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!

On my honor....

I NOW HAVE TWO GIRL SCOUTS!!!!

I really valued my lessons I received in my 7 years as a scout as a kid and I am so excited to have my daughters receiving these same character building lessons.

So you know, next January, where to get your favorite cookies from!

Speaking of which, I have decided to start up a troop next year with one of my neighborhood friends. New adventures lie in wait for us all. 

Road Trip 2015

We like to plan our family vacations during our moves. It sounds crazy really but there are two main reasons: it is when Karl has leave and it gives the girls something to look forward to in a very emotional period. The previous move we went to Disney World, this move we decided to do a road trip to various spots in Pennsylvania and New York.

First Stop: Hershey, PA

Reese finally meet her alter ego and they hit it off right away.

 We made our own dessert, and they were scrumptious. Elli  made a dessert pizza, Reese went for the DIY hot cocoa and Brady decorated a flower shaped cookie. Karl and I indulged in chocolate fondue. None of us were disappointed and none of us were hungry for dinner.

 We went back the next morning to finish up our visit in Hershey. We had been told many times that the entire town smells like chocolate. The girls were very unhappy that morning with the air quality as the grounds crew were laying manure.

 But once inside we were back on track to chocolatey goodness.

 Brady was very into the multiple step process for chocolate tasting, which includes snapping and sniffing.

 I love this picture of them all around a sundae. They look like sweet sisters making sweet memories around a sweet treat. However, they were actually fighting over it trying to get the most bites.

 These lovely robotic cows will be the top memory of our time in Hershey. They sing a chocolate song over the PA the entire time during the FREE 15 minute ride on tour of how chocolate is made. The tour ends with a staff member handing out a sample kit kat. So I think we rode it at least 6 times within our 24 hours in the city. Elli kept asking to see the "hippo cows".

Next Stop: Easton, PA (Crayola Experience)

The building itself was quite a sight to see. 

 Colorers Crossing!

 Bringing our art to life...

 Now that is a lot of Silly Putty

 World's Biggest Crayon

 Puzzle Making

Stop #3: NYC

In NYC, Brady wanted to see the Statue of Liberty. Reese wanted to see the 'big piano'. Christy wanted to see a broadway show. Karl wanted to see Times Square. That is a lot to do in a short time, but we had faith we could get it done until...

Reese had some stomach issues the night before, but we thought they were isolated and gluten induced. So eager to get the most of our one and only day in NYC we jumped on the subway from Jersey City to NYC first thing, which happened to be rush hour. Rush hour + subway means people physically pushing on people trying to smush them in further just so that they can squeeze in. Maybe one more sardine can fit in that can. While we were in the tunnel under the Hudson River, when I look straight down, under my belly at a white face Reese. I tell Karl to open a pocket in the bookbag that has our day's supplies. Within seconds that bookbag was also carrying our sweet middle child's stomach contents. 

Moments before THE subway ride

So while I cleaned the bookbag and Reese up at the hotel (yes, we had to get off the subway in NYC only to get back on the opposite direction, while carrying a bag full of vomit) Brady and her Daddy trekked off to Ground Zero. 

After lunch we made attempt two to go into NYC since we had Broadway tickets. 

 We decided to try and find street food since we were needed to find out theater. I was shocked and pleased to find a fruit stand.

 Times Square and my loves

 Matilda with the big girls! Boy, it was an amazing show. The eight year old lead blew me away. I recommend this show to anyone and everyone! I could have watched it ten times in a row.

 The girls got to meet a cast member when they donated to the show's charity.

 Meanwhile, Karl and Elli hit up the Times' Square Disney Store and Toys R Us.

 Made the trek to FAO Schwarz for the big paino

 Poor Reese was over extended this day and fell asleep at the dinner table while we were still in NYC.

 But we still had to get back to our hotel in Jersey City.

 Elli thought she would follow suit and sleep like her middlest sister. Yea, mom and dad were pretty worn out by they time we got back to our beds.

Stop #4: Statue of Liberty

There is a ferry from Jersey City to Lady Liberty so luckily no more subway rides for us on this day. Because we had little kids with us, we skipped Elli Island and went straight to the Statue of Liberty. 

Stop #5: Philadelphia

Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Children's museum. All wonderful places... that we didn't visit. Our last stop we decided to scratch off the list. We had sick kids and exhausted parents. Our vacation was already full of GREAT memories. The kids couldn't stop talking about the chocolate factory, so our house full of boxes beckoned us. 

Our favorite stop as a whole was by far the Hershey's Chocolate World. Elli still asks (two months later) at least once a week to go back there. I am sure there will be another road trip up there before this duty station is over. The vacation was a success but with small kids "the best laid plans..."