Enjoying the Christmas Tree

We put the Christmas tree up after the girls went to bed again this year.  Sure makes it easier on us, and it’s fun to see their faces when they come out of their rooms the next morning!

This year, the girls took out some blankets, snuggled down together, and just watched the lights.

Melt. my. heart.

Piper insisted that Addy needed to enjoy for a while longer.  She kept forcing Addy to lay down, which was, really, kind of funny.

Even Addy thought so!

This year, we also started a new “Advent calendar.”  I got a whole bunch of Christmas books, wrapped them up, and every night the girls got to pick one out and open it before bed.  They really enjoyed it.  The only problem I had was getting them to wait until after dinner!  We constantly had at least one or two books that were partly/halfway/mostly opened, but whatever.  It’s not like it mattered.

It certainly didn’t matter as much as the time I put into wrapping the gosh darned things!

The Christmas Pickle

“Pickles” are somewhat of an inside joke between my brother and I.  Honestly, I don’t know when it started, or why, exactly, but something to do with the fact that I HATE pickles, he’s tall (6’2”) and I’m short, and “Little Pickle” seemed to be a good “pet name” when we were kids.

So, a few years ago, my brother and sister-in-law found Piper a SINGING pickle.  You’ve heard of the Christmas Pickle, right?

The girls enjoyed their portable juke box- the easy-push button to turn it on made a great prop for dancing.  The dancing was cute.

And as an added bonus for Mommy, it only played one song- a nonsense polka sung with a German accent.

Great.

Thanks, Justin.  Thanks a lot.  Just remember- what goes around, comes around…

But maybe, maybe, the smiles are worth it.

MHDSA Christmas Party

Every year, Mile High Down Syndrome Association has a great big, fancy shindig for Christmas.  I had so much fun this year seeing all the families we know.  Very few things are as fun as being in a room with a few hundred of your closest friends- the cute factor was through the roof.  But you knew that.

Addy, being the all-girl of my daughters, was more than thrilled to get to be fancy for the day. 

She took in the art…

…did a little ballroom dancing with Piper…

…and snuck a candy cane, got sticky from head to toe, and danced some more with Piper.

After we ate breakfast, we patiently waited in line to meet Santa!  Addy kept helping herself to the front of the line; the other kids weren’t to thrilled with that.  Piper got tired of waiting and made her rounds through the room to see who she could talk to.

The girls were so excited to get their turn!  I couldn’t keep Addy from photo-bombing other pictures, but I finally got her to sit on the “snow” when were about three families from the front.

Finally, finally, the girls’ long anticipated wait was over.  It was their turn!

…it did not go as smoothly as I had hoped.

I could finally convince Piper to sit next to Santa; she signed “go” the whole time.

They were able to be within six feet of him when he offered presents.  And candy.

Piper got books!

Toward the end of the morning, the girls snuck onto the piano.  They love to play piano!

We had so, so much fun seeing all of our friends.  Some of the folks we only see once a year at the party- it’s so awesome seeing how much the kids grow year to year!   I’m so glad that MHDSA makes this happen every year!

Reindeer?!?

There’s a “Ranch Supply” store here in town- “ranch supply” is a pretty loose expression used when you’re in the middle of a big city, but whatever.  They do actually sell bridles, saddles, and other accessories for horses, have a huge supply of cowboy boots, and all kinds of random things that you can’t find in your local supermarket.  They also bring in chicks and baby bunnies around Easter.

And real, live reindeer at Christmas time!

Piper loves reindeer.  I’m not sure if she likes the deer so much, or if she enjoys the sign for reindeer.  Either way, we knew that she’d want to see one up close and personal. 

Piper signing “reindeer.”  Addy looking at Piper like she’s crazy.

Piper excitedly looking at the deer.  Addy…  looking at Piper like she’s crazy.

Piper analyzing the reindeer.

…Addy looking at the reindeer like it’s crazy.

I’m fairly sure that Addy was less than impressed.  Whatever.

After we got our fill of the deer, we walked around to see what other goodies they had.  Piper spotted some nice boots and insisted on trying them on.  They passed initial review.

…but failed in the ability to walk stage of selection.  Too bad (good thing?) they were about six sizes too big.

Piper went off to find a different way to accessorize- a nice snake skin purse seemed to tickle her fancy.  What this picture doesn’t show is the giant rhinestone pistol that was on the side. 

If it weren’t $110 (on sale!) her daddy may have bought it for her. 

…probably not.

A Real Gingerbread House

Piper and Addy love to go to Nana’s house. But that’s not really a surprise, is it?

For Christmas, Nana and Grandpa decorated their inside playhouse with lights. And garland.

The girls thought it. was. hilarious.

Spoiled?  Uhhh… yup!