Back in the Dancing Saddle

The girls have been asking for quite awhile to take ballet and tap again.  They took their first month of classes last April.  Today, they were in the same class together.  Nicolette mustered all her courage and bravery and stayed in the class the WHOLE time and had a great time.  She normally does not want to be separated from Mommy, so we are very proud of her!  Their teacher's name is Christy.  Gabrielle's favorite part of the class is at the end when they go on the stage for a little performance for the parents.
(1/9)

 The final performance:

Tapping video:

The video of the final performance (I love how Gabrielle helps Nicolette get onto the stage and wants her to stand next to her!):

Super Duper Exciting SeaWorld!

After going to SeaWorld three days in a row after Christmas, we went back again this weekend for more fun!  Yesterday (Sunday) was by far the most exciting!  The pictures at the end show our most exciting experience after asking the trainer lots of questions, having adorable girls who are so into sea creatures, and meeting one VERY sweet and generous trainer!  Here's the story:

We admired the giant Christmas tree (1/5):

 Did a little modeling:

 Running:

Dancing:

 More running:

 Turtle game playing (1/6):

 Looking for dolphins after the show (our 5th dolphin show!):

 Excited with our results:

Happy shivers:

 Checking out the sea lions:

Petting the rays:

 Measuring ourself to the rays:

And, drumroll please.......

Petting the dolphins with a trainer at Dolphin Point!

Gabrielle LOVED petting them, Nicolette LOVED being so close (Daddy is holding her in the purple sweater):

Up close with Gracie, the Pacific bottlenose dolphin:

Mommy told the trainer that she had no idea how much this meant to our two girls!  (I think the trainer was very taken with hearing that Gabrielle wants to be a veterinarian for sea creatures when she grows up!)

Here is a video of our fun.  Mommy was trying to take video and pictures at the same time, so please be patient with the video!

Through Thanksgiving

For their friend Catherine's birthday party, the girls went bowling for the first time.  They LOVED it!  Nicolette kept saying "silly balls!"  Just this weekend, at a hotel, she saw someone bowling on TV and said it again. (11/17)

For Christmas, the girls filled plastic shoeboxes with all sorts of treasures that they would have liked to receive (most things were pink, princess, Minnie....) and donated them to Operation Christmas Child.  They are delivered to children in foreign countries along with a 12-week Bible school program.  Gabrielle and Nicolette were very excited about this and we hope to get an email from the program telling us what country our boxes ended up in. (11/19)

The girls' friend Amelia had a butterfly birthday party and we got to bring home a chrysalis that turned into a butterfly, which Gabrielle named Anna: (11/21)

 For Thanksgiving, we went to Big Bear with Grandma and Grandpa M. and had a great time (despite the flu running its way through everyone).  The girls LOVED feeding the coots, mallards, and seagulls from the backyard and dock of the house we rented. (11/22)

 You'll notice Gabrielle was more cautious, as she was bit by a duck at Amelia's party.  Nicolette ended up getting bit by one of these ducks, but soon forgave them and wanted to feed them again when she woke from a nap.

 Happy shivers:

 Warming up by the fire:

 Legos were a big hit on this trip: (11/23)

 Gabrielle helping make turkey cinnamon rolls: (11/24)

 The finished product:

 A serious game of Disney dominoes (from Mommy's childhood!):

 Only our girls love looking at fish heads!

 Finding pieces of ice:

 Gabrielle took this picture of us: