Christmas, etc.

Ben, Tay, Evie, Tierney, Ethin

It has been a busy last week. We were supposed to go get pictures taken with the cousins on Saturday then go to Chuckee Cheese and then to Marshall's grandma's for Christmas. Well it was icy when we were supposed to leave to go to Waterloo so we ended up having Christmas with Marshall's parents on Saturday and then went to his grandma's on Sunday. Due to having to make those changes we didn't make it for pictures or to Chuckee Cheese (of course Miss Tierney was the only one who remembered we didn't go to Chuckee Cheese and had a hard time understanding why). It was a really nice weekend. We were very tired.

Then Monday the girls went to my mom's and I went wedding dress shopping with Megan and Marshall's mom. Meg found a dress and picked out the bridesmaids dresses, Tierney's flower girl dress, and Tay's junior bridesmaid dress. They are all really pretty. The girls are so excited for the wedding and want to get their dresses now. We are holding off as long as possible on their dresses in case they have a growth spurt especially since the wedding isn't until October. Tuesday the girls and I spent the day in our pj's and watched movies. It was nice to relax! Today we took down the Christmas stuff (Tierney wanted to leave it up all year). Then the girls and I went to the library and are going to rest so they can try to make the ball drop tonight!

Christmas with Ethin

Last night we went to De Soto with Marshall's parents and sister's family. We then went back to grandma and grandpa's for the kids to play and open gifts to each other. The kids have fun playing together. Tierney and Ethin always hug goodbye and say that they will miss each other it is really funny.

American Girl

The girls are in love with their American Girl dolls that they got. They have been playing with them non-stop. Tay is planning which bedroom set she is going to buy. They want to go to Mall of America to the American Girl store in the near future. Here is a picture of Tierney with Mia and Tay with Kit.

Christmas Day

Tay soaking her feet in their new "spa factory"
Tierney soaking her feet in the "spa factory"

The girls hugging after they exchanged their gifts to each other.

The girls opening the presents they gave each other.

This morning Marshall and I were in bed waiting for the girls to wake up. Well at quarter to eight we hear Tierney tell Tay Merry Christmas and Tay tell her the same. Then they were in bed visiting about Christmas and their new American Girl dolls. Then Tay said we need to wait until eight to get up. Marshall and I were laughing it was so cute to hear their conversation. Then promptly at eight they came running into our room wishing us a Merry Christmas. They did so well this morning... each taking turns opening presents so we could see what they got and then letting us have a turn. Thea and Lewie came over for brunch and Nana and Papa came over for a late lunch. After everyone left Marshall got Tay's desk set up in her room that Nana and Papa had given her (she loves it) and it will be so nice for her to have her own desk space. It has been a really nice Christmas! We are lucky to have our families so close.

Christmas Eve

Tay with her American Girl Doll Kit
Tierney in her towel that Nana made for her.

Great Grandma Arlene and Tay

Hailey, Tierney, Tay (with the peeing baby)... it actually peed on Tierney's hair at one point. That did not go over so well since she was so tired and cranky.

Hailey, Tierney, and Tay with Nana and Papa

Tay with Uncle Nate

We went to my mom and dad's for Christmas Eve. The girls went on Tuesday night. They got to spend the night with cousin Hailey. They had a blast and were extremely tired last night. Tierney was not real good especially at church. The girls and Hailey each got homemade towels from Nana. All the girls got American Girl dolls which they were pumped about. Tierney and Hailey also got peeing babies that they thought were great. It was a really nice night. Great Grandpa Bud, Great Grandma Arlene and Grandpa Bill all came over also. Tierney fell asleep on the way home and I carried her up to bed and took her coat off... I'm not sure she moved all night. And Miss Tay got home went the bathroom and asked us to lay out the milk and cookies because she was tired and needed to go to bed. It was crazy!

Words

Tierney has been saying the funniest words lately. For example she informed us that she did not like that big creature on the Cat in the Hat. We had watched that on Thursday night and she is talking about the cat. Then she informed me yesterday that I don't watch anything decent and I should turn the channel to cartoons. Then a week or so ago she informed us that someone in her class budged in front of her. It seems so funny for someone so small to be saying some of the things that she does.

Christmas

The girls are so excited for Christmas. Tierney has a chain that she made in school and first thing each morning she takes off one of the rings and then counts how many days are left. Tay has a countdown tree that we got when she was little that she moves each day and then of course she counts herself in case Tierney didn't get it right! Then right now as I type they are being sneaky and wrapping my present... I was told not to leave this room. It is so cute! How can you not be excited with those two!

Let it Snow!

I went Christmas shopping with mom today. When we got home the girls were helping Marshall shovel. They had a blast helping and then playing in the snow. Tierney didn't want to come in. She finally decided that she would when we told her there was a blizzard coming... she doesn't know what that means but it must have sounded convincing!

Tierney and Santa

Last night Tierney asked me "how come Santa didn't know our names". When we saw Santa earlier this week Santa asked their names and that must bother her because he should know all kids' names. So I tried explaining that that Santa was just a helper but I could tell she didn't quite buy it so we will see what the next question is that she has.

Then this morning we were talking about leaving Santa milk and cookies. Well she started crying saying Santa can't eat her cookies. Geez we went through this last year!

Santa

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday in the crazy snow and then Tierney asked to go see Santa. Heck the girl hasn't wanted to see Santa for the past two years so I wasn't going to say no. At first she was hanging on to my hand pretty tight but Tay and I encouraged her to go up and then she went right up and informed Santa she wanted a DS (we had plenty of time to visit since the weather was bad and no one was out which was very helpful). She even let us get a picture!! Funny the difference in the girls... Santa asked if they had been keeping their room clean and Tierney says "yes" without any hesitation and Tay just sat there. She knows lying is wrong but our Tierney could care less!

Sunday

Sunday was very crazy. Tierney had her school Christmas program at 1:30 and then we had to be in Charles City by 2 for the girls' Christmas dance recital. We had to run out of the program and fly to the dance recital. Tierney is above in her Christmas dress. I didn't get a great picture of her since she was either making a weird face or being cheesy. Both girls did a great job at dance and Tierney did a great job at her school program. I wish they could have been more spread out so we could have enjoyed them a little more!

Christmas at Grandpa Bud's

Cousin Heather and Tay

We had Christmas at my grandpa's on Saturday. Tierney helped hand out presents and that is all I got of pictures of the kid. She opened everything so fast. She was excited about all her new things and was out of there to play with them. Tay is above in all of her Hawkeye gear. She loves going to grandpa's because his whole basement is Hawkeyes. She had asked for a new Hawkeye jersey and got it with a hat. Then her cousin Heather got her a Hawkeye doll which is now in her room. She loves the Hawks!

Snoopy

I didn't know we had to worry about a four year old snooping to find presents. Apparently Tierney is a huge snoop like her Nana. This morning Marshall went out to get Tay off to school and when he came back inside Tierney was in the kitchen holding up a DS game she had found. She proudly announced what she had. Gotta love it. Marshall scolded her then called me and said I needed to hide things better. At least it wasn't something of hers or a game that we had gotten her then she'd know for sure she was getting a DS. That girl amazes me more and more everyday!

Snowballs

School was let out early on Monday so Tay's Christmas concert didn't happen. She was really disappointed as she was looking forward to throwing snowballs at the audience. Well good news it turns out it is re-scheduled for the 22nd. Which means Marshall can go now. Apparently we are going to be there when the doors open (according to Tay) so she can try to hit her dad with the fake snowball!

Tierney's letter to Santa

Dear Santa,
How are your reindeer? I love Christmas! I want a DS, a DS case, the three Pet Shop DS games, and an American Girl Doll and books. I want Mario Cart for DS. Have a great Christmas!
Love
Tierney Perkins

(can you tell she wants whatever her big sister wants)

Tay's letter to Santa

Dear Santa,
How are your reindeer? I want a Yoshi Island DS game and a American Girl doll. Also the High School Musical 3 DVD. I will leave you lots of cookies and some milk. Merry Christmas!
Your friend,
Taylor Perkins

(she even drew pictures of the milk, cookies, Christmas tree and snowman)

Tay Third Grade Picture

Here is Tay's school picture. It seems like they took forever since she was sick the day they had pictures and had to have them taken when they did re-takes. She looks so old.

Can we share the beer?

Tierney and Tay fell asleep this afternoon in the living room. I think they are both bordering getting sick. Tierney is complaining of a sore throat and they both have runny noses so I was mean and made them rest today. Well I had made some snacks in the croc pot but they were still sleeping and Marshall and I were starving so I went and got us some and some drinks. Well when I came into the living room with everything Tierney was awake and then went and sat next to Marshall. She then asked him "can we share the beer" and when he said no she started crying and said "what can I have to drink". Poor girl thought she was going to go thirsty!

Merry Christmas!

The girls and I went shopping yesterday with Ethin and Megan. We saw a side of Tierney that I haven't seen before. She was telling people Merry Christmas, giving people fives, telling them that she is four and she is going to have her number five and number six birthday at the Super 8, holding the door for people (pretty funny seeing a four year old holding the door open for adults but boy was she proud when they told her thank you), and telling people that her name is Tierney and then spelling it for them. I just couldn't believe it normally she is so shy and won't talk to people even if they talk to her. Then today I had to run and get groceries so she came along to push the little cart at Joe's and was again telling people that she is four and even gave a guy a five there. Maybe she's coming out of her shell... better watch out!

I'm not going to smile nice!

I was talking to the girls tonight about getting their annual Christmas picture taken together. We were discussing when we thought we could get them taken and Tierney informed Taylor and I that "I'm not going to smile nice". She then proceeded to cross her arms and make a grumpy face and then stated "I'm going to do this". She did so well when she had her birthday pictures taken that I thought this would be cake. But she has been VERY grumpy this week and I should have known better. So wish us luck on this one!