Life with the Twinkies

What Are We Thankful For?

With Halloween behind us its time to turn to Thanksgiving. I wanted to do something to get the girls thinking about things they are grateful for.  My first thought was that we would write soemthing down every day but after I had already missed the first couple of days decided to move on to plan B.

Last Sunday I had the girls sit down with me at the table and tried to explain what it ment to be thankful for something and told them we were going to write what were thankful for on the different colored leaves I had on the table.  The answers were sweet, sincere and sometimes just silly.  Top of the list was mommy, daddy, grandparents, friends and Callie.  Abby was thankful for shopping, going out to eat and that she had been a baby. Megan was thankful for her costumes, school and toys.  By the time we got the later leaves I think they just started naming stuff they saw like the baby gate, a window and a light.  The activity did have some teachable moments as I wrote I was thankfulf for our health, a house for us to live in and food for us to eat and explained that not everyone had those.  We hung the leaves up on our day in the kitchen so we can see them everyday and be reminded. I would like to continue to do something along these lines every year for all of us.

Slumber Party

Since the girls started potty training I came up with the idea of rewarding them with a slumber party. No, not a slumber party with other kids but one with just me and them. I promised they could sleep in sleeing bags in mommy's scrapbook room and we could watch Toy Story (which they hadn't seen).

Well the time finally came which they were both pretty much completely potty trained with the exception of the occassional accident so I decided it was time. Last Friday after I picked them up from daycare we went and picked up one of their favorite meals affectionately called 'momma pasta'.  I just wanted to start our fun and special night with a meal I knew they wouldn't whine about it and it worked. We had a great dinner and then off to take baths and get ready for the slumber party.

In stead of sleeping on the floor we laid out the sleeping bags on the futon and got settled in to watch Toy Story.  It held their attention pretty well although at times Abby was more interested in the little back pack and flashlight that came with her sleeping bag. The three of us cuddled on the futon watching the movie having a girls night.

After the movie Megan was ready to fall asleep but not Abby. I let her watch a little Dora before lights out.  She finally feel asleep about 9:30 which I was hoping with mean a later wake up but no such luck they were both up bright and early.  Megan made it all worth while when the first thing she said that morning was 'that was the best slumber party ever'....so sweet!

Halloween

Halloween this year was  so different than the last two.  The girls are finally old enough to get excited about and get in the holiday spirit. We started talking about costumes weeks before and occassionally looked at the costumes in the mail order catalogs we had recieved.  When I asked the girls what they wanted to be they answered Little Bo Peep and a cowgirl.  I kept asking in hopes that they might change their mind and decide to be something easier but each time I asked they anserwed the same so off I went to search for costumes.  The girls were so excited when their costumes arrived and couldn't wait for Halloween!  I was just thankful they hadn't changed their minds in the time between me ordering the costumes and whent they finally came.

Halloween wasn't just a single night for the girls they dragged it on several days. It started the Friday before Halloween with Trick or Treating at a local mall.   It was so much fun to get them all dressed up and pumpkin/lamb treat baskets in hand.  I had no idea it was going to be as crowded as it was. It was crazy all for some free candy and little prizes.  I don't know if I would venture to take them again all a little too much I just wanted my girls to get to experience a little trick or treating. Of course as we left the mall the girls were already asking when they could trick or treat again.

That Thursday the girls had their party at their daycare which involved dressing up again, a costume parade, some songs/dance, a spider pinata and of course lots of yummy treats.  I was lucky enough to be able to attend and see their excitement.

The following night we took the girls trick or treating at their gram and pap's house.  Their gram had a big plastic pumpkin full of goodies for each of the girls.  It didn't take long for them to dig in.

Saturday night we took the girls to our community's children's Halloween party.  We met up with one of their friends from school and her mother while we were their.  They had some little Halloween themed games and treats.  In addition they had costume contests by age group and I am happy to report that our Little Bo Peep won.

Finally Halloween was here.  The girls had a fun day starting with baking Halloween cupcakes. Then we let the girls help with the pumpkins getting them ready for daddy to carve. Abby lost interest early on but Megan seemed to enjoy it.

That night their friend Charlotte came over with her mom to join us trick or treating. We took the girls to a few houses on our street and the next.  Unfortunately it was already getting cold out so we didn't stay out too long, just long enough for them to experience it. 

As a mother I enjoyed celebrating with my girls and reliving the excitement but by the time Sunday night was over I was ready to move on to the next holiday but not Abby.  Poor little Abby kept asking me about the next holiday or party and wanting to wear her costume again. She had school pictures this last week and told me she should wear her costume again and when I said no she said it 'made her so sad'.  As part of her costume I had her wear black mary jane shoes and we called them little bo peep shoes. Now her 'little bo peep' shoes are the only ones she wants to wear.  All she wants is for it to be Halloween again!