Animal Rescue on the Beaches of California

School was cancelled today, due to the weather. How do children who are home from school spend their day? Playing "Animal Rescue on the Beaches of California" of course! Bennett came across a multitude of animals in danger this morning. Here she is holding a baby anaconda she found washed up on shore and barely alive. Notice the beach attire of shorts and flip flops, safety gloves for handling wildlife, and some sort of holding cage made of a Bilibo and a jumprope hanging from her shoulder. I was deemed "the naturalist" who was to give her advice as to how to care for each creature in distress. My advice when caring for a baby anaconda: Being they are water serpents (is that true?) you should keep them in a container that contains a moderate amount of water, as well as insects on which to feed. I have no idea what I'm talking about but I must not be too far off base because she took my advice. Of course, I don't think baby anacondas are known to wash up on the shores in California, so possibly both of us are way off base. Whatever the case, Bennett is greatly enjoying her day at home, I mean in California!

Candlekazam Update

We are still celebrating Candlekazam here, we've just had a few missed days due to a crazy schedule. Here is an update on Dad's Candlekazam challenges: He had to wear boxers over his jeans one evening. Don't worry...he didn't leave the house. He had to do everything blindfolded for one-half hour on a seperate occasion. He did a fine job of eating pizza and putting the clean, wet laundry into the dryer, all while blindfolded! He only has two challenges left. We're trying to figure out when they will take place, as our schedule is still pretty packed at night. He will be going through the McDonald's drive-thru wearing a rainbow clown wig. That will be fun. Finally, to wrap up Candlekazam, he must get into the bathtub with his swim trunks on. The bathtub will be full of ice cold water! That should be miserable. We'll try to get some photos of these challenges when they take place!

Thanksgiving Weekend Extravaganza

Bennett and Ainsley enjoyed our annual Thanksgiving weekend getaway with Grandpa, Grandma, Aunts and Uncles. I think this trip was exceptionally fun for them, as very little time was spent shopping. Here are some of the highlights... We got to see some great holiday lights. The first opportunity came in the form of fireworks to kick off the Christmas season. The second was a drive-through lighting display. The Girls loved both! Above they are taking in some lights. Notice Ainsley's "hanky" hanging from her belt loop: She spent the weekend battling a horrific cold, but her spirits were good even though she felt terrible.

Bennett as a dancing reindeer...

We went to see the Disney movie "Bolt" in 3-D. Here is Ainsley, watching the previews with her 3-D glasses on. By the time the movie actually started, she was over the glasses and watched 80% of the movie without them. Bennett, however, took in the flick in all of its 3-D glory. She could be heard chuckling loudly many, many times during the show. Fun!

Dad took Bennett for her first ice-skating experience while Ainsley was napping on Saturday. She had an absolute blast! She did a pretty good job, for a beginner, but she did arrive back at the hotel quite soaked from spending some considerable time on her bum.

Candlekazam!!!

So, we made a little craft the other night. It involved wrapping toilet paper tubes with construction paper and adding paper wicks to create candles. On each wick we were supposed to write down a Christmas activity for our family to do during the coming month. However, we (the girls in our family) decided it would be a much better idea to write down some CRAZY activities for Dad to do to entertain us. We have decided to call this craft/event Candlekazam! Each day for six days, Dad draws out one wick and is required to do whatever it says. The first day he had to dance a crazy dance to whatever song Bennett and Ainsley chose. He did a fine job getting down to Kung Fu Fighting by Cee-Lo and Jack Black. Today he must go about the tasks of his day with a blindfold on for one half hour. Here are some photos taken during yesterday's challenge, and it was a challenge for him..."Let Bennett and Ainsley paint your toenails." Dad is such a good sport!

Stool Steps

Bennett and Ainsley have an affection for climbing apparatuses in our home. They refer to the three we have each as Stool Steps, as if that is the proper name of an inanimate object that has feelings and a life. Weird. Anyway, they both love Stool Steps and use them regularly for various purposes. However, last night our largest Stool Steps became useful in a new way...stadium seating in the living room. Above the children can be seen eating some cheese cubes while watching a favorite PBS television show of theirs, Antiques Roadshow. Two young children eating cheese on a step stool watching Antiques Roadshow is something you just don't see every day. We live in a house of unique and entertaining experiences!

To Grandmother's House We Go...

Last night we were off to enjoy an evening of football and pizza at Grandpa and Grandma's house. Prior to heading out the door, Bennett decided she needed to wear an old cap and a pirate's eye patch. She also decided she should do a little Kung Fu. I'm not sure why the transition of going to a grandparent's house sparked these last minute changes. Strange kid!

New Threads

The Girls recently received some beloved dolls from their Great Auntie. They cherish them, and tonight they were delighted to receive two large bags of clothing for their dolls. While rummaging through the many items, Bennett and Ainsley found a few pieces that they could fit into themselves. Above, Ainsley is wearing some pink and white pinstriped bibs with a light blue sweater and hat. Bennett is modeling some red bloomers with a tiny kimono and a red night cap of sorts.

Here we have more doll clothing...Ainsley found a nice, red swimsuit. However, she did have to cover her chest for the photo. Slightly inappropriate. Bennett has a lovely little sweater on, and again you see the red night cap of sorts. She actually wore the night cap to bed. It's on her head at this very moment. Thanks, Auntie!!!

Blankets + Slick Floors = Lots of Fun

The Girls spent the majority of their evening on Wednesday enjoying a new activity. It is called "Pull Your Sister Around the House On a Blanket." There was a large amount of laughing, screaming, squealing, huffing and puffing going on, not to mention several near-misses between heads and walls or furniture.

These two had a great time, and they slept very well that night!

And The Winner Is...

Several weeks ago Bennett came home from school telling us that she had been instructed to color a picture for a coloring contest. Her teacher said that prizes would perhaps be rewarded to the winners of the contest. That was the end of the discussion. Today, Bennett came waltzing out of the school with a little mouse in hand. Today she found out that she won 1st place in the Kindergarten division of the said coloring contest! She was given a lovely certificate of recognition and she received a Beanie Baby mouse named Cheddar. She is absolutely thrilled, as she has never before won a contest! Her only disappointment is that they misspelled her last name of the certificate, but she is willing to overlook the error, she said. Congratulations, Bennett, on your fine accomplishment!

When Big Sis Is Not Looking...

What goes on while Bennett is at school? Ainsley does things that she knows would never fly when Bennett is home! Today she is enjoying her big sister's beloved, flannel, Christmas duckie nightgown. Oh yeah!