December 2010

Phew! We survived yet another December! Sophie had her birthday as you all know, and we had planned for a birthday party for Sophie and Ella; however, it was canceled because everyone was sick. Ella had her birthday and chose to go to McDonald's (with the playground) for supper. It was that or Chuck E. Cheese, but she was adamant about McDonald's. We took Maddie to dinner with us, and they had so much fun! She had a really good birthday and is so proud to be 4 years old. Her latest "thing" is telling everyone how sweet they are. It's pretty cute to hear. "[Insert Name], you're so sweet." Whenever she tells me that, she usually comes up to me and puts her hands on my cheeks. What a sweetie!

Ella's 4th Birthday:
Birthday Doughnut from Daddy
I love her animated expressions!

Ella's Jewelry Box Cake
The candy on the cake didn't make it through the day. =)

Ella voluntarily washing dishes:

Ella had to wear her Rapunzel dress to preschool the day before her birthday.
The cupcake-cake for Sophie and Ella's party
Making cookies for Brock's class:

Christmas Cookies for Santa

Elfie's most memorable hiding places:

Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's
Grandma trying to put Sophie's shirt on:

Christmas Morning

Christmas with the Heusinkvelts

Grandkids

Great-Grandkids

Christmas with the Hillers

Indian Wrestling

Defeat

Defeat

Turns out that no one was able to beat Adam. We will try a re-match next year. =)

Shake Your Booty


Indian Wrestling
Defeat


3-Game Series


Ma and Pa


Swirly Girly

Elfie Loafie

One of Chad's friends at work told us about a little elf that comes and visits their house every year to keep watch on the children for Santa (Elf on the Shelf). The elf flies back to Santa each night and gives him a full report of what he saw during the day. When the elf returns by morning time, he always seems to find a different spot to observe the day. This year, one of Santa's elfs made it to our house. This kids named the elf Elfie Loafie, and it is neither male nor female (an argument that took place between Brock and Ella). So we made a happy little home for our androgynous elf. Elfie surprises us every morning with new and creative hiding spots. Silly, Elfie! =) I have been taking pictures of Elfie's adventures, and once Christmas has come and Elfie goes back to the North Pole for the year, I will post those pictures.

The night that Chad introduced the kids to Elfie, they were confused and terrified. We read the story to them that came with Elfie, and it explained to them who Elfie was and the rules that they had to follow. We set Elfie, who was still in the box, on top of our china hutch for the night. When Ella came downstairs in the morning, she shook in horror to find that Elfie got out of the box and was sitting beside it. She was so scared that as she was shaking, she was yelling for Daddy that she had found Elfie and he/she got out of the box.

The relationship between Elfie and the kids has gotten better. They are so excited to find him/her every morning. There have been times where even Sophie has found Elfie, and she gets just as excited.

Speaking of Sophie, she is now in her big-girl bed! Last night was her first night, and she didn't get out once. Her first nap today has gone really well, also. Such a good sleeper! Yay, Sophie. We also had her 2-year check-up and she was 95% for her height and 50% for her weight.

I have next week off of school, so I plan to stay as far away from the computer as possible. So if I don't post next week, I hope everyone has a safe holiday filled with laughter and love!