Deck the Halls

We are officially decorating for Christmas now. After Thanksgiving dinner I made Tim put up our tree and I pulled down all the Christmas boxes. Yeah!!! When I started opening the box with all the tree ornaments my kids went a little crazy. I had to wait a couple of days for them to calm down enough to decorate the tree. Today is the day and of course my Nate and Ella being their typical selves started posing and directing little comedy skits about putting the ornaments on. This is some of what I got.

So Thankful

The last couple of days have been so relaxing and I have had some time to think about all the many ways that I am blessed. In this crazy, busy life I tend to forget about the truly amazing things in my life that I am so thankful for. I love the Holidays!!

Ella helping with Thanksgiving dinner by washing the potatoesElla making whip cream for dessert.

Silly kids trying to dog pile their dad P.S. I really do brush Ella's hair but two seconds later it is a tangled mess again. The only time it looks decent is when it is in braids, which she rarely lets me do. I am open to any and all suggestions.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Hope you all have good eats!

Funday Sunday

The kids had a date over at Brandie's today. There were a total of 8 kids all 6 and under so it was loud and chaotic. But really fun. The girls all played dress up and gave us a show then they all watched Walle. We were there for like four hours and I think the kids could have gone for another four. After the kids play date us mom's went out to dinner all by ourselves. I don't even know how to explain how wonderful it is to have a couple of hours with uninterrupted conversation. A great day with some great friends!!
Ella was Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Princess Jasmin, and Barbie Island Princess. She could not stop smiling the whole time we were there. It is funny how fast little girls become so into the dress up and princesses.

long time no see

My cousin is in the air force and I have not seen him in over a year. He was able to get some time off before he gets shipped off to Iraq again so we spent some time at my mom's house. It was good seeing all the kids run around and play together. Nate and Ella do not have that many cousins here to play with. It makes me sad that everyone is so scattered around and we are all missing out on each other!


Finally got the kids at down time, they decided to watch a movie!I was told that they had enough pictures and could they just please watch their show?Cousin Blythe and her husband who I just met for the first time today.

Some of my Favorite Things

time with family

time with friends

making Christmas gifts

baking Christmas goodies

new job

new schedule

just some of the little things that make me happy

Nate lost another tooth!My kids clowning around for the camera

Ella really wishes that she was scary when she jumps out of the clothes hamper yelling ahhhh!

Ella also really wishes she lived in a place where she can wear sundress everyday. I am having a hard time convincing her that it is cold outside

Guilty

I admit it! I am guilty of wanting to get on with Christmas. I always feel like Thanksgiving is the forgotten holiday and I try to not do much Christmas stuff until after turkey day but I can't help it. I find myself wishing Thanksgiving over with already and have been itching, positively itching to put up my Christmas decorations. Our family tradition is to put out Christmas on Thanksgiving day after dinner but I just don't want to wait. My significant other keeps telling me NO!!!

little non sleeper

Nate goes to bed so easy--shower, jammies,brush teeth, bedtime story and good night!
Ella I think we put to bed about a million times and then we get tears and I have to go potty, I need a drink of water, I need another hug and kiss. UHH I can't wait until this little phase is over.

Halloween

So the kids had fun on Halloween, how could you not with everyone giving you candy?

We did the whole neighborhood thing and they were little troopers walking all over the place. One of the neighbors had a mini haunted house that I thought was hilarious, however the kiddos got scared so I then had to carry Ella. All in all good times.