So Much Snow!

Hey everybody, Ellen here!

While we were in Alexandria for Christmas we had to get out of the house and play in the snow.  I haven't had a lot of chances to play in the snow, but it sure was fun!

Grandma Carolyn and Papa Tim have a swing set by their house that I really like to play on in the summer.  Turns out, it is pretty great in the winter too!

The slide was pretty fun, but the swing will always be my favorite.

The only problem, with all of my snow gear on it is really hard to get out!  Which just meant that I got to swing even longer.

After playing outside, Grandma Carolyn and Daddy took Linden skiing...

So Mama and I decided to do some shopping.  By the time we got to Target I was so tired that I fell asleep on the walk into the store!  I also stayed asleep when Mama put me in the cart so she decided that nap time would be at Target, how great is that?!?

Mama and I had a great time and found lots of fun things to do,
Have a great day!
Ellen

Sibley Park

Hey Everybody!  Ellen Here!

We have an awesome family tradition of going to see the Sibley Park light show each year, and this year did NOT disappoint!!

The weather was fantastic so we got to spend a lot of time walking around and seeing all of the lights.

There are lights in the trees, and all over the place, there are even lights that look like all of our favorite characters!

The best part, we got to sit on Santa's Lap!  Well, Sissy did...I just waved from the other side of the room.  Sissy told him what I wanted for Christmas so that was good enough.

I think my favorite part was the horse ride around the park.  The horses were so big and beautiful!

Sissy really liked the horse ride too.

In the very middle of the park is a giant tree made out of lights, it is just amazing!!  Mama makes sure we get a picture in front of it each year.

I really love getting to have all this fun together!  I can't wait for more Christmas fun!
Ellen

Sister Love

Hey Everybody!  Ellen Here!!

Have I ever told you about the greatest person in my life, besides Mama of course...?  It's my best sister Linden!!

We may not always get along, but she sure has taught me some pretty great things, and we have gone on some pretty great adventure!!!  

Sissy has been with me through everything.  She made sure to take great care of me and taught me to sit nicely at the big girl table!  She even taught me how to use a fork.

We love sitting together and eating popcorn while we watch movies.  Mama says I am not quite old enough for popcorn, so I get crackers, but it is still great.

This is an old picture, but sissy loves reading me stories.  She has some pretty great books, every time she reads it the words are different!!

We even have matching sister jammies!  Mama says we aren't going to want to dress the same forever, I don't know if that is true...

Having a sister is pretty amazing!!
Ellen

SNOW!!!

Hey Everybody! Ellen Here!!

Guess what?!?  It snowed!!!!!  Even though it is cold, I LOVE the snow!  It was such a great day that Mama said we just had to get outside.  

Getting ready to go outside takes a LONG time!  I really like wearing my hat, but mittens are kind of a pain in the butt.  Mama told me that we would be able to go outside faster if I stopped taking my mittens off, but they just REALLY bug me!

Once we got outside the first thing Linden taught me how to do was make a snow angel!

And then of course we made a snowman, isn't he cute!?!

It wasn't all fun and games, Daddy was shoveling the driveway so I had to go over and check it out.  Daddy found two little shovels so Linden and I got to help!

I thought it was great, Mama didn't seem so impressed.  Once we got inside we got cookies and hot chocolate, that made playing in the snow even better!

Hope you had a great night!
Ellen

Christmas: Oh Christmas Tree

Today, we had a blast, we got to put up our Christmas trees!!!

Ellen was pretty little last year so she didn't know what to do, but she caught on quick.

She did a great job spreading the ornaments out all over the bottom of the tree.

I was in charge of the middle part, because I am older, of course.  Daddy also let me put the star on top!

 Of course, one tree wouldn't be enough, we have to have two!!

Our tree upstairs is HUGE so it took a lot of time to decorate, but at the end all of the girls got to climb the ladder and put the angel up on top!

Isn't it beautiful!?!

After we got done decorating we decided to wrap some presents.  I told Mama she couldn't take a picture because we didn't want to ruin the surprise.  Ellen wasn't being very helpful so Mama gave her a different job...

Ellen LOVED getting to color this wrapping paper, she LOVES to color!!  I can't wait to wrap something with this!

Have a great day!
Linden

Christmas: Santaland

The official start to Christmas is here!!  We got to go see Santa this weekend!!  

I love seeing Santa, I couldn't wait to tell him all of the things that I want him to bring me...But, Ellen wasn't so sure.  She was pretty nervous, but I think she did a great job.

She did really like going through Santaland.  I still haven't figured out how they get the elves and all of Santa's workshop down to Minnesota, but I LOVE that I get to see them learning, playing and making all of the toys.  Ellen really liked seeing the animals.

Even though I told Santa what I wanted for Christmas we still write a letter to him at the end in case he forgets, he does have a lot of kids to remember.  Ellen asked for a baby doll, colors and legos.

I decided that I should only ask for a few things so that Santa's sleigh doesn't get too full for the reindeer to pull.  I asked for a mermaid barbie, and a new doll.

I think the neatest part is that they have a mailbox that goes straight to the North Pole!  I also think it is great that Macy's donates a dollar to the Make a Wish foundation.

After we were done we went into the store and found out they have a build-a-bear workshop!  I didn't even have to ask, Mama let me make one.  I picked out a rainbow be

There was a really nice girl named Crystal who was helping me.  She helped me fill my bear full of fluff, she had me and Mama put a special heart with a wish inside, and then she sewed her up!

Mama even let me pick out a special outfit for my bear and get a fun carrying backpack for her.

I named her Elly and I sure do love her!

I can't wait for the snow to fall and for Christmas to come!

Happy Holidays,
Linden

Buckle Buckle 2.0

Hey Everybody!  Ellen Here!!

I wanted to tell you about this great new blankie that I found...I'll give you a hint...It was made by my mama, it has all my favorite colors, and it is COVERED in Buckles!!!! You have seen it before...

It's my buckle blankie! It is really a ton of fun, and it is super neat that when Linden was my age she loved it so much too!  

I could play with this thing day and night, in between coloring, of course.  it really is pretty special.

Have a good night!
Ellen

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everybody!  Ellen Here!

Linden told me that Halloween is a pretty great holiday, but it was even better than I expected!  Normally Sissy is at school during the day, but they had the day off so she got to come to daycare with me!

When we got to Gretchen's house it was all setup for a party.  

Gretchen put together a ton of fun games.  We got to drop clothes pins into a jar of corn...

Linden got to stand on the chair, not sure why Gretchen didn't let me...

We got to toss rings around the pumpkins...

And play Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin!  Pumpkin is my new favorite word.

The big kids got to decorate pumpkins.  It looked like a lot of fun, but I got to play with a bin of corn which was SO much better!

Gretchen even let Linden carve a pumpkin!!

After she got all of the seeds scooped out she got to do some painting.

Mama made us a special snack to bring to daycare to share with our friends.  Grandma Nancy made Mama and Auntie Heidi a spider cake every year when they were little girls, so now she has started making them for us!  Only, Linden didn't want a spider cake again, so Mama made a witch instead.

Linden and I dressed up as butterflies this year.  I really liked Linden's pretty wings, but my costume was REALLY cozy!

Because Halloween was on a Saturday this year we got to decorate our pumpkins that morning.  Daddy helped me turn mine into a beautiful princess.

Mama helped Linden carve a spooky kitty cat...

And Mama made a butterfly family pumpkin.

We got a TON of candy, and lots of special treats from our neighbors.  Mama stayed back to hand out candy while Daddy walked around with Linden and me.  Mama said we had over 125 trick-or-treaters in less than an hour!

Now it is time to get ready for Thanksgiving!  Happy Fall!
Ellen