5 on ... well, let's just say I am a little behind.

Or a lot behind considering the last "5 on Friday" was before Thanksgiving.    I guess it looks like I have some catching up to do.  So here it goes:

1. We battled Hand, Foot and Mouth with Neve prior to Thanksgiving.   It was not fun and it forced us to cancel our "Thanksmas" with friends.   But, Neve's attitude was amazing and there will be plenty of other get-togethers to be had.

2. The illness did not stop us from being able to take our family trip up to Minnesota (although it was undecided until the morning of!) the week of Thanksgiving.   We drove up during nap-time and hit the Rainforest Cafe at the Mall of America for dinner.  Neve was not a fan of the thunderstorms, but Ellie thought it was pretty neat.  Afterwards we went to the Disney Store and the girls got to pick out a toy (and we may have picked up a couple for Grandpa to give the girls for Christmas as well--- love the Toy Story toys they had there!).   Then it was time for Neve to go to bed and Ellie to go swimming.  The one downfall of the trip--- Neve STRONGLY DISLIKES (because we don't say hate in our house) her pack-n-play.   For the first time EVER, we ended up with a child sleeping in bed with us.   The next morning the girls and I went back to the mall, while Nick went mountain biking (win-win for both of us!).   I picked up some Christmas presents, and the girls and I went to the American Girl restaurant for lunch.  Our lunch adventure was amazing, I highly recommend for parents of young girls that love dolls!  The girls each brought their Bitty Baby and the babies got to each lunch with us (complete with little highchairs for the dolls).   Both girls loved it, as did I.  We will be doing that again! Then we took the shuttle back to the hotel (shopping bags, kids, stroller and diaper bag in tow) and the girls went down for a nap.   By the time they woke up Nick was back from his bike ride and we were ready to head back to the mall for dinner.   Ellie informed her Daddy that we needed to go back to the American Girl store because she "needed a few more things for her baby."  Super cute, even if Nick thinks I set her up to say it (which I did not!).  We grabbed dinner at Crave (awesome food) and made a trip back to the American Girl store.   The minute Neve saw the store she had to be out of the stroller-- she loved playing with the dolls and all of their toys.   Then it was back to the hotel so Neve could go to sleep and Ellie could once again go swimming.   The next morning we hit up a favorite breakfast place of mine from when I was younger, The Original Pancake House.   We had a great time and it was fun to take a trip with just the 4 of us.  I do hope Neve sleeps a little better on the next trip though.

3. We celebrated Thanksgiving at my parent's house in Ames.   I think there were 34 people total in attendance, Neve being the youngest.  Neve skipped a nap, so we ended up leaving a little early with a 'not-so-happy' 1-year old.

4. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nick's mom and her husband joined us for our annual kumla dinner.   We had lots of leftovers and were very full afterwards.

5. Last weekend we celebrated Christmas with my Dad's side of the family.  It was fun to see cousins that I haven't seen in years, meet new little ones (this was the first time they had met Neve), and talk to those with additions joining the family in the near future (weddings and babies!).  If I am counting/remember correctly, there were 11 kids ages 5 and under.   Ellie had a good dose of 'boy', as there were only three little girls in attendance, Neve and her being two of them.  Given the seven girls on my side of the family, this is very rare.

6. Our tree is up and gifts are pretty much purchased.  I think we have one more to pick out and a couple left to wrap.  I love not having to shop (aka deal with crowds) during the Thanksgiving-Christmas period.  I also love looking at the wrapped gifts under the tree, although I did tell Nick that next year all gifts much fit into a shirt size box because they are the easiest to wrap.

7. On Saturday Ellie and I helped play hostess at the day-care's annual staff dinner.   Ellie had a blast escorting her teachers to their tables at the restaurant.  She acted like she owned the place! It was great to organize such an event for the people that take such good care of our kids throughout the year.

8. Neve is really into hitting.   Sometimes she does it for attention, sometimes because she wants her sister to give her space, and sometimes because I don't think she understands the difference between gentle touches and not gentle touches.   We are working on it.

9.  I am excited for Ellie and Neve's upcoming Holiday Program at day-care.  She has been singing the songs for a few weeks and keeps talking about the stage she is going to be on.   We will see how Neve does, since this will be the first year she is involved and she is the youngest kid in the room (and the youngest that will be in the program).  I just hope she doesn't see Nick or I in the audience.

10.  Ellie and Neve love the snow.   As soon as it started snowing Ellie wanted to go outside and go sledding.  When Neve went outside all she wanted to do was help shovel.  Lucky Nick, he has two little helpers when it comes to shoveling.  Why can't they feel the same way about folding laundry?

5 on Friday

1. On Saturday we hosted a House Party sponsored by Lego Duplos.   For more information on House Party, check out their website: http://www.houseparty.com/

2. Monday night we had the neighborhood families over.  Ellie has been have withdrawl since she is not able to play with the kids outside each night.  

3. On Wednesday Neve came down with Hand, Foot and Mouth.   She had this once before, it is not fun--- but it could be a lot worse.

4. We took advantage of the beautiful weather last weekend and put up the outside Christmas lights!   With the weather we are having today and looking at the forecast, I think it was a very smart move on our part!

5. We decorated the inside of the house this week as well.  We are scheduled (pending healthy children) to host Thanks-mas with some of our friends tomorrow and we wanted it to be festive.   I love the holiday season!

5 on Friday

1.  We celebrated Ellie's birthday with 16 of her closest friends at The Little Gym.  Add in the parents and it was a full house.  The kids had a blast, Ellie was all smiles (except for when she got hurt) and Nick and I loved not having to do anything besides take pictures and watch the kids play.   The staff at the Little Gym was amazing.  They had activities for the kids to do, cut the cake, helped with the gifts and most importantly--- cleaned up!  I highly recommend the place for a birthday party.

2. I went to a birthday party for my friend's twins on Saturday.   It is hard to believe they are 1 already, but then again Ellie just turned 4.

3. On Wednesday Nick and I took vacation from work and celebrated Ellie's birthday with her.   We gave her the option of keeping Neve with us, or taking her to day-care.  Ellie decided Neve should go to day-care.

4.  Ellie picked out all of the food for her birthday.  M&M pancakes for breakfast, Jethros with Grandpa Larson for lunch and McDonald's after dance class for dinner.  Mommy and Daddy surprised her with a cupcake from Scratch as well.

5. On my birthday Ellie sang happy birthday to me A LOT.  It was super cute and I loved it.  She asked me to sing to her like she did to me.   So we sang Happy Birthday... over and over again!   And now my baby is 4.  It is still young, but she has grown up so fast.

A few of my favorites...

from our photo shoot with Paul Taylor Photography a few weeks ago.

Happy Birthday Ellie!

Sweet Ellie Ann,

The past four years have gone by so fast and you amaze me each and every day.

You decide something and there is little that can be done to change your mind.  In April, after going to a friend's birthday party at The Little Gym you decided you wanted to have your birthday party there.   7 months later that is where you had your party, I may have attempted to change your mind a time or two--- but no go on your part.  You know what you want and you get it.   Oh, and you LOVED your party with 17 of your closest friends at The Little Gym.    

You are your own person.  In August we went to Costco and picked you up a Cinderella dress and Spider-man outfit.  On the way home you decided you wanted to be Spider-man for Halloween.   You were the cutest Spider-man with bright pink tennis shoes and  long light brown hair sticking out the back of the costume!  Did it phase you that it was a 'boys' costume?  Not a bit.   Did it matter that you didn't know much about Spider-man?  Nope.  Did you love it?  Oh yes.   I thought it was pretty awesome myself, and may have had a proud Mommy moment or two when I bragged about my little girl who was going to be Spider-man for Halloween.  On the flip-side, you love princesses, playing house and taking care of your Baby Doll.  You love pink and purple and can be quite the girlie girl.   A perfect mix in my mind!  Today when we went to Build-A-Bear to celebrate your birthday you picked out a pink bear.  You dressed her in a Spider-man costume.  And picked out a pink hair dryer and brush set for the accessories.  Totally you!

You play by the rules. And expect others to follow them as well.  You let Daddy and me know if we are doing something we are not supposed to.  My guess is you are the same way at school.  Your friend and you were playing in the basement the other month.  I went down to check on you and both of your were quick to tell me that you said a naughty word.  I hope that honesty continues through the teenage years.  You may look like Daddy, but you get this from Mommy.

You are the best big sister and friend to Neve!  On days when you are playing in the gym at school, Daddy and I will go to pick you up only to find Neve and you playing as close to each other as possible/allowed/noticed by the teachers.  It might be passing a ball from one side (where the older kids, aka you, are) to the other side (where the younger kids, aka Neve, are), or it may be one of you trying to run over to the side they are not supposed to be on so you can play with each other.   The teachers have even commented that you need to play with your own classmates instead of each other. When they say that it is hard not to smile at the love you have for each other.   At home you love to play together and Neve follows you everywhere, she looks up to you so much! I hope this friendship lasts FOREVER!

You are caring, sensitive and sweet.  When one of your friends is sad at school you are quick to give them a hug in an effort to cheer them up. You take great care of your baby, from when she cries to feeding her a bottle--- you got it covered.   If someone says something mean to you, it bothers you a lot and it is easy to tell when you are sad.   Handling your sensitivity is something new to me.  I am not always the greatest at it, but I try my best.   You are so, so sweet and would do anything for anyone.   You have the innocence of a child and more.  You get excited about little things and never take anything for granted.  With that, it is hard to not give you anything and everything you ask for, because you hardly ever ask for material possessions.

You are observant.   Oh my are you observant. You have brought us  many laughs with what you remember (and repeat). You sometimes even remember things that Mommy and Daddy have forgotten.  No worries, you remind us and never back down when you know something is the way you say it is.  Not sure what Daddy and I are going to do once you learn how to spell.  It is one of our main sources of secret communication when you are around!

You are amazing.  You and your sister are the best things that have happened to your Daddy and me.  We love you with all of our hearts.   When you ask us to be your best friends at the dinner table, we jump at the chance and only hope you feel the same way when you are older (although you will have to move away from this house despite you wanting to live next to your neighbor friends when you are a grown-up).  We went through what was supposed to be the 'terrible twos' with you and figured the 'threes' would be the challenge.  We are still waiting for the shoe to drop.   Yes, there have been moments.  But overall, you have been so easy on your Mommy and Daddy.  Thank you for that. And do not change.  Ever. 

Happy birthday to my '4 year-old daughter'.   I hope it was as memorable for you as it was for us.  Daddy and I loved having "Mommy, Daddy, Ellie Day" and singing Happy Birthday to you over and over and over and over again.   

I LOVE YOU!

Mommy

5 on Friday

1. Birthday parties are the theme for November.  We have a lot of them, including one for our very own special girl.  We kicked off the month with a birthday party for one of Ellie's friends from TCP.  Ellie had a great time and when I asked her what her favorite part was she responded that is was seeing her friend and her friend's mom.

2. Nick and I voted in our City Council elections on Tuesday.   Having interactions with the City Council this past year (over the apartment complex being put up near us), we had opinions and were excited to make them known through voting.   Nick and I agree almost exactly with our political views.  It was one of the things we talked about the first night we really hung out how many years ago (yes, one of the 'do not talk about' topics when you are first getting to know someone).  Anyway, I think this is the first time we have had a difference of opinion.  I found this interesting and it gave us a little friendly debate on Tuesday.

3. We are hosting a Duplos House Party in a couple weeks.  Our Party Pack arrived on Monday.  Among other things, it contained a Jake and the Neverland Pirates Duplo ship.   The ship come with a water cannon that shoots out the water pieces.   The girls were enthralled with it on Monday night.  Neve was laughing hysterically.  

4. Daylight savings time... we started adjusting the girls' bedtimes on Thursday (aligned perfectly with Trick-or-Treating) and did so a little more each night until the time change on Sunday.   Worked out pretty well, as both girls were asleep until 6:45 adjusted time on Sunday morning.   I am going to mark it down in the book as a success and pat myself on the back for planning ahead.

5. Ellie and I went to TCP's Multicultural night last night (Nick stayed home with Neve since she has an early bedtime).  Each room takes a country and decorates the room based on the country.  They also come up with a few food items from the country, activities related to the country for the kids to do, and a craft project.   It is a pretty cool night and VERY impressive.  I may have learned a thing or two throughout the event as well.

5 on Friday

1. We had a late minute dinner date with Grandma and Grandpa Thorson on Friday.   Ellie and Neve ate before they arrived, but that did not stop Ellie from having a second dinner of Great Plains Pizza!

2. On Saturday the girls and I visited Grandma and Grandpa Greving in Ames.   Aunt Megan and Liam joined us for the day.  I didn't catch on right away when all three little ones were following Grandpa around like puppy dogs... Megan later informed me that Grandpa had a stash of candy that he was feeding to the little ones.

3. On Sunday we had our annual pumpkin carving night with the Jones family.   The adults commented that pumpkin carving night sure had changed over the years (as we were on the road to go home by 6:30 PM!)

4. Spiderman and Zebra showed up for the TCP Halloween Parade!   Ellie has wanted to be Spiderman since August when Costco had princess and superhero costumes for sale.   Gotta love Spiderman with long brown hair sticking out the mask and pink tennis shoes!

5. We went trick-or-treating with our neighbors last night.   All 7 kids (3 years and younger) made out like bandits.  I expected to be home after 30-45 minutes of trick-or-treating.   Neve and I headed back after an hour +.  Nick and Ellie showed up 10-15 minutes later.   We made it a lot further than I expected and it was very cute watching the kids run from house to house! Once Neve got into it she loved it and was not happy if we opted to skip a house... of course she wanted to be held between houses and then only wanted our neighbor, Jenni, to hold her.   Thanks Jenni!

Extra: Between all the candy from TCP's parade, trick-or-treating around our neighborhood and the extra candy we had since we were not home to hand out candy, I am bringing in a Hy-Vee bag for the day-care teachers to enjoy.  Next year we are handing out quarters, that way if we do not make it back the girls will just have extra "piggy food."