Let's talk about the weekend

So my weekend started off a bit sour when I arrived home from work Friday evening to discover that one of the Christmas presents I was to give this week had been delivered and was not what it should have been. I can't really get into the details but let's just say that I was really not happy about the whole thing and it kind of set the stage of grumpiness for the weekend.

For the most part, the girls have been sleeping in on the weekends. It is somewhat normal for them to sleep until 8:00 - 8:30 if they have crawled into bed with someone. We are back to everyone passing around a cold again and I really needed some extra sleep. Well, Saturday morning we were awake before 7:30.

Rich has twelve siblings and twenty-something nieces and nephews. The majority of his nieces and nephews are in high school or older so take everyone and add in spouses and significant others - you have a TON of people. They always hold their Christmas party before Christmas at some type of function hall. This year's party took place on Saturday from 12 to 4. Now when you have three little ones, a party from 12 to 4 basically means that this is your day. Not complaining. Just stating a fact.

Rich took Allie and ran the obligatory Saturday morning errands - bank, post office, CVS. When they returned, we began the 'getting ready' process, which always seems to take so long.

Here's what I did for the girls' Christmas outfits this year:

• Red corduroy panda jumpers purchased on sale last December at Gymboree
• White turtlenecks purchased on sale last year at Old Navy

I didn't want to spend money on fancy outfits that they would only wear once (or twice.) They can wear those panda jumpers for the rest of this winter and, unless they hit a major growth spurt, next fall/winter as well.

I was a little nervous as to how convincing the three of them to wear the panda outfits for the party would go. Allie, amazingly enough, was on board as was Anna. Em decided to give me a hard time but gave in after I told her that Mrs. Grizzle would be glad to come babysit while we went to the party.

Seriously - I left the room for three minutes and came back to find Allie wearing a reindeer headband, two beaded necklaces and a Cinderella skirt under her dress. {Sigh} I didn't even bother to ask her to remove them.



In case you can't figure it out, the animals, Mr. Grinch and the Who thingy are all clapping.

(Please take note that in these photos and all of the others that I have been posting, Allie is happy, smiling and has her eyes open. I will be discussing her latest pose for photographs in a bit.)

The party was fun but a lot of work for Mommy and Daddy. It is interesting to compare this party to those of the past three years. It is definitely much easier now but it is not easy. The girls need to be supervised. Okay, not really a big deal. They don't get into anything. I just don't want them wandering off. I think the hardest part is feeding them. They can't really fend for themselves so between the three of them, there were moments where I felt like a servant. And I don't eat until they have eaten.

The only stuff we brought with us was Anna's cathing supplies. I didn't even think to bring juice boxes or sippy cups. At this age, we haven't felt the need to bring those items with us but I should have thought ahead. The bar only had cranberry or orange juice and big cups. Thankfully, the girls drank something and no one spilled anything all over themselves.

Here is my beautiful great niece, Paige. Isn't she a doll?

The Christmas party next year will be even more fun for the girls as cousins Paige, Clive and Charlie should all be there running around.

And what would a Christmas party be without Santa? I just love the girls' expressions.

"Anna, do you want to sit on Santa's lap?"

Just give me my presents, Santa. Let go!

"Allie, why don't you to tell Santa what you want for Christmas?"

I don't want to talk or look at Santa.



"Come on, Em. It's just Santa"



Noooooo Saaaaantaaaa.



Weekend recap to be continued....