Mini Christmas Trees

Thanksgiving is over, so the girls are really pushing me to put up the Christmas tree. I managed to buy another day by just letting them put up their own Christmas trees today. This is actually the first time Ella has had one, so she was excited. Gracie passed her old tree down to Ella and she has a bigger one this year. Ella doesn't look a bit disappointed with her tiny tree, does she?!

Gracie gave Ella all of her old Dora ornaments since she is well past liking Dora. Ella's tree is also decorated with a few things she made at church or Parents As Teachers. It will be fun to get those things out each year and remember her making them.

Gracie enjoyed decorating her tree with all of the Disney Princess and Barbie ornaments she has collected through the years. Her tree also has several items she has made through the years.

Our happy girls by tree light

Gracie's Fall Farewell Poem

It's not summer anymore.

Fall has passed now, but not Christmas.

It's almost winter. Not Fall at all.

CHRISTMAS!!!

by Gracie Doolin
11/26/10

Thanksgiving 2010

I started off the day by running in a very challenging 5K. It was in Moberly and the weather was very cold, so Brent went to cheer me on, but everyone else stayed home where it was warm. I was about 1 minute faster from the 5K I ran in October, so I was pleased with that. It was a very hilly course, so I was expecting to be slower.

When I got home, Gracie and I broke the wishbone from the turkey. Gracie won!

This is Houston. My brother was dog-sitting for the weekend, so Houston got to spend Thanksgiving with us. She was a cutie!

Brent and Uncle Jerry both had the same idea after lunch. Football and naps!

The Self family (minus me)

The family (minus the son-in-law and grandkids)

Ella's First Hair Trimming

I really can't say that Ella got her first haircut. All I did was trim the ends off, but it was a pretty big deal nonetheless. She has always insisted that she didn't want a haircut because "it's dangerous." I don't know where Ella got that idea, but I'm guessing it's because I have cautioned her against using scissors without assistance. Tonight I finally convinced her to let me take a little snip off of a curl, and she smiled really big after realizing it didn't hurt and told me to cut more, so I did cut the ends.

The before shot

And some happy "after" shots. You probably can not tell a difference!

Gracie was very proud and supportive of her little sis.

See how happy we are?! I believe her next haircut will take place at Reflections. Christy will help shape her hair up a little next time.

Ready for Preschool

I have started substitute teaching, and whenever I sub at Tri-County Christian School, Ella can go and stay in the daycare/preschool room for free. She had to pack a backpack and take her lunch, and man did she feel big. Ella was super excited to get to copy her big sister!

I was a little nervous to leave Ella, but I knew she would be 100% okay. Gracie cried for the first month when I dropped her off at Tri-County. Ella turned and walked away from me and never looked back when I dropped her off. I saw her at lunch eating with all the other kids, and she looked so big. Her teacher said she took a great nap at naptime and played really well with the other kids. It was a huge success and Ella can't wait to go back.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

We headed to Moberly today to help Grandpa celebrate his birthday. We made him a Smores birthday cake. It really wasn't that great, so don't ask me for the recipe. The lesson I learned is that you should never try a new recipe on someone's birthday cake.

It looks like Gracie wants to help blow out the candle.

Ella was a tired little girl, so she did a little snuggling with her Nana.

Gracie was the photographer for the occasion, so she took the rest of these pictures.
(I deleted about 55 pictures that she took!)

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!