Apparently Amber has been learning some fencing in P.E. at school. (Don't worry, they are using swim noodles.)
So, Dave has decided it would be a great idea to bring our swimming noodles into the house and let the girls practice "fencing" (Don't worry that we do have a Christmas Tree, but nothing has been broken, YET).
As always, Amber is very serious about teaching us what she has learned. Which is fine as long as she is talking to Dave or myself. She holds her noodle in very straight posture and shouts "HONOR POSITION", and then proceeds to show us how to gallop across the room in the stance that I am sure is exactly like her P.E. teacher has shown her and explains to us that we can only score is we touch her in the chest or belly.
Of course, her seriousness on the sport is lost on Amy and boy is that frustrating for Amber. Amy thinks fencing is a great sport because she can run through the house whacking anyone that might get in her way. Meanwhile, Amber stands in the middle of the living room screaming very impatiently "HONOR POSITION" in her very straight posture waiting for Amy to return and listen to the remainder of her instruction. Of course this ends in tears because Amy just won't listen to her.
Last night Amber and I had a very intense conversation, where I explained to her that there is a reason you don't learn fencing in preschool. She finally did recover from her impatience when we told her that if they did teach fencing in preschool it would involve chasing one another and whacking each other with a noodle. She thought that sounded OK, so the evening was saved. Such a rule-follower, that girl.
Since today was a P.E. day, I can't wait to see what I learn about fencing tonight!
We knew that there was going to be a parade of Christmas Characters on Main Street, but what we didn't know is that the characters were walking up and down main street "in character" giving the kids collectors cards. One of the Santa Claus even came up to Dave and totally wrapped him into a huge hug. For anyone who knows Dave, I, like you was not sure how he would react to this. He took it all in stride though and hugged back with a grin of embarrassment on his face. I loved it. In case, you didn't know, I am the outgoing one in our family. Don't laugh! Someone may not know that! Dave is VERY reserved. A lot of people that meet us say that he is SO quiet because I am SO not. But whatever, I enjoyed every minute of him being teased by this Santa. Too bad I didn't have my camera ready at that point.
She finally gave up when we offered to let her take a few pictures with our camera. She loves to take pictures of crazy things. We had several of the license plate on the car we were sitting next to. But beyond being crooked, she did get a good one of Dave and I. 
After a late lunch/early dinner, we took the girls down to the riverfront where they had an outdoor skating rink set up. Amber and Amy have only been ice skating one other time and that was last year in Ohio. It started out a little rough, because they both wanted to skate with Dave. I don't blame them because #1, he is a better skater than I, and #2 he will hold them up, where I just cushion their falls. They both did really good. Amy was her usual kamikaze self...she really has no fear of getting hurt. And Amber was skating by herself, not fast, but on her own by the end.
We ended the evening with hot chocolate for the car ride home. It was a great time and something that we will definitely do again next year.
The girls concentrate very hard on the exact way they want their gingerbread houses to look, but every once in a while you have to take a taste.
9 months ago
