First Snow!

Squidgy:

At the beginning of December, it snowed for the first time this winter! We watched it falling outside and I was so so so excited to get out and play in it! After naps, mommy got Jujubee and I all dressed up in snow pants, big coats, and snow boots! We both refused to wear hats and mittens (which we regretted later once we got the cold snow on our hands!). We went across the street to the neighbours and got all their kids to play in the snow with us too! Jack and Noah showed us how to build a snow fort! At first I didn't want to run around in the snow, or make snow angels, or throw snowballs...but I love Jack and he did all of these things, so he showed me how. Then I had SO much fun! After a while mommy brought Asia puppy over to play too. She had a lot of fun!

Jujubee:

I looked out the window and there was white everywhere! Mommy and Squidgy were very excited, so I thought it must be something special. For some reason mommy started stuffing me in this giant puffy suit and tried to shove my feet into these boots. But they wouldn't fit, so I had to wear my tennis shoes. Once I could barely walk, and couldn't put my arms down at my sides, she figured it was good, because we went outside in this white, very cold stuff. We went across the street to the neighbours and got to meet their new puppy! It is little and adorable (just like me!) and looks just like a mini Asia puppy! I chased the puppy around and even bent over to give her a kiss. She kissed me back too! Outside I couldn't move, the snow was so deep. Mommy lifted me up and set me in different places. I loved to pick it up. And Anna's friend played with me and showed me all about the snow! I loved it :-)

Here we are as, what mommy calls, Snow Bunnies! What a great time.

Video Messages from Santa Claus!

Squidgy:

Mommy told us tonight that Santa had sent video messages for Jujubee and I to watch!! I was really excited because Santa is going to bring me "candy and presents", so I wanted to know what he had to say. He knew my name, how old I was, and even had pictures in his big book of me and things I had done this year!! He really does know everything I do! He even knew I have been trying to be better at sharing my toys with Jujubee...and thinks I can do even better. I know I can, Santa!

Jujubee:

I ran around crying while Squidgy watched her video message from Santa...twice. Then it was my turn! I sat on daddy's lap and smiled when Santa appeared to talk to me. Then I got distracted by some very interesting little pieces of paper. But Santa got my attention again...he looks pretty cool and seems nice. But I'm not quite sure why he is sending me a message. Oh well, I guess I'll figure it out sometime.

Squidgy:

So to sum it up...Santa is counting on me and Jujubee. I don't know about her, but I plan on doing everything Santa says!

Doctor Mark

Jujubee:

Last week mommy woke me up from my wonderful nap to tell me we had to go see Doctor Mark because I am 15 months old. Couldn't say I really knew who that was, but whatever, it's a trip out of the house which is always fun! We got bundled up and drove to a place that had this box...you push a button and this huge door opens. Now this next part will sound crazy. You walk into the box, the door slides shut essentially trapping you inside, then you push more buttons and the whole thing starts to move. I mean really...where is it even moving to? But somehow, when the door slides open again, everything looks different!

While fighting over a toy with Squidgy, I heard somebody call my name. Mommy and Squidgy came with me into a hallway where a lady made me sit in a funny chair with some kind of sliding bar. She said "21.1 pounds" and mommy whisked me away with everyone else into a room. The lady put something cold on my body and just held it there while she stared at me...I squished up my face and whimpered at her. Then she wrapped something around my head and pulled it tight. I kept thinking, lady...this is not fashionable, it's simply annoying. Please stop. But no matter how much I squirmed or batted my hands around, she kept on until she got whatever it is she wanted. As if this weren't enough she stretched me out on the cold (and really rather uncomfortable bed) and put pen marks at my head and feet. She told mommy "31 inches", whatever that means. Luckily she decided to leave, but mommy took away my clothes. Squidgy and I got to hang out drinking apple juice and measuring things while we waited for the infamous Doctor Mark. Squidgy was excited to see him, I think she really likes him, so I got excited too...he couldn't be all that bad!

Cheers!

Hello?! Are you coming Doctor Mark? I'm getting cold.

Doctor Mark poked and prodded me, which I was unsure of, but all in all he was nice! He told mommy I had dropped to the 25-50th% in weight and gone up to the 75th% in height. "Better than the other way around" he said. Apparently I am perfectly healthy besides my diaper rash and crankoppotomus attitude due to all of these teeth poking through my gums. Here's hoping I don't have to go back there for a while!

Rewind: Oompa's Visit in September

Squidgy:

Sometimes mommy gets super busy. She can never seem to remember anything and starts lots of things without finishing them. So we thought we'd help her out a little and post some photo collages from the awesome time we had when Oompa came to visit a couple months ago. We do lots of playing, eating, and singing with Oompa...and we wish we could see him all the time. Oompa...if you are reading this, please tell Kayma she must come with you next time!

Lunch at Duffy's Irish Pub in Utica, IL. This is a must go at least once kind of place.

Waiting for Oompa's train to come take him away. We can't figure out why we actually waited for this fast, huge, loud thing to take him instead of just putting him back in the van and bringing him home with us.

Celebrating Madison's 10th Birthday! We sang happy birthday and helped her open her presents. Then asked mommy and daddy how long we had to wait until our birthdays, because it was so cool!

Fashion show and hairdos.

Oompa and I singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider in the bathroom. I like hanging out in the bathroom, and I think  Oompa did too :-)

Hiking in Mathiessen State Park in Utica, IL. Mommy and daddy said this was a very special place because this is where daddy asked mommy to marry him. It was so much fun walking through the woods and ravines. I skipped rocks in the water, crawled into and through my first cave, and examined the whole area very closely.

A lot of times we just hang out at the house. Oompa is always very relaxed and like to play with balloons like we do. He took me for a walk to the park too! I like when we play the guitar together. I don't want to brag, but I am a mean strummer! Jujubee tried it out too, I guess she's pretty good.

Mommy got Daddy a smoker as an early Christmas gift. Daddy and Oompa put it together, then took it in the backyard and put some kind of food in it I guess. I think it was angry, because it started blowing smoke like a dragon! Then it started to rain, and daddy was worried that it would get wet, so he and Oompa stood outside in the rain under a tarp to keep it dry. This must be a really special contraption! After a long long long time, daddy pulled the food out of it. Just looked like meat to me, but the big people raved about it, and the puppy drooled all over the floor.

So there it is in a nutshell. We love you Oompa! Thank you for visiting us!