Merry Meowy Christmas

We are having a great Christmas. Here's a short video of two VERY coveted gifts:
We hope you are enjoying your Christmas with family and loved ones (and your own version of very coveted gifts!!)

Thanksgiving birthday

So the birthday fun ended for about three days and then we went down to the shore for Thanksgiving and MORE BIRTHDAY FUN!!
Grandma Connie is recovering from cancer treatment so Aunt Linda and I did our best to recreate the family thanksgiving -- which includes birthday cakes (what? yours doesn't?) and PRESENTS.

Here is the photographic evidence of that extravaganza!
First, no self-respecting New Yorker (or former New Yorker or offspring of former New Yorkers) would even think of watching anything but the Macy's Day parade -- so we made the girls watch. This is the end when Santa makes his big entrance. See how THRILLED they are?

And then we took some time to celebrate birthdays:

Here they are making a wish (Lizzie -- it takes a while!) and blowing out the candles (Hannah):

The presents included clothes and earrings and (what a surprise!) Monster High dolls as well as some games and other little baubles:

Rob performed "Misty" for us. I know this because it's the only song he's been playing for about three months. No joke.  (I do love this piano though!)

And Aunt Linda (who refused to allow me to post any pictures of her ...) did Hannah's nails. The girls also put on a fashion show with Aunt Linda's very funky NYC boots and make-up.

Then it was time to eat. Here's a picture of Rob and his AMAZING turkey carving skills WITH HIS EYES CLOSED!!

Then after dinner it was time for a rousing game of Battleship. Guess who had the most fun (hint - not the 11-year-old): 

It was all over way too soon, but we saved the best for last when Hannah and Lizzie got to help deflate the air mattress. We Rasmussens really know how to party!

A month of birthday

I realize that the last time I posted it was a few days before the girls' 11th birthday. So long ago, in fact, that I was signed out of blogger and had to work VERY HARD to remember my password. Which I did.
So now I can post the birthday pix, the Thanksgiving pix, the Nutcracker pix, etc. etc.
But let's start with birthday photos and see where we go from there, okay?!?

We started with a celebration ON the girls' birthday, Nov. 21. They each got each other a Monster High doll (in fact ALL Hannah wanted for her birthday and Christmas was/is MH stuff -- she's obsessed!) They were both happy with the selection (made easier by Hannah telling Lizzie, I want Gigi and Lizzie telling Hannah, I want Venus McFlytrap) which made for a great birthday:

 Aunt Terry got them each their own magic 8 ball and Hannah's reaction was pretty much the exact same as Lizzie's. They were thrilled and discerned within 10 minutes that I was going to get them a puppy, let them stay up until 10 p.m. and pass gas in church. Jeesh!!

 I made cupcakes for their birthday and they each got to blow out the candle:

 And here's our favorite birthday tradition (well Hannah and Liz might like the gifts best) seeing if Rob can still hold both girls. Cash was jealous and Lizzie doesn't look all that confident but I am happy to say no Dads or daughters (or dogs) were harmed during this stunt:

The Saturday after their actual birthday they had a sleepover with six girls. They had originally invited 8, so I was happy when two couldn't come, since the noise level with just the six (plus H&L) was probably illegal. Here Rob's helping them with the pinata. Lizzie actually broke it open

 Before they could HIT the pinata, they had to find it. The theme of the party was "In the Dark" so they did all sorts of glow-in-the-dark activities. I set up a treasure hunt for them outside and they had to go around with flashlights (and they all had those alien headbands that were glow in the dark, too) and find the treasure chest. They were very successful (and very loud!)

Here they are hunting:

And here they are right after they found the pinata (which was in the shape of a treasure chest, in case you are looking at this on a teeny tiny screen!)

The girls ate in the dark (we turned on the lights when they were blowing out the candles) and I'd set out a bunch of glow in the dark bracelets and blinking lights and stuff. It was cool. They had pizza and all sorts of chips and other junk to eat.

After dinner they played around a bit more (really with 5th graders you don't have to plan anything -- they just like to hang out!) but then I gave them each a sample sheet of Mary Kay cosmetics (you can find ANYTHING on ebay) that had eye shadow, blush and lipstick on it. They also each got a hair accessory and some glow in the dark jewelry and had to (in the dark) make up their partner. This is the result (as you can see, some were better at it than others!)

 

Then it was lights out. Okay it was lights out again and again and again until about midnight, but eventually everyone fell asleep. Lizzie's allergies were bothering her (and by allergies I mean Hannah!) so she slept part of the night in her room instead of the basement, but still had a great time. here they are the next morning eating the pancakes and bacon I whipped up (in the microwave!!!)

Everyone had a great time and went home happy.. The girls were happy that they came over. I was happy that they went home! Seriously, the girls have some very nice friends and I always enjoy it when they come to visit (but it helps when they stay in the basement!)