Day 27: Sisters

When Arabelle and Lila aren't at each other's throats, they really are the sweetest little sisters you've ever seen.

Day 23: An Early Christmas Eve

Usually Christmas is a chaotic sort of mess, as we mix in both of our extended family's celebrations with ours.

It's a lot easier than it sounds, since our families of origin are quite the opposite as far as timing goes.

This year is even easier.

One family bumped Christmas Eve back a day.

After eating, the kids played Bingo for prizes.

Mostly the prizes were sugary goodness. But there were also some little three-drawer containers that will be brilliant for storing school supplies. Both Yonah and Arabelle wound up with one.

I doubt I've ever seen them love something so much.

Arabelle is still snuggling with hers.

Day 22: An Aunt

My kids love my sisters.

The girls especially love Rhi.

I'm still getting used to the fact that she can just drive over to our house now.

4th of July

We celebrated once again with friends and family.

We got the official celebration started with a new tradition.

Anything involving The BUCKET! of Safety is, inherently, safe.
(According to some people.) 

Even when it looks like this.
(Note: This picture is from 2011. In 2012, The BUCKET! was only this mild
at the beginning of the evening. I just didn't get any decent shots of it this time.)

This year saw a new safety measure:
If you saw something unsafe, or someone being unsafe,
you grabbed a water balloon and chucked it at the person or fire.

The traditional, and possibly vintage, finale: The Frog Prince.

Frog Prince meets The BUCKET!

Any time your 4th of July celebration ends with this, you know you've had
a good time.