Bowling

Emma won a free bowling pass for her Reflections Contest entry, which is fantastic. (When we get it back, I will post it.) So, we decided to take the fam bowling and we had a great time.

keeping score... something we are so good at in our house:)

Miss Nutball.

A Fancy Nancy Party

We have been enjoying the Fancy Nancy books this year, and Emma is learning French (Fancy Nany's favorite "fancy" language), so we decided to throw a fancy party for Emma's 7th birthday!

The girls came dressed up and they were super fancy!

Harper Collins has all sorts of printables to make a perfect Fancy Nancy party, which is so convenient for us and smart of them! We used these nametags, plus a "Fancy Lesson" sheet.

We did lots of "fancy" things, like monogramming the pages of our notebooks....

and making sparkly "plume" pens....

and making fancy felt purses...

and making fancy chairs...

and taking a "fancy" lesson. We learned to spray perfume on handkerchiefs, and use French words, and eat parfaits, and paint our fingernails.

Emma was Miss Fancy herself.

We had a fancy tea party and everyone drank with their pinkies up. And Emma got fancy candles to blow out... not so fancily.

Happy birthday Miss Emma! You are such a sparkly, energetic, kind, and darling girl. We love you.

Madeline's Birthday Party

Madeline requested yet another mermaid party, so I turned it into an ocean party and we made jellyfish out of blue paper plates, streamers, ric rac, and googlie eyes. I thought they turned out really cute!

We played pin the flower on Ariel and she got covered!

Then, we had a little tea party lunch for Madeline's pre school friends.

Bad Timing

As this cover story was obviously already set to print, I bet there were some choice words in the White House this week. We had to chuckle (for the first time since hearing about yet another public figure to let us down) when it arrived in our mailbox.

Look Who Turned 4!

Miss Madeline is now 4 years old, much to her pure joy and my dismay. The things we love about this 4 year old include the following:

* The way she loves to snuggle.
* Her kisses. We have nicknamed her "sugar lips" since she gives the best kisses in the world.
* She plays the piano constantly. Especially if anyone is having a conversation that doesn't involve her.
* How she still calls me "mama."
* Madeline loves everything small. "It's just my size!" she says.
* She is very particular about her wardrobe. Right now, she is displaying lots of dresses and skirts with tights; headbands and flowers (or both!); sparkly shoes; pink and purple; and occasionally mom's lip gloss.
* She loves her hair in braids because she gets princess hair (curly hair) the next day.
* Her favorite response when asked to do something is "sure!" and pronounces it like "shore!"
* She is still obsessed with Ariel (going on year 2...)
* She always has a plumbers crack. We think her bum crack is actually higher than most, because it just sticks out of her pants. It's hilarious. And the cutest little plumbers crack I've ever seen.
* She is very sensitive to heat- likes the bath water just barely warm, and won't even try a bite of something if it is remotely warm.
* Her hair grows straight forward in front, and her little whispy hairs are always in her face because of it.
* Her "bunny teeth."
* How she says, "I know something." And then proceeds to tell you her current bit of wisdom.
* She loves to have her hair blow-dried and her fingernails painted.
* She loves babies and baby dolls but is totally freaked out to be a mom. When we talk about it, she gets upset and says she wants to live with me forever. She doesn't want a baby in her tummy- she says she is scared of it. (Yeah, Madeline. You're totally onto something.)
* Her favorite color is purple.
* Her favorite thing to do is color with her sister Emma.
* Her favorite food is "sugar pancakes" (crepes).
* She still sucks her first finger when she sleeps and loves her "blankie."
* She is starting to assert herself, which is a mild relief that usually makes me giggle. (She has been so easy, I was starting to think there was something wrong with her.)

We are so happy to have you in our life, Madeline. You are an absolute JOY.

A Happy Thanksgiving

We had a lovely Thanksgiving here in our home. We were happy to have my dad and Eric and Jessica and their sweet children join us for a fantastic meal.

Delicious, fattening, mashed (with butter and whipped cream) sweet potatoes with pecan and brown sugar topping.

Placecards thanks to Martha.

Shan

The children made some turkeys with thankful feathers for the kids' table decoration. Here are their thankfuls: Madeline- brother, sister, friends, toys, mom, dad, and country (meaning USA- not the music!). Emma- food, family, God, house, mom and dad, world, body, friends; and Ryan- parents, Star Wars, God, friends, games, food, Jesus, Earth. I think they pretty much get what life is all about:)

You slave for 6 hours to bring the meal to fruition, and all they want are the rolls.

Ryan

Madeline

My dad

Eric and sweet Preston

The only picture I got of Jessica was just as she was leaving because we were working in the kitchen the whole time!

Precious baby Dylan. 8 lbs. and counting!

My thankful list is way too long to narrate. But the main thing I'm thankful for this year are the relationships I have with loved ones and friends. Afterall, what is life without people to share it with? I am learning that it is much more important to be loving than it is to be right.

The Muppet Show

October was filled with parties, and my kids pretty much wore a different costume to each thing, since, let's face it- Halloween is just like any day around here since they absolutely LOVE to dress up. I'm serious, I don't know what they would do without our costume bin.

Pre-Halloween necklaces that my mom sent for a little craft.

Halloween Day 1- Preschool party for Madeline. She was so excited about this costume that she had it all set out on the floor the night before. Including the red and white checked ribbons for her hair. When we walked into preschool, my friend, Angela, said "Madeline you look so pretty! You are Dorothy! And where is she from?" (Expecting her to say Wizard of Oz) So Madeline, puts her hands out like she's going to do a curtsy and says, "Kansas." Hahahahahahaha. I about died laughing. I have NO idea how she knows that. Kids are hilarious.

This is Day 2- Elementary school parades and parties. When the really cool thing about having a Darth Vader costume is your mask and your light saber, it's a bummer when the school says not to wear masks or weapons. Poor Ryan was a little deflated, but he complied.

On Day 2, Madeline decided to be a fairy girl since Emma was Madame Butterfly and she wanted a face painted like Emma's.

And finally, Day 3 which was really Halloween. Madeline finally donned the beloved chicken costume, made lovingly from two plastic gloves, three feather boas, and a pilot's cap. This is perhaps the cutest thing I have seen. Ever.

Our pumpkin carving this year had to include BYU and Emma came up with this bright idea.

The Muppet Family. Emma and Ryan think the two old guys on the Muppet Show are hilarious, so they inspired all of us to join in on the fun. Miss Piggy is one of the most fun costumes I have ever put together. Who doesn't want to spend the evening in red velvet and white gloves with pearls and feathers and fake eye lashes? I could have lived without the suffocating pig nose, but still, it was pretty darn hilarious. And Kermit liked it, so that's all that matters. (Madeline isn't quite the floppy chicken, but at least she's the chicken. Somehow, I just didn't think Gonzo would have been as cute.)

Emma couldn't keep her hands off of Madeline- she thought she was so adorable.

We had a Halloween party and were so happy to have so much family around to invite!

Apparently, the toddlers all got the chicken memo. Eli, Maddie, and Liam (Cadie's son).

I was trying to come up with a nutritious addition to the festive spread when I saw this cute idea- apple wedges with toasted slivered almonds.

Bronson, Tana, and Cadie (Shan's cousins)

Jade and David totally cracked me up.

Skeleton bone breadsticks (but everyone thought they were dog bones...hmph.)

Donut maker extraordinaire (mom!) and Miss bumblebee Jade. Can you believe how cute that beehive is?

This was so great too- Eric and Jessica decided to be the Publisher's Clearing House people- balloons and a giant check too. So creative!