Catching Up

Today is my last day of work for 2010.  WhooooHooo!  I realized that I've not blogged in 5 weeks, so this will be a long but thorough update of what we've been doing in those last 5 weeks.

Hawaii. Andy and I and another couple went to Maui in November. It was glorious. It was our first visit and I can honestly say that I now know why people go to Hawaii as often as they do. I always thought I was more of a Mexico person but now I'm not so sure. It was so relaxing and peaceful and warm and hot without being uncomfortable. We were all in bed by 11pm and up whenever we felt like it. We laid on the beach for hours and went out to dinners. That pretty much sums it up. Andy did have to take a break from the beach so he and his buddy went golfing and drove around Maui. I can't wait to go back and am already thinking about when we can reasonably go back again.  (Pictures to come later!)

Thanksgiving.  This year we went down to Eugene and spent time at Grammy Bobbi's and Grandpa Tweet (Bill's) house.  We all had a great time tearing the house apart, well two of us at least (sorry about the broken glass vegetable figurines mom!).  The girls helped Grammy cook dinner, they built a gingerbread house,  and they got to try out the new family room furniture.  They made themselves right at home. While we were there Andy and I went to the perfectly scheduled Duck football game.  This was the first one we've been able to go to this year.  We used to go to a few a season but since we've had kids it's much harder.  So now we try to go to at least one.  Mission accomplished.  We met up with a bunch of our favorite people and had a really great time. 

Thanksgiving Gingerbread house.  The candy caused a massive meltdown.  Our next one will be made with dry cereal, pretzels, and not a single freaking piece of candy.

I want another candy!

Emily

Ellery

Trying out the new furniture at Grammy Bobbie's. 

Helping cook Thanksgiving dinner

Ellery modeling her new scarf that Grammy made.  It's her color and the perfect size.

Hanukkah.  Shortly after Thanksgiving Hanukkah began.  We spent the week attending lots of fun family parties, and the girls definitely loved getting to open gifts.  I've realized that they don't care what is inside the gift they just want to open things.  So....for Christmas this year mommy will be wrapping books that we already own just so that the E's can unwrap things. 

Playing with a Hanukkah gift.  This is supposed to be a crib for a baby doll.

Ellery in her crib.  Or her "baby Suzy's" crib

Happy Hanukkah!  We light traditional menorahs but we also have this one for the girls. Fabric & velcro are much safer than candles and fire. 

Showing off their Hanukkah gift.  Emily is the greater and Ellery is cleaning out the gutters.  She does this daily.

Emily showing off before a Hanukkah party.  Mini Boden clothes are FABULOUS!!!

Holidays.  There are so many fun actives going on right now during the holiday season.  Last week we went to the Tigard Christmas tree lighting.  It wasn't quite the event that happens in Pioneer Square, but it was perfect for us.  We were behind the crowd but happened to be right next to the spot where a firetruck pulled up and out hopped Santa.  We were so close!   Then we walked down to a local store for cookies and hot coco.  Santa and Mrs Claus came and the girls were able to meet them for the very first time. They were both very good and were really excited.  I'm not a fan of people dressed up so I wasn't sure how the girls would react, but they were totally fine.   We also went to PIR to see the light displays.  They had the entire track set up with thousands of lights.  The girls loved that too.  Hopefully these can all be traditions for us going forward. 

1st tree in a few years

E&E helped decorate.  See how there are like 10,000 ornaments just in that one small spot.

Showing off their work

Stockings were hung by the gas fireplace with care

Emily & Ellery meet Mr & Mrs Santa Claus for the first time

Andy.  Andy's new business has taken off like crazy.  He's now working normal hours, is home to help get the girls out the door in the morning, home to greet us at night, and home on the weekends.  It's great!   He's so much happier I can't believe it took this long to make the career change.  I don't know exactly what to call his new line of work, but basically he's a general contractor.  A GC who buys VERY distressed properties, completely rehabs them, and then puts the back on the market for a reasonable price.   The first project took 5 weeks and was completely torn down to the studs, new plumbing, electrical, the whole shebang.  I guess you could say he's flipping properties.  But, the focus is on quality construction, special details, and doing things "by the book".  These are small homes perfect for the first time home buyer.  We don't want to price them over the top so that people can't afford them, we want them less than what the rest of the neighborhood is selling things for so that they move quickly.  The first offer was accepted after 12 days on the market and as long as all goes well it should close shortly after the first of the year.  The second house is about halfway there and should be on the market at the end of January.  He is working with his dad and they make such a great team.

Me.  I'm just trying to keep up with life.  Things have been crazy at work, at home, and in life in general.  I'm so grateful for everything we have, but I wish time would slow down.  My little E's are almost 3 years old, and honestly they aren't little.  Emily has grown 2 inches in the last 3 months.  Ellery grew an inch. They are both just under 3ft tall.  Yikes!

E's.  Speaking of the E's growth, it's just not in height.  They are getting older by the minute.  They have amazing memories.  Just the other day Ellery told me that she knew when Grammy Linda's birthday was.  I didn't really think she did so I played along....and she knew it.  I also just asked them if they knew their left from right.  Sure enough, they do.  I don't even know that.  Seriously.  They also can spell their names.  It's crazy!  They have been thriving at school, I gush enough about it.  Three days a week they are at the Nike daycare center and 1 day I week I take them to the Nike drop in daycare.  They love both, and adore all their teachers.   They are assigned jobs at school so every night we ask about what job that have.  It's fun to be able to have discussions with them.   They currently have their first cold since FEBRUARY!.  Can you believe that??  Take that prematurity!  Luckily it's only been a nasty nose and nothing else.  I've also noticed that their friends at school get sick and we don't automatically get it, which is what i felt happened when we first started daycare.  I'm sure we'll have a few more colds over the winter, but I still can't believe how healthy they've been. 

Emily is doing wonderfully after her heart surgery.   We haven't noticed anything different about her other than she gained a pound the first month after the surgery and has shot up a few inches.  We will never know if the growth is related to the heart procedure, but I don't care.  She's perfect and healthy and so sassy.  I'm in trouble.  They both are spunky and have loads of attitude, but they also are the most loving little girls.  Right after they tell you to go away they will come running up and will snuggle on your lap for the rest of the night.

Enough for now.  I'll be sure to post again soon!