Christmas Tree

We were in St. Louis for Thanksgiving, and the girls both got sick (they ended up having Scarlet Fever - who knew that was still a thing?).

While we were gone, Christopher and Christina arrived bearing matching pajamas for the whole family.

Before I knew it was scarlet fever, we decided to go get a Christmas tree on Sunday night. This is our first real tree, so I was very excited. We left our house approximately 30 minutes before the lot closed (maybe less), so it was a good thing the farm was practically next door to us.

We opted for a pre-cut tree, and I have to say that I'm thrilled with the results. The poor girls weren't feeling well, but they were little troopers.

I love having a real tree (other than having to remember to water it:).

Baking Cookies

We were all set to host the annual Christmas cookie bake with my aunts and cousins, but a big snow storm hit, so no one wanted to travel. The girls were so excited to decorate gingerbread cookies (they were very specific), so my mom came over so as not to let them down.

I didn't really think they would like gingerbread, but they both declared it "ok."

Twins Club Christmas Party

We went to Chicago for my niece's birthday party a the beginning of December. On Sunday, we rushed back to get to a birthday party and the annual twins club Christmas party. December was the month for school birthday parties, as we all of the sudden got invited to a bunch of parties. The girls are at the age where parents are starting to drop kids at parties, which is new for us. The girls are pretty shy in situations like that, so we've always stayed with them.

We got to the Christmas party right before Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived. For the 5th year in a row, Harper wanted nothing to do with Santa. She was terrified of him:(. I convinced her to go stand by Mrs. Claus for a picture, but that's as close as she was willing to get to Santa.

Harper Loses her Second Tooth

On Grandma's birthday, I noticed that Harper's remaining bottom middle tooth was tilted to the side, so we decided it was time for that tooth to go as well. One quick pull and it was gone. She's getting a kick out of singing "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth."

Five Years and Eight Months

The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas seems so much shorter with the girls in our lives! I can't believe Christmas is almost here, and my girls are getting closer and closer to turning six!

At 5 years and 8 months:

• The girls love drawing, coloring, and arts and crafts. They especially love sticky mosaics.
• They love playing in the snow, making snow angels, and building snow men.
• They love baking, and were really excited to decorate gingerbread cookies
• They love Wild Kratts and Elena of Avalor.
• Harper and Tannah have both lost two teeth. Tannah is getting a new molar.
• The girls wear size 6 clothes and size 12 shoes.
• They both love to draw.
• Harper loves to play pretend, and Tannah loves to learn new words and do math.
• They love riding the bus, computers, and art class at school.
• They still love sneaking into our bedroom on the weekend, but our bed is getting pretty crowded as they get bigger.
• High heels are still at the top of Harper's Christmas list. Tannah wants a Hatchimal and a sled.

Harper loses a tooth!

Harper's bottom two front teeth have been a little wiggly for a while. Recently, one started to get very wiggly. She complained that wiggling it hurt, so we didn't mess with it too much, but I would check it every once in a while. on November 5, it was loose enough, that I told her I thought I could get it out if she wanted. she decided it was time, but she asked for Tannah to hold her hand while I pulled it. A push back and a pull forward, and it was out:).

She was so excited to leave her tooth for the Tooth Fairy.

Tannah asked no less than five times if the Tooth Fairy was going to leave her a note as well. She also immediately started wiggling her top teeth:)

Harper was very excited to find her sparkly note and 5 dollars in the morning.

Five Years and Seven Months

I'm amazed by how busy our lives our with two Kindergarteners and two full time working parents. I know it's only going to get worse. It's busy but fun.

At 5 years and 7 months:

• The girls love drawing, coloring, and arts and crafts.
• They love playing outside and jumping on our neighbors' trampoline.
• Harper's favorite food is macaroni and cheese, and Tannah's is hot dogs.
• They love Wild Kratts and Elena of Avalor.
• Harper lost her first tooth! Tannah has lost two teeth.
• The girls wear size 6 clothes and size 12 shoes.
• Their little personalities are so different. It's funny to see how different two children born on the same day and raised in the same family can be:).
• They love playing together, but they also often can't keep their hands off each other, so someone gets hurt frequently.
• They love riding the bus, computers, and art class at school.
• Every morning, I open the door to whichever room they're sleeping in and turn on the hall light. They get dressed, brush their teeth their hair, and come into our bedroom. It's nice not having to do quite as much to get them ready in the mornings anymore.

This age is so much fun. They're very independent and have lots of opinions.

Carving Pumpkins

The girls were so excited to carve pumpkins this year. They each picked out a pattern and actually did some of the prep work/cutting this year. And they both scooped out the insides.

We roasted the pumpkin seeds!

Harper's bat.

Tannah's boo.

We only got a few pumpkins this year:)

Pumpkin Patch

Wei-Yand's sister and her kids came to visit us last weekend, so we took everyone to the pumpkin patch. We all had a blast.

Halloween Event

We went to my sister's house a couple weeks ago for a community Halloween event. The girls were excited to wear their skeleton PJ's with their cousins.

Shimmer and Shine!!

It was a really nice event. There were face painters.

Balloon artists.

And Harper really wanted her picture taken with this Dracula:).

 My mom made costumes for all of the kids, and they all coordinated this year.

So much love!