what a girl wants...

an apple slice, a comfy chair and some sesame street.

christmas cards

Cool Collage Holiday 5x7 folded card

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magic

and now it feels like christmas. isa and i decorated the tree tonight and can now sit back and enjoy the view. sylvi just couldn't stay awake for all of the action, as she is getting caught up from a week of being sick and can barely make it to her normal bedtime without dozing off. but we saved lots of ornaments for her to put on tomorrow and will let her help with the angel as well. even though he doesn't necessarily agree, phil is sweet enough to indulge me in my "we must get a BIG tree" holiday impulse. what can i say? it's in my genes or something.

one more

this gem oh a snapshot got left out somehow! it's pretty fun! isa was lucky enough to have many, many of her favorite people in attendance on both nights. clearly she is enjoying the presence of curtis and sam here!

the Nutcracker 2010

in unusually slow fashion, we are just now getting some Nutcracker photos and commentary up on the blog. i know, a whole 48hrs right? but what can i say, it's been a really busy weekend. thursday, friday and saturday nights were filled with late night dress rehearsals and two performances. then sunday was the annual Art in the Afternoon christmas show for mommy. on top of all that excitement, sylvi ended up with an ear infection and a weekend of feeling pretty under the weather (although still in remarkably good spirits, let it be known). we have alot to catch up on around here, but without further ado: the Nutcracker 2010!

isa's ballet school puts on a production of the Nutcracker each year as a fundraiser for a community member in need. this year, the show was in honor of one of the youngest dancers, who is being treated for a malignant brain tumor. she's only three years old and is now on round two of her battle. she lost almost all of her eyesight from the first surgery to remove the tumor but has still taken part in ballet this Fall. with the help of Ms. Tricia and some creative teaching tools (Krysta can really only see vague shadows), she was able to take part and dance with her class on stage. it was a sight to behold and i think it's safe to say that there were very few dry eyes in the auditorium.

as for the rest of the girls, they put on a heck of a show as well. it was really impressive, given that there are over 90 students ranging from toddlers to grown women. isa and her classmates were the "baby party girls" and took part in the open scene with Clara and her mother and sister. i know i'm pretty partial but... the little ones stole the show! they were clearly enjoying themselves and did their routine quite well, considering. even though it was alot of work, isa really enjoyed taking part and is already insistent on doing it again next year. sylvi is too, for that matter, and if the current trend holds she will be joining her sister on stage as well.

it's official

sylvi at two years old

if i didn't have a whole universe of people to confirm it, and this here blog, i might not actually believe that sylvi is two years old. both because i don't really want to believe it and because it happened all too fast. really, two years? way too fast.

but despite all that, sylvi is every single bit a two year old. anyone who has spent time around here in recent weeks has said nearly the same thing, "wow. she's just so two all of the sudden!" and it's true. she's such a different kid all of the sudden! she high steps when she runs about, she sticks her hands in her pockets and sticks out her little hip, she espouses all of those somewhat cute but a little too sassy phrases that two year olds are so proud of. her favorite phrase, which we hear dozens of times each day is, "No, I don't want to." she is so very two, that sylvi.

aside from the new found attitude and the brazen independent streak, she is still the snuggler of the house. she is the one who will sneak over and wrap her little arms around your back as you stoke the fire. or the one who will randomly come up and ask for a hug and a kiss throughout the day. she's a loving one, that's for sure. she loves to take care of her babies and most definitely has a strong nurturing need to take care of things. she comforts her sister when she is crying and likes to give you a hug whether you know you need it or not.

the roo is two and the rest of us are standing back and watching in utter amazement. happy birthday roo, we love you to the moon and back!