Ella Lost Her First Tooth

There is something magical about the first lost tooth... especially when it happens at Christmas time! We had gone for a drive to look at Christmas lights after tithing settlement tonight when Ella's tooth came out in the car. I teared up because Dylan lost his first at school. I was so thrilled to be her for this moment. Silly, I know. Also, I can't believe how fast she is growing up and maturing. Seeing her with a missing tooth is more like a big girl now.

Never have I seen someone SOO excited to have a loose and now missing tooth. She came home, ran to the mirror and jumped up and down. She then ran to the trampoline and jumped up and shouted to all her friends "I lost a tooth!" I sure hope the Tooth Fairy lives up to her excitement!

Gingerbread Houses

Not a moment past Thanksgiving, my kids were begging us to start the Gingerbread House tradition. We went the very next day. Dylan picked a very sturdy one and it came together so nicely. Something went very wrong with the frosting on Ella's. No matter what we did to prop it up and hold it together, it just kept falling down. I decided we must turn it into a laughing matter. The highlight of this year's gingerbread houses was clearly when mom said "Let's just eat Ella's gingerbread house!" The kids yelled in enthusiasm and the eating began. It was a big hit. Usually, I make them wait till Jan. 1 to eat these houses or tear them down. They thought it was the coolest to eat now. Way to turn a disaster into a fun memory?

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was just what the doctor ordered this year: delicious, low stress, relaxing, not too many leftovers but just enough! Ahhhh! We got to go to my cousin Lisa's house, she just moved here from Las Vegas. And my mom, Ralph and sister Cari joined us. We all brought things and not one dish was bad. Lisa made the perfect rolls and punch. Eric smoked the perfect turkey and brisket. After all, what's a Texas Thanksgiving without brisket? My mom made yummy pies that Dylan couldn't keep his hands off. And of course my mom brought my favorite cranberry relish. I didn't share with anyone! Everything was delicious and I even caved and watched the Cowboys lose, boo hoo. I can't believe how Texan I'm becoming. (D.C. friends, come rescue me!) Lisa has the most adorable decor, here Ella models off in front of one of Lisa's Christmas quilts.

Zoo Field Trip

Had so much fun with Ella's Kindergarten class at the Dallas Zoo. They have amazing habitat exhibits that make the animals feel like they are in their natural environment.

Kindergarten Fairy Tale Ball

Ella got to dress up like a queen for her Kindergarten Fairy Tale Ball. The kids danced and sang and all the moms cried! Ella loved doing the trumpet part of a dance from Disney's newest princess movie, "Princess and the Frog."
Grandma and Aunt Cari got to join us in the audience!

Train Time With Grandma

Dylan has wanted to go on the "train in the sky" in Dallas for awhile. It's actually just the DART commuter train. So, grandma felt adventurous and took him on the DART. Could a boy look any happier? And grandma says he was glued to the windows the whole time! The best part to us was that when Eric got home, Dylan grabbed his arms and said "trains today!" He couldn't exactly spit it out, but he made sure dad listened to his exciting day. Dylan usually seems to dread telling us about his day, so we were so excited!

When a Dad Is the Chaperone...

When a mom goes on a field trip, nobody notices. She carries the bags, brings water bottles, takes pictures, wipes noses and opens every kid's lunch. No thank yous given, none expected. The kids barely notice she is there, except to ask her why she didn't remember to bring this or that. Not complaining, just reality.

When a dad, especially our Eric, goes on a field trip as a chaperone... All the teachers get Babe's chicken for lunch and all the kids get candy. The photos come out like this:

And the teachers all rave about what a hero he is! Thank-you notes come home in the backpacks about how wonderful and supportive he is. And they beg him to come back.

Hmmm, maybe I'm sending Eric on every field trip. He is always the hero of the event! (And truthfully I couldn't be more proud, he's the best dad ever!)

Happy Halloween 2010

We carved pumpkins and made caramel apples for Halloween morning today. So much fun. Ella made a cat (we think it's a mouse) and Dylan made a dog (howling wolf)! Ok, really, Eric did most of the work, but the ideas were theirs!
And my kids love their annual caramel apples from Nana every year. But, this year, I made them all on my own. It worked, the kids even enjoyed pulling all the wrappers off the caramels. I was shocked how helpful they were without eating any! See pictures of Dylan eating caramel apples every Halloween from diapers till now, still in underwear!
This year we had an adorable Mario....and a super cute leopard, a costume that has been worn from Aunt Patrice to Michael to now Ella! Good Halloween memories!

Pumpkin Patch

Nothing like a fall pumpkin patch - especially when grandma takes the kids there! FUN! Pony rides, slides, farm animals and awesome pumpkins to bring home!









Ella said the funniest thing at her sleepover with grandma: "There was a storm during the night as you know and it woke me up, but I couldn't tell that it woke the kids up. Next morning Ella asked me if I noticed the storm and she said "It chased away my dream."

Karly & James Tie the Knot!

We had such an amazing time at Karly and James' wedding. The theme was nautical and the wedding was the most relaxing one I've ever attended! Here's a few photos, but there are dozens more on Karly's blog! I guess after 7 weddings, Larry and Ann got it all working smoothly! This was the most adorable reception. I have so many pictures, I'll put in the gallery at the bottom!
Click on this icon to see more photos...

Kindergarten Quote & Poem

Ella's cute quote of the day: "Mom, I never really wanted to go to Kindergarten. I just want school at home." Me: "Well, that won't work!" Ella: "Sure it will, it's called home schooled." Um, I was thinking it's not what your mom is geared for, but didn't say that. I was shocked she knew about home schooling. I felt like she was in on a secret I had tried to keep from her. Then she said, "Mom, maybe I could just stay in your tummy." WHAT??? She's almost 6! Maybe I've protected her too much. Ah, well, we sure have been a fun team the last few years.

A friend sent me this, sweet words of emotion for sending my baby off:

I Trust You'll Treat Her Well

Author: Victor Buono

Dear World:
I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long.. and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sun when she runs.
I trust you'll treat her well.

She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning...and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine.
Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Goodbye" and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.

Now she'll learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of school-bells...and deadlines...and she'll learn to giggle...and gossip...and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy 'cross the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.

No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn and kiss lilac blooms in the morning dew. No, now she'll worry about those important things...like grades and which dress to wear and whose best friends is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes.

For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and mother and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers ...which is only right. But no longer will I be the smartest woman in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time...she'll learn what it means to be a member of the group...with all its privileges and its disadvantages too.

She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud...or kiss dogs...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or even watch ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer.
Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to becoming a woman.
So, world, I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.

I trust you'll treat her well.

Tear, tear!

First Day of Kindergarten, 3rd Grade

The kiddos are off and running to school today -- Ella in Kindergarten and Dylan in 3rd grade. After a long, hot August, I thought I'd be happy to see them go -- but instead I find myself staring at the clock and wishing they'd hurry home! I love my kiddos, love hearing them play at home and fight and sign and be here. I miss their sounds. But, I know they are both excited. Dylan kept saying how nervous he was this morning. But he had the biggest grin on his face. Ella was ready to go super early this morning. She was excited, but as she walked in the building she said "Mom, are you going to give me a hug and kiss? And come to lunch?" Well, of course I did all three! Ella got to put "jitter glitter" in her hair from her Kindergarten teacher. That was a big hit!