costumes

My sister-in-law sent a cat costume with my parents that her boys have outgrown.  This led to the girls wanting to try on costumes for an hour. 

Rissy wasn't thrilled at first.  She needed a long sleeve shirt so the costume didn't itch her. 

Skylar loved it and was crawling around meowing

Skylar the unicorn

my little ladybugs

Christmas part 2

On Wednesday, my parents came to visit.  We weren't able to go back to Chicago for Christmas, and we won't be able to make it back for our family Christmas on Sunday either.  My parents brought the girls their gifts from my side of the family.  They were thrilled with more presents.  We've spent the last 2 days playing with all the new toys and games. 

Boomer and Asha love the tent as much as the girls do

Merry Christmas

Well, I think it was a successful Christmas.  The girls got most of what they wanted.  They got a lot of "make-up" (chapsticks, nail polish, even some blush and lip stick), lots of artsy things (bath paints, coloring books, and a huge art set)  Then they got some Build-a-Bear outfits, Princess dolls, games and clothes.  Their big gift from us was a train table (complete with airpirt, construction zone, bridge and boat.  They are very happy.  They've tried to play with just about everything so far.  Here are a few pictures. 

the new train table

train table all wrapped up

stockings

after Santa left

finding the presents at 7:30 am

opening their stockings

christmas breakfast, eggs, bagel and cream cheese and banana.  yummy

she just loves this hat from Auntie Ria

Skylar's lot

more Skylar

Larissa's lot

more Larissa

the aftermath

Larissa set up a tea party

bath paints, a big hit

I love these name plaques their cousin found for them (I put their names on with stickers)

recent Larissism's

This kid may be the bane of my existence, but she also cracks me up with the stuff she says.  Here are some recent ones. 

While acting up one day I told her, you'd better watch out, Santa is watching and doesn't like bad behavior.  She got a shocked look on her face and looked out the window.  She exclained, oh you're right, he's out there watching me.  Then she closed all doors and blinds and said, there, now he can't see me. 

She's been big into hamburgers lately.  the last time we went to McDonalds she asked for a hamburger happy meal.  I dont order it special, just as is.  Usually she just eats it without saying anything.  This time she opened it up to give her sister the pickle and saw the onions.  She then said, Mom, why is there rice on my hamburger? 

While playing dress up with her sister, sissy, if you are Sleeping Beauty, can I be Wake-Up Beauty?

Mom, I need a bandage because my exzema is acting up again.  (we go get her a bandaid) Mom, I only need 2, we need to save some for sissy, you and dad.  Then when we run out we have to go to the store and get some more, that's the deal, ok? 

I'm sure there are more, but I can't think of any more right now. 

Kids Club

This is the first cruise that both kids were able to enjoy the kids club.  (you have to be 3 before the start of the cruise and potty trained) The kids club had 3 sessions a day.  9-12, 1-5 and 6-10.  They were very eager to go there.  Skylar went to kids club on our last cruise and loved every minute.  This was Larissa's first experience and she was a little shy at first.  She ended up loving it.  Skylar wanted to go to every session every day (no we didn't let her) and Larissa was always eager to go, but was ready to come back with me after about 2 hours, especially if they went to the 6-10pm session.  By 8 she was tired and ready for bed.  We left them in there late 1 night so that we could see the hypnotist, and that was a mistake.  They were so over tired and we had a hard time getting them to bed.  After that we always picked them up by 8:30 at the latest and bedtimes went much smoother.  Most days they went to kids club right after breakfast and stayed until lunch time.  Then after lunch we kept them out to spend some time with us.  Then after dinner they would go back until about 8-8:30.  They did some cool crafts.  It was fun trying to get some of them home. 

T-Shirts

Buttons

Princess night (Larissa)

Skylar

Pirate night (Skylar)

Larissa

Music day

Western night (Skylar)

Larissa

Space day (Skylar) That's an astronaut and the solar system

Shark day



Some of the things Larissa did not do because she came back early with me.  They also brought back a bunch of drawings and other small projects. 

Extra pictures

Here are just some random pictures from the rest of our vacation.

waiting for sail away

soda (ginger ale)

leaving Ft. Lauderdale.  I don't know how those palm trees are still standing

This Coast Guard boat kept going by

the girls beds, they had to switch every night

the Piazza

beautiful rainbow

enjoying the hot tub with daddy and grandpa

towel animals on our first formal night

We celebrated lots of birthdays, Skylar, mine, Grandma Kathy, John and Grandma Bonnie.  Our room steward made one towel cake for us all and put in our room for the girls.  He used their beads from kids club to decorate it

the babies had to watch the sail away from Aruba also

bird towel animal

on the last day I FINALLY got a proper nap from Larissa.

our room, cabin D708

she took a mini nap on my parents couch one night before dinner