Tis the Season!

I am uploading pictures as we speak...we had a wonderful Thanksgiving with both families! As soon as I put Ella Kate down for the night on Thanksgiving...Michael had the tree up. We left it undecorated to figure out how Ella Kate would react to it and she was frightened...very scared of the tree. Michael worked Black Friday on side jobs and I decorated the whole house and waited on him to get home before we decorated the tree. The following picture is of her clinging to Dad after seeing the tree that these crazy people put up in her house.

She has learned that there are lots of crazy people who put trees up in their houses for Christmas. I guess it is a rather odd concept if your new at this...

Ella Kate warmed up to the tree Friday and hasn't really bothered it much. We only broke one ornament which was yesterday and it wasn't even on the tree. I am attempting to do as many Christmasy things with her as possible. Last Friday after taco night we drove around Arlington and looked at Christmas lights. Saturday I packed her and the wagon up and headed to the Christmas parade. We have been watching old Christmas movies and she jumps up and down at them. We also watched the Polar Express in pieces and she loved it as well. Sunday, while Michael was cleaning the garage, we made Christmas cookies. The following three pictures are Ella Kate enjoying the Christmas Parade....the horses were her favorite! They had jingle bells on the hooves.



I am not sure if I have mentioned this before or not, but Michael and I have been attending Hope Pres on Saturday nights and we love it. Ella Kate didn't like being dropped off at the nursery but has warmed up quite a bit. She still cries when we leave her, and as soon as she gets in the room she starts playing. We like to sneak up on her when we pick her up and see what she was doing. Last week she had a tambourine in her hand and was laughing. So good for her! I am considering joining the church...I think it is a better fit for our family and I think Ella Kate would have a ball growing up in that church.

Anyways...I have most of our Christmas stuff finished...all I lack is wrapping presents. I can't keep any of them under the tree because I would have to re-wrap everything. Now I am concentrating on a certain almost 2 year olds birthday...trying to get it organized and figured out. I also have a lot of craft projects to make for her party. I will be doing those in the weeks to come. We are also having a New Years Eve party with our friends that night and then EK's birthday brunch on New Years Eve as well. Ooof it sure makes things interesting having her birthday in all this!! But I know we will have a blast!