Christmas - part 3

On Christmas Eve day we headed to Grammy & Grandpa's to be with more family. The kids had a great time playing. Will has greatly improved at the Wii which makes that much more enjoyable. We all went to Christmas Eve services that night and they both did a really good job. On Christmas day, there was more playing, yummy food and gifts. The kids open gifts during the day - the grown ups at night. Once again, we were all spoiled.

Try to ignore the glare -- but this is the best I could get of the kids before church.

Will loves his big cousins!

Ready for presents!

Cinderella!

New sleeping bag

They both slept on the air mattress in their sleeping bags that night. Well, actually, Elle pushed Will off, so he slept on the floor in his sleeping bag. But, they both started on the air mattress!

Oh my

More fun with cousins

And we were lucky enough to get to see Ryan & Cooper for a little bit. The boys (all 4) working to put one of Will's new games together.

Eleanor's 2012 interview

This is the first year Ellie Kate has gotten to be interviewed. You can tell from some of the responses, but I'm not sure she totally got it. Oh well - it's a good start! I did the kids' interviews separately so she wasn't influenced by her brother's responses. Though, he was standing nearby as she answered and giggled at several of her answers. :)

Questions are below in black, her responses are in orange

Favorite color: purple (I don't really know how true this is -- she has never expressed this before)
Favorite TV show: Tinkerbell (Yes, Tink is a favorite in our house, but I really don't think there is such a TV show, at least not that we have watched.)
Favorite holiday: Easter (I did have to provide a list of holidays since I'm not quite sure she understands the concept just yet.)
Favorite food: fruit
Favorite vegetable: carrots
Favorite drink: juice
Favorite toy: a ball (simple tastes, I guess)
Favorite game: Snow White game (this is very accurate - it's actually a Cinderella matching game she got for Christmas - she loves it and we have all played it with her many, many times!)
Favorite book: Fancy Nancy
Favorite restaurant: McDonalds (honestly, I think anywhere with a play area would win her vote - the food is entirely irrelevant)
Favorite animal: Tigger and Pooh (Will and I both chuckled at this one)
Favorite movie: Tinkerbell
Favorite song: We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Favorite sport: soccer
If you could change your name, what would we call you instead of Ellie? Tinkerbell (this took lots of prompting. Her first response was Ellie Kate. For a girl who gets called lots of things - Elle, Ells, Ellie, Ellie Kate, Eleanor -- I imagine it is tough to come up with something new!)
Who is one of your good buddies? Emmitt
Where should we go for a vacation this year? To see the Jayhawks (I think we can make that happen!)
What would you like to be when you grow up? Emmitt. What do you think you'd like to do for your work when you're a grown up? Have a car.
Favorite thing about William: playing outside
Favorite thing about Daddy: going to see Jayhawks
Favorite thing about Mommy: going on my swingset
What are you excited for with the baby coming?: Baby in my belly (lifts her shirt to show) I redirected to ask what she's excited to do with or for her baby brother when he's not in Mommy's belly. I will carry him. (uh-oh...)

Will's 2012 interview

In what has become an annual tradition (see 2011 Interview), I've asked Will his annual interview questions. It's really funny to compare and see how much some things have stayed the same while others have definitely changed. This year, he really got into the interview (even added a question for me to ask him at the end) and then wanted to ask me questions in return and record my answers next to his.
His answers are below in blue. Questions and commentary are in black :)

Favorite color: green
Favorite TV show: Scooby Doo
Favorite holiday: Christmas
Favorite food: green apples! (very enthusiastically)
Favorite vegetable: Tomatoes! (again, very enthusiastically -- and warm, stewed tomatoes are really his preference)
Favorite drink: juice
Favorite toy: Race car Lightning McQueen (this is a Christmas gift that has gotten lots of use lately - a remote control car. Daddy & Will have a great time. Elle & Botchie are a little scared of it :) )
Favorite game: Hungry, Hungry Hippos
Favorite book: Magic Tree House
Favorite restaurant: Pizza West
Favorite animal: baboons
Favorite movie: Peter Pan
Favorite song: Hmm...this one's hard...I think Sanctuary
Favorite sport: football
If you could change your name, what would we call you instead of Will? Fudge (He has actually already requested this...several times. It is not related to the sweet treat as most have assumed. Instead, he loves the Judy Blume Fudge books and wants to be just like the Fudge character.)
Who is one of your good buddies? Cooper. And Zachary. (I changed this because I don't love the idea of "best friends" at this point - gets a little too exclusionary with only 10 kids at your school.)
Where should we go for a vacation this year? Pennsylvania. (J & I are not sure where this is coming from, but it's not the first time we've heard it. We think maybe it's because this is where Jack & Annie (Magic Tree House) are from.)
What would you like to be when you grow up? A football player. (When we've discussed this before, he says he would like to be a football player, and then when he is too old to play football he will be an author. And write a book called "All About Me" -- think autobiography. I told him I'd love to read it :) )
Favorite thing about Ellie Kate: she does silly things
Favorite thing about Daddy: snuggling with him
Favorite thing about Mommy: that you're going to have a baby and your soft suit. (The soft suit is an on-going discussion. He's referring to the oh-so-attractive velour sweatsuits I've sported on weekends lately. For a pregnant girl, they're the best. Will loves cuddling with me while in them because the velour is so soft.)
What are you most excited for with the baby coming: to give him my toy. (We went out this weekend to pick up some baby essentials and W&E each got to choose something new to give their baby brother.)
Mom, aren't you going to ask me my favorite team?
Sure, Will - what is your favorite team? Texas Tech Red Raiders (said with a smirky little grin) He likes them because he thinks they are like pirates. And, I think sometimes he just likes to be contrarian!

Christmas - Part 2

Santa came to our house a day early since we would be at Grammy & Grandpa's the morning of the 25th. Will had asked for chapter books and a football helmet. Ellie Kate asked for books. They were both thrilled with all the goodies. Ellie's first reaction as she walked down the stairs: "Awww, Baby's stocking..." We have a stocking for the baby, but Santa didn't fill it, so it was still hanging. Apparently, Elle felt bad for her baby brother. So sweet.

Waiting at the top of the stairs in eager anticipation

Hooray! Tic-Tacs!

Who knew new socks could be so exciting?!

Ready to play!

Loving Fancy Nancy

After the kids explored what Santa brought them, they opened gifts from us.

"oh, so cute!!"

Tinkerbell flying

"I like that picture, Mom. It makes me look strong."

Of course, she had to try on her new clothes, too.

Does he look tough or what?

Christmas - part 1

As usual, our Christmas consisted of many fun, family activities. I was thinking about how great the kids did this year on our way home. This was definitely the most fun and least stressful they've been. They loved every moment - mostly playing with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. They had good manners and didn't throw any major fits. They were purely joyful with each new event, gift, and place we visited. I'm sure next year will be a different story with a 10-month-old in the mix, but it is great to know we eventually get to this stage.

Our first Christmas adventure was at my sister's house where we celebrated O family Christmas. The older cousins are so great with the little ones, and the little ones just adore them! The adults enjoyed nice time together too :)

The boys

Waiting patiently to open presents

Oooh la la!

Doesn't she look so fancy?!

Andy & Will both got new light sabres

Will and GoGo

Fancy Aunt Sarah

Dad and the girls. We cracked up at this picture with Kit's camera in it!

Love Aunt Casie!

One happy girl

Ellie's Grandpa made her a window seat and delivered it this weekend. As the pictures demonstrate - she loves it! Grandma & Great-Grandma made the cushion. Eventually we'll have bookcases on either side. What a blessing to have such talented family!

Looking at the moon

Grandma also brought Ellie Kate her very own Christmas tree. Will has one for his room and when it came out this year, there was a bit of jealousy. So, of course, EK gets her own tree :) Isn't it cute?

Naturally, Will decided his tree also needed a star on top. So, we made one out of construction paper.

At last, I think everyone is happy. 'Tis the season!

Merry Christmas to me!

1. I passed my 3-hour glucose test - hooray! Bring on the Christmas cookies :)
2. New dishwasher -- the old one was in really bad shape - so excited to have this!

3. New minivan! Vehicles aren't a big status thing for me, so I'm fine with driving a minivan. The conveniences are phenomenal - makes getting the kids in and out infinitely easier and for that, I am so grateful!

Funny to think how much life has changed that these are such exciting things for me right now. But, it's where I'm at in life and I'm so happy to be here.