Snow Day! Snow Day!

We had a snow day in Reno! I know! Here's Gretchen gazing out on the freakin' freezing magical sight.



We bundled up & ventured outside.



Oh man, it's cold! Gretchen's super swank coat is not enough to make up for the frigid temp!



Gretchen bucked up & got used to the freeze. She got a little brave.



She's a big kid. She takes it in stride.





Then Ella & I scooped up snow & made a snowman. Colby called it a midget, but Ella said he was wrong. It's just a short guy snowman. I said that Colby needs to be more sensitive to what he teaches his kids. Ella said, "Yeah, it's not a midgelet. It's just a snowman." Also, my SoCal heritage (and lack of all winter skills including but not limited to - driving in the snow, scraping windshields, remembering gloves, and making snowmen) is on display in full force here.



Today is Gretchen's birthday. She is ONE YEAR OLD TODAY! So far she's spent the day going to church, eating oranges, following her sister & cousins around the house, and wearing bracelets. Tonight, after a lovely turkey dinner, she'll blow out candles (oh wait, we have candles, right? She might be blowing out a tea light...) open presents, and barking at the dog. It's a full day. We'll document & report back.

Does He Really Need More Golf Balls?

Does anyone have any brilliant ideas for Grandpa for Christmas? I have a few that we can go in on (you know, since apparently I'm the Queen of From-All-Of-Us gifts...)

No, Autumn, no tomahawks. Grandpa doesn't need that for his Action Adventure club. (Dude, that link you posted in your comment was awesome. Who knew?)

Here is a golf gift certificate good at a gazillion places from Costco for $100.

He likes this wine (I've gotten it for him for Christmas before...) for $8/bottle + shipping.

Here's a fancy schmancy wine gift basket for $89.

OR we could all give him $ to go towards his "Bucket List" trip to play golf in Hawaii one last time...

Anyone in? What do you think? Write your comment below & let me know.

xo

Yes, It Is All About Her. Thanks For Asking.

Incident #1

A few days ago I asked Ella to come down for lunch. Instead of happily obliging, she threw herself down at the top of the stairs and sobbed.
"What's wrong!?!" I asked (not really concerned as drama is frequent around my child).
"I never got to see Santa deliver presents!"
"Santa doesn't come till all the kids are asleep. Santa comes and brings you presents every year! You don't get to see Santa. If you see him, you won't get any presents!"
"But I want to see him!"
"Are you worried he won't know what you want for Christmas? Is that why you want to see him?" (Because in order to get the drama to stop, you must find the root of the problem & solve it).
"Yes" (big sniff, tears rolling down cheeks).
"Ok, we can write Santa a letter to let him know what you want. What are you going to ask him to bring?"
"A ball for Cooper" (Cooper is Aunt Amber's dog. He visits every Sunday. He eats balls.)
"So if we write a letter to Santa telling him you want a ball for Cooper then you'll come downstairs and eat lunch?"
"Yes."
Problem solved. And she got to tell him herself at the party, so we didn't even have to write him a letter...

Incident #2

"Ella, did you get my book from upstairs?" I asked?
"No, Mom, I forgot."
"Can you please go get it?"
"No, I'm a Magical Fairy. Magical Fairy's don't get books."
pause.
"Stop laughing. Mom. Stop laughing."
pause.
"Mom. Stop laughing or I'll turn you into a frog."
Said to baby sister, "Jump little frog!"

Beware the wrath of Magical Fairy Ella. And she doesn't get books. Magical Fairy s don't get stuff.


Incident #3

After Book Of Mormon Stories recap, Ella style, "The Book Of Mormon was brought to you today by the number 7 and the letter L."


In Other News

Yesterday was Ella's party at her preschool. It was pretty cute, all the teachers manned "stations" where the kids could do an activity (make Christmas Cards, ornaments, play a dreidle, etc.). Moms & Dads got to come. Baby Sisters got to come. But the big draw was Santa.

Here Gretchen is thinking: Crap, I'm not cool with this...




No subtitle needed:


Gretchen escaped to a different room while Ella played maraccas for her teacher.


And then she made out with her friend in the phone booth. Altogether, a typical day.

Christmas Yay!

Remember how we posted the gift exchange assignments???

And remember how only 3 of us commented back our wish list? Maybe you want to get on that & post what you want lest you get a bunch of ugly ties featuring horse heads...