Christmas Note

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To be read to my dear 5-year-old on Christmas morning before she runs in to the living room in utter excitement and is overcome by shiny plastic things, dolls and other fun packages...

Dear Ellie,

         Daddy and I are so excited that is it finally Christmas day! Mostly because we are very excited to see you open presents and play with lots of new toys. But, do you know why Daddy and I give you gifts on Christmas? It’s because we love you to the moon and back. We love you all the way to heaven and even past heaven. We love you more than all the candy canes in the whole world!! Ellie we are so proud of you. You are a girl who knows how to make other people feel happy and loved. You are a good friend at school. You are patient and kind to other kids. We love how kind you are. Ellie you are such a great big sister to Colin. You know how to be patient when he is being cranky or when he doesn’t understand about sharing. You take good care of him, especially at places like the gym. We are so proud of what an amazing big sister you are to Colin. Daddy and I have loved watching you grow this past year. We love your imagination and your creativity. We love how much you like school. You are a smart girl who practices her letters, listens to her teachers and tries over and over when something is hard to do. Christmas is a time for Daddy and I to celebrate how much we love our family, and one way to celebrate is to give each other fun gifts. For each gift you receive try to remember that the real gift is how much we love you.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Trump Lake

These pictures are from our trip up to our best friend's cottage in the North woods of Wisconsin. I'm pretty sure we all shed a tear when it was time to go.

Are they crazy cute or what?! Generally, they get along fabulously (Colin- 18 mo, Tess-2 yrs, Ellie-4 years and AJ-5 yrs).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two of the most beautiful people I know!

This is all Colin wanted to do the whole weekend.

And there were sounds to go with those cute captain faces!

It's official: my daughter has been on an ATV and I have not.

AJ is kind of like a superhero to Colin. So any chance to be with AJ is heavenly for Colin.

We all felt this way by the end of the days, but Tess is the only one who could look this sweet passed out on the couch.

Our Summer in Green Bay, Part 1

A month ago I decided to bring the kids up to Green Bay for a few days while the workers cut a few small holes in the walls to investigate where our water damage was coming from. After the first day of work Brian texted me: "Whatever you do, do not come home." And we've pretty much been in Green Bay, staying at my parent's house, ever since (Brian comes up on the weekends to be with us). For the first two weeks I was feeling really nervous about the kids adjusting to "living" in a different place with a different daily rhythm. Sometime in the last two weeks I've changed my worry to wondering how they will adjust when we bring them back home and away from Grammy and Papa. It's not going to be pretty. Ellie is particularly elated to be "living" with Grammy and Papa. For the past year or so Ellie has been campaigning for us to move "up north" so this is pretty much just an answer to those prayers for her:

Helping Gram and Papa make their grass garden, which btw has turned out really cool! Family--more pics to come.

This was really, really funny. My Dad had his head like that for a second and Ellie said, "Papa, there is a thinker guy who looks like that!" And then she did it too! Sometimes her knowledge/memory blows us away!

TONS of outside time.

Lots of ice cold sprinkler time. Brave Daddy.

Her BFF, AJ. We have been able to play with AJ almost every other day! I love how she is snuggled onto his shoulder. They held hands while walking to the park the other day too. Can we freeze time, I don't want them to out grow this affectionate stage!

Colin has also become very at home in Green Bay. Generally speaking, he has slept better up here than he ever has at home. I think it's a mixture of so much outside time and so much overall happiness:

I love this picture. Check out the leg/feet/hand placement! So sweet.

Colin is really in love with Daddy. He gets so excited to be with him on the weekends. They are definitely buddies!

If it were up to Colin, he would do EVERYTHING his big sister does. EVERYTHING.

Colin, who I can't get to eat one single green item off his high chair tray, will sit with Papa and eat as many peas as Papa will shovel in! Papa started making bigger bowls of peas.

First Popsicle. Since this picture he has had about 5 more!

I know I'm biased... but isn't he darling?

I love when they are damp and full of sunscreen. Colin is edible.

We've had some "normal" family time too. For the most part, staying in Green Bay has been like taking a long summer vacation. Thank goodness my parents are so generous and accommodating. They would do anything for a little extra time with her grandkids. Not sure how I'm going to get my school work done, not sure where we'll be living when September comes around but for now, we are all enjoying the ride!

Umm, I think Colin is winning.

Still need distractions during laundry folding.

Ellie is learning the rules of good suburban family life: waiting to eat until everyone has sat down and we've prayed together, then having to wait more until everyone is finished (ok, or at least most of us are mostly finished). 

Just a few fun ones...

 Could she be any cuter? My sweet rockstar.

 Sometimes I think Colin just wants to take a bath so that he can wear this towel around afterward. Personally, not that I am biased, I think he is a pretty smart 15-month-old, understanding that he is sort of "dressing up" in a monster outfit.

 Best pic of the two of them together that I've captured in a while. I love it!

 We made really yummy rainbow cupcakes on St. Paddy's Day.

 Colin sees an object and thinks only one thing, 'How can I get up/in/on top of there?'

 "Hi Mommy!"

This is Ellie's BFF from school. Her name is Noa and she is adorable and sweet and kind... also she holds her own with my wonderful but sometimes bossy daughter. 

January in Green Bay

Winter in Green Bay means...

Snuggling with friends,

Cheering for your favorite team,

Getting cute with Daddy,

Giving your cousin a hand,

Pausing for the paparazzi,

Hoping for the best,

Taking on the world! Or at least the lane.

And looking on patiently, hoping dinner is coming soon.