.



Adorable blast from the past

I was looking at some old videos and found this one from June 2009 when Birdy was 2.  I love her chubby cheeks and messy hair- I forget how crazy it was all the time!

An important milestone for Bear

Bear has reached an important milestone for every baby. Behold: The "Cheese" face.  Every time he sees a camera, he immediately busts out this, ahem, adorable face and says (approximately) "Cheese".

  



Austin and the Texas State History Museum

On the second-to-last day Grandma and Grandpa were here, we all woke up bright and early to drive to Austin. The drive wasn't too bad, and it was fun to see more of Texas.  We met Grandpa's sister, Aunt Kathy at the Texas State Historical Musuem. It was really, really neat.  Outside is this giant Texas star.

While we were there, we got to see a 3D Imax movies about the ocean and coral reefs. Not much to do with Texas history, but really, really cool. The girls were thrilled and loved the 3D effects (I'm pretty sure this is their first 3D movie- they've only ever done the Toy Story Disney ride at California Adventure...).

You couldn't take any pics inside the museum, but the girls loved looking at the beautiful floor mural in the entrance. It depicts all the diffrent people who have lived here in Texas- Cowboys, Native Americans, Spanish Missionaries and etc.

It was really fun to visit with Aunt Kathy and Uncle Frank. We learned a lot about their ranch and the girls got to hear Uncle Frank's first-hand story of the time he shot a Chupacabra!  EJ also learned about branding cattle and what Uncle Frank's brand looks like.  We really loved visiting and wished we had more time!

Dallas Zoo w/ Grandma and Grandpa K

The weather was BEAUTIFUL for our day at the Dallas Zoo with Grandma and Grandpa K. You can't beat 65 degrees at the end of December!  We had so much fun.  We headed to the big cat encounter first. It was so neat to see the big male lions up close (and these guys aren't even fully grown yet!). At the end they "stood up" and it was very impressive!

We all love the giraffes. Bear was especially interested in them this time and pointed and hooted excitedly at them :) 

 Birdy was wrestling this 'gator "just like big friend Andrew" (remember? her imaginary friend?)

Look! a wild baby in a cage!

EJ made a new penguin friend (shot with DMP's phone)

Grandma and Grandpa K visit Dec 2011

We were so happy and lucky to have Grandma and Grandpa K come vist just after Christmas this year. It was a fun trip filled with presents (lots of presents!), good food, treats and adventures!

The day after they arrived it was like Christmas morning part 2! Then we spent the rest of the day playing with our new toys and visiting Fancy Walmart (one of the Walmart's near us is seriously the fanciest Walmart you will ever see!)

Grandpa wanted to sample all of the good food that we've discovered and we were only too happy to oblige- we had Rosa's tacos, Old Town BBQ (awesome!), a Nick's sandwich and dressing, and Chik-fil-A. We went to the Dallas Zoo, the Dallas Nature and Science Museum, and we even drove to Austin to the Texas State Historical Museum! It was so fun to go to these places that we've never been!

In between the presents, there was lots of cuddling and reading (with everyone, not just Bear. He just sits still longer than his sisters, sometimes!)

And yes, that is the same book he asked everyone to read. He still drags it around the house and it is his "good night" book.

We loved, loved, loved having Grandma and Grandpa visit. It was nice to have a house big enough that we all got our own space, and we all enjoyed soaking up every bit of Grandparent love we could get. We can't wait until we get to see them again!

Christmas 2011



EJ got present passing out duties this year. It's great having a kid who can read so well!



Wow! A Silly Hair LaLa Loopsy! Thanks Aunt Bek!

EJ is thrilled with her new Kaya American Girl doll.

Monster High Dolls! Thanks Aunt Bek!  I think she likes them just a little :)

We let Bear sleep in. He got this light-up spinning bear in his stocking and it was over-  he wasn't interested in any other presents!

Is there anything cuter than a boy in cute jammies playing with cars on his tummy?!?

Spinning bear + long hair

Christmas Jammies

EJ's hair is funky because if we braid it when it is wet, the next day it is funky and wavy (and Huge).

Janie and Jack Jammies- scored these for $8 at our Kid to Kid!

Anyone wanna place bets on how many years it will be before I get a happy, normal looking Christmas Jammie picture?

EJ's Short and Happy Dance Career!

Sorry about the lack of posts lately, friends. We've been busy recovering from Christmas and stuff. I just re-discovered my motivation to do stuff, though.  Just ask DMP who is currently spray-painting bedside tables and some shelves and my family who had to come with me to IKEA. Can't wait to blog about it all!

Shortly after we moved, we enrolled EJ in a combo Jazz, Tap and Ballet class. She enjoyed it, but we decided to discontinue after her Dec. recital for several reasons: 1) The freakin' costume cost $70, plus a $20 "recital fee" all for the end-of-year one-time recital. 2) We didn't get the impression that her teacher actually likes kids... 3) "Booty shorts" as the required Dec recital wear.  

She liked dance well enough, and was doing OK, but wasn't LOVING it enough for us to overcome the issues above (or to make us seek out other, more expensive options).  Plus, chasing Bear around the place where they had class for an hour every week is NOT my idea of fun. 

So we decided to switch to piano lessons starting in Jan which she LOVES. My friend had a good point about piano vs. dance- how many people do you know who still dance as an adult and how many do you know who can still play the piano?  So while we are operating on a tighter budget, we've decided to focus on "lifelong" skills and talents :)

But, while it lasted she was super-adorable!  Here is some short video from her "parent's demo day". It is much better than anything I got at the actual recital.  She is so stinkin' cute!

Even more funny stuff my kids say!

EJ (to Birdy): "Yes, there are still buffalo around. There were buffalo around when the Indians were real, too."

We were walking into the store and Birdy said, "Mom, next year I'm going to ask Santa for a Pocket Pooper" I said "What?!? Describe it to me..." turns out she was talking about a little key chain we saw at Cost Plus that shaped like a cow that poops candy.

We were driving to Sam's Club and Birdy says "Mom, I like Miss Piggy.  She and I are the same... we are both really good fighters!"

Later at Sam's Club, we were walking past the T.V. displays.  Bear passively watched "How To Train Your Dragon" on one screen. The next was some football something and he immediately started hooting, pointing and twisting around to watch.  Apparently it IS something they are born with.
I posted this to facebook, but I want a record here:
Birdy walked into the kitchen and said "Is that the sweet scent of banana bread I smell?"