Tree Skirt Tradition

Three years ago, I started a tradition that I have grown to love. I know as the years pass, I will love it more and more. 

I have taken our old quilted tree skirt (it has a snowy county scene on the other side) and added the kids' handprints with their initial and the year. This was our first step in decorating for Christmas this year. 

 Elli was very interested in the painting of her hand...

 ...but wasn't too fond of the stamping part.

 This is this years' result.

one point five

1.5 years
year and a half
18 months

no matter how you phrase it... I LOVE THIS AGE!!!

Elli is eighteen months old today, and she is not letting me down in all the joys of a toddling one year old. So much fun!

She got her biannual measurement today.

She was about two inches taller than her sisters were at this age. She actually was almost up to their 2 year old height. I mean just look at that belly hanging out of those PJs above.

Now that Elli gets around upright smoothly, I love to see what catches her attention.

One thing that is unique for a Orthner baby this age...she is already a Daddy's girl...BIG TIME. She chooses to snuggle with her daddy sometimes over Mommy. She will chase him into a room, even if he has been home all day. 

 This little one also LOVES her older sisters. She wanted to join them so badly during observation day at dance class.

 Could you not just eat her up?!?!?!

I love this little bundle of joy. She is perfectly awesome. 

American Cuties

Brady recently did two artworks to honor veterans. One even honors her favorite service member. Both are hung up at school.












On base the national anthem plays over loud speakers every morning at 8:00. Out of respect, service members stand at attention. Civilians stand silently and can place their hand on their heart.

The bus stop is at 8:10, so we are normally outside to hear the national anthem. Elli usually rides in a stroller but one day indicated to me that she wanted to walk. When the national anthem was playing she put her little hands clasped together and in the center of her chest!!! I love my patriotic baby!

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Metamorphosis

The fifth year of life (aka leading up to the fifth birthday) seems to be a mini coming of age for the Orthner girls. With it comes lots of outbursts as we work together to build a cocoon then break free as a beautifully spirited KID girl.

Brady starting trying new foods, became a Daddy's girl and found her sense of style (uber girly).

Reese hasn't let us down in this metamorphosis either. Reese doesn't get to pick out clothes very often. She gets a lot of hand me downs. She has been confined to the passing down of Brady's sense of style. UNTIL NOW

I brought Reese to pick out her own fall wardrobe and here are the results.












She even requested a package of boy briefs... Elli wanted to try them out too.


No worries though, there is still a place in her heart for bling.






Oh and she has asked for pink hair too.

Pulling her weight

She has been walking for a good solid month now... Time to start helping out around here.

She loves carrying the dinner dishes to the sink! Yes, that is a bowl of soup she is carrying








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November School Projects

At Reese's school, each child has been given a turkey feather. They are to decorate the turkey feather and write on there what they are thankful for. 

Reese's list:

• holidays
• food
• toys
• my house
• that I'm a person

For Brady, she was given the outline of a turkey. The turkey wants a disguise so that the farmer doesn't find it to sell or serve. The disguise needs to represent Brady in someway.

So I present to you:

Nutcracker Ballet Mouse Turkey

The ballet shoes are made from cut up old ballet shoes. 

They will do more activities with the turkey in school. I am eager to see if she writes a paragraph about her.