What a day

It's been quite the day here.  The toys are in a pile outside in the backyard.  Allie had a 2 and 1/2 hour nap (a much needed nap).  Daddy came home from school just after Allie woke up and I told her to tell daddy what happened to her toys.  She said, "mommy took them away because I had attitude."  (that is exactly right) Like I said, it has been quite a day.

Playing in the living room

When dad says "lets go play in the living room" I never know what to expect.  On this day (Nov 20th) I heard Allie keep telling him to close his eyes and open them.  I came in to find this.  She had given him a hat, shoes, a coat and all these "gifts".  What a good daddy.

What I have to look forward to in 20 more years

And so it begins

Basketball season is officially underway.  We went to our first game on November 19th in Richfield.  Allie was so excited to ride the bus.  We practiced our cheers and packed the millions of things that are needed to keep two girls occupied during 1 or more basketball games and headed out.

 Here's Brailie snug as a bug in her carseat on the bus.  Don't worry I don't own anything zebra print.  I forgot to grab an extra blanket so one of the girls let me borrow this to cover her.

 Daddy had to sit by Allie on her seat the whole way.  Poor guy-those seats aren't big enough for her carseat and him but she wouldn't let him leave (not like she has anyone wrapped around her finger or anything).

 A few minutes with daddy before the game begins.

 I love this picture.  It is as if Allie is saying, "okay now Brai this is what is going to happen."

 She loved watching through the railing.

And she loved the fact that she could walk all over the place.  Love this action shot.

 Allie had been begging for this toy all week but I told her she had to wait until the first basketball game.  Here she is playing so delicately with it.

 A little pic of Brailie eating with a fork.  Something we totally overlooked when teaching Allie to eat and she is still a very primitive eater.  We are hoping to avoid that with Brailie.

 Allie got to sit at the back of the bus with Sarah and the other girls.  She loved it.  She was sure that was where she needed to sit the whole way home.  She didn't get her way I am afraid.  Oh and Greg's team won.  They haven't won the first game at the Richfield preview in like 4 years.  It was a good game.



Someone in New York Loves Me

That's right Brailie-someone in New York named Uncle Steven loves you and your sister very much.

 Brailie's shirt had these little ruffles to make it look like a skirt so Allie was sure she needed to have a skirt over her pants.

Allie with curls

I finally figured out a way to get curls to stay in Allie's hair.  I put her hair into a bunch of tiny buns all over her head and leave them in for a couple of hours and then when I take them out: TADA-curls and more curls.  I thought her hair looked so cute-well I thought she looked so cute this morning (Nov 17th) I wanted to take some pictures.  This is what I ended up with.

Itchy bum

Two hands to itch the bum

Crazy smile

Mouth open smile

I'm not going to cooperate smile

Let's try the back.

Angelic

Riding bikes on the new road

We got a new road-one that is black, and smooth and wide and beautiful.  We watched all the action as they put it in and then had to get out and test out Allie's bike on it.  Man was it ever slick.  She could pedal so fast and we didn't have to worry about rocks or bumps.  She was super excited.  She kept saying, "I'm a big girl.  I'm going fast on the new road."

Sisters

This has been happening in our house-playing together.  Brailie even figured out how to get up on the chair at the table herself.  It is so cute.  Allie does a really good job of playing most of the time.  When Brailie is sleeping Allie says, "can we go get her so I will have someone to play with?" (that's code for boss around and take things from-sometimes there is actual play like in these pictures).

 I had to include these snap shots of Brailie.  I love her facial expressions.

 Sitting together in the big chair.  Brailie is all about getting up on things now.  She can't get up but she sure knows how to let you know that is what she wants to do.

 Here they are playing "Harvest Feast."  LOVE IT!!!



Tag You're It

Here is one more video left over from the Grammy visit.  I came into the kitchen one evening because I could hear squealing and laughing and this is what I found going on.  Bless my mom.  She was such a great play mate for the girls.  We miss her.

Grandma Connie turns 80

Actually she turned 80 on November 2nd but we went to her party on November 13th in Monroe. 

Look at that spunky Great Grandma

 Grandpa Verle-reserved, and calm.  These two are the Grandparents I never had.  My Grandma (Baba in Ukrainian) died when I was 11 and I was very close to her but I never knew either of my Grandpas and my moms mom lived in Arizona and I wasn't close to her.  So Grandma Connie and Grandpa Verle are just what I was missing for all these years.

 The whole clan (minus 4)

 The Parsons clan-completely up to date even with new born baby Chole (I hope I spelled that right). 

 I tried a new hairdo idea for Allie and it turned out so cute and curly.  This is in the car.  I asked her to smile.  She opened her mouth.

 A bit of a better look at the hair.  We got to the party and Allie went into "I'm shy, I will not cooperate mode."  I love it when she does that. 

 Posing with cousin Rylee.

 I love this series of pictures.  I had to include them all.  I was trying to get a group picture.  I love the crazy faces.  Perfectly captures these little personalities.

 One of the best parts of the party-the every famous Frappe and the most delicious cake.  We all ate heartily on both. 

We love you Grandma Connie.  We hope for many more birthdays.

Last pictures from Grammy's Visit

I am trying to get caught up on family events.  These are the last of the pictures and videos from Grammy's visit.  She is gone now.  She went home on the 13th of November.  Allie woke up the next morning and ran through the living room to the kitchen and then stopped and went back the living room where Grammy had been sleeping and said, "where's Grammy?"  I said, "Remember she had to go home."  She said, "I want her to come back."  We had a blast while she was here.  

Here is Grammy doing puzzles with Brailie and Brailie is showing Grammy her tongue.

 Here is Allie doing puzzles too.  They had such a blast together.  I think my mom sparked some new immagination in Allie and creative play ideas.  They were always together laughing and rolling on the floor or doing something crazy.  What a great chance for them to bond.  Allie can't wait to call her on the phone now.

 Here is our attempt to get some good pictures together of the girls.  However the "girls" were so cranky and so we weren't too successful.