Variety is the Spice of Life

There are lots of pictures that I've wanted to blog about but have never gotten to post. In the interest of efficiency (and to make sure that I don't forget altogether or remember a year from now), I'm going to put them all in this post! A quick last quarter of the year in review.

These are just some of the goofy things that went on in our house that made the last few months of 2008 lots of fun!

And she's off! These are "skis" that Gracie fashioned (with a little of Daddy's help). It's a two-for-one; she has Swiffer cloths on the bottom of those skis!

Many thanks to our neighbor, Terry, who put up a really nice new mailbox stand for us (the other one had quite a tilt!). Mike took the girls out to watch the final installation and Terry let them bury some pennies. Check out those outfits on the girls - obviously, I didn't get a look at them before they headed outside (hats & flip-flops? and the hat was pretty much on backwards & not cuffed - good look!)

Look - it's Halloween - no wait, it must be Sesame Street Dress-up Day (November 17th). I suppose I am partially responsible for this one - I got the costumes out for them when they asked. I don't really know why they were dressing up, but they wore the costumes around for quite a while that day (longer than on any Halloween).

Schwind Outdoor Cafe

Things were a little chilly this day, but the girls were sure they wanted to eat outside. Halfway through the meal they wanted gloves, but I explained that it might make eating a little difficult. I think they made it through most of the meal and compromised by having desert inside.

Coloring Night at the Schwind House

A rare chance for us all to do something together. Of course, it only lasted about 2 minutes. Then I had to get up and chase down John Michael. He wasn't really into the whole "coloring" thing, more of the "chewing" thing.

Here's little "boo-bear." She loves her bath time. This night she was having a grand time with her bath dolls. She loves telling stories about her dolls (any kind - not just the bath ones).

Two passions combined - "performing" & scrapbooking. This was scrapbooking night - everyone was supposed to come & share their scrapbook. I love the fact that she got the microphone from the piano and is using it, unplugged. Gotta use those props!

Check out the next 4 photos - all four were taken in December.
Can you say Seasonally Challenged?

And what is up with the chicken hat & mask you ask? Mimi bought that for the girls from Ikea. They have a dog mask also, which isn't nearly as funny looking. They are really into wearing the chicken hat & mask lately. Somehow it has ended up in the van - I can only imagine what the other people on the highway are thinking!

Kind of still looking seasonally challenged her, but this is actually what happens when you don't really pay attention to the older ones because you are too busy trying to get the baby to sleep.
Quite the look - PJs (on Clara) with a poncho, mary janes minus the socks on the feet and garden gloves of course, to keep your hands warm. Gracie is looking oh so sporty in last year's blue outfit combined with this year's boots and of course, garden gloves (it was a little chilly that day!)

And last, but not least, what happens when Dada says "Stick out your tongue!"
I bet next year, we'll be 3 for 3 on that one.

Happy New Year!