Sunday, November 27, 2011

Stationery card

Wonder Trees Holiday Card
Create custom new year's invitations at Shutterfly.com.
View the entire collection of cards.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Ella's First Haircut

This little one had hair that was getting out of control and unruly. So I scheduled her first haircut to put her little locks back in order. She wasn't too confident in the decision. She sat super still hoping the hair stylist wouldn't talk to her for the first half of her cut.
Then she got cRaZy. Normal Ella crazy. Driving her super cute car fast and flipping her hair.
Tada!! All done. My mommy can get a comb through my hair again.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Grace is 5!!

Where did time go? It seems like just yesterday that we were bringing a little bundle home from the hospital, not knowing what we were doing. I cannot believe that Grace is 5!!

Grace is an amazing 5 year old. She is wise beyond her years, and she has no problem letting one know when they are wrong. She is a great friend and sister who is always willing to share and compromise.

And she is indecisive. For weeks leading up to her birthday she wanted to have a princess, fairy, batman, monkey party with a pinata. Her variation would occasionally change to include more things to make sure that everyone invited would have a good time. Eventually Paul and I made an executive decision for her birthday cake. Since she has been a bit obsessed about rainbows since early in the school year when she studied her colors and made rainbows.

So she got her very own rainbow cake. Decorated with the amazing assistants Grace and Lydia.
She was also in charge of stirring the colors before baking the cake.
After celebrating with the family on Saturday, Grace celebrated with her great friends on Sunday. Nothing screams Grace like Tae Kwon Do right? At the start of the party the instructor asked the kids whose birthday it was? The kids screamed "GRACE" in unison. Grace quickly covered her ears. When I asked her about it later, she replied, "Mom, those kids are LOUD." They sure were, but thankfully they all did great.

They practiced punches and kicks.
They had races and relays.
They had their very own little spectators.
Just when they were under control, listening and following directions, they got cake.
Then they broke boards.
The group of cute kids.
After 2 days of parties, Grace woke up to a balloon filled room on her BIRTHDAY.
And one more piece of cake before heading to bed.
Happy 5th Birthday Grace!!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Halloween Fun

It comes as no big surprise that my girls love Halloween. It is an nationally recognized excuse to wear dress up clothes our in public for nearly a month. On top of that, I bust out the totes of dress up clothes and shoes that have been stowed away.

This was the first year that Ella got in on the Halloween action. We kicked things off with a party at our local Y. There was a scavenger hunt that lead the girls throughout the facility. Crafts, dancing, and balloons were a hit too, but paled in comparison that they got to see their friends.

Lydia dressed up as a flower girl. I have no idea where she got the idea that she should be a flower girl.
Grace's class had a fun Halloween party for the kids and their siblings too.
Lydia was so excited that she got to sit at the table with the rest of Grace's class. She blends right in so much that I almost didn't recognize her.
Just as Halloween mode kicked in full speed, we 'adopted' our favorite brunettes for a long weekend. Four days, sick girls, and a ton of fun. Pyper and Ella were a riot a minute. They were either causing a ton of trouble and giggling the entire time or Ella was bullying Pyper.
In an effort to keep the kids entertained and my house from getting way too loud, we loaded them up and took them all to the zoo.


My dear friend Jen was gracious enough to hang out with us. She must have seriously thought we were crazy although I am sure that her daughter Lauren had no idea what to do with all these girls!!



After a long month, we wrapped up Halloween with some neighborhood trick or treating. Happy Halloween from the unicorn, Rapunzel and the Snow Princess.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Pumpkins Galore

For a second year in a row, we headed out to the pumpkin farm in shorts to get our Halloween pumpkins. It's a shame that we couldn't keep that wonderful weather all year long.
We headed out to the pumpkin fields on a wagon. The girls were certainly not fans of the pokey hay bales, but they soon got over it.

Once we picked the perfect pumpkins, the girls dashed to the kiddie hay bale maze.
Once we mastered the haybale maze, we moved onto the corn maze.
Lydia got tired and took a break while she waited for us to catch up to her.
Then my little ladies went for a walk, hand in hand. I couldn't have asked them to pose this cute.
I love that these cute little girls have moments of best friendness. It makes up for the times when they fight over shoes, toys and everything else.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Holy Hill

A while ago I took the girls to Holy Hill to climb the tower. Ever since they had been eager to go back with Daddy. So we went back on a seasonally warm October day.

Grace and Ella loved being up so high and seeing for miles.
Lydia, on the other hand, shares her Daddy's fear of heights. She was a great trooper and made the climb!
The view from the top.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Dance

Ella started her first dance class right after her 2nd birthday. It didn't take long for me to figure out exactly why I don't do parent/child classes with my kids. She doesn't want me there with her. Someone needs to explain to Ella that she is NOT 3 years old and she is NOT old enough to be in Lydia's dance class. I'm hoping she gets it sooner rather than later. She is not the biggest fan of her class, but I drag her from Lydia's class as she cries every week.

At least she looks super cute while she does her thing.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Ella's 2 (the last part)

We finished celebrating Ella's birthday with a family birthday party. Our little monkey had her very own little monkey cake. Definitely suiting for Ella, who loves to climb, jump and swing on everything.
Since Ella's birthday was on a Saturday, it should come as no surprise that my girls are in their game day apparel.
Ella is not a fan of any of the birthday attention. She chose to ignore everyone, the cake and the candles that were burning on the cake.
Happy 2nd Birthday Ella!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Birthday Girl

I am so, so behind on downloading pictures from the camera, but I needed to clear the SD card so that I have room for pictures tomorrow at the Pumpkin Farm for Grace's field trip. (Although the temps are forecasted to be in the 30s. Way to cold for these little fingers to be snapping pictures).

So here are a few pictures to tide you over until I can spare more time to fill you with cuteness.
Here is my baby with her big sisters. As I was looking at these pictures as they downloaded, I was thinking, "WOW , I was coordinated those colors really well." But then I remembered it must have purple day at school. Ella woke up to confetti pancakes with her big sisters who were anxious to help her blow out the candles.

Later Ella celebrated with her best little playgroup friends. She was not at all impressed with all the attention while they sang Happy Birthday. She attempted to hide in her seat with no luck.
Here is the sea of friends, wrapping paper and gifts that appears when all these little cuties celebrate birthdays.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Future Fire Fighters?

Lydia and Ella were in heaven when the fire department came to visit a MOMS Club meeting. Lydia knew the drill and wasted no time making her way to the front of the line to spray the fire hose.


She took her duties quite seriously!
Hanging out with her friends Stephanie and Jojo.
Ella, Stephanie, Lydia and Emily
Then came Jordyn!
Ella checking out the ambulance. Hopefully she doesn't need to ride in one any time soon.