Brigman Babes: January 2009

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Snow Day

We had our first "official" snow day yesterday... about 3-4 inches or so. This year (vs last year when we didn't have snow pants!) we were ready. I took them out early in the morning. We were going to make a snowman, but the snow wouldn't stick. Regardless, the girls had a BLAST playing in the snow, and in the afternoon Bill took them out for more. They are crazy about sledding! You can see that the sun is down and they just kept on going. Probably went up and down the neighbor's hill 100 times until they HAD to come in for dinner!

Katie (in pink) and Ella (in blue) posing for a photo op.

Trying to catch snow on their tongues. Both said, "YUCK!" after catching a few.

Katie trying to make a snowball

(snow wasn't sticky enough to make a snowman or snowballs!).

New snow angel technique... face DOWN!

Playing hide-and-seek

There's ELLA!

Katie face-planting, but having a GREAT TIME!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Sweet Tauntings

Today Katie was sick and couldn't go to school. She had a fever and I told her she had to stay home, but that Ella was going to school. In the sweetest voice, Ella says, "Poor Katie... she can't go to school today so she won't get to play with her BEST friend, Anna Yuki." Then she smiled, ever so sweetly, at Katie. [Translation: Na-na, na-na, NAH-NAH -- I get to play with Anna Yuki and you-who do-ont!]

Katie replied, again very sweetly, "That's okay... I get to stay home with Mommy and watch a movie." [Translation: Are you STICKIN' IT TO ME, Ella? Well, BACK at ya, SISTER!]

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Sympathy

Last night Ella got in trouble at bedtime and as her punishment she was not going to get something that she really, really wanted -- her "night-night" milk. Katie, however, was allowed this particular treat.

Katie asked me, "Is Ella not going to get her milk?" and then she smiled. I said, "Now Katie, this is very hard for Ella and you need to be kind to her."

A few minutes later Bill walked in and Katie said to him, "Daddy, I'm trying really hard not to go na-na-na-na-NAH-NAH!"

Mean as a SHARK

I'm not sure exactly what was going on... it very well could have been that Ella was taunting Katie with the pink gooey Nemo (that would be chewy Nemo candy to you and me) knowing she would want the pink one or it could have been that Katie just wanted it and decided to swipe it from Ella without asking... both scenarios are quite plausible. What I heard, though, was lots of screaming and arguing and running (our living room, dining room, and kitchen make a big loop and when mad they chase each other around in circles until someone falls and gets hurt or they both start giggling)... finally I heard Katie SCREAM, "Ella, you're as mean... (then there was a slight pause as she was searching for just the right word)... YOU'RE AS MEAN AS A SHARK!"

Interesting Introductions

The girls were getting ready for a play date with their BEST friend, Anna Yuki. We were talking to them about how to do introductions, as their Mimi was here visiting. Ella assured us she knew how to do introductions. "You say, 'Anna Yuki, this is Mimi. Mimi, this is Anna Yuki.'" (She was quite pleased with herself.)

I then added, "Sometimes when you introduce someone it's a good idea to say something interesting about that person. For example, you might say, 'This is Mimi and she lives in California.'"

Katie very excitedly chimed in, "I know! I could say, 'This is my Mimi. She's OLD and we're NOT!"

Yes, Katie Dear, that would be a very interesting introduction.

Perch Path with Mimi

One of our favorite outings -- when everyone is going a little stir crazy or the "conversations" are getting too "heated" -- is to take a walk down to Perch Path at Beach 5. It's a nice trail along the lake and through the woods, just right for Katie and Ella. There lots of things to check out and look for along the way -- there's the "grumpy old troll" that supposedly lives under the bridge, but we've yet to find him! There are the numbers hidden along the path that we can count along with -- we're still in search of number 3 and number 8 from our favorite old swinging tree has been missing now for a while! And, there is the "tap dancing stage" -- basically, a short bridge over the mud, perfect for stomping around on!

When Mimi was here visiting over Christmas break, we decided it was time to get on our shoes and go for a walk. Here are a few photos from their adventure with Mimi...

Looking for woodpeckers.

Playing hide from Daddy

With Mimi in the Community Garden after searching for seed pods.

Ella making sand angles.

D-I-Y Fairy Princesses

For Christmas, Aunt Shelley got the girls a little kit to make fairy princess costumes -- it includes everything you need to make yourself into a fairy princess... tutus, crowns, wands, and even little adornments for their ballet slippers. The girls also made little crowns and wings for their dollies.

Ella (in blue) and Katie fluttering around like true fairy princesses... Katie had already taken off her tutu, but they both have on their crowns and wings and some new slippers from Grandma, that are perfect for fairy princesses!

Showing off their dolly fairy princesses.
(My mom made me the wreath hanging over the fireplace when she was here for Thanksgiving -- it was beautiful!)

Our Adventures in Ice Skating

Every winter in DC, just off the National Mall in the Sculpture Garden, they set up an ice skating rink. While Mimi was here, we decided it would be a fun outing for us all. So we loaded up and headed downtown. Interesting side note, Katie ASKED Santa for ice skates, but he didn't bring her any. We explained that Santa doesn't always bring you everything you ask for and besides "...it's sort of like bowling shoes -- you just rent them when you need them!"

Katie (in pink) and Ella having a cup of hot chocolate while we wait for our turn to skate. Actually, Katie is just eating the marshmallows. Ella LOVES hot chocolate, especially when it's topped with whipped cream -- YUM!

Ella's "spoon" technique for dealing with the "hot" in hot chocolate.

Daddy and Mimi getting our tickets.

Katie trying to not get her picture taken...

Her silly eye-closed-grin (an attempt to get me to put the camera down!)

Mom and Katie taking a spin around... The highlight of the day was when they called for everyone to get off the ice and Mimi and Katie were clear on the other side of the rink. A rink guard helped Katie get back, which meant he held her between his legs and skated really, really FAST across the ice. She LOVED it!

Dad with Ella. The more times around, the braver they got. Here, Ella is actually skating without holding on to the rail!

The girls were so pooped, they fell asleep before we even made it back to the car!

What a fun day! I foresee more ice skating outings in our future!

(Oh, my aching feet, ankles, calves, bottom....!! Mom is NOT a very good skater!)

Christmas Morning 2008

Here are a few pictures from Christmas morning. I have some video, but I can't get it to upload (I think it's too long and blogspot knows that only the grandparents would have the fortitude to sit through the entire thing!). So, you are blessed with only a few stills of our fun-filled morning...

The girls were so excited to see what Santa brought them, but they were also excited because their Mimi was arriving late Christmas eve. As soon as they woke up, they asked, "Is Mimi here?" Then, they ran downstairs to find her BEFORE looking under the Christmas tree! When they came upstairs, they saw that Santa had left them the puppies they asked for as well as a few other surprises. They were so funny to watch as they opened their presents because they wanted to play with each new toy as soon as it was opened. Talk about savoring the moment -- It took them 2 full days to open all their gifts! Yes, they had lots to open, but it was more that they took the time to really enjoy and appreciate each gift. It made it a lot of fun for the grown-ups too...

Ella (in the yellow pj's) and Katie (in her BLUE snowman nightgown -- I know, I know... just when you think you have the colors figured out, they go and try something new!) with their new growing puppies, Twinkle and Snowflake. They grow AND know each child's name... so exciting! They also play a little song that gets stuck in your head... I'm a little pup and I'm growing up...