Lego Movies!

What are the chances that two days before Christmas, all three of my kids would get sick?   And then they would get me sick, too?!  Yea, that's what's happening in our house RIGHT NOW! 




So, Paprika's Christmas recital for our neighbors had to be postponed.  I put Ginger in my bed this morning and set up a movie for her to watch. She was so sick, it was pathetic. Then, about half an hour later I heard her crying and I rushed into the room to see if she was okay. She had an enormous accident on my bed (!) - on the pillows, everything. She was so upset and kept saying that she had not gone potty on the bed and please don't tell Santa.



I told her of course I would never say a word to Santa. A warm bath and a few loads of laundry, and everything was better.



Then we took the girls for a drive - first to Chipotle to pick up chips and guacamole - and then we went and parked at the beach and let the girls eat in their jammies. Silver linings. 

Despite being sick, the girls have been entertaining us...it's hard to keep them down!  ;-)

Here are a few puppets that Ginger and Paprika made out of paper and pens. They put on a little puppet show with their creations:



Violet on piano:








Paprika and Mr. M made a little stop-motion animated movie last night, and then Paprika made a little movie on her own today.

Here are a few behind the scenes shots:



Paprika behind the camera:



The Legos (these were Mr. M's when he was a child):



In progress:



They just used the point and shoot camera (Lumix) to take still photographs, and then uploaded into editing software on the computer (Avid).  Then they uploaded it to YouTube.  Paprika kept saying:  I can't wait to see this on YouTUB!  Haha.

Mr. M showed Paprika how to put it all together. I think it turned out pretty cute! :-)

Here's the first movie:



Here's the second little movie she made today:



They're just simple little movies...but Paprika's really proud of them and the important thing is that she had so much fun making them! She's already started storyboarding her next project.  :-)




The End.

The Beauty of Ordinary Days!

Sometimes I look at my photos and they seem so ordinary.  No one is scaling Mt. Everest or skiing down the Alps.  But even if they are ordinary, to me they are so beautiful because they capture these very real moments in an otherwise ordinary life.

Like a house filled with music and a baby who can't get enough singing and pounding out her songs on the keyboard:



I think she was born singing, and maybe even sang me sweet songs when she was in my womb:



My little pianist who takes her study of music very seriously.  This is the first year she's played real Christmas Carols.  I love every one handed note of goodness she eeks out:



Great forts made out of couch cushions.  This is the Big Igloo made for a pretend trip to Antarctica:



They even made a door to keep out the chilly frozen air!:



Lots of noise...I mean, music...is heard here on a daily basis.  Can you tell how much Ginger wants her very own recorder?  Don't worry, she had her turn, too!  ;-)



Lots of Mini-Masterpieces are created in this house on a daily (hourly?) basis.  Many are erased and some are recycled - if we kept them all, they'd soon be wallpapering the house.  So, sometimes photos have to capture the moments before they Poof into memories.  Here's Ginger with her drawing of me.  As she says:  This is a picture of you, Mama, because I love you wish all my heart. 




Paprika's Underwater Mermaid Sea Adventure.  Paprika (age 6) is starting to learn that mermaids are "just pretend" - but she assures me that it doesn't mean they're not real.  :-)




Precious hours spent in the backyard.  Paprika pushing Ginger on the swings:



Jumping on the trampoline.  Paprika had just taken a shower (that's why her hair is wet).  She got herself dressed and did her own hair.  Next thing you know, she'll be borrowing my keys and going to the store to pick up milk.



Where was I?  Oh yes, days spent in the backyard bouncing...



And bouncing...



And laughing...



And holding your best friend's hand:



Hula Hooping:



Just beause it's fun:



And why not?!



We have all the time in the world:



Paprika reads Ginger stories before bedtime.  I am usually taking care of Baby Violet trying to get her to sleep, so after I read a quick one or two stories to them, Paprika and Ginger have their story hour together.  Paprika is teaching Ginger (age 3) to read, and Ginger is actually picking it up quickly. 



Before long, Ginger will be reading stories to Baby Violet.  These ordinary days will give rise to new ones:



Ginger and Paprika want to share a bed (even though they have their own beds). Sometimes it's fun to get under the covers with your sister and tell stories and sing songs until you fall asleep. I let them laugh and giggle for as long as I can...but sometimes they can go all night long, so I have to bring out Serious Mommy.  Haha.  ;-)



And last, but not least...my little Violet. She is never ever far from my arms and in fact I'm usually carrying her when I'm snapping photos of my big girls. She is still such a baby, even though she has big ideas, too.

In this picture, she looks like she's about to compose a symphony. In ink.  Haha.
 



Even though my days are so very ordinary to some, I love them because these days make up my life.  And what a beautiful life it is.  I am so grateful every day for the miracle of these ordinary moments. 

Strung together, these moments fill my days, and these days make a life.  I can't take a second of it for granted...each moment is a gift (even the hard moments) - it's true. Life all goes so quickly, I can't help but say thanks as each little moment passes through me and on to the next.

The End.

The Winter Sing!

All Hail Christmas Vacation!  Paprika had her last day of school today before break, and Mr. M finished his last day/night of work until next YEAR!  ;-)

We have been celebrating today by making fresh squeezed orange juice from our prolific backyard orange tree.



Ginger actually picked the oranges all by herself.  She got about two dozen of them with no help from us.

 

She had to wear her tap shoes to pick oranges - of course!  ;-)



Baby Violet tried her best to help, but for some reason, she had a hard time!  ;-)  Doesn't this just sum up the frustrations of being 13 months old?!  I can't tell you how many times I've felt this way, myself!  Haha.



Paprika has been busy planting who knows what in the backyard.  She is intent on having a little garden and spends a lot of time planting seeds, digging, and otherwise communing with the soil.  It will be interesting to see what pops up! 



Paprika's school had their Winter Sing this morning at school, where all the kindergarten students did a vocal recital for the parents. All the afternoon kinders had to come to school almost four hours early. Paprika is NOT a morning person. Can you tell?!  Haha.



Here are some photos from a happier, more well-rested time.  Earlier this week, Paprika's class had an art lesson and they studied Picasso (one of Paprika's favorite painters).  I love seeing her in her element, doing the things she loves to do:

 

Voila! The finished product:



I am happy to say that I'm done Christmas shopping!  We're having a minimalist Christmas- which has taken so much stress off of me.  Ginger discovered her present in the closet last night (!) so that complicates things - Santa is going to have to find her a new gift, perhaps?  Ginger is one smart cookie - nothing gets by her.  Nothing!

But other than perhaps a midnight trip to the Target toy aisle in search of a new present for Ginger, my Christmas schedule is clear and we are in full vacation mode! 

Paprika has planned a Christmas piano recital for our neighbors on Sunday, so she has been busy practicing Up on the Housetop (her favorite), Jingle Bells, and a few other tunes. 




But mostly, I am excited about this:



Glorious Sleep!

Sweet Slumber!

Not having to wake anyone up for any reason for the next two weeks!

(It's the little things...)



The chlldren were nestled, all snug in their beds...while visions of Sugarplums danced in their heads...

This is how Ginger fell asleep in my bed a few nights ago.  Even though the master bedroom is the coldest room in our house, she doesn't care.  She just wants to fall asleep near me, and she'll crawl in bed and patiently wait for me to come snuggle her.  A lot of times, I am busy putting Paprika to bed or taking care of Violet, and by the time I come back to my bed, Ginger is sound asleep.

This Christmas, all I really want is to snuggle up with my three little girls and my best guy. And if I could freeze time, that would be pretty great, too!  ;-)



The End.