Visit to Santa

We already know Ellie is a little freaked out by facial hair. Uncle Chris has been working on her for a long time. So, it was really no surprise that Ellie was totally ho-ho-horrified by Santa...

And Santa was a little stressed out by Chase's detailed list of wants. (Note furrowed brow on Santa below).
Ellie calmed down when Mommy held her but still was very skeptical.

However, Ellie did absolutely LOVE the carousel ride.

As did Chase...

So overall our Santa trip was a success because Daddy scammed us a better spot on the Santa wait list which was originally 2.5 hours when we showed up but he sweet talked us in for a 10 minute wait. We scored a great picture to show Ellie when she gets older. And of course Chase told Santa his heart's desires. When I asked what he told him he responded with "It's a secret Mom! You'll see on Christmas morning". I did hear some of the rambling but was a little distracted with tiny screamer.

Hopefully Santa will get it right!

Prince Charming Chase

Well he's definitely stolen Mommy's heart.

When Ellie sleeps Mommy and Chase get to play. So Ellie took a good nap last week and Chase asked if he could be a Prince. Much more fun to Mommy than the power ranger stuff. So we looked on the Internet until we found a picture of a prince outfit to copy that was acceptable to Chase. It took several pictures to convince Chase that princes do in fact have crowns. This is not just for princesses and boys do indeed wear them. We ransacked my closet and found my old brown silk halter I used to wear with my "going out" jeans when I actually used to leave the burbs. We put that over an old button up white shirt. Added my flattest boots we could find. And from Chase's room... red cape, sword, and paper crown. Instant Prince!
He paraded around the house then headed out to slay dragons in the backyard.

Serious Prince pose...
When he came back in Ellie was up and I was feeding her lunch. We heard him rumbling around in the coat closet. I asked "what are you doing in there Prince Charming Chase?". Clearly irritated that I didn't already know he gave me a face and said "time traveling! I am going out the front door and when I come in the back we will be in a different land." So he came back and then announced that we were now in California.

Being 4 is so cool!

The hills are alive...

No it's not the Swiss Alps, but Amicalola Falls is really steep! Dusty went hunting (aka camping for Chase) and not to be outdone in fun I called in for help. Kathryn drove in from Charlotte and we dragged Melissa out of bed to check out the seasonal leaves in the north Georgia mountains and hike with the kids. We hiked to the top of the falls. Well I opted out of the last part 175 steps straight up. I had had enough of lugging Ellie on my back and I have seen the waterfall plenty of times. I usually make Dusty wear the baby backpack but I tried it out and apparently my petite frame (aka shortness) doesn't quite jive with the backpack. Kathryn wore Ellie down the trail and I guess 2 inches made a difference because she was not bent over like a hunchback while hiking. She is 2 inches taller. I am the oldest, and the shortest.

Anyway, we had so much fun and the kids were great! Chase thinks he "climbed a mountain" and he could "see California" from the top.

Check out my bad posture here...
Chase at the top of the trail...
Aunt Melissa, Aunt Kathryn, Chase.
Our postcard picture.
Ellie and Mommy taking a break.
Chase and Melissa with the largest tree we saw.
Kathryn with Ellie.
The bears we found in the lodge.
Chase under the bear.

Holy Cow

Holy cow how did I get to be so old that I am the one supervising field trips instead of the one being supervised?!? So I chaperoned my first field trip to Holy Cow Farm, see here... http://holycowfarm.com/ . I took Ellie with me and holy cow it's hard to keep up with her now!

The 4 year olds are cake compared to the toddler who loves loves loves animals and dancing to the country music they were playing on the farm. So Chase had fun, Ellie had fun, and I did too.

I also lucked out because I had the smallest car and therefore only had to drive 2 loud 4 year olds instead of 4 of them. More reasons to keep my current car.

Halloween Festivities

Last night was Halloween! Our annual chilli night and trick or treating with our neighbor Taylor. This year Chase was a blue power ranger. He knew a month in advance with no waffling. He tried the costume on in Party City back in September, tried out his moves, and that was it. Sold.



Ellie was an angel. No need to dress her up really but we did add some wings and a halo (thanks to Camille!).

We did the main drag of the neighborhood this year and let the big kids go until they asked to go home. It's pretty festive on the main street with people tailgating in their driveways, fortune tellers, and one group requesting performances for candy if you were over a certain age. Chase and Taylor skipped this house. Too much work and way too many other houses.

Anyway, we had a great time! We took way too many pictures, but here are a few to enjoy...



Starting out for the night...





Power ranger Chase. Mermaid Taylor...
Ellie's mode of transportation. Dusty with roadie.
Angel from behind.


Ellie's first piece of candy...
Back at home. Counting the loot.

Aspirations...

A few weeks ago at a birthday party for our friend Livi, who was turning 4, a group of Chase's friends were talking during the cake festivities. They were answering Natalie's grueling questions while she videotaped them. Tough questions like "What's the best thing about Livi? What do you like to play with Livi? etc." They went around the table and answered or said "pass" if the question was too hard.

Then I heard "What do you want to be when you grow up?", to which Chase replied "A picker-upper!". Hum I was thinking to myself what in the world is a picker-upper? definitely not someone who picks up things like dirty rooms or toys. He can't possibly mean he wants to clean up after people all his life.

Anyway, I didn't think anything of it until a few days later when he said "Mommy, I really do want to be a picker upper when I get big." I asked what is a picker-upper Chase? He responded quite surprised that I didn't know. It was someone who drove around and picked people up! I said oh, like a taxi cab driver? He said "yea, but a long long long car". Oh, a Limo driver! "Yes, that's it Mommy." I told him he could be whatever he wanted to be as long as he was happy.

Yesterday at school they went around the room and asked the same question, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" Chase told me most of the kids said superheros, or policemen or firefighters. So I asked him, do you still want to be a picker upper? "No, I think I want to be a Daddy when I grow up."

I said, "oh that's cool." Chase said "yea, but I don't want to get married and I don't want any kids. And I'm going to live with you and Daddy until I'm 87."

Sounds like a plan.

Girl Stuff

After a few years of Chase liking Thomas the train, hotwheels, monster trucks, swords, and superheros you can imagine our house is full of lots of boy stuff. Sure Chase had generic baby toys but once he hit a year it was all boy. What do they say.. snakes and snails and puppy dog tails.. that's what little boys are made of. So our house was ready for some sugar and spice and everything nice.

For Ellie's birthday we finally got some girly things! Baby dolls and a stroller and SHOES! Pink shoes in fact!



And, really hip patent leather driving moccasins from her friend Riley...



She has been really happy with the cars and trucks and definitely prefers Chase's room to her own for playtime.

However, the stroller and dolls are quite a hit. Here she is testing them out.

Ellie's 1st birthday bash!

The big party was a success! On Sunday we had about 35+ people over to celebrate Ellie's first birthday! We lucked out with incredible weather so I didn't have to worry about cramming everyone into the house. Dusty and I had minimal stress before hand, I had lots of party setup elves (aka Kathryn and Melissa), and Ellie took a really long morning nap. It couldn't have worked out any better! Here are a few pictures to recap the big day...

Ellie and Chase exchanging presents before the party. He got her a play cell phone and key chain and she got him a set of batman hotwheels. They were both thrilled!
Ellie greeting baby Nathan. He looks about her size and has more hair, but he is only 4 months old right now. Her younger man.
Some of the 1 year old monkeys... Ellie, Holden, and Riley hanging from the gate. Such great pals!
The guys on the deck drinking Dusty's home brew...
Some of the ladies at the "coloring" table...
Ellie and Riley taking turns clapping.
Ellie's cakes. White with pink polka dots. The smash cake was huge!
The only picture I have of Ellie in her birthday hat. It didn't last long.
Chase showing Ellie how to dig in.
Ellie figures it out.
Ellie gets to the chocolate.
Carmella, Carter, and Spencer (the big girls) help me bath Ellie.
Present from me and Dusty. I painted the cradle my great uncle made me when I was little. Also a tiny baby doll.
Ellie loves on her baby doll.
Ellie in the cradle. This is her new favorite thing... climbing in and out and standing and rocking in it. Yes, scary!

Ellie's present from Grandma and Grandpa. Chase checks under the hood while Carmella is ready to push.

Woohoo, this ride rocks!
All her big girl helpers... Carter and Carmella take turns pushing her around. So spoiled.
More driving.
Daddy takes Ellie for a spin in the backyard.

Happy birthday sweetheart!