Milestones, Cupcakes and Cookies, Oh My

Yesterday, we skipped our monthly trip to the zoo due to chiiiiiiilly willy temps, and headed to the warm (Therapy) pool instead. It is open to families for 2 hours on Thursday mornings, just after the Splash pool closes. So, we picnicked in the Splash area, splashed for 10 minutes and then hopped into the nice, warm pool :). D has been very motivated to swim a length of the pool (25 yards) since we discovered, at Thanksgiving, the only way he can use the diving board at Poppa and Ansy's place is to demonstrate that he can swim that distance. SO, he decided to give it a try yesterday in the Therapy pool, which is about 12.5 yards. After a few attempts with much energy spent flipping from his front to back (needlessly I might add), he decided to try just swimming. And he made it! AND, he realized he had so much extra energy because he just swam (rather than flip-flopping around), that he came back too. And then he did it a few more times :)!!! Major milestone!! So, we got him a neat treat for his job well done...














And yes, he is about to fall out of his chair. This seems to be his regular way of sitting these days, much to my irritation :D.

Meanwhile, P, aka she-who-will-not-float-on-her-back-for-mom-but-will-for-everyone-else, floated on her back for mom! She also wanted to swim across the pool like D, which I helped her do. But, she floated on her back, with just my fingers holding her up, for quite a while yesterday. Big milestone! She got...














You can tell neither kid enjoyed their treat ;)...




























Super-P :)!



















Making Christmas cookies :). This year and last.




























Not sure if the cookies ended up with more flour in/on them, or the kids (or quite possibly, the kitchen).














Baker D...














...and his accomplice sweetie P :).














We ran out of time to decorate, so that was done today. I'll post those pics tomorrow. Looking around the house last night, it made me sad that December is half-way over. I've grown to enjoy Christmas again, and the house feels so magical with all the decorations and lights. But, glass half full, we still have half a month left to enjoy!!!