You be the judge... a smile or two for your opinion.

 Exactly the same age almost to the day- Violet and Annie are in my red dress.  Silly girls.  What odds to have them both hamming it up in the same photo op two year apart.  To me they look nothing alike.  Ollie is such a chub and Annie is the ultimate extravert.  I don't even think they look like they are in the same family.  What do you think?

Got a good one with the timer today after church!

So...

So...I'm really busy and work a million hours a week and it is super not fun.  This year is super not fun. BUT-

                there is a but-

as of the moment, we are half way there.  I've been feeling so overwhelmed with way too much responsibility and no relief (& wretched post baby V health issues) .  In fact, last night Q and I opted out of dinner with friends because we haven't had one day with nothing scheduled since June.  JUNE.  Also, I'm extra sure we haven't been out, just the two of us, since June either.

To whom much is given, much is required. 

We are all sick as well.  Since Thanksgiving.  I haven't slept more than 3 hours consecutively since Turkey day and we are going on one hour of sleep for the last three days total.

My students told me I was saying delirious things in school today.

They were quite enjoying my Darth Vador impressions with my classroom microphone.

Life is good.

How about a little catch up shall we?

I have at least 50 thank you cards that should be written.  Will I always drop this many balls? 

I also have one very obstinate little  girl.

She is intense.  And so difficult.  And have I mentioned she does NOT sleep.  Like at all.  Like ever.  But she is all mine and I only have to share her a little bit.  I get to keep her forever and beg Q to build her a playhouse.  She is pretty awesome.  Downright defiant, but awesome.

So... my first semester of clogging is a success.  I have several new and returning students, all of which are fabulous.  We performed way early this year at the Spooky Town Fair.  Sorry no photos of Dickens.  I'll have to track some down.  This dance stuff has been stealing some major time this year.  I can't wait until I can just focus on this and not have so many other balls in the air...

(you know- those ones I keep dropping).

We have this awesome park nearby.  The last time we were there, we took Lailee.

Out of nowhere, a HUGE rain storm   burst from the sky.  We were stranded for a bit.

Silly Annie.  Favorites:  Boots (and nothing else); sitting on the bar; chocolate.  She will do anything for chocolate.

Love these two!  I am such a "lucky mommy" as Annie says.

Violet:

• Chubby!
• Loves watching Annie and me
• A fan of Baby Einstein
• Super cuddly
• Hugs dolls

Annie:

• Loves "two girls"
• "Annie too"
• Will not wear socks
• Drew all over the couch (10 foot stretch) with pen
• A big fan of "s'ment"

just get them all

I have been thinking you might need a little help figuring out my Christmas gift. sooooooo:
Type in the coupon code:  NIENIE  for 20% off

at this website:

http://www.shop.thesweettoothfairy.com/

(hint:  double fudge, coconut, and holiday flavors are the best but if you can't decide... just get them all)

A most pleasant drive

First trip ever Annie has slept in the car! Violet follows suit. All happy so far.

T H A N K Y O U M I T T

Oh Mitt.  You are a good man.  Thank you very much for fighting the good fight.  I am completely sorry you didn't win and I thank you thank you thank you for going to battle to protect our future.  Whatever will we do without you?  I know what you should do without us.  Right this minute I sincerely hope you are far away in a foreign country with your toes in the sand of some glorious beach.  Although, I must say, I wish you were in the white house.

Does anti-secularism really have a chance?

 Q is out of town.  Again.  I got super jealous so I bought myself something of a splurge on-line.  I'll let you know how it goes.  It is pretty much not fun to work all week and have to put these kiddos to bed on my own.  No, let me rephrase.  It sucks to put Annie to bed period.  She is psycho!   How about some late night pics I dug up from the unposted archives?

 At the parade, the kids next to us were a tad bit crazy and not a little rude.  They wouldn't let Annie get any candy.  Their parents kept telling them to run and get all the pieces thrown in front of us too.  Weird.  Who does that to a cute little 2-year-old?

 V is so chill.  Annie will be her defender through and through.  Have I mentioned how dreamy it is having two girls.  I am currently WISHING so bad for another.  Wouldn't three be even better?

Will Mitt win?  

Does anti-secularism really have a chance in a society increasingly devoid of traditional values?

"Clean your desk" lately?

Ever have so much to do that you just end up cleaning your desk instead?  Consider this my metaphor for cleaning my desk.  Today I had to remind Q that we knew it would be this insane when we signed up for a year of chaos.  It is worth it I'm sure but man oh man... and that's without deciding to make 10 costumes yesterday    

Here are some fun Annie around the house memories.

I gave her some cake batter to mix on her own because she was making a positive mess with mine.  She couldn't resist for long.  The stirring soon turned to tasting.  Some messes are worth it!

 Are we the only ones who have a slide in their formal living room?

 Oh how I love this girl.  She's strong for sure.  Good thing.  She'll have to be Violet's defender.

HERE's one of the things I've been up to.

Don't you think you should clog on the blog too?

At the very least because it took me hours and hours to get this site started?

AAC performance tomorrow.  Spooky Town Fair @ 1pm.

Annie calls her Ollie and Violet totally loves it.

 Ollie's Baby Blessing

 Someday... Someday.  

Until that day, very brief non-captioned snippets are all this blog is going to get. 

 

Poor Q.  He blessed V and then worked the entire rest of the day so he missed the dinner and family photos.  And what a terrific dinner it was. In fact, we ended up having to make dinner 3 times for the ever growing violet fan club that stopped by to wish her well. Bet you can guess the color theme for our wardrobes.  Violet Violet Violet! 

 I should remember about Violet that she is all things desirable when it comes to babies.

She sleeps through the night (already better than Annie), is super squishy and cuddly.  She LOVES being naked, have her diaper changed, and taking a bath, and her entire face lights up when she smiles.  Her eyes are big and brown.  She doesn't cry all that often.  She is sweet and mild.

 Here is Eye-let in the dress that both Annie and I wore on our blessing days too.

 Lots of boys are living at my parents' house right now.