Opera

As you've probably noticed...Kyla likes to sing. (Hence, the microphone stand from Santa) I love all the photos where she is belting it out. They usually make it to the blog header. When we play Uno, she typically keeps all of her cards face up on the table but today she requested that I help her out so that she could hold them like an opera singer. I assume she is thinking an opera singer with a fan? Well she sang opera for me the whole time we played. Didn't even flinch when I grabbed the camera...which by the way is for sale. (Nikon P80 $150).

they got jump ropes... & some other things too.

Santa Baby

This has been such a fun Christmas season. The girls are at perfect ages for it and get really excited about every little thing. I thought I would document a few little things that will forget but don't want to.

• Kyla watched White Christmas about a dozen times. This is one of my all time favorite movies and I knew she would love it too. The best part, she knows almost all the words to Betty Davis and Rosemary Clooney's (Betty and Judy) Sisters song. It's pretty cute.
• When you ask them what they want for Christmas this year from Santa it's only one thing: "A jump rope." Easy girls to please. Why? Because in Arizona Tyler "taught" them how. We'll see if they are as skilled at jump rope as they are at skateboarding.
• They are obsessed with who is on the "naughty list" and who is on the "nice list."
• Kyla informed me that she really likes Charlie Brown Christmas but wanted me to know that they say "stupid" in that show and she knows we aren't supposed to say that.
• Favorite Christmas games to play: 1.) Wrap up toys we already have in blankets and pretend to give each other gifts. 2.) Mary and Jesus. This consists of wearing a blanket over your head and holding a doll. Usually there is a fight over who should be Mary.
• And lastly, when Heidi was a tiny baby the only way she would stop crying in the car was if we played the song "Santa Baby" and changed the words to "Heidi Baby." We even kept the CD in the car for the entire year. Well, this year she wants NONE of it. "I am not a baby anymore!!! I'm Heidi big girl!"

b-day wishes

Christmas Spectacular

Last night Kyla, my mom and I went to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular performed by the Rockettes. We loved it. We dressed up and headed down town, where everything looks even more Christmasy. Pictures aren't allowed inside so I can't really describe it to you if you've never been....only that you should go. I think I love it so much because I know how difficult what those girls are doing is. It takes me back to my days as a high kickin' Kentridge Chatelaine. Their precision is amazing. My favorite part is the Tin Solider routine for that very reason. It looks so cool. Kyla loved it all but she says she loved the part where they are all dressed like Santas the best.

Heidi and Dad went to the living Nativity at a local church. It was their special date. Heidi will have to come to Rockettes next year (I hope they come back next year). Kyla hasn't talked much about it today because she is pretty under the weather but she did manage to tell Heidi, "When you get bigger you can go to the dancing show!" to which Heidi replied, "I am bigger."

party paparazzi

 

 

Today was Enzo's 1st bithday party with his little friends...Kyla and Heidi included. Taryn asked me to take the pictures for her. Well you know that wasn't a problem. I took 200+. These two were my very FAVORITES! Annie and Enzo enjoying some cake!

Picture Perfect

These are my favorites from Lang Family Christmas....trying to get all the kids in a cute Christmas photo. 6 girls and 2 more on the way...poor Enzo just couldn't take it. He's definatly outnumbered.

i ♥ these girls

Ten on Ten: December 2009

P.S.

Some of my friends need a 10 on 10 reminder....it's tomorrow.

Ho Ho Ho

Well, we did our annual Santa visit at the mall with Chelsea and Pearson. We usually go to Nordstroms but when we got there at 3:05 we learned that Santa "feeds his reindeer" every day from 3-4. This would have been nice to know. We were strollerless, so instead of wander the mall with three crazies, we opted for the mall Santa.

Here are the three girls studying Kyla's card to Santa. She really doesn't even know about lists that kids make of things they want for Christmas....she just made him a card like she does everyone else. Inside it read, "I love Santa Claus. Love, Kyla Bell."

Here they are checking out the workshop.Catching a glimpse of the big man himself...not the least bit scared (at this point last year they were already clinging to me).And picture time! All three were a bit unsure but none cried or screamed. None sat on his lap either. Kyla clammed up about the jump rope she was going to ask for. Instead she handed him his card and really didn't say much. Heidi and Pearson opted for the backseat. I love their stone cold faces like they are in the early 1900s. Overall a successful trip to the Man in Red.

The Garden

We are on a Christmas activity marathon this week. Last night was the Garden of Lights. We did this last year and I'm glad we went again this year. It is is truly amazing and FREE. Again it was icy cold and freezing but better than rain for an outdoor activity. Next on the agenda: 1.) see santa 2.) Happy Birthday Jesus pajama party 3.) A gingerbread house birthday party....and that is just this week. Busy but so fun.

P.S. I'll give an update on the Santa visit later today. The last three years Kyla has cried but I have a feeling this year MIGHT be okay. We'll see.

Snowflake Lane

Tonight we ventured out into the COLD. The bank sign read 22 degrees on the way home. I don't know about that but it was REALLY cold. We went to Snowflake Lane in Bellevue- it snows every night there. The girls really loved it. Kyla especially loved that she got to dance with Rudolph, Frosty, a Penguin, and a Snow Bear...not to mention get her picture taken with a Snow Princess. Heidi thought it was a "very beautiful" but was a little more unsure of the loud drums and massive amounts of characters.

Kyla talked NONSTOP on the way home, asking a million questions about what she had just witnessed. "Tell me all about it!"

We might just have to make another trip before Christmas-we'll take dad along this time. They had to call him and tell him all about it.

I love this smile and other Christmas randomness...

I love how she always closes her eyes when she smiles big.

This is Buddy, our Elf of the Shelf. Every night when we are sleeping he goes back to the North Pole to report to Santa and every morning when we wake up he has moved to a different spot in the house.

We aren't allowed to touch him.

I caught Kyla holding him on the first day. As soon as she spotted me she burst into tears begging Buddy not to tell Santa.

And lastly, we have been having many tears due to this "bumble" over here. I won't even let Kyla catch a glimpse of this guy. We tried to watch Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer the other night and got about 10 minutes in. Every night since she's been trying to get him out of her head. Poor girl...we won't be watching this again...probably for a few years. Too bad...I like it.

I ♥ this tree

It's my mom's Christmas tree and I love it.

It's very whimsy and pink and so cute. I didn't post a picture of the entire thing because the lighting was bad and the pictures just don't do it justice. There is one on the P365 link though. So here is a glimpse. Kyla was describing it to Casey on the phone last night and she said, "Dad, it has lots of little ice cream cones all over it (which you can't see in the picture) and I really don't think its a forest tree (referring to our tree and tree experience). My mom is over coming to help me try to liven up the "forest tree" soon.