Random Photo Tuesday

I didn't notice it while I was taking this picture, but as soon as I saw it on my computer screen, I almost felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach. She just looks so grown up. When did this happen? Where did my baby go?

I mean I feel like it was just a second ago that she was this baby that we were bringing home from the hospital.

I'm afraid to even blink again and find that when I open my eyes she'll be graduating from high school.

I remember having a similar reaction when I saw Amanda holding Alyssa for the first time. As if, somehow, she'd aged a few years when I wasn't paying attention.

Note to self: Pay attention at all times and whatever you do, do NOT blink!

Have to end with this one of Amanda because it makes me smile. She's getting far too old and sophisticated to have her picture taken looking like just a happy kid, so I often get either a serious look or a supermodel pose. She'll give me a a phony smile if I absolutely insist and she knows she can't get back to playing until she has appeased me.

This picture captures what Amanda actually looks like to me. Happy, silly, bright-eyed Amanda. Of course, I only got it because I told her I didn't care what she did because I was only taking a couple of test pictures to see if we had enough light. Go figure.

Random Photo Tuesday #7

Last, is one of Alyssa and her "friends" at Old Navy. When she first jumped into the display, I told her not to touch anything and the plan was to get her out of there ASAP. That was the plan until she started hugging them, ever so gently, one after the other. Then the plan changed to getting a quick picture before getting her out of there ASAP.

I'm so glad there's a camera on my phone.

Merry Christmas!

I promised a couple of people that I would post our holiday letter and I'm finally getting around to it. Yes, I'm totally back-dating it because there's just something that feels really wrong about posting a Christmas letter in February. Please note that the actual letter did go out in December.

The T*** 2008 Holiday Toy Catalog

Thank you for requesting this year’s T*** Holiday Toy Catalog. As you are well aware, times are tight. In order to cut our production costs, we have reduced our product line to only our five best-selling items. Remember: Order by December 24 to ensure arrival in time for Christmas!

Little Alyssa Doll - Not a Baby Anymore Version - She laughs! She cries! She scales tall furniture and swings from curtains! Push the button to hear one of 30 phrases, including: “No!” “That’s mine!” “You’re never gonna believe this!” and “I hate time-outs!” She comes with 12 baby dolls and a permanent marker to draw on your furniture. Also included are six purses, five outfits including: polka dot footy pajamas, a Dorothy costume, a ballet tutu, and a princess dress with tiara, plus seventeen pairs of shoes (though she will insist on wearing the sparkly red ones at all times). NOTE: Clothing must be changed hourly. Because of customer complaints, this version does not include the “wet diaper” feature. Instead, she comes complete with big girl panties and 47 rolls of toilet paper which she will unroll on your floor in eight seconds flat! No batteries required, simply wind her up once and she will run FOREVER. Sorry, no “off” switch or volume control.

Big Girl Amanda Doll – Your little one won’t be able to put this one down. She can read! She can write! She loves to sing and dance! She comes complete with glitter, sequins, glue and six zillion other craft supplies that she will use to decorate anything that will stand still. We’ve cut eleven inches of hair off of this year’s version! Push a button and she will say, “Can I have candy?” “Eww, I’m not eating this!” or one of 638 stories she has made up to entertain you. A fun bonus feature is that she will occasionally repeat: “I’m bored!” and “I’m hungry!” on an endless loop no matter how well fed or entertained she is. Place her near Little Alyssa Doll and she will whine, “Mommy, she’s bugging me AGAIN.” She comes with a complete wardrobe but she will refuse to wear most of it because it’s boring. No batteries required! Just feed her a steady diet of hamburgers and candy and she will run and run.

Stay-at-home Mommy Dione Doll – She comes with a camera stuck to her face to capture priceless memories and a laptop so she can keep in touch with friends and family. She’s room mom for Big Girl Amanda Doll’s first grade class, which means she can work magic with popsicle sticks and glue. She whips out Shutterfly photo books at an alarming rate, which may explain why she is so bad at keeping her blog: http://dionesdays.blogspot.com/ up to date. Push a button and she says one of 15 phrases including: “Can we please lower the volume?” “Put your clothes back on Alyssa!” and “I’m gonna count to three and if you don’t climb down from there, you’re getting a time-out!” She runs in circles looking for her keys while chanting like a crazy lady and you’ll be happy to learn that this year’s version has her head permanently attached so she can’t lose it. You’ll want to buy lots of extra batteries for this one because spending all day with Little Alyssa Doll wears her out quickly!

The Daddy Scott Action Figure – This version comes with a broken hand and a cranky attitude. Push the button and he will say: “I hate my job!” “I hate Christmas!” “Where’s the remote?” and “If you put your keys away you’ll always know where they are.” He enjoys tormenting Little Alyssa Doll, Big Girl Amanda Doll and especially Stay-at-home Mommy Dione Doll. It is nearly impossible to separate him from his TV, his blackberry or his cell phone. He knows EVERYTHING! He spouts financial advice whether you want it or not. He comes with a motorcycle he rarely rides, a set of golf clubs he whips out occasionally and an X-box which can turn him into a guitar hero-playing superstar in his own living room. For only an extra $5 you can get The Bad-Ass Daddy Scott Action Figure which also includes a B-B gun just in case Whiskers the Cat (currently unavailable) drags a rat into your kitchen. Guaranteed to shoot the rat dead in four shots or less!

The T*** “So they call this a dream house?” House – Due to a major decluttering-mission, this version comes with 60% less stuff than last year’s so we can’t understand why it’s still a mess much of the time! There’s finally room in the garage to park the Deluxe Eurovan (currently unavailable in the U.S.) so the whole family can go camping! Due to endless complaints about the hideous carpet and unsightly master bedroom furniture that came with all earlier versions, you’ll be thrilled to learn that the 2008 version comes with all new carpet and brand new bedroom furniture. The crib and changing table from last year’s version have been replaced by a tall loft bed that nobody will sleep in but the height allows Little Alyssa Doll to reach the ceiling fan with ease. (Wheeeeeee!)

Ordering information: Orders may be sent via snail mail to (our address), via email to d_***@sbcglobal.net or by phone at (our phone number). If you’re in the area please visit our outlet store! (Please call first so Stay-at-home Mommy Dione Doll has time to clean up The T*** “So they call this a dream house?” House and change out of her sweat pants.)

Kiss your sister!

We went to the St. Patrick's Day Festival in our town and now we're all sick. Just the joy of Fair food, I guess. On the brighter side, here are a few more pictures from yesterday.

It's all about the shoes

I took these pictures several weeks ago when Amanda had gone to the movies with her dad. Moments after Alyssa uttered the word “bye-bye,” she headed straight for the dress-up box. I figured she recognized it as her big opportunity to do whatever she wanted with all the clothes and jewelry instead of being dressed up at the whims of her big sister.

So I helped her into a tutu and offered up some glamorous accessories for her perusal. But Alyssa didn’t care about tiaras or phony pearls or diamonds or even fairy wings. She almost seemed annoyed at my suggestions because all she cared about were these hot pink shoes.

And of course they were WAY too big for her tiny feet and would fall off if she so much as wiggled a toe. So I spent what felt like an eternity putting the shoes on her feet, then listening to her squeal with glee until a second later when the shoes would fall off and she would screech angrily and shove them at me while holding out her feet so I could put them right back on. We repeated this same cycle again and again and again. What is it with my kids and their fascination with shoes anyway? They didn’t get it from me.

Anyway, I decided I needed to post these pictures the other day when I told Alyssa to go get her shoes because we were going bye-bye and guess which shoes she picked out? Yup, these hot pink plastic ones. A brave fashion statement, I think, especially since we were just going to Costco.


Oh and remember how I recently pointed out a picture of Alyssa that seemed to show a teenager lurking inside of her? Well if that was her "inner-teenager", then the photo at right is her "inner-little-old-lady with attitude". I don't know if it's the flowers on her head or the way she has her mouth pursed in a way that looks like she forgot to put her false teeth in, but the photo makes me laugh every time I look at it.

More photos

Amanda on the big slide at Cheese Park:

Alyssa on the slide last March and now:

Bedtime (?!?!!) at our house:

And just some everyday cuteness:

Pictures from Valentine's Day

Pictures from yesterday, mostly

The picture above scares me a little because I swear I can see a teenager lurking in my baby girl's body. HELP! Ran across this pic of Amanda (above) from Jan. '03. She's about a month older than Alyssa. Can you spot the inner teenager or is it just me?