Turkey Fry

Over MLK weekend we hosted the annual Turkey Fry/McGuire weekend...and it has taken me this long to post about it.  Mostly because Jane forgot her camera and took all of her pictures on mine, amassing 240 photos for me to look through!  It was a daunting task.  But here we go: the pictures that survived....

The McGuire boys requested "the train restaurant" and Hannah was happy to oblige.  This was Olive's first time at Fritz's.  She liked the trains, too.

At our house we spent a lot of time building things out of Pipeworks.  Well, Hannah helped build while the boys played with her Little People House.  Gender stereotypes are funny, right? :)

This is Hannah's sad face because the car was hard to turn.  Notice Olive in the background sneaking up the stairs.

Saturday night was the Turkey Fry with the Kerrs, McGuires, Vroomans, Baileys, and Holcombes: 10 adults and 7 kids.  Unlike last year, the turkey was fully cooked and delicious!

The kiddos minus baby Caleb

"act silly"

This year we added the Olympics to Turkey Fry.  Why not?  Turkey and competitive events go nicely together.  Wendy could barely contain her excitement.  Ever since she was trounced in the Olympics of yore, she couldn't wait to get back in the ring.  Get it?  Olympic rings.  (crickets)   Anyway... events included block stacking, feats of strength (I won at leg wresting!), games of wit (trivia), and giant shuffleboard.  The necklaces are our medals.

NO TOUCHING!

And the winners were.....not us.  Dan and I (team Italia) took last place.  Apparently, leg wrestling doesn't count for much.

Steve and Jane (the Aussies) fared better in 3rd place.

But the real winners were Joffroi and Wendy (Russians) with Taco and Andrea (Kiwis) coming in 2nd.  The Russians always dope win.  Despite losing at events that Steve and I made up....we had a great night.  Luckily we don't have to wait four more years for the next fake Olympics.

To finish our McGuire weekend we took our first trip to the T-Rex Cafe.  Hannah said it was "the coolest restaurant ever."  She was super excited the whole time. 

she was roaring

And the weather was so nice we even walked to a frozen yogurt place by our house.

Brody

Hannah wasn't sure about Brody at first....you know, he's younger....and he eats sand.  But then he grew up, started walking, and got a train table. :)  She said, "We're both Thomas fans!"  Here they are in their Thomas pjs reading a Thomas book.

  

Hannah Quotes

"I cannot believe this bubble bath!"

"The best thing about ice cream is that you eat it."

"There are tears coming out of my nose!" (She had a runny nose)

(while hugging Olive) "Sister hug.  Sister love!"

me: Are you drawing a picture of a car?
Hannah: But it's not a car.  It's a monster truck.  I'm drawing a monster truck.  I'll give you a hint.
me: Okay.
Hannah whispering: It's a monster truck.

Hannah (picking at her fingernail): This thumb is in trouble.  I can't get it.  Mama, can you do it?
me: (pulled off the hangnail on her thumb)
Hannah: YOU DID IT!  You are a  hero!  You are a hero!  You saved the day!

me: Tonight I have to go back to school for a program.
Hannah: (frowns)
me:  Are you sad?
Hannah:  I'm sad because you are leaving.
me: Yes, but you get to stay home with Dada and Olive.  You'll have a great time.  Dada is lots of fun!
Hannah:  If you say so.
* She had a similar conversation with Steve when he had to be gone one night.  She changes her loyalties daily...usually it is whoever reads her a bedtime story the night before.

*I think my mom did lots of great stuff, but one thing I especially admired how she apologized if she was in the wrong.  It showed us that even kids deserve an apology and everyone, even mom, makes mistakes.  I want to show my kids the same thing.
me: I'm sorry I lost my temper.  I was just really frustrated.
Hannah:  It's okay, Mama.  Everyone gets frustrated.
me:  I know, but I need to be more patient.
Hannah:  It's hard to be patient.
me:  It is, but I'll keep trying to be patient.
Hannah:  Yeah.  Keep trying.

Twins

Olive Stats- 9 months

Olive is now 19 pounds 9 ounces (75th percentile) and 28 inches long (60th percentile). I freaked out when I saw 60th percentile and asked if she was growing okay. I am used to seeing 95th percentile, then I remembered that was Hannah and last time Olive was just 75th, so it wasn't that big of a change. The nurse assured me she was fine. Then the nurse weighed her three times because she didn't believe she was under 20 pounds.

This month Olive learned to clap her hands and crawl up stairs. Amazingly, she learned to do stairs the second time she tried. Anytime she gets out of baby jail (the living room), she makes a break for the stairs and climbs as fast as she can while smiling and laughing. I am debating taking down the gate altogether since she is such a pro at stairs. She has been saying "da da da" for awhile, but she started saying "ma ma ma" now too. I *think* she is really saying Mama to me. It is usually her sound to tell us she doesn't like something and wants to be picked up or comforted. That's asking for Mama, right? She is getting sturdier on her feet. She can walk using a push toy and can stand on her own for a few seconds. Olive continues to be a happy baby. She is quick to smile at strangers, loves playing peek-a-boo, and puts everything in her mouth.

Backyard

We have been completely spoiled with warm weather this December and January. I found these pictures from New Year's Eve...outside without coats. Today it was over 60 again.

Playing Together

crawling races...and she lets Olive win :)

Snow!

There's barely any snow on the ground, but Hannah couldn't wait to get her gear on and go outside. I haven't broke the news that it is going back to 50 degrees and the snow will soon be gone. A mild winter is tough for a snow-loving girl.

Mama Lips

Hannah's first experience with make up. She asks for some "Mama lips" while she watches me get ready. I give her my lip gloss. She puts in on her cheeks and says, "I'm gorgeous."

Crawler

She's crawling up the stairs now. Sigh.