Merry Christmas to all!

These are a few of my favorite things...

The look on Henry's face and his messy hair when I go get him after he wakes up.

Aubrey's love for dance and her fabulous sense of style.

Baby Blues

"feet jammies" (as Aubrey calls them), with snugly toes inside.

and just for a laugh...

Like father

Like son.

Conversations with Aubrey

I think it's safe to say that Aubrey has a very curious mind and a pretty decent vocabulary these days.  There are days when it cracks me up, and others when it frustrates me!  Here are some of the latest conversations.

1. Aubrey has been into her Cinderella book lately.  She is obsessed with one scene in particular. One would think that the sweet little girl would love seeing Cinderella in her beautiful dress, or like the birds and mice.  Oh no, not Aubrey.  Here is a conversation we have on a regular basis.:

"Mommy, read the page where Cinderella's stepersisters rip her dress to pieces.  That's not nice.  Why they rip her dress?" 

And some follow on conversations.

Aubrey: "Mommy, where does Cinderella live."  

Mommy: "Where do you think she lives?" (way to throw it back at her, huh!)

Aubrey: "Oh, maybe Colorado."

Mommy: "Really, I thought she lived in Florida.  You see, there's this magical place....." you get the rest "and she lives in a big castle at Disneyworld (of course).  Maybe one day we'll take you there and you can meet her."

Aubrey: "Oh, OK.  OH AND MOMMY.  I want to see the stepersisters too.  They live there?"

Mommy: mmmm "No, honey.  I don't think so."

Aubrey: "Why?" of course.

Mommy: "I don't know. They just don't."

Aubrey:  "Mommy, I want stepersisters like Cinderella."

Mommy: "No, Aubrey, I'm pretty sure you don't.  You have a brother and he's nice."

Aubrey: "Well, I want a brother AND stepersisters.

The end.

2. Moving on.  We have an Elf friend around here lately (if you aren't familiar, check out Elf on a Shelf.  She really gets it this year. Part of the story involves naming your Elf.  

Mommy: "Aubrey, what should we name our Elf?"

Aubrey: "Oh, maybe Fancy Nancy."

Mommy: "OK, I guess."

a few days later...

Mommy: "Aubrey, what's the Elf's name? "

Aubrey: "Uh, maybe Cinderella.  Or MAYBE STEPERSISTERS!!!"

Of course, that is the one that stuck.  What is that all about! I have asked her why she likes the mean "stepersisters" (by the way, that wasn't a typo.  That is what she calls them and I love it), but she doesn't seem to be able to tell me.  

3. Another thing that just tickles me and drives me crazy...

We have always told Aubrey that she has to hold hands when we are in the street or a parking lot.  So the other day we are starting to cross a street and I tell he to hold my hand. Her response...

"No mommy.  I'm already holding hands.  See, I'm holding my own hand."

Sigh.....

4. At breakfast...

Aubrey: "Mommy, why Henry doesn't have any teeth?"

Mommy: "Because he's a baby."

Clearly not good enough...

Aubrey: "Mommy, why babies don't have any teeth."

Mommy: "Well, because they don't really need them.  They drink their dinners.  But soon, Henry will have teeth.  That's why he's starting to eat other foods."

Aubrey: "My babies don't have any teeth either...(pause)...cuz I have milk in my boobies."

Mommy: "Oh really, since when?"

Aubrey: "Uh, since yesterday."

And you thought you were having a bad hair day...

Poor little Henry as some hair issues.  I guess when you come out with a full head of the stuff, you're bound to lose a lot since you spend 90% of your time rubbing your head around on the bed or floor.  And rub his head he does.  I've watched him in his sleep sometimes just thrashing his head back and forth at warp speed.  Not sure if he's trying to scratch it or what (he does have a bad case of cradle cap to go along with his eczema), but at least he doesn't wake up when he does it.  The bad part is he has rubbed off most of the hair on the sides and back of his head. That leaves him with one heck of a comb-over.  A little toupee for my little man.  I've been told I should cut it, but I just can't bring myself to do it for fear of leaving him with a mohawk.  Also, Aubrey had no hair for two years, so it seems just weird to take a 6 month old for a haircut. Anyway, I still think he's pretty darn cute, don't you?

Frustrating... but worth the lesson

Do you know how hard it is to get two kids dressed in their Christmas best (which also involved making a hair bow at the last minute), load them into the car, drive to the mall, sit them on Santa's lap without tears, have them both look at the camera, smile for the camera, walk through the mall with a 3 year old running loose (chasing her 3 year old friend), eat lunch, and get home for naps... all in a two hour window? Well, it's pretty much impossible, but I did it today (minus getting the smiles) and I was so proud of myself... that is until I got home and realized a few hours later that I had NO idea where the two photos I paid way too much for of Santa with my non-smiling children (darn right pouting in Aubrey's case) were. Of course, because they stick you with a crazy price for a picture, they let you take your own photos if you have a camera... and luckily I did. But I'm still peeved that I lost the pictures somewhere in the mall.  Not to mention it creeps me out a bit to think of who may have the pictures of my children.

So, I just sat down to load the photos of dear ole Santa onto the computer and remembered I hadn't loaded the bazillion photos I took of the two kids the other night, again, all dressed up in hopes of "the" photo for our Christmas card. Well, turns out those are missing too. Then I remembered my camera telling me I needed to format my card when I was taking a few photos before the whirlwind trip to the mall. I didn't realize at the time that I hadn't emptied the card yet... so format I did. AGH.

What did I do to annoy the photo elves. I just need ONE good photo, I don't need one more photoshoot. I've already had to wash the Christmas outfits twice. Come on already! Thanks Alice for the beautiful dress.  We're certainly getting our use out of it :).

However, I have a huge smile as I picture my successful trip out of the house today, and as I picture my sweet little babies all dressed up. It is the moment that matters and I'm trying to remember that these days. I sometimes get so caught up in taking the best photos, that I don't actually enjoy what is happening. Is it all for the camera? I'm guilty of that for sure.  A good lesson this holiday season. Enjoy your loved ones, have FUN in the moment, and capture it in your heart. If you get the photo too, it's gravy.

Santa looks about as miserable as the kids.  Poor Aubrey was almost shaking.  She was so excited to see Santa, but I'm not sure she actually knew what that meant!

Taken just moments before Henry spit up down the front of his shirt

Star crossed lovers?  Henry and his girl, Jane Ann