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)

Thanksgiving #2

Thanksgiving with Chris' family was a lot of fun :-) 4 kids under 5, 2 large dogs, and 13 adults all sat down to a great meal. Other highlights-watching my nephew Silas learning to walk, laughing until it hurt about Farrah Fawcett (don't ask), and having many joyful "conversations" with Lau-Lau, my SIL's MIL who only speaks Chinese (think talking mixed with sign language and a lot of nodding in ignorance!)

Some of the spoils of Pie Night!

One thing I love about events and Chris' parents house is the constant piano accompaniment! Chris' dad is a professional pianist and I love getting to listen! Even if we are scurrying around getting food ready and scolding kids, it lends serenity to the whole night.

It took 2 people to carve the 32lb turkey! Ella got to help pick it out at the Turkey Farm.

Not the best pic but this is almost everyone!

Chris' brother Dave (as if you can't tell from the resemblance) and Julie enjoying after dinner conversation.

Aunt Debbie, who I really love. We don't get to see her often so I was really glad she and Uncle Dave made it for this holiday!

And finally a fun pic of Amy which she might make me take down. But it's hilarious! (AND for any photography nerds, it was an experiment at an ISO of 100 so it's a miracle it turned out so sharp!)

Ella is FOUR!!!

I know this is long overdue but better late than never, right! We had a great time celebrating Ella's 4th birthday and she was SO excited to have a gymnastics party at a local gym. We also got to celebrate with my family at GG's house and at Red Robin with Chris' family. Birthdays last all week when you're four. It's a lot of fun to see her blissfully happy and so excited about all the special celebrations. Ahhhh to be four again!

More Conversations...

We were talking in the car about why I gave money to a homeless man
Me: Some people don't even have a place to live so we want to share some of what we have
Ella:Yeah. But there's one thing we don't give away.
Me: What?
Ella: Money. We save it in the bank.
Me: But we also give it away to people who need it.
Ella:Well, I'm going to save my money and buy us a house with stairs and a basement.
Me: (chuckling) Ok.
a minute later
Ella: Mom? You're right. We have a lot of stuff and we just keep getting more! I think we have enough now. We should share.
Me: I agree.


At lunch with my sister
Ella:Ok, who is one of my favorite people, who lives with Abuela, who is very funny?
Marissa and me: (laughing) ummm...we need another hint
Ella:ok...oh! He loves diners!
Us: Popeye!!
Ella: You got it!! Let's play again!
(she had just invented this game and we kept playing for a while and she was always surprised when we guessed right!)


In the car after picking Ella up from school
Ella: Mom? Does God ever tell you stories?
Me: Ummm...what do you mean?
Ella:You know, I hear God tell me stories all the time!
Me: Really? What does it sound like?
Ella:I dunno
(then I tried lots of voices but none of them sounded like God apparently)
Me:What kind of stories does he tell you?
Ella:ones like the kind Daddy makes up
Me: Oh! Those are good ones. When do you hear Him telling stories?
Ella: all the time! Like when mommy or daddy aren't talking to me...
Me: You hear it in your head when you're by yourself?
Ella: yeah, or when it's night time. He just tells really good stories.


After my dad read her bedtime story when he was over for dinner
Ella: Mom, Popeye is one of my favorite boys. He's great. He's so great at reading books and everything. He's my favorite boy. And I really like Daddy too.

More Thanksgiving Day Excitment...

So, during Pie Night my SIL Ping was having contractions and by the next morning (thanksgiving day!) they headed to the hospital and less than 2 hours later she had the baby! Evangeline Wong-Chien Heiliger is here! (totally not sure about the spelling of the chinese middle name-sorry Ping). She was 21 1/2 inches and 9lbs 11oz! I have no idea how such a big baby came out of someone so small! Mom and baby went home the following day and everyone is doing great. So thankful for this new baby in our lives!





Ping's mom is a THRILLED grandma!