Charlie Brown Christmas - December 2010

We've watched Charlie Brown Christmas a couple of times this year and the girls love it. Dad turned it on today for them to watch while mom was getting ready for church and when Linus came on for the first time with his blanket Keira pointed at the TV and said 'he has a stupid blanket.' Dad thought it was funny because she said it to point out that she knew this because she'd seen it before and remembered that Lucy called his blanket stupid.

Also today, Ella sang in church for part of the Christmas program today and she did a beautiful job and looked beautiful doing it. She had a great time and paid close attention to the choristers and did sign for some of the songs. I was INCREDIBLY proud of her. She is an angel.

Caroling - December 2010

The girls got a taste of the Christmas spirit today because they went caroling to some members of our ward at the North Creek Rehab Center. Dorothy was dancing along to the songs they sang. They sang Away in a Manger, Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, and Merry Christmas. When I had the girls practice Rudolf we did it with all of the little extras i.e. 'light bulb' and 'Pinocchio' and 'Columbus' but any time there was a pause Keira would defalt to 'Columus' each time and she would sometimes get upset when I tried to correct her that Columbus does not have a shiny nose. Anyway, Ray was touched by the girls and grateful for their visit. He wanted the girls to see some paintings of flowers he'd made and the girls thought they were beautiful. He had a sign up that said 'Happy Birthday Ray' in his room and Ella read it and turned to me and said 'that must be Ray.' :) Both the girls sang well and had a good experience with their friends.

Tidbits - December 2010

This report can't be verified but Ella told Travis tonight that Keira went into her room last night and asked to snuggle for a bit. Apparently she did. When Keira was presented with the quesition 'did you snuggle with Ella last night in her room?' Keira replied 'uh huh.' Keira will often say yes for the sake of being agreeable so we can't verify the story but how can we not believe them?

And I need to add something that Erica kindly reminded me of. We Skyped with her about a week ago and the girls would not stop singing Jingle Bells even when asked for other songs by Erica. I'm not suprised when they don't listen to a request like that from me but from Erica?!?! They also kept wrestling with each other and Keira got Ella in a headlock once or twice over the course of our skype. They are pretty hillarious when the get wrestling together and the giggles get going.

Funnies as of late - December 2010

Kaira's 'magic word' to get out of a hold she was in when we visited the Campbell's over Thanksgiving was 'hearts.' Super sweet.

Last Sunday Keira ran up to Ella and gave her a hug when dad and Ella picked her up from nursery. Also last Sunday, Ella was reading the words to the hymn "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and said "this is from Charlie Brown!"

Keira's favorite song to sing at bedtime lately is 'I saw mommy kissing Santa Clause.' Sometimes she will ask us to substitue dad and Ella instead of mom. When we tell Keira that she can have a song before nap or bedtime she'll say 'two songs' matter of factly and hold up two fingers.

A few nights ago Ella came into our room with Keira. Usually they come in one at a time. Ella said that Keira went into her room and wanted to snuggle:)

Botanical Garden D'Lights - December 2010

Grandma, grandpa, and gram and millions of beautiful lights!

Snowflake Lane with the Clarks - December 2010

Drummers were great and it rained AND snowed (snow machines)! The girls got down to the drumming with their booty dances and loved the 'snowflake lane' chant. But the hightlight might have been going up and down the esclators at Macy's afterward.

Santa Flies In - December 2010

Country Village Santa fly in with the Nye's. Super crowded and not really worth the lack of parking and crowd, but the girls got to ride the merry go round, see Santa, and we got a family photo shot.

Parents Day at Ballet Class - December 2010

Ella's Got Talent - December 2010

Our ward had a talent show and Ella wanted to do Ballet to some Swan Lake music. She got on stage a tid bit timid and then the CD Travis burned wouldn't play in the old church CD player. So I told her she'd need to go later on in the show. She gave me a hug and got off the stage. She told me after the show that she was sad and almost cried. But she didn't. Dad went home and got our CD player and she performed last. She just danced around a bit from side to side and twirled. I was incredibly proud of her for getting back up on stage after having to get off the first time. Not long after the show we were in a meeting with the Bishop who asked Ella if it was difficult to get on stage and she said "no, there were stairs." Oh man, if she only knew how adorable she was.

October 2010 / November 2010

We ate "Mr. Bones" for Halloween thanks to the Griffeths. Mr. Bones has bread sticks for bones, spaghetti for guts, and salad for a head. Pictured in this post: trick or treating, the Helzer's awesome Halloween Party (they go all out!) where the clown made Ella a doggie balloon and she was thoroughly enthralled but not about getting her picture taken with him;), mom and Keira at the Science Center, mom and dad's annual birthday trip to the Woodland Park Zoo, dad's mad hair bath skills. Keira tried on her Halloween costume the day we got it and cried when mom mentioned she should take it off before naptime...so she took a nap in it.

First day of Ballet for Ella! - August 2010

Ella had her first day of Ballet class with Miss Sharon. She said she learned how to be a flower and later showed me how at grandma and grandpa's where we celebrated grandpa's birthday. But Ella also had her four year checkup today after ballet. We were at the doctors for two hours total. The girls were very very patient. They played in the play area for a long time before going in to see the doctor. They played on the toy teeter totter and took burger and ice cream orders in the little play house in the waiting area. Ella also read a book to me while we waited. Ella was being a little shy at times with the doctor although she had no qualm playing with the privacy curtain with Keira and the foot stirrups while I talked with the doctor. She listened to her heartbeat and the doctors heartbeat and got a kick out of it. But I declare today as opposite day because Ella whispered to me that she wanted the doctor to give her her shots today at the end of her appointment because they were getting along so well. I had not warned her about the shots, she just guessed that she had to get some. And she seemed a little excited that she was getting four of them because she just turned four and likes everything in fours because she was so looking forward to being four. And then she crashed before Keira did on the way home which never happens. Good times.