Summer Vacation in Pictures

our annual trip to Hilton Head (quality time with cousin Avyanna all the way fm Wyoming)

 

camping with cousins & friends at Virginia Beach, where we clammed for the first time!

 

 

 

cowgirls on the Ranch, lots of horse and pony rides plus a rodeo!

 

whol-lotta to update

what we've been up to in the past couple of months.

cabin-ing at lake anna, where for $90/night, we got lake-front views and our own fishing pier.

my sister and i rotated spring-break day-care.  she took 2 days and i took one.  the cousins had a quadruple sleepover with fun activities like an egg hunt at pohick park and to reston zoo.  it was the girls first time away from home w/out us and they loved it!  i think all the traveling we do helps too, so it's an adventure sleeping some place different.

spring break ended on easter wkend.  the girls decorated these stunning eggs.  (girl cousins only, with my brother and his family visiting nyc.)

then an egg hunt, with lindsey as the big winner this year!

after church and a delish meal at season's 52, wonderful easter baskets fm gramma bunny:

other fun, sweet stuff the girls are doing at this age.

 laurel writing a letter to ady, her sponsor brother in africa: 'if you do not have money, you can have some money. love laurel'.  she taped pennies to the letter to send.  so incredibly sweet and compassionate.

vienna can pretty much read (laurel is close behind).  and loves to read and write, almost every where (in the car, in church, etc), all the time.  she's already written some mini-books, with cute illustrations.

here's her letter on saint patrick's day, setting her trap:

'der (dear) leprdcon (leprechaun)
we love you we whte (want) you to go in a hous(e) ples (please) love vienna'

vienna also loves piano and is excelling, her teacher likes to tell her, 'you're the youngest, but the best'.  she has her recital piece and has been practicing on her own, without any prompting from us.  here she is trying to write sheet music. our passionate, brilliant little progeny.

they're part of daisy girl scout troop, which i co-lead.  at this age, it's mostly craft-driven, but we do try in every mtg to empower the girls by making them share things out-loud (public-speaking) and voting on the activity (independent decision-making).

oh and we added new pets to the family, brownie & chick- chick.  i'll post pics for next time.

January Blitz

January flew by in a blur.  Video snippets of our month -- we also had nye (cozy) celebrations, tet (lunar) family-gambling celebration, where the girls got so much li-xi $$, we're going to hersey park in the summer!
Winter is no hiberation for us!






Note, in the video, how indepent the girls are at this age, sweet!

What I want to be when I grow up

I know the girls are only 5, but momma already has career plans for them.  Laurel is the better, more adventurous eater and she's darn cute.  So guess what momma hopes she'll be? 

She's just a tad shy, but practice makes perfect.  Watch out Anthony Bourdain, there's a new talent in town.
Introducing the 'Twin Observations' show on the Deterding Food channel!

Stay tuned for Vienna's professional debut!

Happy Bday Jesus!

to minimize the commercialism of Christmas, the girls ask Santa for ONE toy wish.  in addition, they also get stocking stuffers, a few small wrapped gifts from us, presents fm both sets of grand parents, aunts and uncles...which is more than enough, esp since they are already drowning in toys (stuff) to begin with!  i want them to feel grateful for all that they have and not spoiled (always expecting, wanting more). 

and i like seeing them not just opening the presents but then also playing with their gifts (versus discarding them to the side).  warms my heart to see, they appreciate and like what they were given.  thus for us, Christmas morn is a sweet, slow, savory process: open present, play and repeat.

instead we try to emphasize the giving, charity and spiritual experiences of Christmas.  they help decorate the house & tree, send Christmas greeting cards, including to their sponsor brother and sister, bake cookies for their whole class (the only time of year momma bakes) and fill shoebox gifts for needy children. 
and of course, attend church and celebrate Jesus' birthday!!

For the Veterans!

bday blowout

there's a show i record on tivo, 'outrageous kid parties'.  we always have bday celebration for the girls, it's ALOT of work (I have to start 4mos in advance to pace myself-- like planning a mini wedding!) and can be $$$, but seeing their faces light up with happiness, with the specialness of their day-- SO worth it.  and they grow up way too fast--  way too soon, just memories we'll have to cherish.

we went to our new neighbor's, landon, who turned 5 today.  his party could qualify for the show.  choo-choo train,  moon bounces, magician, face painter, balloon artist and costumed super heros.  check out the girls still giddy fm the fun (and vienna's amazing dragon balloon!)  and they have another one tmrw.  happy big 0-5 to landon and ethan!!!!