Christmas Morning

Christmas morning we continued the tradition of having Popo and Grammy over in the morning for present opening and brunch. This year Santa was very generous to a couple of very excited little girls. Last year we added the tradition of having an Elf on the Shelf. Our Elf's name is Polo (thank you Cristina for remembering his name). Polo reports to Santa on whether you have been bad or good. This new tradition may be too much for the girls. One night I was reading to the girls and Bella was turning the pages, and she accidentally tore one of the pages (destruction of books is a big no-no). So Becca told Bella, "Uh oh. Polo is watching." Bella immediately began to cry uncontrollably. Thankfully it looks like all reports to Santa were good. The girls were really excited about the pillow pets that Popo and Grammy gave them. Apparently they are all the rage with little kids and big kids alike. Also new this year were the specific requests for particular toys. Thanks to Nick Jr., which does not have commercials, the girls had not really ever seem commercials, and boo to The Hub - which does show commercials. Thus the random request for Penbo - a talking pink penguin. You will see he made it into Santa's sack. However, the enthusiasm for Penbo far exceeded his actual fun factor, as he has seen little playing time (I know this because I am writing this in September).

Christmas Programs

This year Bella was old enough to participate in the Christmas programs at church and school. I was someone embarrassed by Bella's performance during the church program. They performed Jingle Bells - no problem. But as the program continued, Bella got more and more fidgety and by the end the Music Minster had to stand beside her. My embarrassment didn't come as she flashed everyone...over and over... no my embarrassment came when she refused to listen to the Music Minster. So when it came to the Christmas program as school I had little hope. But we had a big talk about keeping the dress down and about listening to what her teachers told her. I think it worked because the school program was really cute. They sang several songs - complete with hand motions and had a little party afterwards. Even Popo was able to make it. I was really impressed that the teachers were able to get that many children singing and doing the same thing at the same time. And the best part - there was no flashing - at least not by Bella.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I feel like Christmas really just came and went at the Dyer household. I didn't get to take the day here and there like I wanted to just enjoy some Christmas activities. And when I did, plans didn't quite work out - our Santa visit was a flyby to the least busy Santa I could find on quite possibly the hottest day in December. But we still managed to ride the Christmas train at the local outside mall - which make no mistake the girls thought was GREAT fun. I know this because I could hear them howling with laughter

every time they went by. And we did go to the Christmas on the Square in downtown Garland, which was really just an excuse to eat funnel cake (always a win with the B girls). And Bella, my mom, and I saw the Nutcracker at the Windspeare - fancy - so I thought I'd better not take Becca, but in hindsight, she would have been better behaved than the grade school girls that

sat behind us. Bella was so well behaved that at intermission we went downstairs to get her an ornament. So now it's officially a tradition. The Nutcracker and an ornament every Christmas. And this Christmas Bella learned a little about giving to others. When I told her that we had adopted angels from the angel tree because some people don't have presents at Christmas, she suggested that we also get gifts for our Karen friends. Of course I'd already planned to do that, but she recognized on her own that they have less and it would be nice to get them something, too. She also recognized that her sister didn't have a piggy bank like she did, and she decided that a piggy bank was the perfect Christmas gift for Becca. The girls also gave generously from their stuff animal bins for the clothing closet at church. In fact it was me that saved some of the animals from the donate pile because of my own sentimental value I'd attached to them (sniff...like the little bear I put in Bella NICU crib).

Needs more flour

The girls got an early start on Christmas while Mema was here by making Christmas cookies with her. The girls had lots of fun - not just making the cookies but also engaging in an impromptu flour fight. The story goes that Becca started it, and I have no doubt that she did. She's a feisty one.

Disney on Ice

And while Mema and Grandpa visited, the girls got a special treat and we all went to the Disney Princesses on Ice show. It was GREAT! I was so impressed at how great the costumes, skating and sets were. It made me SUPER excited about the prospect of going to Disney world with the girls. Bella was just beside herself whenever the princess would show up. And both girls eyes never left the ice. I have to admit it was pretty cool. Especially the fire breathing dragon from Sleeping Beauty.

Thanksgiving Visit

This year Bella and Becca got a special treat - Mema and Grandpa came to visit. In all the years that Todd has been in Texas, I think this was the first time he had family here for Thanksgiving - and I think he enjoyed it quite a bit. I know the girls certainly did. They had a countdown going. Every morning they would verify how many more days were left before Mema and Grandpa went home. We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner at our house. I tried my hand at a new recipe for stuffing. It didn't turn out, but I won't give up. Fear not - I plan to try another recipe next year. I guess it's a good thing Thanksgiving only comes around once a year. My brother and his family showed up for lunch after their annual Turkey Run, and what Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without the annual Cowboys game. The girls just loved having the cousins over. George is always so attentive and makes Bella fell so special, and James is sweet in his quite way (really wish he had a sister), and Bella is now old enough that David finds playing with her interesting. But then once the Bernards leave, it is REALLY quite. Then Grace and I ended the day with a trip to Michaels. All in all a good day.

Blast off to Atlanta

Todd took the girls for an early Thanksgiving/Christmas visit to see his dad. I joined them later in the week. Todd says the flight was uneventful, which is what a mother wants to hear when her husband takes to the sky with her two precious baby girls. Once they got to Atlanta Grandma Dyer spoiled them rotten. She had a Dora tent for them to sleep in and Dora sleeping bags to sleep under. They had Dora sippy cups if they got thirsty and teddy bears to comfort them if they got lonely. They had clothes to model and little fairies and doggies to play with. We also had a visit to the aquarium and the park; they made cookies with Grandma, and most importantly lots of tickle time with the grandparents.