Happy Birthday Daddy-O!!

Todd turned the big 3-0 this week. Of course it didn't phase him in the least... maybe that's a girl thing? Or maybe its just me. Anyway, he was completely happy to do a small family thing. My neighbor was telling me that she took her husband skydiving for his 30th birthday, and was wondering what I was going to do for Todd. She was shocked that we were just staying in with the fam. We made pizzas and watched A Christmas Story (Todd's favorite Christmas movie. I never realized how inappropriate for children it is until I actually watched it with my children. Oh well.) and finished the night with chocolate cake. I love that he's a simple guy that is just as happy sitting at home with his family then going out and living it up on his birthday. I love that he works hard during the day and is happy to come home and help me out too. I love that he is a very selfless person who really just wants his girls to be happy. Happy birthday! We love you!!

Trip to the Woods

Our Thanksgiving dinner coming out of the oven. It was DE-lish.

The girlies enjoying their Thanksgiving feast. Well, the rolls at least. I think they might have braved a bite or two of jello, too.

Playing Tarzan. That was after they'd been with the daddies all day, so I'm not exactly sure how that whole thing started. They sure are cute though!

We went to this great little Christmas tree farm so they could pick out their tree. It was run by an older couple. She dressed up like Mrs. Claus and hung out in this little Christmas shed giving out cookies and hot cocoa. The highlight was this mechanical Santa that they had hooked up to a speaker thing so that someone could hide outside and make Santa talk to the kids. The got all the kids names and informed them all that they were on the nice list. Which was awesome for the kids at the time, but it sure has messed with our December bribery techniques. Every time we try to threaten Molly with the 'do you want to be on the naughty list' line, she says- "Santa already say me on the nice list, Mom. Remember?"

Also at the Christmas tree farm.

Our craft night. We had an awesome Christmas craft night last year, and we were excited to get to work again this year. I miss craft nights!! Anne is the best crafting buddy. And the banners turned out awesome.

We were able to go out to Hannibal, MO this year to spend Thanksgiving with our dear friends, the Woods. We had a wonderful time. The girls had a great time reuniting with their little friends, and spent the majority of the weekend playing 'Christmas'. Dinner was awesome. But the highlight of the trip (for me) was our Black Friday extravaganza. Shopping is a shared passion for Anne and I, so we spent the couple of weeks before the big day mapping out a plan of action. We headed out the door at 2:30am. We shopped our hearts out until lunch, during which we reviewed our receipts, and then spent the early part of the afternoon making returns. And then shopping some more. I think we did a good 14 hours. At which point we realized we actually do have a shopping limit. We ended the day seeing New Moon. It was so nice to have a whole day to ourselves. I think that was the longest that Todd has ever had the girls, and he was a good sport about it. The best part was spending serious quality time with Anne. We became friends so quickly when they moved to Columbus. Its not every day that you find a friend that shares so many of your same hobbies, and that you enjoy doing them all with. Thank you for the wonderful holiday. We miss you guys!!! The spare room is ready and waiting for you!!

You should've seen the other guy...

Last night the girls were rocking out to Christmas music, and when 'Run Run Rudolph' came on, things got a little out of control! I heard Molly start to cry and I hear her sister instantly say- "I don't know what happenend!!" Which we all know is code for- "I really do know what happened, but I'm pretty sure Mom will be mad if she knew, so I'm taking this one to the grave." It didn't look too bad last night. Just a little bump and bruise on the corner of her eye. When she came into my room this morning, her eye was almost completely swollen shut! I said- "Oh my goodness! You look like Rocky!!" Molly said- "Yeah. Did Rocky have a boo-boo?" I heard her inform her sister, rather proudly, when she finally woke up that- "I look like Rocky" As I write this she is doing flips off the couch. I guess she's working on the other one!

Super Moose and Minnie Mouse

Sweet little Minnie Mouse

Ready to get the show on the road

Cutest Super Moose this side of the Mississippi

The fam

Minnie Mouse and Super Moose!

Starting out the night

A little scared of the huge orange eyes on the door

Trick or Treat!

Another great Halloween. Good times, good friends, way too much candy. The costumes were rockin' this year. Ella finally ventured away from the princess theme (a little) and Molly confused more then a few people with her very original Super Moose costume. Its destined to become a classic though. "Super Moose to the rescue!" How can that not catch on? She decided about 6 months ago that she wanted to be Super Moose for Halloween, and Grandma made her the perfect costume. A couple people confused her for a magic reindeer, but everyone loved the costume. Molly could've knocked on doors all night getting free candy. Ella was quite content to ride in the wagon after the first couple blocks.

Just Catching Up

Its been a very long while since I have posted anything, so here's a few pictures that we've stored up over the last couple months. For the most part we've just been trying to adjust to a new life in Delaware along with Ella being in school all day. But we're hanging in there. We love our new home, Ella adores her new teachers and they love her right back. In fact at her parent/teacher conference last week her teacher said that Ella was the sweetest, kindest, most compassionate, wonderful little girl, and that she wished she had 15 more of her. I went away with the reaffirmation that we did the right thing putting her in school this year. Thats not to say its all been smooth going. She comes home grumpy about 95% of the time. I am pretty sure there is some switcheroo going on at her school, because the Ella they describe is definitely not the Ella that comes home at the end of the day. Getting her to talk about her day is like pulling teeth. "So, how was school today?" Grumpy stare. "That good, huh? Well, how was music class?" Another grumpy stare. "Really? I love that song." Now I get a reaction- "Stop that! I'm not saying anything!!" She has been making some friends, mostly of the boy variety. When Daddy told her that 'we don't like boys', she said- "I just like his face."

She's also decided that she doesn't like anything in her lunch. She vetoes everything I offer to put in her lunch bag, and doesn't want anything to do with the school lunches. Not that I blame her. Yesterday she wanted crackers for her lunch. Thats it. Just a baggie of Cheez-its. No grapes, no juice, no sandwich, no yogurt. When I tried to push the issue she ended up crying and chucking her lunchbag across the room. I figure she won't starve in 7 hours, right? Right?? I'm a little concerned about what her teachers must think though. I am well aware that crackers are not a sufficient lunch for a growing girl.

We also had the oppurtunity to enjoy some of Ohio's beautiful fall weather picking apples. It was a gorgeous day, and even the less enthusiastic of the group (a.k.a. Todd) enjoyed themselves.

The last picture is of Molly helping herself to an entire roll of cookie dough. I've taken to making a batch of cookie dough at the beginning of the week and freezing most of it in rolls for later in the week. Molly prefers them that way.

FIRST First Day of School!

Well, today was the big day. Ella's very first day of school. She is doing all day Kindergarten, which is a big adjustment for all of us. If I hadn't had a strong feeling that this is what Ella should be doing, it would have been much harder. I can't believe my little girl is a full-fledged school-ager! When I picked her up from school I asked her what she learned and she said- "I learned that recess means the park." When I asked what she did all day she said, "Well, we ate, and we had recess (that's the park, Mom) then we ate and we had recess again." Maybe I'll get more info later. She has a lot of boys in her class. Everyone at her table was a boy. When she walked up to her spot, the little boy next to her pulled out her chair for her. It was too cute. I wouldn't be surprised if she ended up with a boyfriend or two before the year is over.

Molly seemed a little displaced this morning, but by the time Ella got home I think she was just loving all the attention. I am excited about being able to spend more time just her and I. Last night Todd gave Ella a father's blessing, and Molly wanted one too. Todd talked about the special time that she and I will have together. Ella asked specifically about not being shy at school. She is very aware that that is something she deals with. I thought it was great that she thought to ask her Heavenly Father about that.

One day down, 200 and some odd days to go!

To Hula or not to Hula...

Ella has been trying to master the art of hula hooping lately- and it is hilarious. She hasn't quite gotten the hang of it, but she keeps on trying. I am no help at all, because I never could do it, even as a kid. We found a video on youtube that is supposed to teach you how to hula, and she's been watching that. She is determined. I have to give her props for not getting discouraged. I have tried multiple times to download a video of it without any success- so I finally just downloaded it onto youtube. If you want to check it out, here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoyXtqXincI

Enjoy!