Bella's 3rd

On Saturday, we were lucky enough to be invited to our friend, Bella's, birthday party. It was held at the Hershey Tea Party Company - what a GREAT time. The HTPC specializes in theme parties for girls and teens. This party was a "fairy" party and it was magical. =) There were butterflies and glitter and a beautiful tea party set up. There were skirts and wings and crowns for each girl. There were even pirate outfits for the boys. They painted nails and did make-up too! I could go on and on, but check out the pics! Nat simply ate-it-up. The party was MADE for her and she is already planning her own fairy birthday party =)

Movie Stars?

Let's see if this works. If so, it will be the first time I have been able to post video on my blog! I am kind-of technologically challenged so this could be a bust.

If not, this is just some random video of the girls jumping around on my bed and being silly.

Two Little Monkeys

So, I come into the girls' room and found this:

"Jules! How did you get up there?... wait, let me get my camera.
...... OK .... How did you get up there?"
Big smile from Julsie.
I try to take her down, but she just screams.
"Nat, do you know how Jules got up there?"
"I don't know"
"How, how did she get up there? Did you help her?"
"No, I don't know how."
I'm skeptical. I go to take her down again and she just screams. I say, "Jules, I'm just taking you down so you can show me how you got up there." She was fine once I said that and gave me step by step instructions:

Step 1 (not pictured) Place your right foot on the bottom dresser handle
Step 2 Place your left foot onto the crib and pull up to a standing position






Step 3: Place your right foot on dresser, and using crib for leverage, pull yourself up to dresser top






Step 4: Grin from ear to ear along with your mentor

To the tune of "Oh be careful little ears" or "There's a spider on my head"

Oh, I have two little monkeys in my house

They're much louder and much larger than a mouse

Oh I have two little monkeys

They really are quite funny

Oh I have two little monkeys in my house

Our Little Troopers

I know. Finally. I have some pictures uploaded.

For whatever reason, John has taught the girls the correct way to salute. Maybe it's because we're always jokingly saluting each other. You see, when either John or I get too big for our britches, the other salutes him/her, usually with a big goofy smile. (I always do a wrist-flourish accompanied by a zerbert/raspberry sound. Any tension that may have been felt is quickly washed away. Zerberts will do that.)

Anyway, both girls can now salute. I really wish I had a video of this. Jules puts her right and up to the proper position, then whips it down to her side with such a fervor. ..... Then, she tips her head back and laughs hysterically - so do we.

Winter Wonderland? eh, Maybe Not

Anyone else irritated with this South Central PA weather lately? Or is it just because I'm originally from the snow belt? I mean, "It's bitter" as my mom would say. And if it is going to be bitter, I'd like there to at least be SNOW! Seriously.

Anyone with a young kid (or if you can remember being one, you) can attest to a child's strong, unexplainable, almost mystical desire to don a pair of oversized pantaloons with a dangerous (for boys) zip-front, circulation-stopping elastic ankle bands, and enough material in the legs to severely limit range-of-motion causing one to walk as a penguin... or a cowboy after a long haul. Add an equally cumbersome swish-swish coat with an equally dangerous (for chins) front zipper, scarf, hat, mittens, boots, a red, runny nose and you have quite a sight.

Nat was so desperate to play in the snow that we all got bundled up and ventured outside to play in the great dusting we received last week. I felt so bad for her because it was so lame. She was a trouper though, making the most of it. We gave our best shots at making snow angels, but we couldn't even do that. Luckily, resourceful daddy found a way. She also managed to build a small pile to sure up her little "tree."

Daddy assured her that when we move, there will be plenty of snow =)

A Day of Shopping Bags and Beauty

The other day, the girls and I were dressed up like grown-ups and we were pretend shopping. I suddenly say, in my best grown-up voice, "you know what ladies, we should go to the salon and get our nails done."

So we did! We laid (grammar cops: is this the right one? - laid? - layed? oooh, I always hate that one!) out newspaper, and got out the nail dryer (blow dryer).

Nat painted her nails and toe nails all herself. She even painted my hands and one foot. It was Julsie's first time getting her nails painted (I did them) and she sat wonderfully. Both girls did a great job and LOVED getting their nails dried as much as painted. I even let Jules paint one of my feet. =) (and my foot she painted! haha).

Daddy always loves painted nails and especially loved these ones and the pics to go with them.

Just Another Day at the O'Days

To tell you the truth, we really don't do much. We don't go to the movies, don't go out to eat, don't have people over. We just hang out, go on deal finding trips, library, preschool... that's it. But here are some pics of what you may come across when you come to our house:

Dress-up time! Oh, and no privacy.

Dance Time! Lately, the girls have LOVED dancing to the "Sounds of the Season" channel. Daddy can only sit out until Nat says the magic words, "Daddy! come dance with your girls."

Jungle Gym time! I mean, Jungle Daddy time! The poor man can't sit on the carpet for two seconds without being accosted by the girls... all of them (even Jaz).

But I don't know, looks like he doesn't mind too much. Whada you think?

Bounce U

Today our preschool class went on a field trip! A group of about 30 kids we're acquainted with (and their parent(s) and lots of baby siblings) went to "Bounce U." Remember those big blow-up jump rooms you used to see at fairs when you were a kid? Well, this is a huge building with 2 rooms filled with 4 or 5 giant bouncy things in each. There were slides and basketball and a boxing ring and obstacle courses. We got 45 minutes in each room and then a pizza party. She had a blast...once she got started.

In typical Natalie fashion, she was completely overwhelmed when we walked in. I had to go into each bouncer with her and still she wasn't too sure of the place. After about 20 minutes in the first room, she put her shoes back on we went back to the lobby. "Let's go out there, it's fun out there." She ended up sitting on one of those cars that shake when you put a quarter in it. ..and no, I did not put a quarter in it. We went into the second room and she did MUCH better. Jules and I went through a big obstacle course with her ending with a giant slide. She whined, but once she slid down, she was hooked. I went into the other bouncers with her, but she did her own thing. Finally she just went off and bounced herself. All night long she asked if she could go back. Thanks Mandy!