Deck the Halls

We put up our Christmas tree last weekend because I wanted to get Ella's picture taken for our Christmas card this year. It's funny, the last couple years I haven't wanted to do much decorating, but this year, with the awe and newness of Christmas for Ella, it's just given me a whole new perspective. This is the first year that she's really starting to get into it and start to understand a little about what's going on. Right now she constantly says "Christmas tree", "Christmas lights", "Santa", and "Baby Jesus", but not quite sure how it's all connected yet or what it all means.

Here she is loving on Santa.



And...getting as close to the tree as she can without touching it....



My grandparents recently down-sized, so I was given quite a few decorations that they no longer needed. They all remind me of my childhood, and I'm happy to have them. This porcelain tree I have always loved, and we had one at our house growing up too. So, I was pretty excited when I got this one. I couldn't wait to plug it in and show Ella, and she laid there for about 10 minutes just watching and naming all the colors.



After a little decorating, we took a break and decided to pick it back up in a few days. In the meantime, we played dress-up. She calls herself the "white princess" in this dress. :) Her friend Audrey gave her this after she outgrew it.



And, tonight we finished up the decorating. Ella gets to display a few things in her room, which she thinks is pretty cool. She received an early christmas present on Thanksgiving Day; a music box that she really loves to sit and listen to. We've already heard "We Wish you a Merry Christmas" several times. ;) She also has her own very little tree that she got to decorate. The ornaments are little "s'mores", it was one of the first decorations I bought when I was out on my own.





It's getting festive in our house....now, if I just had a fireplace to hang our stockings!!!

Pig and Potty

A couple of weeks ago Brad was asked to bring in a pig from his family's farm to church. It's not what you think...LOL. A few months prior, the kids had auctioned off some books and toys to the congregation to raise money to buy animals and send them to the poor, which are used for barter in other countries. One of the animals they were able to purchase for them was a pig, so he wanted to actually show the kids what they had been able to buy.



I think the kids really enjoyed it; I know Ella did. She didn't want Brad to take it away, and when we got home from church we kept it in the garage for awhile until it was time to go back to the farm. Ella thought that was too funny. Cocoa wasn't so sure, as we had the pig in her crate. All the time Ella is still saying "piggy in the garage?" or "Piggy at church?"



OH, and one more little announcement:

WE ARE POTTY-TRAINED!!! Woohoo!



She had taken interest after we received some little potty seats from friends, so one day I just decided this is it; we're gonna give it a real shot. Literally, by the end of the first day she had the hang of it. It was almost too easy, and I kept waiting for the backfire. I have heard and witnessed so many horror stories with potty-training, I was actually pretty pessimistic at first about the whole thing, and really dreading it. Well, luckily she proved me wrong and doesn't even want to be in diapers anymore; but that may be because she knows she's going to bed when she gets one! ha I don't quite trust her through the night yet. But, I'm very happy with the progress we've made.....another milestone...WHEW! :)

Block Party

Today Ella and I were hanging out, playing with blocks, drinking some milk, ya know, partying hard for 2 year olds! She's just recently gotten into actually playing with blocks instead of just dumping them out and scattering them around. Ella was so proud that she was stacking the blocks pretty high, and would cheer after every one that she put on. I, as her mother, thought it was really cute, so I got a video so atleast the grandparents could say "awww" along with me! :)




We were still in our jammies, rockin' the bedhead. Like mother, like daughter! :)

A Great Day in the Life of a Toddler

Last Monday we babysat for one of my good friend's little girls, who you've seen in an earlier post. Emily and Ella get along great and love to spend time together. (Aside from the occasional 2 yr old tiffs over taking each other's toys.) :)
I think they played with every toy imaginable in the first hour or two they were together. They do a great job of destroying a house. Here they are making laps with their strollers. They took turns following each other around.



Next they moved on to destroying the bedroom. They're taking a quick break from all their work!



Making Brad look pretty; it's a tough job! :)



Quick pose for a picture.



Then we had to do some dancing. The characters had hats on, so of course they had to too!



It was a beautiful Fall day, so we decided to take the girls to Jefferson Pointe to run around for awhile. We hit the play area in the food court first, and they had a blast! They're the perfect age for this.





Had to take a break for a snack...but not before lots of handwashing and sanitizing, of course! ;)




We headed outside and there were a lot of Halloween decorations set up. They were climbing all over this Haunted House. I couldn't get both of them to pose at the same time for a pic.



Caught looking very guilty. Trying to stuff those little pumpkins in those little pockets???



Had to take a pic of the cowgirl/boy. I was laughing because Brad was back behind trying to hold both girls up to the holes, and was getting wet and muddy from having to kneel in the muddy grass. Oh, the sacrifices we make for a good picture.... I wasn't mean enough to ask him to retake it. :)



And last, but not least, we ended up at Barnes and Noble. Ella loves to play with the train there.



The girls were both so good for us, I love days like that! They were so tired and took a good nap then were up and at 'em again! Recharged for more demolishing of the house.....