Dancing Queen

The alternate title for this post is "Like Brother, Like Sister." Jack was a crazy little dancer from very early on, and it looks like Amelie is going to be the same way.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that Jack favorite song of the moment is "Burning Love," and we listen to it several times a day. As soon as Amelie hears it, she starts shaking her butt. And head.

Okay, I know this is basically the same thing as the previous video, but the pink pajamas make it even better.

Okay, one more dancing video. In this one, Amelie shows why she prefers shaking her head side to side to "head-banging."

Physical Developmental Updates

I haven't bragg...uh, related to the world what new and exciting developments Amelie has learned in quite awhile.

She is not crawling, yet. (Jack took awhile, too.) She has even given up on army crawling. But she does get around through a mixture of rolling and scooting on her butt.

Okay, she also does what we (inappropriately) have termed "The Three-Legged Dog Crawl." It's hard to describe (I'll attempt a video this week), but she gets up on her hands, keeps her right knee (always the right) on the floor and then kind of stands on the left foot. And moves. And it pretty much looks like a three-legged dog limping across the floor. She doesn't go very far, but far enough that she gets to whatever toy she wants.

She also cannot seem to pull herself up, yet. But once she is up (with our help), she's cruising. And walking holding on to our fingers. And standing without holding on to anyone or anything for up to twenty-thirty seconds at a time. The cart seems to be coming before the horse a bit, but I guess it will all even out eventually, right?

Thanksgiving

Our usual Thanksgiving day includes making a large elaborate meal and inviting over friends and/or family for the day. This year we decided we needed a quiet day to ourselves as our lives are completely out of control at the moment. (Sorry, none of the sordid details are blogable yet. Blogging may become sporadic for, oh, a few months, though.)

THE PLAN:

Stay home.

Watch movies all day.

Make Quesadillas for lunch.

Order Chinese/Vietnamese for dinner.

WHAT ACTUALLY OCCURRED:

Stayed home.

Watched two Disney movies.

Made Quesadillas for lunch

Kate and Jack napped most of the afternoon.

Called to order Chinese...and they were closed.

Called another Chinese restaurant. And they were closed.

Called O'Charley's, Culver's, and Lone Star. All closed.

Became desperate and called CrApplebee's, which advertised they were open. "I'm sorry sir, our plumbing is broken and we are not serving food this evening. You have a nice holiday, now!"

Kate suggested McDonald's.

Decided we were not that desperate.

Rummaged in the pantry and freezer and found some Trader Joe's goodies.

Drank wine.

Decided that next year, if we do this again we will call a day ahead to ensure a restaurant is open.

Still, it was a fun day with the family.

*********************************************************************

Okay, so we did head down to Kate's family for a real Thanksgiving on Saturday.

I failed miserably at taking pictures, so this is the best there is. (Jack is not in any pictures as he was too busy running with this cousins.)

The cousins and their matching hair-dos

Deer in headlights

I'm not sure what was slipped into Amelie's formula that made her decide to dance on the tables...

500th Post!

Seems like we should celebrate!

Meh, I'll just share some of my favorite outtakes from our little Christmas card photo shoot.

The final product had to be seriously cropped because Homer would not stay out of the picture. 'Though most weren't quite this bad.

Most just had him lurking in the background.

Jack kept turning around and playing with his train and Amelie kept playing with ornaments, so we thought if we gave them ornaments to hold...or not.

Maybe it would be cute if Jack gives her a kiss...

Of course, that would require her to hold still for it.

And he would have to wipe off the girl cooties.

"Are we done? Can we go eat and watch the Bug Movie (A Bug's Life) now?"

Their typical facial expressions.

The Baby Moonwalk

Amelie can't quite crawl, yet. She has even more issues on the slick floors. I'm a little disappointed that she does not go very far for the camera.

And with a bonus "So big!" thrown in.

Jack's "Kitty Bed"

Jack stuffs a clothes hamper with blankets and pillows, climbs in, and calls it his "kitty bed." He sets it up next to a bunch of toys so he can hang out in it and play.

Love the Poses

This pictures reminds me of an old lady going, "Heh? Speak up sonny, can't hear ya!"

Such a little diva.