Letter FROM Santa

Ella's class wrote letters to Santa and then got letters back from Santa - Here is hers.

Tacky Office Party

Our office celebrated Christmas in style with holiday sweaters, festive jewelry and decorative headwear! We also played dirty Santa....and I ended up with my gift - which is a big waste, by the way!

and who knew that Barbie could cook?!

The "trap" has been set.

Ella devised this little set up for Nick Rock -n- Roll - our Elf on the Shelf. She thinks that if Nick (hanging in the upper left corner of the picture) is sitting in this chair when she gets up in the morning that he "likes" Barbie...ahhhh, she's good - real good!

Christmas Card Aftermath....

and here's what happened next

If NASA calls, I am ready. I can put anything together now. Jonathan made Ella cry by telling her now that we (and by WE I really mean ME) got it put together she can play with it for 2 weeks then turn around and sell it - assembled - for twice that to some crazy parent for their kid as a Christmas present. Ella was not happy about that, at all.

Happy Birthday, Ella!

Jude cleaning up the trash with his new R2D2 trashcan from Pops and Mimi.

I am pretty sure she liked it

This is the "best" one we took :)

Gabe, just happy to be there.

That is ALOT of candles

M&M pancakes...yummy

Gabe found the best eating utensil...a spatula...and he was good at it

Making pancakes at the Pfunky Griddle

Even though there is NO way I am old enough to have an 8 year old! Somehow, she managed to turn 8 anyway. Ten things about my 8 year old Ella:

1.) She loves good company. I also think she likes bad company too. It doesn't matter...she likes people.

2.) She is a wonderful student. She's never been a discipline issue at school. I hope her brothers follow her lead.

3.) As well as being a great student for her teachers, she is also a great learner. She loves to learn, has all As and is quite concerned at even the idea of making bad grades.

4.) She loves her brothers. I know that is sort of a given and she can be mean to them as all siblings can BUT, at the end of the day she is inseparable with Jude. The other night they had not been together all day and while she was showering, Jude sat on the toilet (lid closed) so they could talk about their days.

5.) She is a great friend. We are learning more and more about what it means to be a great friend. Every day is a new challenge but she gets it...she's a good friend to her friends and also to her classmates. I hope it stays that way!

6.) She loves taking her gymnastics class. There is improvement every week and she looks forward to going.

7.) She loves babies. The new baby on the block, Levi (or Eye-vi as Gabe calls him) doesn't stand a chance of ever walking with her around!

8) She loves clothes. I think that she could get that honestly so I really consider it an attribute :). She is starting to pick stuff out on her own and always looks so cute.

9) Phinneus and Ferb was one of her favorite shows this summer. From this show, she has learned the art of saying "Peace, Ella's Out". Now, she doesn't do it as much as she did but this Summer it was a most popular saying.

10.) She loves art. Drawing, coloring and just creating - She is actually pretty good and will sit at her desk in her room working away.

One thing I loved about today was that Ella woke up and we sang to her and all wished her a happy birthday and she never asked where her gift was! Nana and Pepaw were here and she didn't even ask them. I was so proud...she opened up her Barbie Dream House when she got home around noon and was so excited. It makes you more excited about giving gifts when they are not asking for them. She is really great about that!

Jude's *first* math test

given by Ella....apparently she is going to take after a grandparent - on either side and be a teacher. She devised this test for Jude and was THRILLED that he passed. Jude didn't really care either way. He's a good brother though and does what she says - most of the time.