Our new table- What a find!!

Trevor just reminded me that I never blogged about our huge Goodwill score.

We have been looking for a Goodwill in this one certain area of town for some time now. I knew it was there we just could not find it no matter how many times we attempted. When Trevor's parents were here they offered to watch the kids one night so that we could go see a movie. We opted instead for dinner and we thought coffee, but as soon as we crested the hill to Starbucks I saw it! It was like a light shone down from heaven "ahhhhh" there it was. We did drive through coffee and headed right over.

I went straight to the back to the furniture section and the table and four chairs (with a sign saying there were two more chairs) was the first thing I saw. The price tag said $15. I thought that was to good to be true but grabbed the SOLD tag just in case. We are now proud new owners of a white table and 4 chairs (the other two were already gone) that we have been wanting for some time now.

The old set we had, my dad bought me when I moved into my first apt. after college. We had them at our first youth ministry in VA and after a game "Scoot your Buns" at small group one night they really never were the same.

We plan on doing some painting to the new set eventually but for now we are just glad that when guests come over and sit down they won't ask, "Am I going to break this?"

So I Remember

I have to type this here or I know in a year or two I will have completely lost it. I just love little kid language and since mine are currently using it I must document.

Ellis: mote-ra-troll= remote control
Alaire: uuurs = your and yours

Every night before bed we have "talk time" Trevor usually lays in Ellis' bed and I lay in Alaire's and we talk about the day. Ellis usually ponders deep questions with Trevor. "Dad, what is that thump thump I feel in my chest and how does it work." (his heart)
Alaire and I are a little more light hearted. Every night we begin with "Mom, you like snakes?" "No Alaire I don't like snakes." "You like kitty cats?" "Yes I like kitty cats." "What your favorite" (She has 4 tissue paper flowers hanging above her pillow.) "I like the purple one sissy. Which one do you like?" "I like pink."
I must say though that by 8 p.m. I'm very content with the snake and flower mindless conversation. My mind can only handle so many "How" and "Why" questions in one day. I am so glad though that his Daddy takes so much time to answer so many of those crazy questions with as much detail as possible.

Noel take the Paci's to Santa

Last year I posted a blog about the Scout Elf that Santa sends every year to watch and see if Ellis is a good little boy. This year we have a new member in our elf family. Her name is Noel Tiptoe Oakes and she is here to keep notes for Santa on Alaire.

Noel and Sneak have only been here for a few days but Ellis and Alaire are having a blast with them. Alaire loves her Noel so much that last night she decided that she would give her paci's to her to deliver to Santa a little ahead of schedule.












I don't know if you can tell by this picture but Noel and Sneak are pretty easy for us to tell apart because Wammy and Auntie Em gave Noel a little makeover. She has a beautiful floral skirt, brown boots, and some extra flowers attached to her hat. Alaire things she is gorgeous becuase the flowers are pink.












This morning when Alaire and Ellis woke up they not only found Noel and Sneak hiding in new spots but they also found that they had brought Alaire 2 presents in exchange for her paci's. She got a book (that she loves) called Pinkerella and the movie Santa Buddies.

Noel asked me to call Wammy later on in the afternoon once the kids were in bed for their naps. It seems that Santa wasn't prepared for this early exchange so she had to use a few gifts that Pappy and Wammy had already sent for Christmas.






This picture has nothing to do with Sneak and Noel but it was another fun thing we did yesterday. Trevor has been wanting chocolate covered pretzels (I know I about died when he said it too.) Anyway, we got all of the stuff at the store and we had so much fun this time that we are going to make more for Ellis' teacher.

Estes with Oma and Opa

We took a trip up to Estes Park for Oma and Opa's last day here. I got lots of pictures but I guess most of them were of the kids.

The sun was so bright while we were there that it looks like we are all angry in our pictures but I assure you it was a great day!



We went on a hike on the YMCA of the Rockies property and Ellis was dying to see a deer. We didn't see any wildlife on our hike but once we got back in the car we saw a small herd of Elk grazing on the side of the mountain. We got to see them up close because they were only about 20 yards away.














































































Alaire LOVED riding in the backpack.















We also did a little shopping in downtown Estes. Opa and Oma did a little spoiling of the grandkids too. They each got to choose a piece of candy from the Candy Shop and a toy from the toy store.

Oma and Opa are here!

Oma and Opa are here for a week to celebrate Thanksgiving. We also did a little more birthday celebrating. They brought Ellis a Leapster2 and some clothes. He loves the Leapster and some how hasn't broken it yet, although he has dropped it numerous times.














Alaire got a kitchen so Oma and I have been doing a lot of Tea drinking and pizza eating.



















The day before Thanksgiving we made paper pilgrim hats with Oma. She bought Thanksgiving stickers that they decorated their hats with.
Unfortunately we forgot to take the hats to dinner with us and I was feeling so sick all day that I didn't get one picture of our dinner with Trevor's side of the family.

The rest of Cincy in pictures

I'm so behind with my update of the rest of our week in Cincinnati that I'm just mainly posting pictures with small little updates.


We went to a small town parade. They loved it... partly because Pappy brought M&M's and Wammy had a bag to collect candy... but it was fun!








Monkey Bread with Wammy.






















































Wii with Michael.

















A few trips to the cupcakery.


































Hot Air Balloons at the reflecting pool.
































Thanksgiving "Turkey" cookies.



































Walks.


















Fun in the backyard.

WV short trip

We got to make a special trip to Wammy and Pappy's house this week. My Junior year of High School Em and I had a good friend who was an exchange student from Brazil. Andrea got to come back to the States last week for a business trip so when she finished up she flew to Cincy and stayed for a few more days.

I didn't get to see her for very long but we caught up on as much as we could. She came with tons of gifts for all of us. Alaire loved her new night gown and purse.




After saying our good byes to Andrea we made our way to WV for a quick 2 day trip.

There was lots of goofing around with Peep, Mamaw and Papaw. Here they are with Peep making their silly faces.
















We got to have lunch with Aunt Sarah Beth.


















Making her Christmas list with Pap.














Their WV tradition is to go to Jolly Pirates dounts in their PJ's with Auntie Em. Alaire didn't make it in her pj's this time. I will spare you the details but just know that she had a lot to eat the night before.










More to come I'm sure, we are here until Sunday.

Alaire counts to 5!

" 1, 2, 11, 5!!"

EVERYTIME

Super Bowl Party

Last Monday we had a Super Bowl party at our house. I realize (unlike my sister) that it wasn't the actual Super Bowl but it may as well have been at our house. Trevor is a huge Broncos fan and I have said before that Ellis has decided that this season he is a Steelers fan??.










The two teams played on Monday so we really did it up right. Everyone got dressed in their team attire, we had an artichoke dip appetizer, ate dinner in the living room, we ALL GOT TO DRINK PEPSI, and Trevor and the kids decorated with posters and trophies.















Ellis even insisted that we hand the Broncos helmet on the wall.











They went to bed at halftime and we told them that it was a tie. Ellis had said our prayer at dinner time and he even prayed for the game. We didn't have the heart to tell him that the Broncos were going to lose, he would've been so sad for his daddy.