learning to BRAKE!

Adventures on the big girl bike... maybe it will go better when I have another set of hands around to help me! Grace's princess bike uses the "back pedal" method of braking. She hasn't quite mastered it yet! What makes things even more interesting, is that she likes to ride toward Marion. I had Marion in the red wagon to watch and there were several crashes, luckily no injuries. Listen carefully and you can hear May May crying in the background... she knew she was coming for her!

After a couple big wipeouts, I told Grace it was time to go inside, we could practice more another day. She said sure, she'd try again, "maybe when I'm five!"

baby torture... it's working

After only 2 sessions of physical therapy, Marion is already doing so much new stuff! Ms.Tracie, her therapist, even said that Marion was one of her top students :)

This morning when I went into her room, Marion was already sitting up! She has been able to sit since she was only 5 months old, but today was her first time to get up to sitting by herself. She did it again tonight in the playroom. She scooted herself into the middle of a pile of dress up clothes and tutus, sat herself up, and put on a pair of pearl beads!

Yesterday, Marion pulled up to kneeling by herself for the first time! She's done it several times since. I'm so proud of May May! She's been working out and it shows!!

christmas morning

My girls on Christmas morning! Marion thought these Skittles looked YUM!

Grace helped Marion empty her stocking and unwrap gifts!

Grace's big gift this year was the Barbie collection of Wizard of Oz dolls. They all sing and they are just gorgeous!

Marion singing at the microphone of her new music station!

Grace got a "Big Girl bike" with training wheels from Santa. She was so excited and kept telling everyone, "NO MORE tricycle! I got a big girl bike!!!" I had held off buying one because she never was able to pedal her Kettler trike well... but they big girl bike is actually easier to pedal, so she already is better on it!

All smiles with a tummy full of animal crackers from her stocking!

This was her favorite gift, a Strawberry Shortcake doll from Marion.

Marion's big gift from Santa, Sillytown. Grace insisted Marion wanted this after she saw it on tv. Grace called it "Block Party!"

gingerbread

Every year we decorate gingerbread men... and girls, crowns, cats.... anyway, gingerbread men and whatever other random cookie cutters Grace pulls out that year. Last year she insisted on cats and I let it go. This year, I told her I wanted to stick to Christmas shapes. She pulled out a crown cutter from a princess party we had and told me we could use it because "Jesus was the king!" I was super impressed!!

This year we invited a few friends over to decorate with us! So much fun! Grace decorated cookies for 2 days!

clyde

Have you heard of The Elf on the Shelf? This year Santa sent us our very own Elf!!! Most of our friends got elves last year, but last year Grace was seriously opposed to an elf! I guess she was more confident about her behavior this year, because this year she was ready! On the morning of his arrival, we named him Clyde! He watched over the kids every day, and every night while they were sleeping, left to report their behavior to Santa.
Each morning, Clyde returned and chose a new spot to rest.Tears fell heavy on Christmas Eve, when I told Grace that Clyde would be leaving with Santa and wouldn't return until next Christmas. We'll miss you Clyde!

swing!

Grace is learning to "pump" her legs to make herself go!

luminaries

Tonight our neighborhood had their annual Luminary celebration. We had so much fun!Hard to to tell from the pictures, but it was gorgeous! Everyone lined the streets and their walkways with tea light luminaries.

We had horse and carriage rides around the block! Instead of singing Christmas carols as we rode around, our kids yelled, "ROCK AND ROLL!!!" Where do they get this stuff?!

My old friend Allison stayed for the weekend. We had so much fun!

...and then smores!!!! Really, the kids didn't eat the marshmallows, but they LOVED catching them on FIRE!!

Santa 2009

Merry Christmas!!

This is the picture that was taken at Grace's preschool. I'm so happy with it! Marion was a bit unsure, but she held it together and didn't cry! :)

come on maymay, get moving!!!

As you may remember, Marion had an evaluation for physical therapy three months ago. At that time, they assessed her to be age appropriate in all areas, but told me that if I was still concerned in a few months, they could reevaluate her.

Well, I was and they did, today. She is now pretty far behind where she should be, and will be starting physical therapy soon. The therapist who did the evaluation seemed to think Marion was just about to be able to do so much... we'll see. She even said she thought Marion would be getting herself to a sit in a week... we'll see.

I'll be working with her and trying my best; it's just so hard to get her to even try to do anything that she doesn't want to. I've tried toy bribes, food bribes, everything I can think off. I'm beyond frustrated and worried about my little Marion. The therapist again didn't think that there was anything physically wrong with her... just that she's content with what she can do and not too motivated.

Come on Marion, help a mama out... let's get moving!!!

we're there already??? really?!?!

So, last Wednesday night, we had our first Santa encounter of the year. It went great! Marion was happy, Grace was excited... it was everything I hoped it would be. And then Wednesday morning came, another exciting chance to tell Santa every wish that was forgotten Wednesday. Santa was at Grace's school to take pictures with all of the kids. Marion and I tagged along so I could throw her in the picture with Grace and avoid having to pay the mall Santa as well.

The photo shoot was in the sanctuary. I hurried in with my two girls and was pleasantly surprised with Santa... he looked very real! Ummm, to me that is.

"Mom! That's a different Santa!"

"Oh, um, NOOO it is not! He just looks different."

I was looking into the eyes of a little girl who was looking back at me like I was a total idiot.

"Mom, so there's only TWO Santas in the world??"

I stuck to my story. ONE Santa... who just looks very different. How the hell am I supposed to explain that?! Thank God our turn came fast and she never mentioned it again. I'm really having second thoughts about any more meet and greets with Santa this year. I guess she's ready for the "ONE very busy Santa and lots of helpers" speech... just don't want her to blab to her friends about it. *sigh*

snow day!

This is our third winter in Hattiesburg and for the third year in a row we had SNOW!!! That's pretty unusual this far South. In my 18 years growing up down here I can only remember it happening once!

Our home... a winter wonderland!

Gate to the backyard... snowcapped!

Camellias

Japanese Maple

Deck...

Playhouse... everything looks better in the snow :)

Have you ever seen snow covered palm trees?? They don't look too happy!

The weight of the snow bent these shrubs over to block the back walk.

My snow angel!

It was Marion's first time in the snow!