What a Difference....

...Someone with talent makes! Check out a few of the beautiful photos a friend took this past weekend. And we got our Christmas card picture! You'll be seeing that one soon enough :)

I just love these of Ellie...

Haul out the holly, put up the tree before my spirit falls again!

Various thoughts from my scattered brain this morning:

• The Christmas tree didn't look nearly this big in the lot yesterday. It may take all week to decorate it.
• I'm so glad Mia wants to help decorate the tree this year! This is what I live for! So what if she put 12 ornaments on the same branch :) I love it!
• If this tree survives Ellie the crazy, climbing, constantly moving baby, it will be a Christmas miracle.
• Christmas cards are serious business these days.
• I wish I had cleaned my house before I brought all the Christmas stuff in.

Hope you are enjoying this fun, festive, BUSY time of year! I plan to relax and just stare at my tree for a while tonight :) Hope you do the same!

 Santa Baby

 Our first fire

 She looks so grown up in this coat

Taking a break from decorating

November Wrap-up!

Back from Oak Ridge! Had a great visit with everyone! Got to stop in Lynchburg for a quick visit, had a blast watching cousins play, ate fabulous food and enjoyed each other's company.

Up next, Ellie's first Xmas :)

 Fun times at the Children's Museum! Mia got a kick out of the puppet show.

 Beautiful Norah and Handsome Gabe loved their Ellie time :)

PJs!

Mia wearing my boots before a bday party.

Requisite cute Ellie photo:)

I'm thankful for...

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, a list of what I am most thankful for today:

• Weekend mornings, thoughtful husbands, quiet beds and sleeping in!
• Strong immunity systems. We've been exposed to about a billion people with the stomach bug over the past few weeks and so far we are still all healthy! Fingers and toes crossed!!!
• Neighborhood potlucks. I sometimes feel like I'm living in another era, and like we are all part of a Norman Rockwell painting. I am so grateful that I know everyone on my street and we all look out for each other.
• Coffee
• A woman I met yesterday who gave me the idea to take Mia to a local volunteer spot, where we can sort food and I can introduce her to the concept of helping others who are less fortunate.

Without getting too deep, I am constantly thankful for family and friends, health and home. There have been a few setbacks over the year, but I am hopeful for continued blessings with all of these things.

Wishing you and your families a very happy and content Thanksgiving!

Que Pasa?

I can't seem to get a good picture to save my life lately. I am definitely taking a photography class soon about how to take better pictures of your kids. Seriously, I've been trying for days to get a cute one of the girls together with absolutely no luck. Ellie is the worst. She lunges for the camera, my hair, Mia's hair--you name it--and will not be still for a second. I need some tips.

In other news, Ellie will play the "How big is Ellie?" game, which is so extremely adorable I can barely stand it. Mia's teacher told us that she is doing great in school, and that she seems to have matured when it comes to sharing with her friends :)

We will be driving to Tennessee for Turkey Day! It has been years since we've been there and we are really looking forward to it! Also looking forward to the beautiful scenery, but not necessarily the drive itself. Wish us luck keeping 2 active girls entertained!

 Ok, this is a cute one. She looks so pleased with herself after figuring out the sippy cup.

 At least my trees cooperate for pictures.

 I tried forever to get a picture of her smiling in this position. I have a similar picture of Mia at this age in that cute Spanish sweater and I wanted one of Ellie for comparison. This was as close as I got.

 "Soooooo Big!"

This is what I was dealing with today.

This was a project Mia did at school that I thought was so funny. Almost all of these answers are news to me! I know she loves pasta, but other than that, I think she just completely made this up! We don't own "The Princess and the Pea" and her favorite color changes constantly, but I have yet to hear her say black. She makes me laugh :)

My beautiful dancing queen (princess)

This was fun. That old song "Everybody Dance Now" by C&C Music Factory came on the radio, and Mia decided to put on her princess outfit and dance in the kitchen. I may have danced a little bit too :)

Peek-a-boo!

She woke up happy from this nap, and ready to play :)

Happy Halloween!

Loads of Halloween pictures for your enjoyment! Mia really got into trick-or-treating this year.  Ellie was beautiful as a teddy bear and a Flamenco dancer :)  Sean and I have ridiculous amounts of candy to eat now!