Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Letter FROM Santa


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

Monday, December 13, 2010

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?!


Monday, December 6, 2010

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....


Saturday, December 4, 2010

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!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

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.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Merry Christmas!


So, I could be jumping the gun...considering it is not yet December but it's now or never! Santa has been informed of what we all want. Gabe was happy to sit on Santa's lap this year - after we told him that he is a nice guy, like Epaw. Jude then said "yeah, he sort of looks like Pepaw." (sorry Dad) Anyway, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and May the FORCE be With You through the next few weeks!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

It's Scooby Dooby Dooooo








Scooby didn't like his costume, for the most part. Shaggy didn't like his wig or his facial hair....ever. Fred thought he was going to get a "cool new work shirt" out of his costume AND that he was going to "bring the ascot back"...NEITHER of which are going to happen. Velma "Ellafied" her outfit with argyle leg warmers and sparkly Mary Janes....as for Daphne, well, she just wanted to survive the evening with enough candy for all - which only happened because I resorted to making the kids give out all of their candy, old Easter candy and sadly the remaining candy from Valentine's Day...I know, I vow to do better next year. Happy Halloween!


Half Marathon - 13.1 WE DID IT!







giving high five to Jude!



Monday, November 1, 2010

It's FALL!!


Darth Vader and his Darth Vader pumpkin

He worked hard...so did I :)


Monster Dash 5K - we were spiders...Debbie was a cat!



They worked so hard!

Ella's cat with peace signs

gutting the pumpkins


5K pumpkin run in White House


Here's one way to keep someone out of your room...


Jude cried when he read it.

I hired a housekeeper




and he wears heels!

Gabe's party












Gabe's construction party pics...I've waited so long to post I can't remember much :)

First days of school