Portraits

We (read "I") wanted to get a good picture for our Christmas card this year, and after a marital disagreement ensuing from our last family photo shoot, I decided it would be just the kids this year. So, I took the kids to get their pictures taken the Friday before Christmas when everyone else and their brother was getting photos taken.

The kids did great. I didn't even have to tell them about the cookies I brought until the shoot was almost over. And I did have to pull out the lollipops when I took almost an HOUR looking through all 85 pictures and deciding what I liked... But, other than the sugar high, it was a beautiful success. Nothing we couldn't cure by a trip to the nearby mall where I let them run wild at the mall playground for an hour before we headed home (in another one of our recently typical snowstorms).

Here are some of my favorite shots, and believe me, it was hard to choose from 85!

Isn't this one hilarious? I can just see her say, "Seriously mom?"

This was after the photographer said, "Show me your muscles!!"

So, this last one is the one that ended up on most of the Christmas cards. I love it because it just looks like both of them how they are every day. I could just eat them up right there on the screen.

Copycat

Noah has been mimicking Dylan's every move for several months now, but it's really getting out of control sometimes. Mostly it's language. If he is paying attention and she is telling us something important, or answering a question, he repeats it. It's almost like there is a tape recorder that we record what she says and then distort it and speed it up just a little when we play it back. No sentence is too long for him to repeat. Yes, the longer it is, the more it gets slurred together and comes out as mush, but he always says it with similar emphasis and enthusiasm.

For example:
Dylan (excitedly): I want another cookie please. Lots of sprinkles!
Noah (yelled with enthusiasm): Noddercookiepeeaselossprinkles!

Stay awake!

I think I'll start a list of things I'm not proud of that I find myself doing with/to my kids. Otherwise known as,

Things I never thought I'd do as a parent:
- Let them eat three bananas each at one sitting - I mean, is that bad? Still undecided on that one.
- Let them eat food off the floor (not everywhere, but well it's a sliding scale...)
- Worry about my kids as much as I do - the worst kind of worry yet!
- Let a not-yet-two-year-old have a lollipop (I blame the older sister)
- Do anything I can to keep them from falling asleep in the car if I have to run an errand before we go home for naps (imagine tickling, throwing food at them, "Don't go to sleep yet Noah!")

Who can help with the list? Please leave your own additions to the list in the comments section.

Creative Movement

Dylan has been taking Creative Movement (it's like pre-pre-ballet) from the Hyde Park School of Dance this fall. She has learned a lot and seems to have an incredibly enjoyable time. She loves her teacher Miss Allison and especially enjoys "Talk Time" when they get to tell something, show something they brought, or do a dance for the rest of the class. Dylan always chooses to show a dance. Usually it's a butterfly dance (think running around in circles flapping arms), but last week she did break out a bunny dance (so she told me). Parents are not allowed in, except for on visiting day, which was a couple of weeks ago. These pics are from that day.

Here is a taste of ballet class:

Dancers sitting in a circle, pointing and flexing toes (Dylan is on the far right if you didn't notice the blond curls...)

Doing their "fast ballet walks" with hands on hips around the room. Dylan is loving this one!

Pointing toes, getting ready for her turn to gallop across the room!

I wasn't sure whether we should continue doing it this winter or not - I mean it does cost money, and it's cold and snowy and hard to get out of the house sometimes. But these pictures say it all - she really does love it and I think it's probably pretty good for her to listen to the teacher and follow directions in a way that uses her body. I asked her if she wants to keep doing it, and the answer was yes, so we'll go with that for now.