Winter Break....Yeah!

Hip-Hip Hooray, I am so excited that Winter Break is here!!! I love teaching but having two weeks of pure family time....Good Stuff! Now, I am offically in the holiday spirit! I had a great day Friday with my students! I am so glad that the time for break has come!! Yeah, schools out...for two weeks, I feel like a kid again!

Birthday Girl!

It was a fun celebration! Our Little Ella Bella did such a great job at the party! There was such innocence in Ella not truly knowing that we were celebrating her special day, she was just glad to see everyone and to eat her first cupcake, she sure liked the icing!

We are so thankful for our friends and family sharing the evening with us. I have to admit there was some sentimental moments through the day, thinking of where we were one year ago, part of motherhood!

Happy 1st Birthday Dear Ella, it has been a wonderful year of joy!

"Boy, that was a fun day, but I am Tired!, I can hardly wait until next year!"

Saying Please...

Tess always brings the smiles....She is very good at saying please and thank you. Even at a younger age when it was "Peeze and Tank You" (seems like yesterday)...But literally yesterday she had a great come back:

Recent quotes:

"thank you for dinner Mommy it was so good", "Can I have some more please, Thank you", "Mommy can I please unbuckle my seat belt since we are home"....Etc.

Yesterday it went something like this:

Tess-"I want some milk"

Kevin-"What is the magic word?"

Tess- (Without skipping a beat) "Hokus Pokus!" -Big smirk (like someone else I know K_VI_)

Kevin and I had to giggle, then she started giggling and we were all laughing, then with a bigger smile, "Please Daddy"

I truly enjoy those fun simple, family giggle moments!

One year ago...

I just rocked Ella to sleep...One year ago tonight we went to the hospital. How time goes so quick! Her eyes are as sweet and angelic as the moment we laid eyes on her, while sleeping, otherwise she is on the move! I have said it since the day Tess was born, it takes becoming a mother to understand the true meaning of a "Mother's Love", it is unexplainable, like nothing else and most of all a true blessing. Tomorrow, Ella will wake up a one year old and while she won't remember the day, her Daddy and I will! Tess is very excited for Ella's Birthday, she said to me today, "Ella is so adorable Mom!"...One once said it so well, This is the good stuff!

Photo Session????

I feel like most times I have great intentions....Like for example taking getting a Christmas card photo of the girls...easy, NO!...chaotic, cute, funny, and memorable...YES! One of the best parts was the fact that there 4 adults working on the task, we all ended up laughing hysterically! ....The following is why...

Sister,Sister! Tess encouraging Ella to stay focused?!?!?

Doing their own thing!

"Uh Mommy, why is this snowman staring at me," maybe props were a bad idea!

XOXOXOX!

"Cheese!"

We've had about enough...

One down, One to go!

Officially, DONE!

And, we did end up with a photo, It will be in the mail soon!

PRICELESS MOMENTS! We LOVE Our Girls!

"Tree"ditions....

Family traditions can span throughout the year, but it seems to me that the Holiday season is certainly a time to both enjoy and establish family traditions!

One family traditions from Kevin's side of the family that I have enjoyed since the first time I experienced it was the "Christmas tree cutting outing"! I find it to be "All-American" and while some years, quite cold, a simple joy of the holiday season.

Since I was nine month pregnant with Ella-Bear last year, we went the artificial tree route, and I missed the "real tree in the house"!...the smell, the natural look, oh! and the needles in your toes...all part of the experience!

This year....Out we went! Tess was quite excited going into the day...."When are we going to get there, where is it at, will there be animals at the tree farm?" We walked through the fields of trees, and looked, and looked, then actually settled for one of the pre-cut trees, but enjoyed the "experience" of it all!

One of the highlights was Tess getting a candy cane from the greeter, Santa Hat and all! She was enjoying it..."I will brush my teeth two times Mommy, because Dr. Yoder (our dentist) said to brush after candy....She listened! Look at that smile....

"Tree hunting made this little one tired!"

We brought the tree home, decorated and now we have the enjoyment of it...

Christmas Time is now officially here!

Harmonica....

Ella discovered the harmonica....

Ella decided what to do with the harmonica.....

Ella thought it was REALLY Funny what she could do....make her sister clap for her!

Then, The Girls called for Daddy to show him the trick!

Simple, Precious Moments!