Thanksgiving and Polar Express 2014

Thanksgiving seems like a distant memory since the Holiday Season is in full swing! We had a great Thanksgiving. We switch back and forth each year so we only have to eat one meal, and it just makes it a little more relaxing. We spent Thanksgiving with Adam's family. His family is HUGE, and the little kids are starting to outnumber the adults. Every year someone is pregnant, I just didn't think this year it would be me. Oh well, we are just making the family even bigger then it already is. 

We ate lunch and visited for a little bit, and then we headed back to Evansville for the circus! Every year I say it's the last year for the circus, and every year we decide to go again. It is basically the same thing every year. Ella and Adam rode an elephant for the first time this year. I wish I could have done it too, but I just pictured myself falling off. I am a little more cautious when I'm pregnant. Maybe next year!

 My favorite part of the circus is always the elephants! We left shortly after the elephants. After three hours we were exhausted!

Friday morning we were up bright and early to head to French Lick for the Polar Express. I have said it before, and I will say it again. The Polar Express is the BEST way to kick off the holiday season. We already have our tickets for next year, and I can't wait. 
We decided to spend the night at the French Lick hotel this year, which was so nice. We usually drive home when it's dark, and everyone is tired. It was nice just to walk over to the train this year and walk back. 
We get a picture every year in front of the train. It's fun to look back and see how Ella has changed. 

2014

These two girls LOVE to stay in a hotel, and they especially love to stay in a hotel together. 

These pictures below explain why they love staying in a hotel so much. :) 

The hotel had a banquet room set up for kids with bouncy houses, movies, and a magic show. It was awesome, and a great way to burn some time and energy. 

We were on the 7:30 train ride this year. It was fun as usual. I do have to add that the adults in our car did not get cookies like we have in years past. I seriously had been thinking about that cookie all day. It's just part of the experience. My heart dropped when the "elf" gave the girls cookies and went about her merry way. Talk about one disappointed pregnant girl! 

The Polar Express is a magical, fun experience for the kids and the adults. I love to see how much fun Ella and my niece have. This was our fourth year doing this, and it seriously never gets old. 

The following morning we hit the pool as soon as we got up. Ella has to make the most of her hotel stay, and she had to go swimming. They ended up being in the pool for almost two hours. After that we packed up, ate breakfast, and headed out. It was another great weekend spent with family. I know we will all cherish these memories forever!

Fall Family Pictures

We had family pictures taken back in October for our Christmas card. Anyone who knows me know how much I love Christmas cards. It's so important to me to get a good picture for our card. We typically use a Florida picture, but we didn't get to go in September like we usually do. 
Since this is our last card as a family of three I wanted to get some professional fall pictures taken. I LOVE how they turned out. Ella (and our dogs) were so cooperative. I didn't even have to bribe anyone. :) My favorite pictures will be on our Christmas card this year. I don't post them, because I like them to be a surprise.  I will definitely cherish these pictures forever. 

First snow day of 2014

I have been hoping for a snow day this coming winter. I didn't really appreciate snow days when Ella was not in school, but now I welcome an unexpected free day at home with her. 
I never thought our first snow day would be in November. I can't remember the last time we have had snow in November. It's a little early, but it has at least been pretty to look at.  Ella wanted to go out in the snow first thing this morning. I contemplated getting her up, doing our normal school routine, getting her ready, and then telling her she didn't have school. I was not that mean though. I let her sleep in and told her when she woke up. She was SO happy. 
We braved the cold and went out for about ten minutes before she decided it was too cold. 

It was so nice having Ella home today, but I'm afraid it's back to school tomorrow. We are looking forward to a short, two day school week next week. Bring on Thanksgiving and Polar Express!!

Painting birthday party

Yesterday we went to a painting birthday party at Snickerdoodle for Ella's classmate, Lexie. I am sure this is the first of MANY birthday parties we will go to this school year, and the many school years to come. 
It is so important for Ella to go to these parties. She is super quiet at school, and it was no different yesterday. It is very painful for me to watch. All of her little friends were congregating when we got there, and Ella stuck with me. She has such a hard time in a group. I just keep hoping that one of these days she will come out of this. I do know exactly how she feels. I am the same way. I get really uncomfortable as well. I don't like being in a group of people. I do so much better one on one or in a small group. I feel for her but one of these days she has to start talking. Right!? 
Back to the party... All the girls painted a Christmas tree. 

It was already sketched out for them, and all they had to do was paint. It took a little while to paint. You don't just slap some paint on the canvas. You paint and then blow dry and repaint again. 

Little hands hard at work! All these little girls in Ella's class are so sweet. I have had fun getting to know all 7 of them. Her class if full of boys!

Ella did a great job painting! I thought she might get bored and quit, but she really seemed to enjoy herself. 
It was fun to see all the  paintings, and see how all the girls painted differently. I think they ended up looking really good. 

Ella had to get a picture with the birthday girl before we left. Even though she didn't talk, Ella graciously gave Lexie a hug before we left. She is such a sweet girl!

In just a few weeks we will be throwing a party for Ella's 6th birthday party at Pump It Up!