Girly Time!

 A few weeks ago my sister had an especially rough day at work and I offered to take her out for some pampering, pedicure style.  Ella ended up having a snow day so she got in on the fun!  I've painted her nails dozens of times but this was her first "nail salon" experience.  She did great! The salon even had special prices for different age groups which pleased my wallet. 

Ella's eyes got really big when the technician scooped her up and carried her to the drying station but she rolled with it and acted like a very mature little lady.  And, her blue sparkly toenail polish lasted a LONG time!  We'll definitely be doing this again.

Discovery of a Beach Ball Sprayer

1. The unknowing approach

2.The shocking first spray
(courtesy of a dad with good timing crouched by the water nozzle)

3.The hasty retreat

4. Wait...this is fun!

5. REALLY fun!!

Kicking off the Christmas Season

We went to a local festival the day after Thanksgiving and it will definitely become a new family tradition! It totally exceeded our expectations and we had a great time. I took about 175 pictures-partially because there were that many fun things and partially because I LOVE experimenting with the new camera.

This was one of our favorite trees-simple but beautiful

Ella loved this ornament. We got lots of ideas for our annual ornament exchange with Chris' family

Besides 500 decorated trees, all kinds of vendors, live music, storytimes, pony rides, a carousel and food, there were animals!!! I never pass up a chance to touch creatures and Chris was up for touching the largest one there.

Ella and I both love crafts and spent a long time in "craft corner" at the festival. This was mostly because the really nice craft-helper-guy kept bringing us new crafts to do for free after we paid our 2 tickets for the first one! (and we got the tickets for free from people who were leaving and had extras!)

The Kids rock band Milkshake was performing and since we have their CD we were excited for Ella to see them in person. She was oddly fascinated and horrified simultaneously. Even with her hearing aids off she covered her ears the whole time and looked terrified but didn't want to leave! She wanted to be off to the side, way in the back, behind Christmas trees and watch from afar but somehow enjoyed it!

I really loved the snowflake tree

Here are a lot more pictures (not all 175, just the good ones)

Dad wins again

I came into the kitchen the other day to find this. Wow. Dad is way more fun that Mom. That's all I have to say.

Fun with Friends

We had a fun few days with friends recently. The Kim girls are a BLAST and somehow Hanna and Ella get along without any of the toddler squabbles ("it's mine!" "no, it's mine!"). It's shocking how long they can play together and need no parental intervention...I hope it lasts! Ella also had a fun morning with her cousins (supervised by Chris) while Amy and I had a morning off. Good times all around.

Ella's gaudy-ness was greatly indulged with Hanna's necklace stash

All three girls in the midst of trashing the playroom (they play well but create DISASTERS!)

Little Halle was trying to keep up with the big girls (and she can pretty well!)

It cracks me up that Ella says "we're going to Hanna's new room! Heeeere weeee commme!!!"

Christopher danced all around in this doing his "elephant dance"

Chris made the kids popcorn and let them watch a VeggieTales video, what a fun dad :-)

Yes, that's two kids (one with wings) inside a Doll crib

And finally, a big part of the last few weeks has been visiting Ping and Drew and baby Silas. He's so adorable and Ella had fun getting to hold him all by herself :-)