fa la la la lights!

one evening when chris was working i decided to pack up the girls to go check out ‘candy cane lane.’  it’s a nearby neighborhood known for their christmas light displays.  figured this would be a good test run to see if we could come back and walk through the neighborhood with chris.

it was a big hit!

 

so, the next night we bundled up and loaded up for a nice twinkly stroll.

  

emilymae slept for 95% of the outing.

  

  

a fun new tradition for our little crew.

a few days later we decided to go check out the lights at the zoo.

(thanks gran for the zoo pass!)

 

 

there was also a bell concert going on by a local church.  anabelle walked right up to the front, found herself and carter a seat, sat there quietly and listening to the music, and then clapped after each song.  she even started to wave her arms a bit copying the conductor.

 

. . . and to all a good night!

emilymae decided to wake up once we were back to the truck.

gym time

  

  

this past week anabelle hopped on the rower, got herself all set up, turned to look at us and said ‘I’m rowing!’
funny girl.

a toddler’s idea of how to use resistance bands.  watch out cirque du soleil!

and then she got ahold of my kettlebell before I could put it away after my workout.

that’s 12kg!
(3/4 pood, 26 1/2 pounds)

gimme a ‘c’ . . .

gimme an ‘o’ . . . what’s that spell?

cookie!

the week before christmas i got together with some friends to do a little cookie decorating.  i couldn’t remember the last time i had decorated cookies and it’s always a great time getting together with these ladies.  i originally met them both through work but as fate and heart will have it, they have become two very special ladies in my life and in my girls’ stories.

alexis (she was my doula for both girls) was there with her two and micki (aka big momma) hosted the festivities at her home – a super stocked grandma spot.

  

here is the cookie setup. 
you can’t see all of the yummy snacks she also put together for us off to the side.

big momma and anabelle giving it a try.

   

chris and i had chatted the night before since anabelle had never had a cookie (i’m well aware, not normal) and decided this was going to be her big day.  i think she was in a little bit of shock. 
she looked happy but was silent!

such a fun group!

     

the design team

smiles in between naps

  

the ‘big girls’ sort of did their thing in the other room while the mommas visited. i peeked in every now & then just to see what they were up to.  i hadn’t really seen anabelle ‘play house’ before.

one time i peeked in and asked her how things were going.  ‘good.  time for momma milk’ she said.  looks like she found herself a nice cozy spot and like a smart momma, got herself a drink before she sat down.  viana was a big helper doing a little cleaning.

     

happy buddies!

a little later alexis told me i should peek in again. she said the girls were playing doctor and that anabelle had been laying on the couch as their patient for at least 10 minutes.

sure enough – there was dr viana taking special care of patient anabelle.

   

working weekend

chris has had the opportunity to do a lot of flying on the weekends lately.  this weekend he was off to san francisco and boise.

he’s getting lots of great hours in the jet & having a good time with his buddies.  I will admit, though, that we miss him. 
last weekend anabelle was saying her regular “papa, come ‘ere” (which she says when he’s at work) but this time it was “papa, come ‘ere.  come to mama’s house.”  we are so looking forward to the holiday break!

here is chris (he’s in the front seat) on their way to idaho yesterday.

a nice view over the sierras.

and while he’s busy doing that, we’re staying cozy and just taking it easy back at home.