5 on Friday

1. Ellie and I broke out one of 'our' American Girl dolls, Marie-Grace (M-G), and started reading her story (our first chapter book!).   Ellie thought it was awesome and loved playing with M-G.   Neve wanted to know where her 'grown-up' doll was... unfortunately the other doll we/I have is Samantha, and I am not ready to pass her onto the girls yet.   I told the girls they could share M-G.   Maybe if Ellie loves M-G and takes good care of her (her hair specifically) she can pick out her own American Girl to ask Santa for next year (or the year after).

2. So the Marie-Grace chapter book tells all about the doll's life.  The story is set in New Orleans in 1858---  Nick looked at me in shock when I came across the word "black boy" in the book.  Explaining to Ellie how things were different back then has been interesting to say the least, but also a part of life.  Maybe there would have been an easier book to read for our first chapter book, but I still love that Ellie is learning about history at such a young age.

3. Neve wants to dress-up like a princess EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.   Good thing she received a couple of new princess dresses for Christmas to add to her collection--- because that kid is 100% girl.  It also makes me see how not-girly Ellie can be (I should have know by the sports lamp she picked out for her room.)

4.  A friend of mine gave us a pink leotard that was too small for her daughter.  It fits Neve perfectly and she is so excited about it.   We were driving home one night, talking about how Ellie had dance class in a couple days when Neve quickly chimes in that she is going to be in dance class too!   I told her she wasn't old enough and she could start next fall :(   She came right back with, "but I have a pink dance outfit now!"   Poor girl, she CANNOT wait for her turn to take dance classes.  On Tuesday when Ellie went to dance class, Neve put on her pink dance outfit so she could match (despite the outfit being short sleeve and it being cold out).

5. Some days things just don't go your way.  They happen.   Wednesday at work was that day for me.   I came home pretty upset and Nick kindly reminded me that there is always someone else out there that has it worse.   Sometimes you need that reality check to remind you of how lucky you are, and make sure you don't take the 'good days' for granted.

5 on Friday

1. You know what is great about a smoker?  Making a week's  worth of meals in one afternoon.    Saturday afternoon Nick smoked up chicken, pork, a ham and some amazing baked beans with smoked bacon.   We have plenty of food to last us through the week!

2. We had a relaxing weekend--- took down the Christmas tree and cleaned up the house.

3. Ellie decided that we since we got new toys for Christmas, we should donate some of our old toys to Goodwill.  Great idea Ellie!

4. We celebrated New Year's Eve at the neighbor's house.   Such a fun time had by all- even if Ellie and Neve did not fall asleep as planned.  A great way to end the year.

5. New Year's day was relaxing--- a perfect start to the new year.

Halloween Activities--- better late than never?

I may be a little late in posting these.  But they are too cute not to.  We had an amazing month of Halloween and used our costumes a ton.

Ellie and her day-care class visiting Howell's Pumpkin Patch (and feeding the animals).

 Pumpkin Carving!

 



Trick-or-treating around the neighborhood.   (Have I mentioned in the last few weeks how much I love our neighbors?)

Night Eyes with cousin Liam.

Trick-or-treating at day-care.

Surprising Grandma and Grandpa Thorson on Ames' Beggar's Night.

Elsa, Elsa, Grandma and Grandpa.

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa Greving in Ames (along with Liam and Alida).

CFI Princess Party

Back in October I took Elsa and Elsa to the annual CFI Princess Party!   We opted to splurge this year and did the VIP package- complete with the girls getting their hair done.   The girls had a blast and really enjoyed it.  Of course their favorite part is meeting the princesses!

5 on Friday

1. I had my department holiday party at Cowboy Jacks in West Glen Friday night.  With such a busy week, we decided it was best for Nick to stay home with the girls and get them to bed at an early hour.  

2. We visited the North Pole via the Boone Scenic Valley Railroad Santa Express on Saturday night!  Well, technically we didn't leave the state of Iowa.  But Santa and Mrs. Claus where there.  Ellie may have commented that we were not going fast enough to get to the North Pole in time (smart kid).  And she wondered what would happen if the Santa Express and the Polar Express got there at the same time--- would she see the kids from the Polar Express (can you guess her favorite holiday movie)?   The ride must have lived up to her expectations, as she wants to go again next year.

3. We celebrated Christmas with the Thorson/Larson side on Sunday.  Cute story from the day: Neve got scared by her older (and much bigger) cousin when we first arrived.  Even when I was holding her she was still bawling... so I said "Let's go find Grandpa" and we headed to where he was (she hadn't seen him yet).   The instant she saw him she wanted him to hold her and she stopped crying.   I guess there is such thing as a Grandpa's Touch instead of a Mommy's Touch. It was really cute.

4. Nick and I worked Christmas Eve day, so the girls got to go to day-care in their PJ's!   There were only a handful of kids at the center, so they combined rooms and the girls had a great time being in the same class for once!   That evening we celebrated our own family Christmas- complete with opening gifts, making sugar cookies, hot cocoa, wine & cheese night (wine for the grow-ups only) and lighting the Advent candles one last time.   I think the girls are really going to miss the Advent candles- Ellie was super excited about them all season.

5. We opened our Santa gifts and went to church before heading to Ames on Christmas Day.  For the first time since Thanksgiving of last year we had the entire Greving family together.  There are 20 of us now and it makes for a busy house--- I love it!   The girls had a blast playing with all of their cousins.

5 on Friday

1. Bright and early Friday (or dark and early since I had to be there at 4:45AM) I volunteered for the Children's Cancer Connection wrapping gifts at Valley West mall.  Van and Bonnie (well, just Van because Bonnie was sick) broadcast  from the location and it was free wrap morning.   I had a great time and kept busy wrapping lots of gifts.   It was interesting explaining to Ellie why I wouldn't be at home when she woke up that morning- we talked about volunteering, cancer and helping others.   I think she understood most of it, and I love that Nick and I can show our daughters what it means to give back.

2. Friday evening was the girls' Holiday Program at TCP (day-care).   The program started at 5PM and I showed up at 4PM to get in line so we could get a front row seat.   Yes, 60 minutes ahead of time for a day-care holiday program.  It was so worth it when Ellie saw us in the front row!  The girls did great, the program was super cute and the girls loved having both sets of grandparents watching them sing.  We wrapped up the night with dinner at our house with the grandparents.  I always love watching the girls interact with their grandparents- Neve wanted both of her grandpas to sit by her at dinner, which worked out well because Ellie wanted the grandmas to sit by her. 

3. Saturday was Thanksmas with some of our friends.   Six adults and five kiddos under one roof makes for a fun time had by all.   We had tons of yummy food (including smoked turkey), the kids watched the Polar Express on the big screen, and the parents got to play games without little ones helping (at least for a little while).  

4. What to say about the weather on Sunday... we made the most of a warm day in December by having our first s'mores using the new fire table and patio.  Ellie and Nick sat outside for over two hours--- I think the patio is a hit and I cannot wait to use it in the spring.

5. Ellie is counting down the days until Christmas and both girls love finding Buddy the Elf each morning (even when Buddy is too tired and stays in the same spot two days in a row).

Vacation: MOA 2014

How can you not have a great vacation when you get to drive a car

AND

have lunch with your favorite "Baby"?