Oh Chritmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

Putting the first ornaments on the tree

Kira likes to "help" Elise

Elise looks like Ben does when I move his ornaments!

Kira had an idea about where EVERYTHING needed to be placed. Oh, we are in for it...

There, that's better...

Directing the decorating from her stool.

Come on, Daddy, can't you help?

It needs to go right there!

Pleased with her handy work.

Exhausted after helping and having every ornament she placed moved!

 

Ben went and got our Christmas tree yesterday while I worked. (Grammy K came and played with the kids while he grabbed a tree) He told Kira that they needed to wait until I was home before we could bring it in; no sooner was I in the door than Kira expected all things (like dinner) dropped so we could bring the tree in. Imagine her disappointment when we told her the tree needed to warm up over night before we could decorate. Fast forward to 7am and a 3 year old in our room bouncing up and down and chanting about the fact that we need to get up and decorate the tree NOW. She's not one for letting us slack off!

Daddy's Girl

Building a tower. Yep, that's cat food.

Gathering more materials.

Making a plan.

I think I can...

I think I can...

Not quite done...

There. That. Is. Perfect.

 

Sorry she looks possessed. I can't get it fixed on my computer, but thought we had to include the pictures. And, no, I was not allowed to put the tower away until Daddy saw it when he got home from work.

Big girl with a big bow!

 

Elise is getting more "grown up", and less like a baby every day. She officially has opinions on clothing and hair accessories. I think she has taken a note from Kira's book on accessorizing. "There is no such thing as too big or too much, just do it". She usually picks bows or flowers that are nearly as big as her head to wear. Even with nothing but a diaper. Funny girl!

Princesses DO wear pants

 

 

Kira has only recently gotten into the idea of princesses (especially ones that collect rocks and dinosaurs). The problem with this is that the weather is cooling off and a "twirly dress" is not always the appropriate clothing decision. Enter Mommy trying to convince Kira that princesses do, indeed, wear pants. Well, in the world of Disney, there is only one princess who wears pants...and she doesn't wear much in the way of a shirt (Jasmine). So, here we are with another dilemma of not appropriate for the weather (or a 3 year old). We got out the iPad, and googled "Princesses in pants" and looked at some "real life" princesses who wear pants. These are the first pants she has worn in a month, and it took showing her photographic evidence of a princess wearing pants. I can't wait for her negotiating skills in high school!

Playing at the park

The girls literally cannot get enough of playing outside at a park. Any park. Any time. No matter the weather, need for fodd or sleep, or even the need for a bathroom.

Parade of Lights

Denver has a Parade of Lights every year for the Holiday's. We are trying to make a tradition of going with the Harrison's each year. It's great fun, and the kids love it, but sometimes it is rediculously cold out, making standing through an hour long parade difficult (for the adults, kids, and everyone else). Last year was a time that it was so cold that we didn't bring Elise at all because she was so little. As we were watching the parade and cursing the weather, we came up with an idea to get hotel rooms at the Hyatt (it overlooks the parade route) and watch from inside. So, we rented adjoining rooms, and it was 60 degrees! But, we quickly figured out that we had a better view from our room than the street. We watched the parade, ate some pizza, drank some juice/wine/beer and had a great time. We had a slumber party and went to the pool in the morning. We think we'll do the parade this way every year from now on!

 

Kira and Elise checking out the view

Kira, Elise, and Hunter watching the parade from the room

Elise cuddling with Stef and pretending she wasn't tired

This is how we found Kira after the kids fell asleep. Think she was exausted?

Checking Progress

 

Dirt piles are fun...for kids way more than their parents. Ben was so happy that we brought my car instead of his. It nearly turned into a sandbox.

 

We had a Thanksgiving weekend big family gathering at the clubhouse for the golf course that Grammy-K and Grandpa-J's new house is being built. We all went to the house after eating to check the progress. Interior walls were roughed in, and you can really start to see how the house is going to be as a finished product. I just love the views they will have. In the two weeks since we were there, the roof trusses just went up, and the roof is going to be "weathered in" by the end of the week. They are waiting on a couple of windows, but then will be able to finish the interior and call the place home. Kira is ready for that to happen, because she has some specific toys that she is ready for Grammy-K and Grandpa-J to bring over. She gives her list to Grammy-K every time she see's her (the list changes, but always includes the "yellow kitchen") It's pretty funny how concerned she is that they get the right stuff for her, Elise and their cousins.

Funniest video ever...

 

 

No children were hurt in the making of this video.

This is what happens after about 30 minutes of continuous twirling. You need to watch to the end for the funniest part.

Dancing

 

 

The girls kept Auntie-Em busy for an hour with singing and dancing. There was lots of playing while Auntie-Em was here, and the girls have both become BIG fans of Hokey-Pokey. We even play as different animals sometimes. They are really becoming fun. I also always love to see the outfits they choose when dressing up. It is almost always a hilarious combination.

Dancing with Auntie-Em

Oh man, the girls love their Auntie-Em! She dresses up, she plays the play guitar, she sings, and the girls get to dance. Video to follow...

Napping in an Armoire

Looks comfortable, no? I couldn't find Kira and found her asleep in the Armoire. She slept here for 2 hours. Claimed it's her favorite place to sleep.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kira and Elise got their very own kids table this year. This did not lead to good eating, but did allow for easier wandering while the adults took our time eating.

They are tough to see here, and I wish I took a better picture, but Grammy-K made the girls the coolest Turkey Plates for dinner. Kira still talks about them, and even "drew a picture of them" to bring to preschool to show what she did for the holiday. Always crafty, Grammy-K also made orange, Turkey shaped, finger Jello for the girls. I am repeatedly being asked to make Turkey Jello, also. (Sounds gross when asked in 3-year old association-speak)

Desert was a favorite of both kids.

Who needs utensils?

Maybe for the whipped cream...

New Dress Up Stuff

Kira is suddenly into playing dress up. She would actually like to wear dress up clothes and shoes at all times, regardless of weather, activity, or practicality. She got new dress up shoes with a matching tiara and not only wanted to tell her Grandma and Grandpa Mills about them on Thanksgiving, but insisted that we take a picture and send it to them. She is certainly getting bossy in her 3-year old year. It's mostly fun and funny (we repeat this to ourselves several times daily!).

Don't bother me, I'm watching football...

Looks like a serious fan, doesn't she? In reality, she was just very ready for a nap. But, it made for a cute picture!

Go CU! LOL!

 

So, CU just finished their worst season of football in school history. We alumni should be very proud. A few weeks before it was in the books, Ben had tickets to the CU-Univeristy of Washington game and went with a friend. He left the house in the morning with kids that weren't dressed and just assumed I would put them in UW clothes since he went there. Well, Kira wanted nothing to do with clothing for either school because that would make playing dress up harder. Elise, on the other hand donned her CU finest to let dad know we are not fair weather fans!

Trick-or-Treating

"Okay, we're ready to go..."

"No, seriously, we want to go..."

"Can you do the stairs any faster Elise?..."

 

"Okay, how about if you guys just meet me at the first house?"...

 

"Wait for me!" 

"Finally, our first stop. I hope they have something good!"

"I am just going to keep moving. You can keep up, or not, but I'm hitting as many houses as I can. Seriously, do you realize all these people are just giving me CANDY?! Halloween is the BEST HOLIDAY EVER!"