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Thursday, November 20, 2008

The Nutcracker obsession starts before Thanksgiving at this house

Does anyone remember how fanatical the girls were about their Christmas Nutcrackers last year? They took those stiff, wooden creatures everywhere and spent endless hours hugging them, lovingly lining them up, changing the lineups, lugging them around in strollers, and I don't even remember what else. This year will apparently be no different. My dad came over to see the girls yesterday and they convinced him to get all the Christmas decorations out of the attic, chiefly so they could get at those Nutcrackers. This video where they're "helping" BobBob and then ecstatically unpacking the boxes tickles my funnybone.

TubaDad finally got home from a business trip last night and surprised the girls with some souvenirs he picked up at "this really cool store that the girls would love." (his words) Thank goodness we don't have one of those stores nearby... Anyhow, pics of the souvenirs, among other things, are here.

After dinner, we loaded the girls in the car and took what we thought would be our first trip of the season to see Santa Claus at the mall. Except the mall website had lied and he wasn't really showing up for another week! Crimony. The girls kept asking "Where's Santa Claus?!" and all we could do was point to his lame empty throne and say "Well, uh, he's not here yet, but this is apparently where he's going to sit."

Here's one more video of the girls running rampant in a department store purse section. TubaDad let them amuse themselves there while I was trying to find a new tube of lipstick (I'm not really into makeup, so my one and only tube was taken when my purse was stolen last month). By the time I arrived on the scene (sporting a yummy new shade of Mac Viva Glam VI) Ro already had 8 or 9 purses over her arm. We could barely drag them out of there.



If you're wondering why we're talking about Christmas when it's not even December yet, it's because the girls were inconsolable that Halloween was over, and Thanksgiving is a real hard sell with the kiddie crowd. At least it is with our kiddie crowd. Christmas, on the other hand, they can REALLY get behind. Fine with us, we'll just start early. It gives us more time to go wave at Santa at the mall. If he ever shows up.

Note: The videos are all herky jerky, sorry. I don't seem to be able to take smooth handheld videos with the new Sony point-and-shoot camera. I'll keep fiddling with the settings, but I think it's just one more reason to get a different brand.

36 comments:

  1. Behold the power of Christmas on a toddler. Thus why we already have a tree set up in her room. It is amazing what they will do in the name of Christmas. ;)

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  2. We are so excited for our first Christmas with Adia.

    I love the way they carried that box in, all the little comments.

    We had snow last night will be sure to catch a few snowflakes on our tongues heheheh

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  3. What an adorable post !!! Are these the coats you were posting on your blog earlier that you'd like to get them? incl those cutest shoes?

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  4. THANKS, love to watch the girls. My great granddaughter thinks they are her friends!

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  5. Love watching the video's.. When I need alittle pick me up I come to your website and watch the girls..You are a great MOM, so very patient....Linda

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  6. So sweet. I love the help of holding the ladder. You guys should go see the Nutcracker at Cabrillo College...it's done by kids and it's perfect for little ones.

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  7. You are braver than I....the Nutcracker's are still stored away....they will make their first appearance the day after Thanksgiving. We have one that is musical....after hearing the theme to the Nutcracker Suite for about the 50th time in one day....I am ready to put it away for another year!!

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  8. Anonymous11/20/2008

    Love how helpful they were to BobBob!

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  9. Anonymous11/20/2008

    Don't know how to tel you this but I have always been all about the nutcrackers. too many ballet classes, I was just like this and now I am the proud owner of a collection of hundreds of nutcrackers. they breed in storage. people keep giving them to me. I still like them but every once and awhile I feel like they are all looking at me. love this, they are such dolls. loved how they took them one at a time to the other room. so awesome, thanks for sharing your treasured girls with us. I am so jealous, but they do brighten my day when I log in to see whta they have been up to.

    thanks, Connie in WI

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  10. We already have our lights outside, course its freaking cold here in atlanta, so its Christmas season here too! I am jonesin for for tree too! lol.. YOur girls are adorable. I love watching them grow up!

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  11. That is so great. I love how they thought about holding he ladder, putting the nutcrackers where they wouldn't break...very smart. Love the gifts from dad. And LOVE their red coats.

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  12. I always feel SO bad for my kids on Thanksgiving. We are always so busy cooking that they end up totally negleted.

    So...um...well...a few years ago I selected a special gift for each of my kids, left the gifts in strategic locations and informed the kids that the turkey fairy brought them something to play with so they wouldn't be bored while we were cooking.

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  13. Oh my goodness...the nutcracker video is ADORABLE! I love the look of sheer joy and excitement on their faces and the excitement in their voices when they see the box of nutcrackers. The pitter patter of their little feet running room to room melted my heart. Totally "2" cute!

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  14. Heh! Loved the shocked sound to your voice when Ree acts just like Mamma! Heh...Like mother, like daughter!

    Great videos! I love that you're already getting into the Christmas spirit! With our Thanksgiving early in October I'm all about Christmas from mid-November on. Fun!!

    Your girlies are adorable! Look how much fun they're having with those nutcrackers! Looks like BobBob will have an annual job of fixing them with all the lovin' they're going to receive!

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  15. Santa is there!! I was there yesterday and again today. Yes, we have already visited him 4 different times in the last week. We love christmas also...

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  16. Cute videos! I love when one (couldn't tell which one it was..sorry!) asked BobBob if he needed any help!

    They seem to already be born shoppers! (:

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  17. I recognize the dolls the girls got (my kids are getting them for Christmas this year). I am wondering if there was any fighting over who got the boy doll and who got the girl doll?

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  18. Anonymous11/21/2008

    That is a hoot that they are totally into those nutcrackers. But, it is a nice thing. You can pass them on to their families when they are older.

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  19. Anonymous11/21/2008

    nutcracker=toddler crack. Lol.

    Does your camera have an anti-shake function/button? Mine has two settings, perhaps yours does too.
    christina

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  20. WOAH...these girls can SHOP! I'm super impressed at their purse picking skills! :-)

    And I love the American Girl dolls...so fun!

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  21. I bet your girls would have the nutcrackers out all year if you let them! Love, love, love the teamwork!

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  22. What an industrious pair. I love how those two cuties work together to accomplish a goal (getting those nutcrackers to a good opening spot).

    The spirit of Christmas...NO better way to enjoy it than through kids.

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  23. Thanks for sharing these precious videos. I loved watching them open the box of Nutcrackers! Who knew they came in so many designs. And what a blessing that your dad is close by and can be so involved with the girls. They were so excited. And the purse excursion is too cute. I was just wondering if they fussed a little with having to put all the purses back. You are such a great Mom and making so many wonderful memories.

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  24. Now THAT'S a glimpse into your future!!! LOL. The girls are SHOPPERS!!!

    So ADORABLE!!!

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  25. Never a dull moment on this blog! :) Thanks for sharing!

    Lisa :)

    P.S. You have now been tagged if you care to do it. Check out my blog

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  26. i so cannot WAIT, for all of this, purses included... i can't stop smiling.

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  27. Adorable videos!! In the purse video, Em kept screaming at the computer, "Don't forget your baby!! Don't forget your baby!" HAHA!!

    Casey
    http://birdieandthequeenbee.blogspot.com

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  28. Ok, thank you to everyone who said you've already started Christmas at your houses too!! Put a huge smile on my face and inspired me to get out even more decorations. The girls thank you too. :-)

    To answer the questions:

    RoLo: Hope you caught a few snowflakes!

    Molly: Yes those are the coats I was dying over from the web site orientexpressed.com. My mom called and said she'd buy one if I bought the other one, so how could I pass up a two-for-one deal like that. Hee. I got them a size too big and then we hemmed the sleeves up so they'll be able to wear them for two seasons. Those aren't the shoes I had posted about, the silver ones are little velcro tennies from Target (Ro's fave shoes at the moment) and Ree is wearing little brown Janie and Jack boots that my friend gave her.

    Linda: You are sweet to say that, but I wish every day that I had more patience. It's easy as pie when the girls are being good, but when they're both misbehaving at the same time I have such a short fuse. I'm trying to get better...

    Half Gaelic Half Garlic: No bravery involved, just a lot of glue, haha! Seriously, we keep a ziploc bag on the counter labeled "Nutcracker parts" and then every time the girls break something off we toss it in the bag. At the end of Christmas we give all the Nutcrackers to my dad along with the pieces and have him put them back together. It's hilarious watching him try to figure out which piece goes where.

    Cherith: Thanks for the suggestion. We are going to do it for sure. We're also going to let the girls decorate gingerbread houses on Thanksgiving morning at my mom's, hopefully that will be a fun tradition to start.

    Tracy: These dolls were a set of girl twins, so it worked out great. They're the American Girl Bitty Twins and they come in any gender/nationality.

    Christina: It does have an anti-shake setting, and it was turned off. I just flipped it on and will see if it helps -- thanks!

    Melissa: Yes actually they couldn't believe we were putting all the purses back and ran from us clutching their Betsey Johnson finds. It was like trying to grab greased cats. We would take one purse away and hang it up and they would grab another one and run. It took almost 10 minutes to finally get them purse-free and out of the store.

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  29. American Girl... Eva's Nirvana.

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  30. Anonymous11/23/2008

    I just melted when Ree asked Bobbob if he needed 'holp'. Then Ro rushed over to get a protective grip on Bobbob's ankles and all that was left of me was a puddle. They sure pour back all that love that they receive.

    Gillian

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  31. Anonymous11/23/2008

    How cute! I love when Ree comments that the box is "as big as a car"! Also, how funny was that when Ro "helped" BobBob down the ladder.
    We are also all about Christmas over here too. I wish I could blame it on the boys wanting another holiday to obsess over, but it's all me! I LOVE Christmas and start the Christmas music the day after Halloween.

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  32. Anonymous11/23/2008

    OziMum said...
    LOL! The purse shopping is hilarious! I LOVE that Ro is all about "quantity"... Ree is all about "quality... being yellow"!!! :) I love hearing the girls talk!

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  33. Anonymous11/23/2008

    Christmas started about a week ago here. Take the girls to V, Emma saw Santa there. She only waved at him from far and he waved at her too, that was sweet. We might take her on Sunday after Thanksgiving to see Santa.
    They are just so cute and I like how Ree said that the box was as big as the car, cute!
    Oh my goodness! you got the American Twin Girls! We are taking Emma this Christmas there but I don't need to worry about her wanting the whole store since she doesn't like dolls too much.
    I love their cute red coats, they look so pretty!

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  34. My 2 boys, ages 8 and 5, are totally obsessed with their Nutcrackers too. I got out all the decorations this past weekend except everything for the tree and the first thing the boys did was go for their Nutcrackers! I'm sure their 16mth old sister will love them too! The Christmas season is so short, I say lets start the celebration!! Your girls are so cute!

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  35. Ahhh. Christmas with children. Seriously? What could be more fun? ! :)

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