Double claw

Papa giving the girls the claw treatment today. Now when he asks who wants "the claw", they get right down on the floor in anticipation. They slept until 8:30 this morning. Had breakfast and then a bath, but just as I put them in the tub, Uncle Alan showed up to visit, so they wanted out so they could play with him. He brought his EasyShare so they could look at pictures (yesterday he forgot and Ava was very upset), it was cute when he left, she waved and said "bye-bye" to him.

Christmas break sleepover #2

Harper looking at all of the airplanes in Uncle Alan's shop. We took them for a ride in their cars today, but it was kind of cold out so we just went over to see Alan and let him know the girls were spending the night. He came over later to visit.

Oh, I forgot to put this in, the girls found the Hokey Pokey Elmo this morning and it was a real dance party, so funny:


Emmy pointing out cousin Will's picture to Ava at the Rockets game vs. Montesano tonight. The girls were very good at the game, it helped to have Auna and Emmy there to entertain them. They colored for a long time, preferring to color on the program instead of their color book.

This is how Emmy entertained them, over and over. When Emmy would try to take a break, Harper would poke her in the arm and then point to her mouth until she blew another bubble for her to pop.

Toothless Rielee

Coloring a picture for Maggie, her dog that they gave away, she still misses her.
Rielee called me last night so excited with the news that she had lost her first tooth. This morning she called and wanted me to come over and get her, she was back in bed when I got there and proudly holding her tooth fairy money-$3.50!

They are getting along in this picture, but spent most of the day bickering over whose turn it was to use the hoola hoop. Rielee is so funny when she does it, she said she is a "pro" since she can get it spinning turbo fast. Parker is holding his new "CR" lanyard, he collects lanyards now.

Auna and her cousin Gracie came over to visit today, which made Rielee and Parker very happy, they haven't seen enough of Auna lately.

G'ma 190 PK 132

It was one of those days when I didn't think to pick up the camera, so I'll put an old picture here for fun, the twins last December. They are looking as identical these days as they do in this picture.

Parker was anxious to take me over to his house this morning to see his new basketball double shootout game. First we played 1 minutes games and he beat me 2 out of 3 games. Then he wanted to play a 5 minute game, and I won 190-132, he was not very happy and didn't want to play me anymore! I was happy about that because my arm was sore anyway. Then he showed me some hunting game he got for the Wii but I didn't care for that at all and wasn't about to play it with him, so we headed back home. He was doing some math games on the computer and asked for help, from me, oh no, so I studied area and perimeter with him and he got a high score on the lesson once I helped him a little. It is so nice that he finally enjoys math, it was always his worst subject before this year.

Rielee had a fun day, first she went down to Cathy's to play with Jillian, and when she got home from there she went over to Auna's to play with her and cousin Gracie.

Christmas Day Part 2

Our Christmas morning continued as we headed down to Camas to open gifts with Charb and Kelly and the kids. Same process, stockings then presents. Luke made a haul with Boise State stuff, and lots of other sports-themed gear.

Ava seemed to think that sitting on the package was the best way to open it. The girls weren't that excited to open presents until Kelly actually started tearing the paper for them, then they would help. As each gift was opened, they wanted to play with it and didn't care if there were more waiting.

They got a new baby and highchair and spent a lot of time feeding her. They were also very excited by two new puzzles, new blocks, and a set of 4 puppy puppets.

Lexi got tons of Abercrombie clothes, and another of her gifts was an interactive globe. One gift she was very happy with was a volleyball.

We had a wonderful Christmas morning with our lovely kids and grandkids!

Christmas Day Part 1

Gabe, Des and the kids came over for breakfast at 8:00, we had biscuits and gravy, we always have biscuits and gravy, but this year Parker also requested spudatos, too. First we all opened our stockings, then it was on to the presents.

Rielee had asked me for a sock monkey because I recently made one for Parker. I found some pink socks to make hers out of(and one for Auna also). I also gave Rielee and her monkey matching p.j.'s, but she quickly changed her monkey's jammies to the tutu and a shirt that said "I love Rielee" on the front (something she asked for). Macee and Parker were happy with their gifts, Parker was easy to please with NY Giants stuff.

Our day started out crazy, with another broken pipe! Fortunately, we had just gotten up and caught it quickly, the only damage was a wet closet floor and a whole bunch of wet towels. This time it was caused by a rushed plumbing job, big oops there, dear Papa...it made making breakfast sort of a challenge but didn't dampen our Christmas spirit one bit!

Christmas Eve

Harper and Ava sitting in front of the Dolan's Christmas tree.
They were a little shy at first around everybody, but soon they were running around all over the place.

The cousins, age 1 to 19

Rielee was Santa's helper this year.

Ava and Harper sat on Santa's lap and were terrified of him!

Rielee was thrilled with this gift-a "boy Barbie" as she calls them.

Ava and Harper showing Papa the electronic gifts they got from Santa.

Another wonderful Christmas Eve, with lots of great food, a 2010 trivia game, and a gift exchange that went on for a very long time.

We are so fortunate to have such a close and fun family.

Luke's cast

Charb sent this picture of Luke with his cast-in Boise State colors yet! Reports are that he is doing okay but the setting process was pretty painful and his leg was sore today.

Thank you Harper

What started out as a fun sleepover with the twins and Rielee turned into a real nightmare. Harper woke us up at 1:30 crying, and when Papa went to get her he realized he was walking through water and that something was very wrong with the water heater. By the time he got the water shut off it was running out into the living room all the way to the wood stove. We have never been so happy to have been awakened by a light-sleeping, crying child, for if she had not heard the water running, we would have had a real disaster on our hands. As it was we had to rip out the playroom carpet and take up some of the laminate, but very little water had soaked through it so we were pretty lucky there.

Rielee really was an angel last night and helped entertain the twins as we moved furniture and cleaned up the water. They were afraid of the shop vac, so we put them in their highchairs right in front of the TV with Rielee sitting beside them, and as luck would have it, Elmo and Barney are on in the middle of the night! So with Rielee singing along to the songs, they were distracted and pretty happy. I finally called Charb to come and get them at 3:30 when we started pulling up the carpet since it was such a mess and by then they were wanting to run around and their little feet were getting wet, besides the fact that they were exhausted. Harper still had enough energy left to fight getting buckled into her carseat though! After they left, Rielee went back to bed and slept until 9, Charb said the twins did, too.

So, after all that, we are very tired but so grateful that it wasn't worse, thanks to Harper!

Luke's broken leg

Kyle and Macee before her game tonight, they beat Ridgefield.
Charb texted me during the game that Luke fell while ice skating and broke his leg! Not a good way to start his Christmas vacation. He has a soft splint on it now and will get a hard cast in a few days.

We went shopping today and I got a call from James that he and Parker were going into our house to watch TV and hang out. I said okay and that we would be home shortly. They called back 3 more times to find out when we were going to be home, said they had wrapped a present for me and put it under the tree, and they are laughing up a storm about this present. When we got home, Parker, Auna and James were all hiding in the playroom closet, and the "present" was actually my microwave, right off my counter, all wrapped up under the tree...Papa unfortunately didn't find the humor in this little joke that I did (actually he was more upset that the kids were all playing in the house unsupervised...) and the kids quickly unwrapped the microwave, put it back in its place and beat feet back over to Uncle Alan's to play.

Ava and Harper looking at the tree this morning, they still have runny noses but feel fine otherwise. They've only taken a few ornaments off of the tree and yesterday they took several presents out and sat on them, but that's it, no tearing paper or anything.

Oh, and I think I can guess who put their jammies on last night??
Uncle Alan and Papa took the girls for a walk this afternoon over to the deck by Alan's pond, they got a big kick out of the duck decoy that floats in the water.

Real dishes

A new source of entertainment-I gave them some big bowls and colanders, they played with these for a long time, running in to give Papa bites of whatever they were making. It didn't take long before Ava was in the cupboard hauling out pots and pans on her own, so now I need a couple more kiddie locks installed.

Little dancers

Rielee just after her Winter Concert
She sang her little heart out. Nothing will put you in the Christmas spirit more than hearing children singing Christmas carols!

Well, Ava and Harper's fear of the singing stuffed animals didn't last long. They saw them under the tree this morning, got them out and we turned them on once, but Ava was nervous which made Harper nervous so we put them back. A couple minutes later, they wanted to try again, and pretty soon it was a full out party until Grandma couldn't stand to hear the song again! They listened to it so many times that Ava knew when the ending was coming. In this video they started were playing with their sleeves and talking to each other, too.

Tree day 2

Rielee posing with these singing stuffed animals we have had for years. She showed them to the twins last night, but they were half-scared of them, so we had to put them up. She got them back out again this morning, they were still afraid of them, but wanted them left out by the tree. Turned off though.

Emmy came over a couple of times to visit and play with Harper and Ava. It didn't take long before they warmed up to her. They both have colds, but still played well all day.

Ava tried so hard to put her socks on Emmy's feet, she finally settled on just laying them on-then she would stand back and be so happy and then yank them off and start over.

Sunday

Uncle went to Mossyrock this morning to watch Auna play basketball. He was very impressed with her playing and said she was doing really well handling the ball.

When he got home we went out in the rain and got very wet getting our tree. Rielee and Emmy showed up just in time to help me decorate it. I told Emmy that our 5' tree is like the baby of their 10' tree. It's small but still pretty.

Charb called and asked if the twins could spend the night since Kelly's Mom came down with pneumonia and had to be hospitalized. While we were waiting for them, Emmy and I went through a couple of photo albums to figure out what year they last had Christmas Eve at their house (1998).

We were really anxious to see what the twins would do with the tree. They were still half-asleep from their car ride and were very subdued, and just stood and looked at it. Finally, Harper grabbed a snowman ornament to look at up close, but they didn't really pay much attention to it.
They didn't touch the presents either.

Emmy's home for Christmas

Auna and Emmy at Macee and Tierney's game tonight (an easy win over Winlock). With Emmy's hair darker, I think they look even more alike. Macee mentioned to me before the game that she was creeped out that one of their refs was the very weird driver's ed. instructor she and Maddie had last summer. Macee didn't get called for any fouls anyway...
I missed Will's game last night due to a stomach bug, darn it, and he scored 27 pts. and Cale had 15 in a win over Rochester.

The claw

Give sissy a kiss
The girls slept really well last night, and took a long morning nap. When they got up we took them out for a walk and ride in their cars.

Papa was playing with them and rolled up their pants, then sent them out to show me how funny they looked. Here he is playing "here comes the claw" tickle game with Harper, wow, glad it's more fun than it sounds.

Thursday

Charb brought the girls up to us since he was going hunting with his Dad. He stopped back by to play with them before he went home, and the girls got to stay and spend the night with us.

Rielee and Parker also came over instead of going to Rochester for Macee's game. Rielee wanted to color and Ava and Harper were ready to color, too. Rielee also wanted to take a bath with them, but the twins weren't liking having her in there with them, so they bailed out as soon as Rielee got in.

Parker spent most of his time on Study Island, Ava and Harper were happy to sit on Auna's lap and watch, probably hoping Starfall would start soon. They seem to be getting slightly obsessed with the computer, and can't be left alone with it or else they are clicking and pounding on the keyboard. I could hear them in there squealing and pounding on the keys today, and when I checked on them, Ava was on the keyboard, Harper clicking the mouse and somehow they had managed to get on EBay! They were so excited that they had something on the monitor, even if it wasn't Starfall.

New stuff

Auna in her Spirit Fairy skirt last night at Will's game, but even with supporters like her in the stands, the Rockets lost to White Pass/Morton in the last seconds of the game. Will played a good game, scoring 15 points. Some new things today, Rielee (who had early release today) brought over her Little Mommy doll that coos and moves its arms and head. Ava and Harper were fascinated with it, and took turns packing it around, kissing and hugging it. Rielee also got out the Play Doh, and the girls tried tasting it, yuck, and squishing it, but were more interested in the doll, oh, and the little stuffed dog that Rielee spotted under the entertainment center and rescued for them. It had been "missing" for awhile so they were glad to see it again...

Visitors=happy twins

Ava and Harper are always excited to see Rielee in the morning, even if it is only for a few minutes before she leaves for school. The leaving part is pretty tough for them though, they don't want her to leave and it's like they are saying are yelling "hey, why can't we go outside, too?"
Our next visitors were Aunt Laury and Max, and boy oh boy, they love to see that big dog. Of course, they like seeing Laury, too.

Then, more excitement when Uncle Alan showed up to visit and play with them in the afternoon. Here they are playing a "cover up the baby" game. He made the mistake of forgetting his EasyShare today and that was the first thing they wanted from him.

After school, Auna came over to see them. They were pretty tired at this point and a little tussle broke out over who got to sit on Auna's lap. But then she sat down with both of them and played Starfall and everyone was happy again. Getting them in their carseats was a major battle today since they were having fun with her and did not want to stop playing, once I got them buckled though, they settled right down, and were asleep by the time we got to the freeway.

Ava's nose dive

Ava was asking to go outside this morning when it was still dark, so she and Harper were happy to be able to play outside in the sunshine this afternoon. They are very interested in cones and sticks and just wandering around in general, usually in different directions. They were picking up cones and sticks and putting them on the bench.

Ava tried to navigate over some rocks and literally did a "nose" dive. She landed in some soft dirt and was more surprised than hurt, didn't cry but looked pretty funny.

Daddy's girls looked so cute in their Batman and Superman shirts. I have the hardest time trying to get a picture of them together these days that isn't blurry since they are so wiggly and in constant motion. They seem to run everywhere all the time now, and really fast if they happen to get a hold of something they aren't supposed to have--then the chase is on!

basketball

Rielee brought Macee's old cheerleader outfit (from many Halloweens ago) over yesterday afternoon so I could take a couple of tucks in the skirt so she could wear it to Macee's first basketball game. When I got to the game later, she was out in the forum standing there watching the cheerleaders warm-up. She said "Grandma, take a video of me!" so I did and she just stood there frozen, not wanting to actually do a cheer (since the real cheerleaders might be watching her) she said "umm, I can't think of anything to do". The Rockets beat Montesano easily.

We went to watch Parker compete in the Elk's Hoop Shoot today at Huntington. He took 2nd place and got a medal. It was interesting to watch but would have been more fun if the gym had some heat, it was freezing in there.

We went to Knappa, Oregon to watch the girls play in the evening, unfortunately they lost that game. That gym was way overheated!