rebound

3 nights, 2 mornings

And that's how Ella puts it until Christmas: 3 nights and 2 mornings. She can hardly wait. We've been busy at home getting ready. The girls helped me bake many dozens of cookies the last 2 days and today we delivered them to neighbors and friends. Now comes all the wrapping for me. At least the shopping is done. It is good to be home, the girls get so excited going to church, baking the cookies, and getting our house ready. We'll be lighting the luminaries as our neighborhood does every year on Christmas Eve. It's a relaxing a simple effect that helps calm us all.

This picture is from when we were in Boise earlier this month. We got to catch Santa at work, luckily inside the 15 degree weather Boise was having then. Yes, Eloise still sported a tank top indoors. But her down jacket was definitely on for the car and outside. While Adam worked at Albertsons, the girls and I enjoyed visitng my Aunt Lynn and Uncle Mitch who moved to Meridian, ID last January. We all loved hanging out in their new, big and cozy home. Lynn took us to the local library where they had a wonderful toddler storytime. Jane immediately went up and sat with the kids for the whole thing. Ella eventually sat down with Jane and then proceeeded to answer every question the storyteller asked the kids. Being one of the oldest there, she had to step up.

our visit to Boise, ID. Family, Winter gear, and Pool time. We'd definitely come back!



Back home for the holidays, Jane meets up at Ella's holiday preschool party. They're wearing angel dresses that Jenny and I wore, and Emily and Molly. They'll be wearing them Christmas Eve at church too, so more pics to come....
Eloise had a little preschool Christmas show, we all attended, Ella waived and smiled when she spotted us and Nana and Granddad and Auntie Molly amongst the crowd of parents in the church. And that was about the most reactive she was. The next ten minutes she appeared a little bored or aloof to the remedial holiday singing. When Jingle Bells ended I saw her little lips move beginning to sing the next verse, but of course, that's too advanced for the kids. The Jingle Bell refrain is what we got. Still she was front and center! Just give a moment on her own - she loves to sing and perform all of Jingle Bells, Rudolh the Red nose reindeer, and Santa Claus is coming to town are some of her favorites. We are constantly listening to Christmas music. Jamming and dancing and as Jane puts it: playing it LOUD.

Here's a Jingle Bell show, following church last Sunday. Right before this Eloise and Jane enjoyed a good game of hide and seek with fellow church gal friends. Jane runs around with another girl her age, and they try to follow and keep up with the older girls, like Ella, running the show. Needless to say, they do enjoy hiding all together. In the same spot. Cause if Jane can't see you, you can't see her. No need to hide completley then, she just covers her eyes.



Every year we enjoy seeing Granddad sing the Messiah with the Point Loma Nazarane Communitiy Choir. I got to sing with him when I was pregnant with Eloise. I hope to do it again when the girls are older. Auntie Jenny and Auntie Molly have joined him in years past as well. Jane spotted Granddad amongst the hundreds of singers right away. And about 2 minutes later she was in the hallway with her other loud counterpart, Eloise. It's still fun to go and expose the girls to wonderful singing with a live orchestra playing along. Not to mention great holiday music!

My 30th birthday trip to Disneyland.... of course more for the girls than me. Our annual passes were about to expire too. Eloise had drawn special pictures each for Minnie and Mickey which she hand delivered. She was so proud, and I was too, the idea being her very own. Both Mand M showed much appreciation.

Jane has been asking to go to Disneyland every day since. She was a parade superstar the youngest out in the street dancing along with some many characters. Independent and fearless and a great dancer.



The first thing we did when we got in Sunday night, was catch the parade. This is the most fun for the girls. They love seeing the characters and music and dancers all walk right before them.


disneyland cookie decorating. yummy



A Christmas picture attempt. We gave up. This was one of the best.








Finally driving home. We'll get Disney passes probably later next year. Too close to SD. To fun to skip out.

A Door. By Eloise, done at Preschool.

Things are moving along. We are busy with travels. Got back from visiting Grandma and Grandpa in Arizona. (or "Grandma and Grandma", as Jane says.) We all really enjoy getting to visit, the girls esp. like hanging out with Kaya and all the cats. Eloise was content perched at the top of a cat tower with her water and bowl of crackers. She was a cat too, who really liked crackers. I'll get some pictures up of the trip. Gotta go pick them up at Lauren's house right now. Jane dressed herself as sleeping beauty with sneakers on for this playdate. Ella brought her baby doll in the carseat carrier, and carried it in, set it down and then had me carry it out to the car when I left like the other moms who all seem to have newborns again. Whatever, this baby is really easy!

Jane and Grandpa, visiting some local farm animals in AZ.
just one of the chickens.

party on and gone!

Ohana - from front: Lilo, Stitch, David and Nani
This is when we all had the costumes on. Stitch removed hers' shortly later. Then Lilo got hers wet, and went to don a new hawaiin dress. Then Nani and David pranced around with even less of an identity.

But overall, a great crowd. Partied until the wee hour of 10 pm. All the drinks and food - gone. Jane and Eloise had a blast, they really are super party hosts. I was explainging to someone that give them a big party and crowd with lots of noise and activity and they do great. - But take them to a quiet intimate storytime at the Library (with the highlight being one soft guitar played song) and within the first 5 minutes I'm struggling to keep them quiet and in the same location. (Not in the opposite directions, or floors, of the library) So we don't attend storytime much anymore. Instead, we read a lot at home and it's a LOUDer event. I do like to take 1 child at a time to the Library. That happens more. :)

Guess who?
(party craft, mask painting.)

little lubsens sneaking off with auntie molly

http://www.mollysfollies.blogspot.com/
better pics and captions than I can do! Thanks, Molly for the fun times! Wish we could come out to Chicago soon.

happy birthday!

Well Jane is officially 2 today! Here's some more party pics. Jane is marching around saying "Happy Birthday Me" today. She even told me she had to go use the potty and did!! What a big girl. From a very proud Mom. :)

Eloise is being a great big sister. She collected some of Jane's favorite things (music instruments, baby doll) in a bag and found one of the extra birthday invites and made a card for jane with it, sealed it in an envelope, decorated it with all her "E's" and stickers. She presented to gift to Jane and was so pleased with herself. Gracious Jane was thanking Ella again and again. Big smiles all around.

Party girl


Big 2 year old now - OK in 3 days, but that is not worth explaining to the girls.

Auntie Molly attends Jane's little party just in time! A quick trip to reconnect. It's worth it.

Jane helping me organize...

sea world fun


I think Ella's hat says "You think it's cute that I'm not listening?" or something like that....the girls are at Sea World just to see the Pet show, Daddy took them, special trip! Way to go Dad.

go bears!

well check this out.
http://homecoming.berkeley.edu/
view the slide show and you'll see a little surprise cheerleader.

I'll try to get some of our photos up next. Good weekend. Bears have a good team! And a wonderful cheerleading sqaud this year. :)

ride on you bears...

similiar profiles? Daddy is missing a tattoo, though.

game day!