oh, christmas tree!

we took the girls to pick out and cut down our tree! i think this has definitely become one of our most loved family traditions and, of course, it gives danny a chance to flex his muscles :)



the scent plays a big factor :)

the chosen one!



because we got a smaller tree, it was a record cut time for danny :)

just in the nick of time!

if you've known danny and i for a while you know that layla didn't walk until almost 18 months (not for any medical reason - just lack of motivation), so it didn't completely throw me for a loop that norah still hasn't shown an interest in walking! what i've been more concerned about is that i knew at her 18 month check, in less than a month, our dr. would send her to PT if she wasn't taking some steps yet (i have learned that your child gets labeled "delayed" and has to be evaluated if they don't walk by 18 months) . . but never fear . . she seems to finally be trying to figure it out!!!!!!!!!!

thanksgiving weekend

so many blessings all around!

(some random pix around the house)
our little drummer girl!

cheeeese!

playing with daddy out to lunch!

cheers! drinking "wine" (sparkling grape juice) out of fancy glasses!


getting ready to go to dinner . . we had some friends from church kind enough to open up their home to us! it was definitely hard to think that just last year we were sorrounded by our entire families, so it really was a huge blessing to have these other families to celebrate with!


eating at the kids table :)

happy happy girl!


so sweet when they want to be :)

sick day

our snow days have now turned into sick days! ella has caught something and has staked her claim in my bed for the day - pj's and movies it is! sounds kind of nice to me :)

quotes heard round the house

ella: "im thirsty."

me: "why don't you drink some more OJ - it's got good vitamins in it to help your cold get better."

ella: (drinks the cup full pretty quick and then looks at me) "IT DIDN'T WORK!" and then she walked away.

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ella: "what's happened to my voice?" (she has a cold and has lost her voice)

me: "you have a cold ella and sometimes we lose our voices when we get sick."

ella: "will it be back?"

me: "yes, it will come back. you just need to rest and try not to talk."

ella: "i can't do that! can't you just give me some tylenol?" (such a woman!)

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i was in the kitchen, sneaking some candy (YES! i am that mom and i am totaly OK with it!) and then was drinking some bottled water. ella walks in and says this:

ella: "what were you eating mommy?"

me: "nothing" (taking another sip of water)

ella: "OK, may i have some of your water?"

me: "of course"

ella takes a sip of my water and then looks at me suspiciously and says:
"why do i smell chocolate on this bottle? can i smell your mouth?"

me: all i could do was laugh! she caught me!

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layla: (while at the lunch table) "i'd like to say something to God . . thank you God for my grapes. i really love grapes, God. God, could you please keep making me grapes, but God, please do not let me turn into a grape. Amen."

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walking in our winter wonderland!

http://www.king5.com/video/featured-videos/SkyKING-110029109.html - this was the scene from our news last night on our main interstate! danny left work at 6:15 and did not get home until 11 (we live only 15 miles away from downtown, so 5 hours is a bit much)! it was crazy out there . . i was very thankful when he finally walked through the door! we got about 2-3 inches (pretty good amount for seattle) but b/c it has stayed so freakin cold (highs are only in the 20's today and tomorrow) the snow/ice will probably stick around for a few days! luckily we didn't lose power like they were thinking and we're stocked in food and firewood so today danny got a snow day today and we enjoyed some family snow time!












in two weeks we are taking a trip into the mountains so danny bought some chains for our van this past weekend! just in time, i guess! we strapped them on today and took them for a test drive! now i'm excited go to to "christmas town" in the mountains :)

let is snow, let it snow, let it snow!

we woke up yesterday morning with a few flurries and it's steadily been getting stronger today, with the "possibility" of a "storm" tonight! i've learned you just never know with the weather in seattle! ella is by far the most excited! layla was pretty unsure of it all at first, but she seems to be getting used to it. norah wants to be able to get down and play in it w/the girls so badly but i won't let her unless she starts walking . . . i'm looking for incentive everywhere :)

going to church yesterday - trying to catch the flakes! (yes, we are in our holiday clothes . . we have so many and so little time to wear them!)








i'm not a very good "snow mom!" for the time it takes to get all that gear on, i really have to be in the mood :) b/c sure enough within 20 minutes they are back inside! but . . they seem to enjoy it! they played on the playground for a bit this afternoon.

my affair

Yes! i'm outing myself - i'm in love not just with one other man, but two!

Ben and Jerry!!! oh how i love thee!!!! i'd like to be able to say this will end after the baby has arrived, but i've been loving them too long to stop now :)
**stock tip: if you have any money put it in this company, i keep them afloat just with the sale of P'nut Butter Cup!