Red Noses

Rudolph has become quite the favorite around these parts. Chloe was all set to be the star of her class singing presentation since she was the only one in the group who knew all the words, but alas. My girl choked.

She said to me afterward, "Mommy. I not nervous downstairs... but then I got nervous in here."

It was true - she saw all the parents and cameras and she froze like the proverbial (rein)deer in headlights. But, she made a pretty cute little reindeer anyway.

Then, Grams showed up with these little winners:

Which Chloe and Amber agree are pretty hysterical. They are all ready for Santa -- how about you?

Amber Post: My Party!

Amber: I totally forgot about my party! With Grams arriving and Christmas coming, I totally forgot! But, then Mommy started baking and Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop showed up with balloons and stuff and then people started getting here...

Amber: Plus, we had these awesome hats and Mommy hung up some lanterns with Elmo and the guys and we had really yummy snacks.


Amber: Here I am with Mommy BEFORE I got cake in my hair.

Amber: Everybody sang me a nice song and then...

Amber: ...there was cake. Cake is freakin' awesome.

Amber: Plus, there were presents!! I got new outfits, a back pack, a Pooh bear, two balloons and this awesome Kewpie doll! We have a big sister Kewpie, but this one is mine, all mine. Mom-Mom found it for me because Mommy thinks I'm just as cute as she is!

Amber: I love my birthday - and I get another one next year!!!

Amber: Until then, I'm out!

Amber's Birthday-Day...

Chloe: Happy Birthday, Amber!

Amber: Yay, it's my birthday! I'm having a party on Sunday with an Elmo cake and Mommy made cupcakes for school today and yesterday, Aunt Diane threw a birthday party for me, too!

Chloe: Well, yesterday was Aunt Diane and Uncle John's Christmas party - that wasn't a birthday party.

Amber: What do you mean?

Chloe: You have to share your birthday month with the baby Jesus.

Amber: Do I have to share my cake?

Chloe: No, he's not into that.

Amber: What does he like?

Chloe: He has frankinscence and stuff.

Amber: Can you eat that?

Chloe: No.

Amber: Then, we'll have no disagreements between us.

"Amber My Baby"

Last night on the way home from school, Chloe announced that she was going to be a mommy. Ed and I said, "Yes, someday..." and she said, "No, I a mommy now." We tried to explain that she needed to be older and we got the stock response that we always get when we say that: "I older now."

Then, Ed said, "Well, Chloe, you can't be a mommy until you have a baby, so you have to wait until you get a baby."

"Amber my baby."

"Well, no, Chlo - Amber is Mommy's baby."

As Chloe's face fell, I was quick to point out, "She's your baby SISTER, though."

Chloe thought about this for about thirty seconds and said, "But, I cook. I a good cooker."

Daddy was perplexed for that one until I said, "Yes, you help me cook -- you're practicing to be a good mommy."

Daddy finally caught on and said, "Yup, Chlo, but you have to practice a lot to be a good mommy... when you get older, you could be a mommy... maybe not as old as Mommy, though."

If I hadn't been driving, I may have kicked him.

Reporting in from the Lights at Rose Tree Park

Chloe: Mommy said she had a surprise for good girls on Saturday if we behaved and listened all day... it was hard, but I'm glad I did my best. We had so much fun at the Rose Tree Park Festival of Lights!*

The festival had lights all over the trees, fun displays we could walk right up to and touch, little houses that had open windows I could peek through and a visit from Santa! I had seen him already, but it's always good to take a moment and remind Santa that you are a good girl who likes Pinkie Pie.

Chloe: When I told him that Pinkie Pie is my favorite pony, Santa smiled as if he already knew! Maybe Mommy really HAS been talking to him like she said!**

Chloe: I also made Mommy climb a big, muddy hill so I could walk right up to the reindeer! Rudolph my favorite reindeer - I love to sing the song about him whenever I'm not trying to be a Rockette or watching White Christmas.***

Chloe: Here I am, dancing with Christmas-delight!

Amber: Where was I?

Amber: Oh, right.

---

Notes from Mommy:

*This was really pretty cool. The display is not huge (you're done in about 15-20 minutes), but considering the price of Longwood Gardens, I'm all about Rose Tree Park. It was free to go in, free to park my car, free to meet Santa and take my own picture, free to drink hot cocoa. Big thumbs up here.

**I have been talking to Santa and he knows about Pinkie Pie. And Fluttershy and Apple Jack and Princess Celestia and Rainbow Dash. Rarity and Twilight Sparkle will have to wait.

*** FOUR TIMES this weekend. I mean, I love me some White Christmas, too, but FOUR TIMES. This morning, I heard Chloe announce to an imaginary crowd, "And now... The HAYNES SISTERS!"

Jiggling Mounds of Sticky Sugar - AKA Jell-O Jigglers

Amber: Hi, Mommy, hi! What do we have here?

Chloe: Jell-O Jigglers - Grams sent us the mold to make Santas and trees and stars and snowmen.

Amber: Intriguing. Jell-O you can hold in your hand...

***

And the verdicts:

Mommy: Too sticky, too concentrated, prefer regular Jell-O in a bowl.

Daddy: Where's my bowl of grape Jell-O you promised to make for me?

Chloe: It's good... but Jell-O in a bowl is better.

Amber (silence)

Mommy: Amber? Your thoughts?

Amber: Can't talk. Eating.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Chloe: Yay! It's Thanksgiving!!

Amber: Remind me again what this one is about?

Chloe: We go to Aunt Diane and Uncle John's house to celebrate --

Amber (interrupting): They have scary cats there.

Chloe: Well, you'll have to get over it if you want to enjoy Thanksgiving... you don't want to miss pumpkin velvet soup and turkey and stuffing and creamed corn and CRANBERRY SAUCE and pie!

Amber: THAT'S WHAT THANKSGIVING IS?!! ROCK ON.

Chloe: There's also something about pilgrims.

Daddy: Are you ready for your first Thanksgiving, Amber?

Amber: Open up that pumpkin lid, Daddy. I want what's inside. Do it. Do it now.

Chloe: Thank you for making cranberry sauce, Aunt Diane. I love you. You're the best friend ever.

Amber: Thank you for making EVERYTHING, Aunt Diane! I finally mastered the sign for "more."

Sweatsuits and Deception

Amber: So, what's going on?

Chloe: It's Cozy Sweatsuit Day at school.

Amber: That's a weird theme.

Chloe: I know. They might as just well call it "Friday," but this was at least something Mommy could use as an excuse as to why I can't wear a dress today.

Amber: True. What else is going on?

Chloe: MMmmm, well, tomorrow is Water Babies.

Amber: Hot. What else?

Chloe: Mommy said that we need to clean this weekend so we can get our Christmas decorations out next weekend and she said she wanted to go and do some Christmas shopping.

Amber: What's Christmas?

Chloe: Christmas is my favorite time of the year! We make cookies and go to parties and buy presents for each other and Santa comes and brings us toys!

Amber: That sounds great. Did you buy me a present?

Chloe: I did.

Amber: What is it?

Chloe: I can't tell you -- it's a surprise. You have to wait until Christmas morning.

Amber: Oh... well, what else is going on?

Chloe: It's Thanksgiving this week and we're going to Aunt Diane's and then Mommy and Mom-Mom will take us to see Santa and --

Amber (interrupts quickly): What'd you get me?

Chloe: I got you a-- Oooh! You almost got me.

Amber: Shucks.

Chloe: Be good, Amber. Santa is always watching -- no tricks!

Amber: Ok, I'll be good from now on.

Chloe: That's practically my mantra.

Holiday Gift Idea

Amber: These are awesome! Santa, pay attention, I want some Ollie Flaps!

Chloe: What are they?

Amber: They are so cool! They are these little flaps that you attach to your skating shoes so that when you're thrashing on your board, you tear up the concrete instead of your shoes.

Chloe: I have no idea what you just said.

Amber (petulantly): PAY ATTENTION. When you are doing skating tricks, you can totally ruin a very expensive pair of shoes by shredding them on the pavement, so you can buy these Ollie Flaps to attach to your shoes and they'll take all the abuse! I totally want some!

Chloe: You can't even walk yet.

(pause)

(pause)

Amber: Yeah, but I'm all about thrashing.

***

Mommy: My girls may not be old enough to put these to good use, but if your kids are, go and check out the Ollie Flaps site for some great stocking stuffers. My good friend, Rich, says thankya, kindly.

Chloe Post: Founders' Day

Chloe: Aunt Diane and I were so excited to celebrate Phi Sigma Sigma's Founders' Day. We were eating lunch and then I realized that she and Mommy were wearing the same pin. Mommy explained that she and Aunt Diane wear the same pin because they are sorority sisters. It made me so happy that I reached up and gave them both a big group hug!

Then, Mommy explained that she is sorority sisters with all three hundred people in the room! I find that very confusing, but I love Sigma Sigma. They sang a very pretty song and had a lot of desserts. Mommy and I each won a raffle prize and everyone complimented Teresa and I on our matching dresses.

Mommy was proud that my dress didn't stop right under my booty and said that I might be an inspiration to others! I love being an inspiration to others!

I was also so proud of Aunt Diane - she won a very special award and I was so excited that I jumped out of my seat and ran up to give her a hug! Everyone said, "Awwwwww!"

This is my friend, Miss Beth. She planned Founders' Day and is one of my BFFs. She did a fantastic job. We had such a fun day! I can't wait to attend her next event!

***

Afterthought from Mommy: I tried to explain to Chloe on the way home that so many of the people she has met are Phi Sigs and that if it weren't for Phi Sigma Sigma, she wouldn't have an Aunt Diane. I don't think she got it, but she did ask me to sing the Liebestraume (again), so maybe something sunk in.

All joking about skirt lengths aside (come ON, girls!), Founders' Day is my favorite Phi Sigma Sigma event. I am willing to give much to my sorority, but I demand much back... and we don't always see eye to eye. But, on Founders' Day I am reminded of the strength and commitment to friendship and service that ten women of differing backgrounds shared in 1913. I very much enjoy looking around the room and realizing that so many of the women who have inspired me in my life are either present or there in spirit. Diokete Hupsala, "Sigma Sigma" sisters.

Captions from the Weekend

Sassy!

Mommy and Chloe can't wait for Thanksgiving... and if Amber knew what the word "pie" meant, we're sure she'd agree!

"This seemed like a good idea five minutes ago..."*

Baby's First 'Bucks!

*Our cowgirl persevered. She made it once around the big loop, smiling, before she informed the boy that "This pony making me dizzy. I get off now."

Well, That's Why There's Chocolate and Vanilla...

Amber: This is AWESOME! What is this?

Chloe: Mommy said it's called lasagna.

Amber: Magnifique! Simply fantastic! MORE!

Chloe: I don't really like it. Can I have your corn?

Amber: Are you insane?

Amber: Lasagna rocks!

There's Snow on the Pumpkins, Dear Liza

Amber: This is weird.

Chloe: I know - who could have imagined it would snow in October?

Amber: No, I mean, what the hell is this stuff?

Chloe: Oh, right, you probably don't remember last winter.

Amber: Last winter? Where was I?

Chloe: Asleep in the boppy.

Amber (musing): Good times... anyway, what is this stuff?

Chloe: Well, it was snow, but now it's just sort of ice. We can't really do much with it...

Amber: I'm kind of digging it.

Chloe: Yeah, Mommy said we could do some experimenting, so we melted ice with hot water and salt and smashed it with a wooden spoon.

Amber: Yeah... what is up with your outfit?

Chloe: I'm wearing a hat and jacket and boots - I'm perfectly attired for this weather.

Amber: Is that a summer dress peeking out under your jacket.

Chloe: Just because it's snowing doesn't mean I have to stop being the girliest person on the planet... besides, your own outfit is a touch much.

Amber: You know, she did this. I wouldn't have come up with this on my own!

Chloe: Whatever, you're just bitter because I get to be Ariel and you have to be Flounder.

Amber: I think I may have lucked out. You and Mommy will be freezing your cockleshells off and I'll be warm in my hoodie...

Chloe: WHAT?! WHAT?!

Amber: Here we go...

Chloe: I WANT TO GO IN THAT FARM. I WANT TO TRICK OR TREAT. WHAT IS GOING ON? MOMMY, OPEN THAT GATE.

Amber: I don't think she can--

Chloe: OPEN IT.

(Mommy tries to punt and finds... Horses! Horses are farmy!)

Chloe: MOMMY, I SEE SUMPIN! I SEE SUMPIN!

Amber: Crisis averted.

Chloe: I feel much more relaxed now.

Amber: I'm glad. And we can ramp that energy right back up again. I hear PattyAnne made cupcakes.

Chloe: Bye, horsey, see you next time!

Amber: When that farm better be open!

Mommy: Word, Amber, word.

Chloe: Ok, Mommy, let's go to JoJo's - let's see everyone and say Trick or Treat and have cupcakes.

Mommy: Dinner first.

Amber: Kill-Joy.

Chloe: Who's that with you, Amber?

Amber: This is Uncle Bob. He's a really good sharer.

Chloe: What do you mean?

Amber: Well, when I reached over and scooped some mashed potatoes off his plate, he didn't mind at all.

Chloe: Please tell me you used a spoon.

Amber: I did not.

Chloe: Classy, Amber, way to stay classy. This is why I'm the princess and you're the fish.

Amber (smiles, nods): A well-nourished fish.

Amber: See? We're BFF.

Mommy: Thank you to everyone at Aunt JoJo and Uncle Fuzz's house for such a fun Halloween dinner... and Colonial Plantation, don't think this gets you off the hook. Chloe and Amber WILL be back. I don't know if you have sheep, there, but I'd advise you to get a couple if you don't. Chloe is expecting sheep. Don't disappoint her twice, Colonial Plantation!