Pillow Fort

Elyana has a cold again. It's the type of cold that has her coughing through the night, but during the day, she's fine. So what does this sleep deprived mom do after lunch today? We made a fort and read some books. I still remember the forts I made as a kid under the dining room table.





Speaking of pillow/blanket forts, I couldn't help thinking about a recent Community episode. Now THAT was a fort!
http://www.nbc.com/community/video/conspiracy-theories-and-interior-design/1261064

Nutcracker Tea Party

Once again, Mikayla and I went to the Nutcracker tea party. I actually had gotten tickets for Ellie to come with us this year, but she was kindly invited to go with a friend to another one. So, I let Mikayla choose a friend for us to bring along. She wanted Molly to come. The girls received bags when they walked in the door and they got to "trick or treat" to each of the Nutcracker dancers. Then, we sat down for some dainty treats and hot chocolate. Once we were full, the dancers did a mini version of the Nutcracker just for us. Then, the children got to dance with the dancers. It was a fun event and I'd like to make it a tradition. Hopefully some year, we can go see the Nutcracker ballet also.

Just a Sample of Our Photos from Midwest LifeShots Photography

Thanksgiving

We are gearing up to leave for our Thanksgiving travels. We're a little concerned about the weather, so we're going to leave earlier than planned. I had to post this photo I took of Ellie last night. She was playing hide and seek (although she didn't ask anyone to play with her...). She hid in my laundry basket and covered herself up with the red blanket. By the time I realized she was missing, she was pretty cozy and almost fell asleep. (Yes Mom, she is exactly a little me!)



Mikayla helped me pack and get ready for our trip to WI today and also earned her American Heritage Girl travel badge. I'm really loving AHG! These are things that I should be teaching my daughter and she should be helping me with anyway. I just get too busy to think of them myself!




Happy Thanksgiving! I have so so much to be thankful for. I am beyond blessed!

Cabinet

Thanks to some money I received for doggie sitting, I was finally able to purchase the rest of the trash can cabinets. I got these from JC Penney and I really love them. They are very solid. There are other pieces that you can add on, but I choose these four. Thanks Nate for being so sweet and putting them together yesterday!



I am looking forward to Thanksgiving in a few days. However, I will be working over the weekend to meet an article deadline. I'm still waiting on a few interviews to pull through. I'm excited about this one because the article idea was mine. It will be on self-esteem and there is so so much I want to say, but in only 600 words or less. Yikes.

The girls are getting excited for the snow to come. I often wonder how I will endure winter when the kids are all grown up. They are the ones that make winter exciting and fun. Perhaps I will have to be like my in laws and go south every winter. Ooh, or maybe one of my girls will win some full scholarship to the University of Hawaii! Ha! Wouldn't that be neat!

My New Kitchen!

I purchased a wreath at this cool store I discovered here in Rochester. It's called Real Deals and is on 2nd Street (away from St. Mary's). It's only opened twice a week but things are affordable! Anyway, the wreath sort of inspired me to repaint a wall of our kitchen. I had no idea what I was doing, but I measured, sawed, and nailed in a white chair rail. Then I painted above and below it. My mom bought me some beautiful curtains for the sliding door that blend beautifully with it. For $50 of materials altogether, I feel like I have a new kitchen!

Trick or Treat!

This Halloween, Mikayla was a rock star (inspired by the sunglasses and guitar she received from my sister for her birthday) and Elyana was a cat (inspired by Dora's Halloween episode).





Ellie woke up the morning of her preschool costume parade with a fever and a headache. So, I let her come to Mikayla's elementary school parade. She saw one of her best friends there, Madison. (Check out Mikayla in the background trying to catch her boa from blowing away in the wind. Funny!)


Here is Mikayla and Ellie outside of her classroom. The teacher let her join in the parade, but Ellie couldn't keep up. I scooped her up and took a short cut back to the classroom.




On Halloween night, we went to Molly and Hannah Soderberg's house for a party. Hannah was unfortunately in the hospital again with an infection, but the girls all seemed to have a good time. Here they are at the front door, excited they just handed out candy to the first trick or treater. The girls were so wiped out, they were in bed before 8!