Merry Christmas

2011

Todd decorated the tree this year.

Looks like Santa found our house!!!

Here are El and Eva... finally!

They did not wake up until almost 9 o'clock!

Todd had a surprise for the girls... ice skating on Christmas Eve.

We went and skated (well, Dad did not skate) for a couple of hours. I guess that must have worn them out. Sounds like a great new tradition!

Ready to open gifts?

Yes!

and another yes!

El is opening her gift from Eva.

Yes, she was this excited to get a gift card to Office Max.

Watch out Venus and Serena...

apropos.

Santa left another little surprise.

He left, hidden behind the tree, a sleigh bell for each of the girls.

We could all here the beautiful sound!

Webkins Hippo!

Nice lid.

Lelly decided to snuggle up with Daddy for the present opening.

Now it is play time!

Eva tries her gift from El, PINK HOT CHOCOLATE!

(front)\/

Eva was home while I was printing our Thank You cards.

She asked if I had one for Santa. I told her I did not (shame on me).

She said that it was OK and that she wanted to make his card.

Too sweet!

(back)/\

Home Alone

We have seen it before...

El left alone with her most willing of victims.

Eva has been painted and styled and directed.

I have banned Toddlers and Tiaras from the TV!

It took almost two days to get the eyeliner and mascara completely off!

But...

They sure had fun!

Clearly channeling some old movie stars.

These girls are never dull.

Tooth Fairy Flies Again

Miss Eva has lost her first tooth!

She is ecstatic... to put it mildly. She went to the dentist this morning and it was confirmed that the tooth was not long for this mouth. It was scrubbed to a brilliant shine and about six hours later came tumbling out.

Will the Tooth Fairy pay extra for a tooth that clean and shiny?

The Butterfly Museum

While in Houston we visited the wonderful Butterfly Center at the

Houston Museum of Natural Science.

My good friend and previous teaching partner Anna and her beautiful son Louis joined us for the fun.

Eva especially loved this new addition. It is a beehive. El quickly convinced Eva to be the worker bee while El was the Queen Bee! So basically El sat by me at a table and Eva would fly over for her next instruction. El has life figured out.

This is where the bee pollinates the flowers.

Eva explained to our group how the markings on this butterfly look like a large eye which helps to scare off predators. Someone has been studying butterflies!

Sweet Louis!

We were completely enamored. He is such a sweetie!

This guy was too cool not to photograph.

The Runkle girls!

Anna and Louis

Thanks for joining us!

We later found these magnifiers. They are supposed to be used to see insects. El and Eva found more amusing uses!

They've got the whole world... in their hands.

Christmas in Houston

Our weekend in Houston was to celebrate Christmas with our dear friends Rex, Jim, and Fabene'. It was a lovely evening.

Eva has taken over El's spot as a taco.

El also used to like to wrap herself up in the blanket.

Angry Birds game. We have played nearly every day since she received this!

Jim likes his gift from El.

El has made me compete with her... and the little bugger keeps outscoring me.

Mama needs to get her groove back!

My little beauty... decked out in Vera Bradley.

Another fan favorite... Hada the Hippo.

Eva's sleeping companion!

New stocking hangers for the girls!

Automatic salt and pepper grinders. Hope you like!

Geography for Christmas? She got it all together except she lost Maine...opps!

Ah, butterfly sketchbooks and pencils. Already has been hours of fun.

All is open... time to play!