Quinn is having a great time in California. or, at least, according to reports from Wapa. He doesn't want to talk to me on the phone.

Of course, he was jumping at the chance to say hello to his sisters on the phone today!

Anyway, here's a few pictures sent to me from Wa.

Quinn at In-N-Out.

Making a gingerbread house

And decorating a tree

Pretty good life, right?

The girls had their two-year doctor's visit today.
They had a lead test, a shot, and all their vitals done.

Look closely at the picture, and you'll see that meow the cat and toodie are also wearing band-aids from a lead test...

Here are the girls' stats:

penelope:

23 lbs 4 oz (7%)

34.5 inches (55%)

47.1 cm head (34%)

zahra:

24 lbs 14 oz (20%)

34.75 inches (60%)

48.3 cm head (67%)

And, for fun, here's a picture of the girls with all their "friends." Hope they're not all coming with us to California!

Updated photos!

 The girls on the balance beam at gymnastics class

And their gymnastics class "completion" certificates, of which they are immensely proud.

The girls enjoying the snow

And Penelope sliding down a snowy hill

Hanging out after gymnastics class

Quinn enjoying hot chocolate on a cold day

Mosaic

What the doorway looks like in winter

Z at midtown global market

 P enjoying a croissant, also at midtown global market

The girls are really into posing now. Penelope was saying "cheese" in this picture! You may notice she and Z are wearing bibs in some of these pictures. After two years of refusing to wear them, they're now interested in them as fashion accessories.

Zahra - note her carefully arranged Yo Gabba Gabba dolls in the back

Zahra has always been our most adventurous eater, but now she's really shown an interest in helping moin out in the kitchen as well. She loves to help him, and to taste what he's making.

Finally, Quinn has left for California to hang with Wa and Pa for the week. Here's a picture Wa sent me of him taking off his shoes as soon as he got there!

We had our first big snow today. In the end, it will be over a foot in St. Paul.

Ready to go outside!

All the kids sledding down the driveway

Moin shoveling/pelleting the kids with snowballs

helping dad shovel

Snow!

Taking time to pose

 Hot chocolate was too hot, so it's cooling off in the snow

We had an impromptu neighborhood party, complete with a bonfire, hot chocolate, sledding and fun. All in a snowstorm!

See the hills that go down to the street from our house? Miss Penelope was sledding down on those full speed on her bottom, and wanted to do it again and again. The other two joined in as well, but with a little more trepidation than their tiny sister.

Picture time

Quinn and Andreas going crazy at Edinburough park. Yes, the friendship has remained post preschool

Waiting for Quinn's bus. Penelope a bit more happy about it than Zahra

There's a smile from miss Z

Shopping at Mississippi Market - Quinn likes to push the small cart

Penelope put together this outfit herself. Pretty good, right?

Zahra

Zahra outdoors with a hula hoop!

It was 47 over the weekend and the kids were ready to celebrate!

"Tickle" the Elf made his annual appearance on December 1st. The girls have joined Quinn in being super excited about his presence this year. Here he is just hanging with some of his favorite friends. 

We made our annual visit to see Santa and the Elves and the downtown Macy's today.

 Open open open open...

 This was our first year going on a weekend, and it was really, really crowded. Nevertheless, the kids had a great time visiting the Elf village. I was holding Penelope and her heart was racing with excitement.

 It was dark inside with lots of Christmas lights, so our pictures turned out blurry.

Anyway, on to the main event - Santa!

Can you see the girls getting a bit weary of the line to see him?

 The line actually moved pretty quickly and they all marched confidently in to see Santa. Zahra (who was missing shoes by this point) and Quinn sat right down, but Penelope had to be wrangled a bit. Quinn asked Santa for a "tutu with a bow" which is what he had planned to ask for. When it was Zahra's turn to say what she wanted she was a bit confused, looked around, spotted a Christmas tree, and blurted out - Tree! Penelope had no interest in speaking with the man in the red suit.

Macy's sells these gross, overpriced cookies as soon as you exit the Santa room, so this year I came prepared with our own, homemade cookies. Cookie break!

Of course, it wouldn't be a trip anywhere without at least one Yo Gabba Gabba friend in tow

Penelope ditched the cookie for a rice cake and was much happier. This girl does not like sweets!

 Finally, it was time to mail Santa a letter. Quinn wrote his own this year!

 He wrote, "I would like a tutu with a bow. Quinn"
We'll see if he gets it!