Christmas Cookies

This year I had the girls help me make some Christmas cookies.  They loved it, especially eating them.

They couldn't wait for the cookies to be done.

We baked one day and frosted the next.

Carly's cookies

Layla's cookies

After frosting and eating, we decided to go outside and enjoy the 80 degree, sunny weather before we head to Kansas in a few days.

First Dance Recital

The girls started dance this year.  This semester was ballet and hip hop.  They had a winter recital and it was pretty cute.

Carly and Layla before we left.

The first dance they did was ballet.  Both girls were sitting on their mark until another kid peeked through the black curtain.  That scared Carly, so she wanted to stand by the teacher.  And what one does, the other does.....

The next dance was hip hop.  (When I uploaded the video to YouTube it said the music was copyrighted so they muted it.  ?? )  I guess you have to imagine the music.  It was a hip hoppy Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

It was fun to watch them.  Can't wait to see what they do next.

Thanksgiving

Aaron had Thanksgiving Day off so we went to Bay City for the day.  Nana, Popo, Ito, Aunt Ariel, and Bryce were there.  It was a fun time.

The kids spent a lot of time coloring...

and playing with stickers.

Carly and Layla

Ariel had to share her pie.

Family Pictures

Our friend Christi took some family Christmas pictures this year.

Halloween Weekend

The girls got to wear their costumes to school Friday for a little party.  They are both Minnie Mouse this year.

I had dress like a book character day at school.

Saturday morning the girls woke up and were ready for game day!  Carly loves to "wear Iowa State like Mommy!" and Layla likes to "wear hook 'em horns!"

 After nap the girls helped me carve pumpkins.

Carly was not a fan of the inside of the pumpkin.

Layla loved it.

After carving pumpkins, the girls got dressed in their Minnie Mouse outfits and we went to trick or treat at Whole Foods.

Carly did not want her face painted like Minnie when we left the house.

When we got there, Carly decided she wanted her nose painted like Minnie, too.

 Whole Foods had a few trick or treat stations and face painting!

Layla requested her face to be painted red.  I suggested a ladybug.

Carly's turn, she wanted red, too.

Carly wanted to push the cart as we went grocery shopping.

After Whole Foods we went home, brought our pumpkins outside, and got ready to hand out candy to the trick or treaters in our neighborhood.  Layla did not want to take a picture by the pumpkins.  Carly was willing to pose.

Happy Halloween!!

Our Little Pirate

We have noticed that Layla's left eye muscles don't seem as strong as they should be.  When she focuses on something close her left eye looks cross eyed.  We took her to a pediatric ophthalmologist Wednesday and they did several tests.  Layla did very well throughout the three hour appointment.  The doctor told us she has micro-esotropia. She said it was mild and she wants us to put a patch over her strong eye 2 hours a day for three months.  After that we will return for a follow up appointment.  Layla is not a fan of her eye patch.  She said, "I don't like being a pirate.  Take it off."  Good thing she only has to wear it for 2 hours a day.

She cries when we put it on, but after she gets used to it, she plays normally.  When it's time to take it off, she is very excited! She sure makes a cute pirate!

Fall Weekend Fun

It doesn't really feel like fall in Texas.  Temps have been in the 90's!

Aaron had the entire weekend off!  We started the weekend by cheering on the Texas Longhorns as they played Oklahoma.  They won!

That afternoon, we changed the girls' cribs into toddler beds.  They were excited to sleep in their "new beds!"

Sunday we woke up and headed to a pumpkin patch at the Old Christmas Tree Farm.

Carly was so excited to put her sunglasses on.  "I did it by myself, Momma!" Good job, Carly.

The girls were not thrilled to have their picture taken, but we managed to get a few smiles.

Checking out all the pumpkins

Layla

Carly

Smiley Layla

They each picked out their own pumpkin

Train ride

After the pumpkin patch, we went home, took naps, and headed to the Woodlands Children's Museum for Carson and Claire's birthday party.  The girls had a great time playing in the museum, but here was their favorite part.

CAKE!

Yum!

This morning the girls had their 30 month well check.  They are right on track and doing well.

Carly: 37.25" (89%) and weighs 29 lbs. 3.2 oz (57%)
Layla 37" (85%) and weighs 29 lbs (55%)

Layla is actually a little taller than Carly.  She was hunched over when they were measuring her because she was a little unsure about what was happening.

It was a fun, busy long weekend!