Thanksgiving in Austin

It was a fun Thanksgiving in Austin.

Playing catch.

Double trouble.

The girls wanted a picture with just their lovies.

Bingo!

Annual Christmas card picture out-takes!

Christmas Tree

We had fun decorating the house for Christmas.  Reese put the star on top of the tree!

Both Todd and Reese were a little frustrated, but finally got the star to stand straight!

The Bunch Family

The Bunches came to visit!  We had a great time, and finally got to meet sweet baby Gavin.  I love this family and REALLY wish they lived closer.

Performer

Emmy loves to put on shows.  She's our little performer.  Click here for a video of one of her many "shows."

Fuzz

Emmy likes to look for fuzz in her toes.  Reese went through this phase too around the same age.  Please, please, PLEASE don't tell me Emmy is going to have the same sensory issues with fuzz, clothes, etc as Reese.  Ahhhhhhh!

Thanksgiving at the Lake

Thanksgiving celebration at the Lake.

Reese and I decided to make turkey cake pops.  They turned out pretty cute, but I always forget how much time it takes to make cake pops!  Remind me not to do this again... at least for another year.

Making Pilgrim hat cookies!

Surprisingly, Emmy selected a carrot... but don't worry, she then ate 4 pilgrim hat cookies.

The girls trapped Brayden in the bathroom.  Girl power!

Pilgrim Play

Reese did a great job at her preschool pilgrim play today.  I could barely stand the cuteness!

Reese and her future husband Evan (selected by me, not Reese).  

Times have changed... Reese wanted to sit by her good friend Zanna instead of her family during the Thanksgiving feast.

Flu Shot

The three of us girls got our flu shots today, and it was a drama fest.  The clinic took our shots super quickly and rushed us out the door... probably because we were scaring all the other patients.  For proof of the drama, here's a picture of Reese 1 HOUR after her shot.

Pancakes for Parkinson's

Pillsbury Pancake Batter (a new product I'm working on) sponsored a local  "Pancakes for Parkinson's" event as part of the Michael J Fox Foundation.  Reese and I attended to show our support while Emmy slept and Todd watched the football games on the iPad in the car.  Everyone was happy.

Reese was proud of the new outfit she was wearing, and when we left the event she told me, "I think I was the prettiest one there."  So today she learned a little about giving back, but we might have to work on modesty.

Welcome Home, Leeo

Welcome home, Leeo!  After he invited himself into our family and lived in our garage the past 2 weeks, we have committed to taking in the stray orange kitty in our neighborhood.  He's happy and healthy after visit to the vet.  Libby is not quite ready to have him in the house yet, so Grandpa Cipra built him an insulated cat house for the garage.   I think he's already enjoyed his new, pampered life.

Our friend Rod also installed a cat door in our garage.  

Silly Reese got her head stuck peaking out looking for Leeo. 

The girls are in love! 

Dentist

Reese did a great job at the dentist today.  This is just her 3rd visit to the dentist, and she's becoming a pro.

Emmy and Mommy

Emmy and I continue to enjoy our Wednesdays by ourselves.  We like to play games, make tents, and try out various types of silverware.

Emmy's Solo

Click here for an adorable video of Emmy singing the 2nd verse of "Ring Around the Rosie."  If you are not familiar, allow me to translate for you..

"The cows are in the meadow
eating buttercups.
Ashes, ashes, t
hey all stand up!"

First Snow

It was 4:30pm on November 5th when we experienced our first snow of the year.  The girls were super excited and ran outside.  Emmy yelled, "It's raining!  No snowing!  Very wet!"and proceeded to run around the yard like a crazy lady.

Reese decided on this outfit -- winter on top, summer on the bottom.  I tried, but could not convince this strong-willed girl to put on warmer clothes.  She lasted a half hour before SHE decided she was cold and went inside to put on pants and boots.

DST

Parents around the wold are cursing Daylight Savings Time.  Emmy has been off on her sleeping schedule for awhile, and the time change is not helping.  Here we are at 4am...

Pancakes for Dinner

Pancakes for dinner... and for good.  We held a pancake fundraiser for one of our MOPPETS teachers who had to return to Pakistan to help with her family.  We had a great turnout to support Farhana.

Close to 100 people attended...

 

We served over 500 pancakes...

Offered 16 different pancake toppings...

 Had a friendly pancake flipping contest...

Then cleaned up.  It was a very successful event!