Thankful for 12/23/15

Stop and smell the roses or...save the Earthworms!

Because when you clear your schedule of all obligations you can take the time stop and save the Earthworms from the treacherous sidewalks on a rainy day!

This year Christmas falls on a Friday. My girls have been out of school since last Friday. That is a whole week of non scheduled nothingness. For this gift of time, I am thankful. I enjoyed December 23, 2015 more than any other year. Gifts are wrapped, the house is clean and the laundry is folded and put away. That left me with nothing but time to spend with my kids.

That leaves us with time to try our hand at homemade Iced Sugar Christmas Cookie for the first time.

 That leaves us time to sit and listen to Reese read a chapter book while the cookies are in the oven (not pictured).

That leaves us time to get out the watercolors and learn new techniques for painting Christmas trees. Painting below by BOO.

 That leaves us time to sit around together and enjoy screen time.

And, yes, that leaves us time to walk in the sprinkling rain to Chick-Fil-A to hear a neighbor sing, but stop and save the Earthworms!

I soaked in these sweet faces on December 23, 2015 and for that I am a happier, more fulfilled person. 

I am guilty of over scheduling myself. But yesterday reminded me that more isn't always better. So I hope to empty my schedule a little so that I can save Earthworms again soon. 

PS- all that may even energize you to allow them to be free of rules the following morning (even if it creates quite the load of laundry).

This is how she rolls!

 Literally, this is how she rolls now that she is seven! This first day as a seven year old has been great, amazing really. And, she didn't want it to end. But my eccentric Reesey Poo still is true to herself even as she finished yet another journey around the sun. Her request tonight... To ride around the neighborhood to view the Christmas lights with her birthday balloons trailing behind her. I love this kid!

 Proof she hasn't changed... She wore Halloween leggings on her Birthday celebration for the second year in a row. She LOVES holidays, she loves them year round. So here she is wearing a birthday shirt and halloween leggings to a Christmas themed birthday party. Did I mention I love this girl?!?!?

 I forgot to bring candles to her birthday party in Williamsburg, but this classy mature seven year old didn't whine one bit. So we blew out a candle on her 'real' birthday during our weekly Girl Scout meeting today. I love her so much my heart could burst.

She lives in the moment with full intensity. She is present and making the most of what the day has to offer. May I learn to live life as fully as she chooses to! Happy Birthday Seven-Year-Old Reesey Poo!

Tree Cookie

Elli and I sat down to read a few books. She has been on a Cinderella kick lately (Daddy is now referred to as her prince) so we were reading about Cinderella's Christmas. In the book, Cinderella teaches us that gifts that come from the heart are the best kind of gift. Therefore, she bakes the Prince tree shaped cookies. This is the conversation that followed...

Elli: "I want to make tree cookies!"
Me: "I don't know how to make tree cookies."
Elli: "you just put the stuff in (making a stirring bowl motion) and you have cookies"
Me: "I don't know that we have the 'stuff' to make them."
Elli: Pops up and heads to the kitchen pantry and starts putting items on the counter "we need peanuts, peanut butter and rice cakes to make tree cookies."



Me: " is that all we need?"
Elli: "yes"

Here is my version of a tree cookie





Apparently I passed the test.



When her Prince got home from work, she said "yay, my prince is home." Then, she said she needed to make him a tree cookie. The prince let her do it herself this time. And for his royal highness he got a special topping of dried apples.




Moments like these is what life is made of.

Elli Turns Three

Every picture has a story. Every story comes together to create this chapter. Elli rocked her two year old year. Elli was as sweet and easy as I could ask for. Elli made the terrible twos look like a walk in the park. If the next year is anything like the last year, we are in for a treat! 

Elli shows compassion for life. Elli loves the people that she is surrounded by, her village. She has always felt attachment to her village. Being around just her mommy and daddy isn't enough for her. She loves her fan club often created by her big sisters' friends. Elli loves any adult that smiles at her. Chances are if you smile at her, she will ask to eat breakfast at your house. 

Elli loves imaginary play. Elli loves giving kisses out to those that matter. 

Elli loves exploring new parks and playgrounds. She loves to try and tackle new heights without qualm.

Elli doesn't know her age, and will do whatever those around her do. Elli's 'best friends' are usually four times her age.

Elli's connection with her cousin is special and unique.

Elli's sweet tooth has no end.

Elli is fearless.

Elli loves to 'help' out in all household chores.

Elli, even though adventurous, still knows how to kick back and enjoy life.

Elli, like her sisters, loves to read. She also loves to have an audience to read to. 

Elli makes the cutest oompa loompa EVER!!!!!

Elli is a twirler. If her clothes don't twirl they aren't good enough to wear. If her PJs don't twirl they aren't good enough for her.

But this twirler still knows how to shoot a spider web your way.

Elli is a self-made princess.

Elli is a keeper of the Orthner genetics. 

Elli is a lover of her thumb and hair to twirl. Remember, twirling is a must in her life.

Elli loves being a little sister. They can't go far without her creating their shadow.

Well, Elli is just plain super.

Elli on your birthday tomorrow, may all you wishes come true. May you stay sweet. May you continue to approach life with such zest. May life give you twirls up to your standards, and when it doesn't may you use your faithful connection to your village to support you through it all. If you continue life with greatness you approached two with, life will treat you as great as you treat it.

I love you, beautiful! Happy 3rd birthday!

Let it Snow, I mean Let it Ice

VA has gotten its fair share of winter weather (snow is falling as I type this). Last week, however, it didn't 'thaw' out like VA is used to. One icy Monday turned into 4 missed days of school. I love these gifts of unexpected days with my kids. I am lucky to already be stay at home, so there is no extra burden put on the family when school is cancelled. Therefore, we get to enjoy each other and the winter wonderland. Last week, however, wasn't snow; it was a sheet of thick ice. Ice that took two hundred pounds to make it break. Therefore, Olaf couldn't make an appearance.Therefore, kids had to figure out new ways to play, and boy was it fun!

There was sledding, beach style AKA pushes from Daddy on even ground.

There was sledding down the embankment at the grocery store loading dock. Hey, you have to be creative when you leave on flat land.

However, we did make a trip to the built up hill for an amphitheater on base. It was INTENSE, maybe a little too intense for Reesey Poo!

There was LOTS of pretend ice skating. 

There was educational moments: examining snowflakes and researching to make hypothesis about snow fall totals (and there may have been some bidding involved)

Walks around where Daddy carries all the load. 

Let's not leave Art out of this week. Spray bottles full of colored water to ice painting.

Of course, there are friends! We planned a movie with the neighborhood kids (which played but was barely viewed). They sat around and played with legos, magnet tiles and figurines.  

IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE BLAST!!!!