Fa-la-la-la-la

Today is the day...we fulfill a Christmas tradition--the decorating of the Christmas tree.  Anyone who knows me knows that traditions are right up my alley.  They're organized.  They're predictable.  And they're so much fun!  (I'm not completely lame!)  So turn up that Christmas music, please.

Are you kidding me?!

They just can't help themselves

Carlos doesn't believe me, but I actually let the girls have complete control over where they put the ornaments.  (I may have had a few suggestions.)  I have also figured out that the spacing between the kids means that every other year I get an undisturbed, fully decorated tree.  This is an off year.

  

Fiona can not keep her hands off. (But really, can you blame her?)  I am pretty certain that within the next few days the bottom half of our tree will be completely bare.  

Part of our tradition is the making and eating of shortbread cookies.  (Carlos is the official cookie maker.)

Some are eaten...

Others are purposefully smashed into the floor.

Add some hot chocolate and the tradition is complete.

Snow

Today is the day...I will begin to have 2 wet coats, 2 wet hats, 4 wet mittens, and 2 pairs of wet boots strewn throughout my house.  That's right, we experienced our first snow of the season, and it took .2 seconds for the girls to start digging through the box of winter accessories and suit up for the occasion.  (In all fairness, it actually took more like 20 minutes to get them in full snow gear.)  I'm not a huge fan of snow, but clearly they are.

Sweet, naked Fiona watching and longing from the window

I will say this; Having snow outside really creates a holiday spirit, and who doesn't love the holidays!


P.S. Expect my Halloween post soon.  I am just a little bit (okay, a lot) behind.

Home

The month of October flew by so quickly.  I doubt I relaxed for one moment.  I spent a lot of time preparing for our big family vacation to Disneyland and Las Vegas with Carlos' family.  The girls were so excited that they were going to spend Halloween at the happiest place on earth.  This of course meant that I had to prepare some awesome Disney character costumes.  After much consideration (I think way too hard) I began my annual "Despite-All-My-Good-Intentions-To-Finish-The-Girls'-Halloween-Costumes-Early-Here-I-Am-Sewing-Them-At-The-Last-Moment" event.  We decided on Perry the Platypus for Fiona and Candace for Ava.  (Both from Disney's Phineas and Ferb.)  Here are the girls at my aunt's Halloween party.  I could just kick myself for not sitting them down for some actual decent photos.    

I can't begin to tell you what a pain in the behind

it was making that darn hair!

Ellia was Jesse from Toy Story.  I committed one of my personal Halloween faux pas by purchasing her costume.  However, it did decrease my stress level by 33%.

  

The day of our departure arrived and, long story short, after the chaos of getting through airport security with a group of 13 people and about 1,000 bags, we finally arrived in L.A.  (Me with wet jeans from a leaky diaper.  Thank you, lap child.)  And the vacation began!  We spent the next three days Trick-or-Treating through Disneyland (Halloween night), enjoying the rides, meeting Disney characters, spending way too much money on food, and visiting the many restrooms, as there was always someone in need of a potty break.  We also enjoyed coming back to our vacation rental, soaking in the hot tub, and eating a garbage bag-full of candy.  I was a little worried that trick-or-treating at Disneyland wouldn't bring in as much loot as we'd get back home (I take candy collecting seriously), but I should have known that Disney would not disappoint.  In fact, Ava and Ellia's carry-0n baggage on our trip home consisted mainly of candy.

Now, how do you condense 3 days worth of Disneyland photos into an amount that others are willing to sit and scroll through?  Stay with me...  

Candace (wearing a jacket that covers her costume),

 Perry (with hiked-up pants) and boring old Mom

Perry the Platypus, meet Agent P

 The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique...

 ...and the resulting divas

 Fiona was completely mesmerized by Tinker Bell

 Lots of princesses

I may have a small (completely normal) crush on Flynn Ryder.

Check out that "smolder."


  
And I couldn't not post this one. Sorry for the horrible quality; I got it online.

Ava sacrificed the last morning at Disneyland to go with Carlos to Hollywood to visit the Nickelodeon Studios where her favorite show "Victorious" is filmed.  From what I hear she was pretty thrilled.  She was unable to meet any of the cast, but did end up with an autographed photo and a signed script from the pilot episode, given to her by one of the show's producers.

Re-creating a photo of Victoria Justice 

and the Hollywood sign

From L.A. it was onto San Diego to visit relatives for the day before we made the 5 hour drive to Las Vegas for Carlos' cousin's wedding.  The first night there we got to stay at the mansion where they were holding the reception that weekend.  Ava was a huge fan of the "fireman's pole" in our bedroom.  That was my first indicator of what was to come during our Vegas stay.  Our hotel for the next two days was located right on the Strip and as we walked around later that night it became very clear that I do not desire to visit Sin City ever again (as much as I love half-naked women, losing money, and second-hand smoke.)  In contrast, the wedding at the Bellagio was beautiful.

By the end of our 9 day trip I was so ready to be home!  (I didn't even mind that I was peed on once again on the flight home.  Yes, really.)  Goodbye cramped 15-seater van.  Goodbye living out of a suitcase.  Goodbye sleep-deprived, cranky children.  (Actually, we had to bring them back with us.)  Nothing like a good, long vacation to make you really appreciate the routines and comforts of home.  (And nothing like being woke up at 3 am by a barfing 3-year-old to really snap you back to reality.)  Home, Sweet Home!  

One Year Already?

Last week we had the chance to celebrate Fiona's first birthday.  As much as I think the whole world should care, I know that it's only a big deal to a select few.  So when planning her party I had to keep repeating to myself this mantra: Keep it Simple.  I have been known to go a little overboard when it comes to, well, anything really.  That's how we perfectionists roll.  But this time I think I actually managed to keep one of my children's parties pretty low key.  Cake.  Ice cream.  Treasure hunt.  Of course, because everything else was so simple, I just could not stop myself from putting a little more effort into her birthday cake.  (It's a disease!)

Having an extremely talented cake-making sister

comes in really handy at times like this. 

White chocolate obsession

 The sign of a successful first birthday

(Ignore the scowl.  All my kids are born with it.)

My pregnancy with Fiona took a lot out of me.  I experienced varicose veins, gestational diabetes, utter exhaustion, and of course my first epidural-free labor (completely involuntary.)  But she has not failed to give back.  She brings me joy on a daily basis.  I love the way her feet wiggle when she's eating in her high chair.  I love how she snuggles against me when I throw her blanket over my shoulder.  I love the way she sticks out her two bottom teeth, and I love that she thinks she can actually outrun me (or should I say out-waddle.)  I love every look, every sound, and every wet kiss.  I love her to the moon and back...plus several more round trips.

Word to your Grandma

Did anyone realize that today is Grandparent's Day?  Last week I happened to notice the date on my calendar.  I thought it would be nice if I had the girls make cards for their grandparents.  I told Carlos my idea, who then told me that he had a better one.  "We should make a rap music video for them."  Of course!  What could be more logical?  So naturally I was on board.

Carlos and I have recently discovered the hilarious pair, Rhett and Link.  They make humorous local commercials, have their own show on IFC, and were the inspiration for our very own cheesy music video.  (This either makes us slightly cool parents or completely lame.)  Either way, here it is for your viewing pleasure.

Note the excessive use of cookies as bribery.  Have the Wrights discovered a new family hobby?  :)

Swift Week

Since school has started up again I have gone from being slightly busy to having a full plate.  I'm wondering if I'll need a bigger calendar next year.  But I like to keep busy, and I love schedules and routines so I'm not complaining (yet.)

This week we have...

...been clowns.

Another fun time at the art museum.

...watched a parade.

This is the only photo I took.  I have been seriously slacking in the picture-taking department.  Ava and Ellia got to walk in the parade but I was too busy waving at them to take a picture.  Oops.

...sent another kid off to preschool.

My sweet Ellia!  I was so disappointed when I went to grab my camera before we left for school to find that I had left the power on all night.  Dead battery.  Aargh!  I had to settle for the camera phone again.  She's pretty darn cute.  Even with that big scratch next to her nose.   

...attended (half of) a Taylor Swift concert.

Fiona got to stay at Grandma's house while Carlos and I took the girls to Seattle for some (late) school shopping and a Taylor Swift concert.  The traffic was insane and the concert was even more insane.  (I'm getting old.)  After enduring the sweat-inducing temperatures and the long wait for Taylor to finally make her appearance our kids were already getting listless.  When Ellia was nearly passed out in her seat we decided to take our leave early and avoid the post-concert chaos.  The highlight of the concert (for me) was when the opening act, Needtobreathe, played one of my favorite songs, "Something Beautiful."  (Listen to it here.  Seriously, go listen.)  I was pleasantly surprised when I found out they were opening, but I was even more pleasantly surprised when we saw their lead singer and their bass player in our hotel lobby the next morning.  We had a (very) brief conversation, shook hands, and that was that.  Only after we got into the elevator did my star-struck brain think to ask for a photo or an autograph.  Bummer.  Cool experience nonetheless.  And once again I am lacking in pictures.  This time because I wasn't allowed to use my "professional" camera at the concert. 

As for the shopping, I am starting to accept the fact that Ava wants to pick her own outfits, which is a hard thing for a control-freak to do.  But I'm learning to waive some of that control, and the proof is in the pudding.  And here is the pudding:

These were Ava's "must-have" shoes that are a far cry from any feminine, bow-embellished pair I would have chosen for her.  (Did I mention that they light up?) But aside from these, all her purchases were mother-approved. 

...got an Anthropologie fix.

Just me, actually.  While I was soaking in the inspiration, Carlos took the girls to get cupcakes.  It has somehow become a ritual that whenever I find an Anthropologie, Carlos finds a place to buy sweets.  Voodoo Donuts in Portland.  Fran's Chocolates in Seattle.  And apparently Trophy Cupcakes in Bellevue.

...mastered the art of walking.

Fiona, that is.  While we were in Seattle, Fiona was busy perfecting her skills.  Just in time for her first birthday coming up later this month.  Yay, Fi!

  

I'd say we had a productive week.  Too bad I had so many camera malfunctions (yes, I'll blame my camera.)  Note to self:  Take more pictures!   

Voids

My house is feeling strangely quiet right now.  I am only deficient one child, who is having the time of her life at Kindergarten right now, but it's amazing how it can affect the whole atmosphere here at home.  And in a few more days I'll be sending Ellia off to preschool twice a week, which will add to the strangeness.  But I can't say that I hate the quietude.  And for a few hours each week Fiona will get to experience life as an only child, although I'm pretty sure she will much prefer having her sisters here.  Besides the commute, I am really excited about this school year.  I love school!  Ava loves it too, thank goodness.  How do I know this? (Here comes another one of my lists.)
· She happily wakes up in the morning
· She chooses her outfits a day (or more) in advance (She's totally my child!)
· She runs through her bedtime routine flawlessly because she "needs her rest for school"
· She tells me so  :)

Love that sweet face!

I'm hoping to use some of my newly acquired "free time" to get some projects done, but more likely I'll be doing what I do every other day.  Cleaning.  And Fiona is only getting busier.  She has started taking her first steps.  I'm sure I'm in for a treat.  But, I did manage to finish a project I'd been contemplating.  I took this picture at the Portland Anthropologie when we were there visiting last year.  (I go into tourist mode whenever I visit one of their stores.)

I fell in love with this wall art and became determined to recreate it.  I finally did.  Here is my knock-off.

The emtpy wall above my sofa is now slightly less empty, but there is plenty more wall to fill...