Nyssa

In part two we get to see the ever glamorous Nyssa Rose, the prettiest pretty baby of all. Her zest makes her more beautiful, sure, but I think she stands alone in absolute wonder in some of these pictures. Perhaps, maybe I am biased.

The first rule of movie is to label all of the boxes, especially the ones you are going to put your child in.

This isn't, but it is very close to her, "oh daad." face. A face I love. That she know places her hands over her ears, I love less.

Nothing to say here, but who is the princess here?

Not only do i think she is glamourous, but I think she could be a fabulous hand models. When they start the reality show, "Preschoolers in Palmolive," we are so in it to win it!

Look at the doll movement! The grace at hummingbird speeds.

Here she is wearing her Christmas tree outfit over 2 other layers of clothing

GiNeeNie!!!! Nyssa is not the most physically gifted gymnast, but she knows and loves how to Stick It. Also, I do not know what kind of "hands" this is, but she has all of her stickers for gymnast hands. I love her.

Look at those hands! It is not the dress that makes the girl. It is the girl that makes the hands. (Also I think she looks like Jenifer Garner here.?? Or am I crazy)

It is not like we pose her. This is her choice and her idea of what glamor is. That she is right just proves her genius.

How can you look glum when you are alight? I think this is her, "mom, now?" face.

She likes to just wear hoods and nothing else. Sometimes I forget she is only 4, so she reminds me.

Imagine if this picture was a little crisper. How beautiful do you need to be to not be upstaged by, pink undies, bare thigh, and ladybug boots? BTW that is our winning Palmolive hand clasp.

Hoods.

Dinosaur egg. Her hands do not just sit idly by and show off an object. They grasp it and love it.

Short hair for looking like Aysha. (which worked, Aysha's own daddy got them confused from behind!)

Sweet Sweet sisters. Yesterday Leila turned to Nyssa and said, "Nyssa you are the best." I said, Leila that is so sweet. And Nyssa said, "what did Leila say?" "That you are dumb." I said.

So I am not perfect., but our babies are pretty close.

Leila

My mom (Hi mom!) lost the hard drive on her computer--what you get for trying to drive it to the Bahama's--and so needs me to send her pictures of the kids to fill up her new Camero with. Bitchin!
What follows today are pictures of Leila from like October to like Valentines day, in which she is the star and focal point. Later today I'll perform the same service for Annie, our dog.
Here goes:

Ahh the old house. Her great picture personality is how she sticks her head out. It accentuates her cheeks.

I like to think of her as fearless--especially compared to Nyssa at that age--but she isn't as she liked to tell us constantly for a couple of months: "I Leila."

With Chocolate milk at the fall Elizabeth Mitchell and Justin Roberts concert. When she smiles there is nothing better better ever ever. She is so alive (and full of herself!).

Sock Hands! Ahhhhhhh. When I put socks on my hands I just feel like a fool. For her...

Magic.

Katyfullin thinks that the Olivia Newton John hat is the cool look this summer (and last summer and the summer before that.) And she is right, especially when Leila shows a bit more thigh chub then in this picture. (BTW: This is our new driveway and fence)

GinNeeNie. Having a big sister she dances and jumps and sings well before Nyssa did. and if I could get video's to load I'd show you that.

At Christmas at Aunt Laura's house in Glenview. We love visiting that house when we are in Chicago. Laura and her family (even Paul) are so sweet to us and on our kids.

"I just coloring, because I just want to."

At the mall play area. How come we never had cool stuff like that?

Beans with her dinosaur egg at a MiM party.

First hair cut. First hair cut. First hair cut.

I missed a lot of it because I was getting my hair cut too and it was so cute.

Leila was so tired, about 1 hour past her nap time, but she was excited for the hair cut and sat there. Her hair is sometimes glamorous and sometimes babyish. She has the best little curls on the side of her face when we let her hair air dry before bed.

The exception to the rule. The sisters together after their hair cuts. Proud, happy and tired.

Another fashion shot from Katy: Nyssa is wearing Christmas tree over pj, and Leila is wearing Scottish rain jacket with butterfly boots.

Too soon it is over. Leila is almost 2 and a half, she is stubborn and funny but most of her stubbornness is the result of wanting to understand and be understood. How to bring her up without bruising her?
Isn't that where the fun lies?

Christmas

I don't like to brag but this was the best Christmas tree ever. I even had to cut part of the top off to stand it upright (Just like Big Bill). I think it took like 900 lights.

They really like each other! And except for the occasional sharing issue get along really good.

Our first little snow. And Santa, who actually made it through winter really well. Who knew?

We dressed up for something but I don't remember what. Ohh, Nutcracker. Which Nyssa and Leila made it through really well. So did I. Nyssa is so pretty.

On Grandma's roof on Christmas eve. We went up to see if we could see Santa coming into Chicago. It was to cloudy.

But the snow was perfect. We used Clementines (Ohh my darling) for the eyes, nonpareils for the nose and mouth, and cooked asparagus for the arms.

Leila doesn't really like mittens so her hands got cold and she sat inside for a lot of the building. I couldn't get a good picture of her slumped like a dumpling against the radiator.

This Christmas Nyssa learned how to worry over and horde her candy. A big step.

Santa brought stuffed animals. Nyssa asked for a "teddy bear" (which was really cute on the heels of her giving grandpa an "adult" teddy last Christmas) and I think Leila just asked for a, present.

On the long drive back to Chicago. Leila loves her Giraffe and it sits at the head of her bed peeking over the railing at her.

Garland Days

I don't know what I am going to do about all of the pictures I would like to post. See, my daughters are so beautiful that it is hard to select just one.

I like that she has a spare passie in her hand. We are down to just one and (mostly) just at bed time.

Recreating your childhood memories is fun but not as fun as you remember it.  I end up standing there with a silly grin on my face.

Leila at work.

Nyssa at work too.

Go on you doodiehead

Finished product. Next year I need to get out the big boy ladder and light the 2nd floor.

Thanksgiving, Making pie. The giantest bird ever is in the oven.

Childserve Christmas pageant. We couldn't get a good picture of Leila but she performed too.