Thanksgiving 2012

We started off the holiday season with our annual staff conference in the Adirondacks. It's always a refreshing time with good friends and one we look forward to every year. We have so much fun catching up with friends and relaxing that I never manage to take many pictures, but here are a couple from our weekend. 

sisters watching a video before we head to breakfast

love.

Remember these two? Abby and Emma. Little friends from the beginning (their parents made sure of it). They met at their very first staff conference two years ago. This year, they were running around and talking to each other in childcare. Now, they both have new baby sisters (Ella and Clara). Look at how much they have grown!

Ella meeting her new friend Clara.

exploring and "driving" the caboose

 

 Our friend volunteered to take some pictures for us in hopes of getting a nice family shot/Christmas card photo. It was a great idea, but turned out to be a lot harder than expected since our photo session was scheduled for 20 minutes after Abby woke up from her nap. Some days she wakes up just fine. This day was not one of them. Though we didn't end up with a Christmas card photo, I think we ended up with a priceless memory of just how serious Abby's angry face is and how determined she is when she sets her mind to something. In this case...not smiling! I will remind her of this someday.

Look at those eyes. I love my family!

After the conference, we headed to Papa's house for a night to visit. We relaxed all day with Uncle Cory while Papa cooked for us, enjoyed round one of Thanksgiving dinner and met up with friends for dessert afterward. On Thanksgiving morning, we headed to Grammy and G-Diddy's for the weekend. Thanksgiving dinner round 2, lots of fun activities and quality time with everyone. We even gave our photo session another shot. This time we were more successful! Perfect? No. Successful? Yes! :) 

little beauty

love. love. love.

dancing with Uncle Tommy

First foods

First taste: cereal

not sure what's going to happen next!

oooo

Much more prepared this time around. Bring on the veggies. First: peas

so excited and loving her high chair

 Ella's biggest cheerleader was close by for encouragement and assistance.

Now, Ella is onto her second veggie, sweet potatoes. Dinnertime has gotten a lot more interesting in our family with our fourth member up at the table eating with us!

Lily Monica

Last month, I wrote about the wish list Abby came up with after looking through the Toys R' Us toys catalog for the first time. Her sweet preferences made me smile.

You can imagine the smile on Abby's face (and the surprise on mine) when we came home after a morning of running errands to find a big box addressed to her sitting at our doorstep. I wasn't expecting anything and at first glance couldn't figure out where or who it came from. But, there is only one person in the world who addresses my mail Jen Ping Cassel! My dear friend, Kenzie, surprised Abby with a generous gift that made her day. Abby opened the box to find her number one pick from the toy catalog, an African American Cabbage Patch Doll!

As Abby shrieked around the house from total excitement and joy, I carefully opened the box reminiscing about my CPD days. The specific baby powder smell and the anticipation of opening the baby's birth certificate to learn her name brought me right back to 1990!

Her name is Lily Monica. Her birthday is December 15. Abby is already planning Lily Monica's birthday party. Lily Monica has already been to the grocery store multiple times, a college basketball game, Papa's house, church, Grammy and G-Diddy's for Thanksgiving and the library. Abby loves her!

Thank you Kenz! You are such a sweet and thoughtful friend. I miss you so much and am looking forward to the day when Abby and Ella meet you and  I get to see you again!  108 love. xoxo

Ella: 4 months old

 (written weeks ago and just publishing now...amazing to see how much is different already!) 

 Ella: 4 months

14 pounds 13 ounces

 25 1/4 inches long

moving around a lot during tummy time

never let anyone forget you are in the room with lots of smiles and laughter 

going to bed between 7-8, waking at about 3-4 and going back to sleep until 6:30-7

taking toys out of our hands and hugging them to yourself 

doctor visit again for another sinus infection  

dressed up like a pea pod on Halloween 

looking like you will roll over any day now 

starting to take naps in your crib

Nicknames: Ella Bella, Bear, Beanie Baby, Sissy, Turtle

You are such a sweet and happy baby!   

 

 

Laughter

Halloween 2012

costume party at church with lots of friends

pumpkin carving morning

fresh picked from Mommy's garden

Abby couldn't wait to go out with Daddy to visit our neighbors and get lots of candy.

my babies

...and to think this picture was taken before any sugar was consumed! ;)

Brothers weekend

At the beginning of November, we hosted the very first "Brothers and their Ladies" weekend! We did a lot of hanging out, enjoying meals and playing with the girls during the day. We celebrated Uncle Brad's birthday with coconut cupcakes and when the little ones were in bed we had lots of fun in the men vs. women board game challenge. Hoping this becomes an annual tradition!

Uncle Tommy and Ella

football or Yo Gabba Gabba?

Good morning sleepyhead!

group shot in our pjs!

the girls with Uncle Tommy and Tori

Silly pic with Uncle Brad and soon to be AUNT Alex!

Goofy (love this one!)

Uncle Brad and Ella