How Much Fun Can Two Girls Have?

We went to Houston for Thanksgiving. I knew C and D were in for a great trip when they cheered when the flight attendant said "This flight is going to Houston, Texas" over the loudspeaker.

If I am being honest, I am writing this so far after the fact and I am so far behind on this blog that I don't remember what I was going to say about it. But I know we had a good time, and they had a fantastic time.

LBD at 11 Months: On the Cusp

LBD is on the cusp...of becoming a real little person.

• No real changes this month, other than the fact that "Chunk-a-Munk" as C and D call her loves to eat and the results are obvious. She is a load to carry around.
• When she thinks things are really funny she crinkles her nose and grins wide.
• She refuses to use sign language even though she seems to know what she wants. She just screams really loud and shakes her hands when she sees what she wants.
• She does seem to respond to "Crazy Baby." When A, C, or D yell "Crazy Baby!" She jumps up in down in her chair, shakes her arms, and screams.
• She loves to go to the park. She loves to swing and she loves to watch everyone else play.
• And she looks like an angel when she sleeps.

Big Girl Beds

A few months ago we made the transition to big girl beds. It was uneventful, maybe because they are heading on 4! Finding things that worked for both C and D's taste was difficult, but we settled on a red and pink color scheme that seems to make them happy. Andrew told me that the canopies were a bad call, but later recanted when we realized that the canopies keep them in the beds because they want to be enclosed inside them (ok, so the mermaids and giraffes hanging in them are even less necessary, but they make c and d really happy).

D is still very OCD at bedtime ("I want the canopy flat like this", "Turn the white noise machine a 'tinch' up!"), but so far so good.

Toothy Grin

FINALLY! We got one about 10 days ago and the other about 3 days ago.

Father Daughter Dance

Last night Andrew took C and D to a Father Daughter Dance at the athletic club where he belongs. In the words of Dylan, "Mom, it was fantastic." C and D had a fabulous time, despite C being afraid of the magician because he "wasn't asking before he pulled people up on stage." They had a nice dinner, fabulous face painting, and even caricature drawings. They came home aglow with happiness.

Dylan
Charlotte

Is it just me, or do these pics look more like the Olsen twins than the Dodson twins?

Being There

I'm sure I have claimed in previous posts that the past few months have been the hardest, most tiring, no Andrew, no sleep, etc. but I swear this time it really has been that bad. The past 5 months have been, honestly, grueling. I know that my life is really good, I know that so many have it so so so much worse, so I am by no means suggesting that my life is bad. But honestly, as fortunate as I know we are, things have been really tough lately. Between Andrew being gone and LBD not sleeping I am exhausted. I can't describe it any other way. Andrew is never home and when he is, though he is really good at not bringing his work home with him, he is still working in one way or another much of the time. I don't blame him at all, and I am incredibly grateful for his work ethic, his commitment to his family, and his all around goodness. But it has been really tough on both of us the past 4-5 months.

So there are days when I am just so tired and dejected that I find it hard to motivate. I question why I spend so much of my time with my kids. I wish I were jumping in the car to get a Starbucks on the way to work instead of running into my office to crank out a few hours.

But then sometimes something happens and it just makes it all a little easier. Not right or even wrong, but just easier. Today I dropped C and D off at school. It was a cold day and so we brought hats and jackets. After I left I ran an errand nearby and realized that I still had D's jacket. So I returned to school. When I arrived they were lining up to go on a 'field trip' to look at nearby olive trees. The look on D's face when she saw me was one of surprise followed by pure joy. C and D were both so pleased with the unexpected visit that they just ran up and patted me--rendered speechless by the encounter.

And I was happy. Because in that moment, I was there for her. It isn't a lot, it may not be the right choice, but in that moment, it felt good. Someday, so much sooner than I want, it will be gone, and I will (hopefully) have a lifetime to do more of all the other things that matter to me.

We recently went to a school tour and they said that "the kids love to see their parents helping out at school---until 4th grade. So get it while you can." I guess I am.

Look Ma, No Hands!

LBD's favorite new trick is to stand on her own and beam with pride. This can be difficult in a world with two relatively aggressive 3.5 year olds. Here she is showing off her new skill.

Note: This picture did come with a price. A few seconds later she stood up again and I stepped back further from her to get a better picture. She was so proud of herself she started to kinda do a little dance, which then made her fly face forward and she slammed her face into the hardwoods. Ouch. (Incidentally, every time she does something like that--and recovers relatively quickly--I can't help but think "that's why second (third) kids rule.")

Only 55 Days...

until LBD's birthday!!

Yes, Christmas season is upon us. at least for me anyway... I may have written about this before, but I am not really a Thanksgivinger. Maybe it is because I don't really like to cook (or eat that much food at one sitting), maybe it is because I no longer get to sit and watch football, or maybe it is because I am lucky enough to have parents and in-laws who graciously host wonderful Thanksgivings so I don't actually have to be a Thanksgivinger (warning California Dodsons...if we ever do a family thanksgiving at home I will outsource it : )).

At any rate, in our house we go straight from ghosts and goblins to mistletoe and merry greetings.

And oh boy, if ever there were a year, this is it. Because I missed Christmas last year. And because now Christmas is so much more. It is Christmirthday. Or, given our current preschool, Christmakkuhmirthday.

This is the year I have EVERY excuse to do it up. Poor Andrew, if he were smart he'd cancel my Etsy account.

Second Favorite Holiday

One of the garages where we trick or treated.

We love you Uncle Sudhir!

Trick or treating on Chestnut a few days before

Andrew's pumpkin carving did not disappoint

To the victor go the spoils

It was a big weekend for Team D. First, Sudhir's party. For as long as I lasted, it was awesome. Right up until I dropped (literally) from (mostly) exhaustion (ask DR, I swear).

Then Halloween. A party at a twins friend and then trick or treating with Uncle Suds, The Glotz's and the Roystons. Our old hood didn't disappoint and the kids had a great time. (Give SF credit where it deserves it...it rocks Halloween).

It could not be a better age for C and D to trick or treat...they love the trick or treating but are not overly greedy about the candy. They picked each piece of candy with care, thoroughly weighing the options at each stop. When we got home I told them it was "candy city" and I let them have at it. They spread it out on the floor just like I did as a kid and surveyed their loot. Then D unwrapped every lollipop she had received and took about two licks of each. They were giddy from the sugar high. Good times.