Santa was good to us!

The girls were blessed, once again, this year! Brynna got her very own bike; Keelee an MP-3 player; they both received play food and play pots/pans; we finally got dad into a picture! We hope you all had a wonderful holiday.

Priorities

Amidst the frenzy of flying wrapping paper, Brynna and Rachel took a time-out for some cinnamon toast. Who ever said presents were better than food never met these two!

Let's not forget about Brynna!

Showing off daddy's new jersey - and embracing her inner love-child.

"...Four Calling Birds..."

Keelee was one of the Four Calling Birds in the kindergarden production of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Notice the pose - she's a theatre jumkie just like Papa Oz.

Happy Christmas!!

From our house to yours - have a very Merry Christmas!
Love, Garrett, Carrie, Keelee and Brynna

Happy 6th Birthday Keelee!

Here are some highlights from Keelee's party on Saturday. The kids all decorated cut-out sugar cookies, ate pizza, broke open a Pinata and had an overall good time. She even got a vanity set from Grandma, Papa, Aunt Cris, Uncle Donkey, Allie & Rachel. Thank you everyone for the wonderful gifts. More to come tomorrow...

Winter Carnival

Friday night the girls went to a Holiday Carnival at Keelee's school. Keelee penned "letters to Santa" for herself and Brynna; the girls met the Big Red Guy (and this year neither one of them cried!); Brynna was inked with her first tattoo.

Nutcracker

On Saturday Grandma Sandie treated us to a trip to see The Nutcracker at a dinner theatre. Keelee's favorite character was the Sugar Plum Fairy - mom's favorite was the Ice Princess - amazingly both characters were portrayed by the same actress. How do they do that????? Keelee loved her blue velvet dress and spent every waking minute before the show begging to get dressed. She was more beautiful than anyone else there.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Things we are thankful for:

Keelee: "High School Musical"
Brynna: swings
Mom: Organization and creativity
Dad: A day off!

Of course we are all thankful for our family and friends. We are a very blessed foursome!

Brynna at school

Here's Brynna chowing down on snack - her favorite activity at school and here are the two of us after painting our Mommy and Me turkeys!

Run, Keelee, Run: Part Deux!

Here's Keelee running in her second Fun Run. Notice the kids in the backgroud by the fence - they were her closest competitors!

Run, Keelee, Run!

On Thursday afternoon Keelee participated in her first fun run. She started the race in the back of the pack but quickly advanced into third place. Two-thirds of the way through she just stopped running. Turns out her boob hurt so she couldn't run anymore (a.k.a. - she got a cramp just under her rib cage). She was still awarded a little foot token like all the other runners and looks forward to next weeks run.

Deja Vu

Well, we're back to another first day of school. After a horrible experience at her charter school we've moved her into the public school system. Yesterday was her first day there and she seemed to love it. Her new teacher is Ms. Boston, who appears to be very kind and caring. Hopefully this experience will be better than the last!

Diva Central

Thanks to Grandma Sandie the girls were princesses for Halloween this year. Brynna had so much fun begging for candy but she cried every time I emptied her small bucket into a larger bag. Keelee could have gone on for hours!

Too Smart!

Setting: Keelee and Brynna eating breakfast and discussing the drive to Disneyland.
Mom: "Some day when you're older we'll drive to Minnesota."
Keelee: "That will take forever!"
Mom: "Nope, just three days."
Keelee: "I'm taking an airplane!"

Smoking

Setting: On the way to school this morning Keelee and Abbey were discussing their grandparents.
Keelee: "I have lots of Grandma's but only one of them smokes. That's Grandma Coo's Papa."
Mom: "That's Papa Oz, Keelee."
Keelee: "Oh, yeah. He's smokes a lot - everyday."

Isn't it great that all of your grandchildren know you as "the smoker?"

Art According to Brynna

This spider didn't stand much of a chance against Brynna!

Family Fun Day!

Family fun at the railroad park! Keelee was off last week for Fall Break and requested we go to this park. Both girls enjoyed playing on the playground equipment and riding the train - but the best part was spending time with daddy!!

A Day at the Zoo

This past Saturday we had family day at the zoo - even though it rained in the morning it turned out to be a beautiful day.

Spirit Week at School!

Keelee and Abbey had Spirit Week at school: sport Day (Thank you cousin Allie for the use of your uniforms!); pajama day; twin day (they're wearing "twin" princess shirts); and crazy hair day.

Look Grandma - I stamp too!

This is what happened when big sister left her rubber stamps and ink laying around!

Potty Progress!!!

The small steps are getting larger and larger every day!
Brynna is creeping to the point of telling us when she has to go potty. Some times she goes into the bathroom by herself and mommy hears the toilet flush before mommy knows what's going on!
Maybe mommy's dream of "no more diapers" will be accomplished by the end of the year!!

SWIM TIME

Checking out the wave pool with dad; swimming at Grandma and Papa's over the weekend.

Living on the Wild Side

Brynna and I went for a walk this morning at our local Riparian Preserve. As we made it around the final bend of the lake Brynna says...

"Mom, I see broccoli!"
"You see broccoli?" I ask.
"Yep."
"Okay, I guess so," I respond laughing to myself.
(What she really saw was desert vegatation, but who am I to argue with a two-year-old?)

We also saw:

• Ducks
• Hundreds of minnows
• A rabbit
• Butterflies
• Whales (for those of you who know the joke)
• Birds

And in our own backyard our friendly lizard, Mike, made an appearance by the kitchen window.

Quite an exciting nature adventure for little miss!

Brynna's First Day of School

Brynna's first day at her Mom & Tot class. She loved the modeling sand and slides the most and screamed her head off as we were leaving. She even tried to take a chunk out of mom's arm!

Now that's A Meatball!

Keelee making family dinner on Labor Day!

It's raining, it's pouring...

....and when Brynna's old man was snoring she was out playing in the rain!