"Jason"

Around Christmastime, we were at Costco and ran into a guy that Damon used to work with.  Damon stopped to talk to him for a good five minutes while we all stood around and waited.  Except the conversation felt like it lasted an hour as the guy kept referring to Damon as Jason.  I could hardly keep a straight face and couldn't wait until the guy walked away so I could start calling him Jason too.  Although the longer they talked, the more nervous I got that Tess was going to call the guy out and say something along the lines of, "Um, don't you know his name is Damon?"  But she didn't.  And the second the guy walked away, before I could even make a joke, Tess said (half-laughing), "Hey, Jason..."  And then it began. 

The joke still continues, much to Jason's chagrin.  Just when I have forgotten about it, Tess will throw it out there.  Her timing is impeccable.  Like when we were at the dollar store and she saw the rack of personalized street signs.  What name did she look for first?  You guessed it.  Except darn Jason Ave. was sold out.

A few weeks later, we were in the car one day after school.  We were talking about nicknames.  "Mom, instead of calling Nora 'Nora Claire,' we can call her 'N.C.'  And instead of saying 'Tess Mairead,' we can just say 'T.M.'"  And after thinking about it for two seconds she says, "Yeah and instead of calling Dad 'Damon Lewis,' we can just call him Jason."  I love this girl.

About two weeks ago, I was unpacking all of Tess' paperwork out of her preschool bag at the end of the day.  I pulled out an envelope that contained a letter about parent/teacher conferences...

Me (not happy):  "Tess!  What is this?!"
Tess:  (laughing)
Me:   "Tess!  Did Mrs. Vieregge ask you what Mom and Dad's names are?"
Tess:  "Yes."  (still snickering)
Me:  "What did you tell her?"
Tess:  "I told her Dad's name was Jason.  Isn't that funny?"

I must admit that I wasn't really able to hide my laughs.  And neither was Jason.

A busy social calendar

I think I need to rethink my day job so I can concentrate better on my side job as Tess and Nora's personal assistant. Keeping track of their social schedules is a full time job. Just last Saturday, Tess had swimming, a birthday party, and a date to see the Wizard of Oz at Whiting in Flint with Meena and me.  And that was all before 3 pm!

Korrine and Tess at the bowling birthday party

Tess bowled an 87 all by herself!

Meena and Tess at Whiting during intermission. Clearly, Tess was more concerned with eating her yellow brick road sugar cookie.

And here is a random picture from what is currently the girls' favorite pastime, playing dress up!

In other news, Nora has upgraded to "a big girl bed!"  We converted her crib into a toddler bed over the weekend.  Tonight is her first night in it.  She was really excited about it, but so far, all I have heard is screaming from her and she's been up in bed for about 15 minutes.  So far, she hasn't gotten out.  Stay tuned for updates and pictures on this breaking development.

Update at 12:08 am:  Well, it didn't take long for an update, did it?  After about two hours of Nora crying and coming back downstairs twice, Dad put the crib wall back up and the 'big girl bed' is no more, at least for now.  I guess my baby wasn't ready for the transition just yet.  Funny thing is, she never did get out of it.  She just sat in the middle of it, screaming her head off - with all of the contents of her bed (blankets, pillow, books, etc) thrown in the middle of the room.

Some videos of Nora

Here a few cute Nora videos from the last week.

This one, although a little dark, captures Nora spitting out her very first movie line.  Its from Tangled.



The next two are my attempts to capture some of the really cute things that she is saying right now. Well, at least I think they're cute. Damon, maybe not so much.

A Traverse City New Year

This year, we made the trip to Traverse City to ring in the New Year with Grandma Muriel, Papa Art and Uncle Mark.  We had a fun time going skiing, swimming and out for nice dinners, which is always a treat! 

Decorating a mini-Christmas tree with Uncle Mark

Waitress Tess got some official order pads from Uncle Mark for Christmas

Nora with her new puzzle

Some kitty measuring cups from Uncle Mark

Nora still posing with her puzzle

The girls after opening their very special gift from Grandma and Papa.

Tess got to go skiing again this year  

(for last year's pictures, click here and here)

For some reason, this picture reminds me of an Uncle Michael face

Waiting for a helmet.

And for the record, I must point out that this ski slope is Mt. Holiday, located on Holiday Road.  So yes, this song is the most perfect jingle for this post.

Proof I was there too.

Not sure what happened here, but the pictures sort of tell the story... basically Papa Art tried to give Tess a run for her money, but Tess prevailed.  
Ok, this may not be a completely accurate version of what happened, but this is what Tess reports.  I am just the messenger.

After our trip, Tess told Meena that she got to ride in "flying chairs."

Chairlift No. 42!

Getting Tess onto the moving chairlift was an experience in and of itself.  As the day went on, everybody got a little better at it.

Here are a few videos:



Disclaimer: No one was injured in the making of this next video.

Dinner at the Jolly Pumpkin on Old Mission Peninsula

The girls also had a great time swimming at the resort

On New Year's Eve, the girls went on a shopping trip while the boys went skiing for the day. We totally had more fun.  Obviously.

We took a drive up to the end of Old Mission Peninsula to show Grandma the lighthouse.  Nora was sleeping in the car when we got to the end, so she wasn't too happy to get out of the car for these pictures.  This bottle (which is now in the garbage, along with all of the other bottles, as Nora has already conquered her New Year's resolution to kick her bottle habit) was really the only thing keeping her happy here...

See what I mean?  

At least Tess and Grandma are great actresses, playing along like
nothing is wrong with this picture.

The Old Mission Peninsula Lighthouse

Nora was still mid-meltdown when we went down to the beach for more pictures, so she missed out on her Travel Magazine cover shoot.  But not Tess. 

Happy New Year to all!

Christmas fun

The girls had a great Christmas!  Santa was good to them.  Almost too good.  Santa should also deliver a new addition to the house when he brings so much stuff.  Or at least a new garage.  Ok, and a pool too?

With Meena, Papa and Uncle Mike on Christmas Eve

This is our elf, Squirt.  The girls had a great time looking for him each morning.   And Tess had a good cry on Christmas Eve after realizing he won't be back until next Christmas.  I love the fact that the thought of a creepy elf who moves around in our house each night after we go to bed doesn't creep Tess out in the least.  Oh, to be four years old.

Cookies and milk for Santa!

And in the morning...

Tess and Nora's very special letter from Santa

Christmas morning

Big hair Nora got some new big girl cups

With Great Grandma on Christmas

At Aunt Jane and Uncle Bills's anxiously awaiting more loot

And probably the biggest reaction came after Tess opened her new princess bike, er, a new kitty that walks, er, the Barbie pony set, er, A SANTA PEZ!

Nikki and the Belle of the Ball, Ellie (dressed in Nikki's baby nightgown from when she was little).  So cute!

Tess' new princess bike

Trying it out!

Guess who found Dad's ski bag?

Next up:  Our ski trip with Grandma Muriel, Papa Art and Uncle Mark.