North Pole Breakfast

I think I am in love.  With a little guy named Henry. He's our Elf. And he's changed Ella's behavior drastically this past month. I envy his power and adore his cute, yet creepy face. Ella is very into Christmas and Santa Claus this year and Henry has added even more excitement to the holiday season. Some people probably think I am crazy, but I am going with how my mom worded it... She told me I am making it very magical for Ella. Everyday we find the Elf doing something silly. Sometimes he is playing in toy planes. Or hanging from lamps. Even ziplining through the kitchen. But my favorite has been the look on the girls faces when Henry brought them breakfast from the North Pole. Ella couldn't BELIEVE it. It was a simple breakfast of powdered "snow" donuts, hot cocoa and candy canes, but she was floored that Henry brought this for her ALL the way from the North Pole. She also told me how the hot cocoa was MUCH better than the kind I make "probably because it's from the North Pole mama". Every morning Ella wakes up and the first thing she says to me is "Let's go find the elf". And it's always a contest between her and Madeline. Madeline may not understand the concept, but she sure has a blast elf hunting and says "ook ook" (look) when she spots him. There is nothing like Christmas time when you have children to share it with. My mom said I am making it magical for them, but they truly bring the magic to the season.

Ella's new hot cocoa mug

Madeline's new cup

Henry had his own mini elf donuts (cheerios with sprinkles...Ella got a kick out of this)

Madeline was a little concerned when Henry fell after we moved the box of donuts. But that didn't stop her from throwing donuts. It was like she was having a snowball fight.

Henry is down for the count. He had a long flight from the North Pole.

Oh it's December...Happy Thanksgiving.

By now you are used to this blog being a little behind the times. We had a really quiet Thanksgiving this year. But that doesn't mean I was going to forgo the cute turkey shirts for the girls. My mom made them the day before Thanksgiving and they were SO cute. Madeline tried all day to rip the ribbon feathers off, but she was unsuccessful. I always said I wouldn't dress my girls alike, but again, NEVER say NEVER. I love it.

At dinner we went around the table and had to list things we were thankful for. Ella said "my uncles". She has formed such a close bond with my brothers and Tom's brothers being home here. It's really sweet.  She also said she was thankful for the roof "to keep the bugs and birds out of the house". Love that girl. And since Madeline is always climbing out of her highchair at meal time, I said I was thankful that she was napping so I could eat in peace. One thing missing from making it a most perfect day...and I am sure it doesn't take much to figure that out;)

Our little photo shoot

My little turkeys

I love this pic

It is NEVER easy to get Madeline to pose with me for a picture. She is the squirmiest, strongest girl!

My LOVES (and of every pic...they were never looking at the camera...oh well!)

Gma with her girls

Such a hippie. Always picking flowers for her hair or gifts to people.

16 months old!

How did that happen? How is that little 6 pound 10 ouncer already 16 months old? She's growing fast. She's saying so much now...such a little mimicker. We were watching Elf on the Shelf the other night and she even said "oh no. Chippey!" (Chippey is the name of the Elf in the movie). It was so adorable. She knows all of her body parts, but we definitely need to work on the animal sounds. Not every animal in the world barks, but I'm pretty sure she will figure that out one day.

Let's see Madeline...at 16 months old you love to eat blueberries, melon, bananas, yogurt, all flavors of Goldfish, cookies, peas and green beans. You are a very good listener. If we ask you where something is, you go and find it. You bring me diapers when you need to be changed and you've already pee peed on the potty! I will not rush that though. Your daddy isn't getting out of potty training another child;) You LOVE to play with your baby dolls and you carry a purse while you push the stroller. You like to set up Ella's dollhouse and then destroy it just to hear her scream and cry. You are slowly learning to color ON the page. Hearing you call for your sister "Lella" is music to my ears. I love that you call Grandma "Maw Maw" and you carry the computer over to me (scary!) when you want to talk to Daddy, yelling "daddy, daddy, dadddddyyyyyyyy". Watching your face light up when you see him on the screen melts my heart. One day you will realize he doesn't exactly live in that thing.

I want time to slow down so badly to keep you this cute age for awhile, but at the same time I want it to fly by so we can have daddy back in our arms again.

I love these pics even with the yogurt all over her face. It's so her personality.

Keepin' busy!

I love that no matter what, I always have something to do here. On the days I don't, I actually kind of like just sitting around the housing lounging with my girls. Sometimes we do crafts. Sometimes we watch tv or movies...like all day *gasp*. Throw in lots of dressing up, coloring, forts, ect and those are our "boring" days. But typically we are out and about. When we meet up with friends, it goes something like this:
 Ok so I realize this doesn't look like we met up with other friends, but we did! Ella had a few of her buddies there, but apparently I was busy with my kids and not taking pics. Thanks Bridget for capturing this little sequence of events;)

Madeline wanting to be on the big girl swing

Madeline on the big girl swing

Madeline crying after falling off the big girl swing

Uncle Bud set up a "fort" for Ella and she made him s'mores:) I am SO lucky to be home here and have the girls get to know their uncles. 

Madeline at Gator Fred's...a building full of bounce houses and a little town!

I realized at this place what a big girl she is becoming. She wanted nothing to do with me and everything to do with being on her own exploring:( 

Ella and her beautiful friend Cara

Jumping like crazy!

Shopping in the grocery store

Working out at the gym (how cute is this miniature gym equipment?!)

Celebrating Peyton's birthday with a cookie. Perfect end to a playdate!
Peyton, Ella, Taylor, Cara and Emme

Picnicking.

Isn't that word funny? I always feel like it is misspelled. Either way, I took the girls to Sim's park for a picnic. The weather was gorgeous (can we say 70's in November is heavenly?) so I packed up a really healthy lunch of PBJs, cheese doodles, grapes and cookies. Hey, it's healthy to me. I included grapes just incase any other mother was staring down my food choices. The girls were really good. It was a total workout chasing them all over that equipment though. And why are some of those openings so small for tunnels and slides? I can't bend that way anymore. I wish Madeline was at that age where she can be trusted climbing so high, but yeah...I didn't want to spoil our perfect outing with an ER trip.

My girls love the outdoors and I have realized I need to take advantage of the weather FL has to offer more often. After all, my friend Michelle said it snowed the other day in Lawton, OK...I had to smile to myself as I stared down at my flip flops and then back up at the sun shining in the blue sky:)

These two do everything together.

She always walks with such a "toughness" to her

Sisters...I just love it.

"Major"ly CUTE.

I mean, how stinkin' cute do these girls look in Tom's beret? I hope he doesn't care that it's new home is in the girl's dress up bin. Who knew army attire could be paired with princess high heels? My girls make it happen.