Time To Potty Train?

I think it is WAY past time don't you!

Another Christmas Come & Gone.

Here a just a few pics of our Christmas festivities. We had a relaxing day full of present opening at 3 different locations. We started the morning out at our house with opening presents from Santa. Ellie got her bike and Emma got her plasma car among other things that aren't quite as exciting like books. Then it was off to the great-grandparents house and finally the grandparents house where we stayed and enjoyed good food and playing with toys. Now we are looking forward to the New Year and all it has to bring.

Christmas Dresses

Just thought I would share a few pictures of Ellie and Emma in their Christmas dresses. Ellie kept calling her dress a wedding dress.

Preschool Christmas Party

Ellie's little preschool has a Christmas party every year complete with Santa bearing gifts for each child. They finish it off with plenty of pizza, pasta, salad and dessert. It really is a lot of fun for the children. I'm so grateful that she is able to attend this school. I can't wait for Emma to go next year. Here are a few pictures from the event.

Christmas Fun at the Park

Our city holds fun activities for the kids in our town for all the Holiday's. They really do a great job. Every year they hold a Christmas party for the kids at the park. They have pony rides, train rides, meet & greet with Santa, bounce houses, free hot dogs and crafts for the kids to make. It really is done nice and the best part is it's all FREE. The weather yesterday was perfect for it. First up was the pony rides.

Then it was off to the train ride which I didn't get pictures of. The girls were excited about seeing Santa. Mr. Grinch was on the stage so we took a photo with him as well.

Then (don't have a heart attack) I let the girls have a hot dog. You can tell they never eat them because they were eating them from the top part down. See pics below.

It was a great day and a beautiful day.

When We Get There We'll Say Yeah!!

We had our annual trip to William's, AZ to catch the Polar Express Train. This has been our 2nd year and we will be making it a tradition for sure. It is so much fun and a great way to start of the Holiday season. William's is such a cute little historic town close to the Grand Canyon. I want to move there, or at least have a house there where we could escape every once and a while. This is also where the Grand Canyon Railway is. They have daily trips you can take up to the Grand Canyon, which we want to try out in the summer. They have a cute little train depot and it was all decorated for Christmas. We got there early enough for a visit and picture with Santa and Mrs. Clause. The train left at 6:30 and made it's way up to the North Pole. Along the way they give you cookies and hot chocolate, tell the story of the Polar Express and we all sing Christmas songs. It was fun this year because 70 something people from our church came along too and we were all on the same train car. The train ride is about an hour and a half and Santa even comes on and gives all the kids a bell. We had a great time and look forward to next year.

Ellie's Preschool Birthday

They celebrate each child's birthday at preschool by letting the birthday girl or boy wear a gown and crown. I made cupcakes and brought them in for the children at the end of the day. Here are just a few pictures of the event.

Ellie's Day of Beauty

I took Ellie with me to get her hair done. This is only her 2nd haircut ever so it was very exciting for her. He first haircut was with daddy at the barber shop so this was a step up to come with me to the beauty salon. She did pretty good. She had some problem keeping her head still for the lady. What 3 year old can sit completely still anyway, right? She asked to get her hair shampooed because she had watched me get mine done first. Anyway, she looks much better and we won't have to fight those tangles anymore, YEAH!

A Shrek Of A Time

Ellie just loves spending time at grandma & grandpa's house. This past week she got to spend the night and grandma took her to see Shrek. Shrek was the first movie Ellie really got hooked on. One night when she was about 15 months old it just happened to be on T.V. She sat in front of the T.V. and watched it for a long time. She has been hooked ever since. So grandma took her to the 3D version. I am told she did pretty good. The glasses they make are really big for a child so that was her biggest obstacle. After the movie they went to McDonald's where they just happened to be serving their Happy Meals with Shrek toys, how perfect. The next morning she asked if they could go to "The Bear" for breakfast. It is a little dinner called the Black Bear that Ellie just loves. They decided they would take her down there where she had the pancakes for breakfast. We are so grateful for having grandma & grandpa near by. Ellie had a blast. It will be Emma's time soon, I'm not quite ready to let her go yet.

Ice Cream Truck

Who doesn't love ice cream and here in Arizona it is actually warm enough to enjoy it. The story starts with Ellie "taking money" from Grandpa's truck, with his permission of course, on Monday. It was her idea that she would spend the money on an ice cream when the ice cream truck came by. Well, Tuesday went by and Wednesday went by and no ice cream truck. I swear I hear that thing everyday and shutter because the girls always beg me for and ice cream but now that we actually want it to come, nothing. Thursday went by and Friday went by, still no ice cream truck and Ellie hasn't forgotten. Finally, yesterday I heard the music from that truck in the distance. I told Michael to get in his car and chase that thing down so that we can satisfy Ellie and we won't have to hear about it every waking hour of the day. He did and the truck came rolling by blaring it's song "When the Saints Come Marching In". I've never seen her so excited, not even when we drive up to Disneyland. They both decided on ice cream sandwiches and enjoyed every last bite. The joys of being a child.