Happy New Year!

Yes, the blog is finally updated. I have been rather busy training for another online teaching job and beginning my PhD program. I would love to tell you how well I did, but it might be rude to report that I got straight 'A's, so I won't.

The girls are doing well. Hannah's arm has healed nicely (see October's post), and Abby is growing up much too quickly. When I asked one of her friends over for a playdate, I was informed that third graders do not "play", they "hang-out." I was also informed that anything having to do with princesses is "baby." Hannah told me that Abby was embarrassed to walk in the hall with her, because Hannah had Dora the Explorer on her shirt. Abby remedied this by taping a piece of paper over the offense image. Such is life.

Mike and I just celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary by going down to San Antonio for three childless days. It was wonderful!

Enjoy the stories. Feel free to leave comments or suggestions on how we can improve this site. If you wish to unsubscribe, write a letter to my children stating that you would rather not hear anything about them. Happy new year!

(There are four posts beyond this one. Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec. You may need to advance the page to see them all.)

December

Goliath got a bone for Christmas. Whenever he gets a bone, he digs up the yard, looking for the perfect spot to bury it, so Mike decided it would be an indoor toy. Goliath stood by the door with the bone in his mouth. It was a pathetic sight, and eventually Abby took pity on him and opened the door. He raced outside, ready to dig. When we told Abby that he wasn't supposed to take the bone outside, she took off after him. She, still in her pajamas, chased him through the yard. They ended up playing tug-of-war, and Abby won.



The girls were in the shower, each with a sudsy loofah. They had instructions to wash everything. Here is the conversation that followed:
Abby: Wash your buns!
(Abby reaches over and washes Hannah.)
Hannah: HEY!
Abby: You're supposed to wash your buns!
Hannah: Those are MY buns! They are attached to MY body, and I can do what I WANT with them!



My dad was watching the girls while I went to school. He asked if I was caught up on my homework, and I said no. Abby was listening. "Do you have recess at school? Because if you're not done with your homework, you can do it during recess!"




Mike's favorite Christmas present. A Lord of the Rings Pez dispenser set.



Hannah often doodles while she's at the computer. She likes to copy the phrases and pictures she finds on the screen. This one was my favorite:



Mike's mom was able to come out for Christmas this year. The girls were thrilled to have her here.



Hannah performing in the Christmas musical. She's so angelic!



The girls and I rehearsed good gift opening manners. We discussed that even if you already have it or you don't like it, you still need to thank the person, and then talk to Mommy later in private. On Christmas morning, while they were messing around in the bathroom, I peeked in. "Do you remember what to say when opening presents?"
"Yes, Mommy!"
As I walked back down the hall, I heard Hannah practicing, "Oh! It's beautiful! Thank you so much!"



We left four cookies for Santa. Before I went to bed, he ate three of them. When I woke up, the fourth cookie was gone, as well.
"Look, Mom!" Abby cried. "Santa ate all the cookies!" A few minutes pass. "Or maybe he ate three cookies and we ate one."


The girls got several Squinkies for Christmas. These tiny figurines are about the size of a fingernail. Abby and Hannah wanted to take some in the car while looking at Christmas lights. I gave them a snack size bowl and explained that they could take five Squinkies in the car and that the bowl would help them not lose the toys. When Mike brought them back later, Hannah approached me with her head hung low. "Mommy, I'm very sorry, but I lost three of the Squinkies. And I lost the bowl."


The girls were excited when we bought an abominable snowman stuffed animal for Christmas. They were less than thrilled when they found out it was a decoration and not a play thing. They were told to leave it in the corner. They have done as instructed, but he has not been fully left alone. Here are the before and after shots:





(He's eating a Squinkie.)